Turion II M520 vs Xeon E5506

Turion II M520 vs Xeon E5506 Performance Spectrum

Turion II M520

2 / 2

1,955

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Xeon E5506

4 / 4

1,961

+0.3%

About PassMark

PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

Turion II M520 vs Xeon E5506 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Turion II M520 vs Xeon E5506: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Turion II M520

2009

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +3.2% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 1W instead of 80W, a 79W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,955 vs 1,961).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon E5506, which brings 4 cores / 4 threads.

Xeon E5506

2009

Why buy it

✅+0.3% higher PassMark.
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 4 cores / 4 threads.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Turion II M520 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌7900% higher power demand at 80W vs 1W.

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon E5506 better than Turion II M520?

Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Xeon E5506 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Turion II M520 is the more practical desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and everyday use.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Xeon E5506 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.3% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Xeon E5506 still makes the most sense overall. Xeon E5506 comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you 0.3% better PassMark.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Xeon E5506 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting more multi-core headroom with 4 cores / 4 threads instead of 2/2. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Turion II M520 vs Xeon E5506 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Turion II M520

The Turion II M520 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the Caspian (2009) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2.3 GHz. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: S1g3. Thermal design power (TDP): 1 MB. Passmark benchmark score: 1,955 points. Launch price was $69.

Xeon E5506

The Xeon E5506 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 March 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Gainestown (2009−2010) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.13 GHz, with boost up to 0.13 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1366. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,961 points. Launch price was $43.

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Processing Power

The Turion II M520 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Xeon E5506 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Xeon E5506 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.3 GHz on the Turion II M520 versus 0.13 GHz on the Xeon E5506 — a 178.6% clock advantage for the Turion II M520. The Turion II M520 uses the Caspian (2009) architecture (45 nm), while the Xeon E5506 uses Gainestown (2009−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Turion II M520 scores 1,955 against the Xeon E5506's 1,961 — a 0.3% lead for the Xeon E5506.

Feature	Turion II M520	Xeon E5506
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	4 / 4+100%
Boost Clock	2.3 GHz+1669%	0.13 GHz
Base Clock	—	2.13 GHz
L3 Cache	—	4 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1 MB+300%	256 kB (per core)
Process	45 nm	45 nm
Architecture	Caspian (2009)	Gainestown (2009−2010)
PassMark	1,955	1,961

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Memory & Platform

The Turion II M520 uses the S1g3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon E5506 uses LGA1366 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.