Turion II Neo K685 vs Xeon E3-1220L v3

AMD

Turion II Neo K685

2 Cores2 Thrd1 WWMax: 1.8 GHz2010
Similar parts
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VS
Intel

Xeon E3-1220L v3

2 Cores4 Thrd16 WWMax: 1.5 GHz2013
Similar parts
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Turion II Neo K685 vs Xeon E3-1220L v3 Performance Spectrum

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 Neo K685 vs Xeon E3-1220L v3 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 Neo K685 vs Xeon E3-1220L v3: 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 Neo K685

2010

Why buy it

  • Better for gaming: +4.7% higher average FPS across 48 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Draws 1W instead of 16W, a 15W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon E3-1220L v3, which brings 2 cores / 4 threads and 16 PCIe lanes.

Xeon E3-1220L v3

2013

Why buy it

  • Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 2 cores / 4 threads, plus 16 PCIe lanes vs 0.
  • 100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

  • Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Turion II Neo K685 across 48 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Lower PassMark (1,407 vs 1,424).
  • Launch MSRP is still $193 MSRP, while Turion II Neo K685 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
  • 1500% higher power demand at 16W vs 1W.

Quick Answers

So, is Turion II Neo K685 better than Xeon E3-1220L v3?
Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Xeon E3-1220L v3 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Turion II Neo K685 is the more practical desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and everyday use.
Which one is better for gaming?
If gaming is the priority, Turion II Neo K685 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 4.7% more average FPS across 48 shared CPU game tests.
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Turion II Neo K685 is the stronger fit. You are getting 1.2% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Turion II Neo K685 is still the faster CPU overall, but Xeon E3-1220L v3 is easier to justify if budget matters more than peak performance. Turion II Neo K685 comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $193 MSRP, and it still gives you a 4.7% average FPS lead across 48 shared CPU game tests in our data. Xeon E3-1220L v3 is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (7.3 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), which is why it can still make sense for tighter-budget builds on paper.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Xeon E3-1220L v3 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2013 vs 2010). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Turion II Neo K685 vs Xeon E3-1220L v3 Technical Specifications

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

AMD

Turion II Neo K685

The Turion II Neo K685 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the Geneva (2010) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 1.8 GHz. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: S1g4. Thermal design power (TDP): 1 MB. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,424 points. Launch price was $69.

Intel

Xeon E3-1220L v3

The Xeon E3-1220L v3 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Haswell-WS (2013−2014) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.1 GHz, with boost up to 1.5 GHz. L3 cache: 4096 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 13 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 1,407 points. Launch price was $800.

Processing Power

The Turion II Neo K685 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Xeon E3-1220L v3's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 1.8 GHz on the Turion II Neo K685 versus 1.5 GHz on the Xeon E3-1220L v3 — a 18.2% clock advantage for the Turion II Neo K685. The Turion II Neo K685 uses the Geneva (2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Xeon E3-1220L v3 uses Haswell-WS (2013−2014) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Turion II Neo K685 scores 1,424 against the Xeon E3-1220L v3's 1,407 — a 1.2% lead for the Turion II Neo K685.

FeatureTurion II Neo K685Xeon E3-1220L v3
Cores / Threads
2 / 2
2 / 4
Boost Clock
1.8 GHz+20%
1.5 GHz
Base Clock
1.1 GHz
L3 Cache
4096 kB (total)
L2 Cache
1 MB+300%
256 kB (per core)
Process
45 nm
22 nm-51%
Architecture
Geneva (2010)
Haswell-WS (2013−2014)
PassMark
1,424+1%
1,407
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Memory & Platform

The Turion II Neo K685 uses the S1g4 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon E3-1220L v3 uses LGA1150 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

FeatureTurion II Neo K685Xeon E3-1220L v3
Socket
S1g4
LGA1150
PCIe Generation
PCIe 2.0
PCIe 3.0+50%
Max RAM Speed
DDR3-1600
Max RAM Capacity
32 GB
RAM Channels
2
ECC Support
Yes
PCIe Lanes
16
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Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Turion II Neo K685) / VT-P (Xeon E3-1220L v3).

FeatureTurion II Neo K685Xeon E3-1220L v3
Integrated GPU
No
Unlocked
No
AVX-512
No
Virtualization
VT-P