Turion II Ultra M660 vs Xeon E3-1220L

Turion II Ultra M660 vs Xeon E3-1220L Performance Spectrum

Turion II Ultra M660

2 / 2

2,278

+0.7%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Xeon E3-1220L

2 / 4

2,263

0.0%

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 Ultra M660 vs Xeon E3-1220L 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 Ultra M660 vs Xeon E3-1220L: 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 Ultra M660

2009

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +3.2% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 2W instead of 20W, a 18W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon E3-1220L, which brings 2 cores / 4 threads.

Xeon E3-1220L

2011

Why buy it

✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 2 cores / 4 threads.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Turion II Ultra M660 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (2,263 vs 2,278).
❌Launch MSRP is still $189 MSRP, while Turion II Ultra M660 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌900% higher power demand at 20W vs 2W.

Quick Answers

So, is Turion II Ultra M660 better than Xeon E3-1220L?

Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Xeon E3-1220L makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Turion II Ultra M660 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 Ultra M660 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 3.2% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Turion II Ultra M660 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.7% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.

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

Turion II Ultra M660 is still the faster CPU overall, but Xeon E3-1220L is easier to justify if budget matters more than peak performance. Turion II Ultra M660 comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $189 MSRP, and it still gives you a 3.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Xeon E3-1220L is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (12.0 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2011 vs 2009). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Turion II Ultra M660 vs Xeon E3-1220L Technical Specifications

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

Turion II Ultra M660

The Turion II Ultra M660 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: 2.7 GHz. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: S1g3. Thermal design power (TDP): 2 MB. Memory support: DDR2. Passmark benchmark score: 2,278 points. Launch price was $69.

Xeon E3-1220L

The Xeon E3-1220L is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 20 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,263 points. Launch price was $800.

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Processing Power

The Turion II Ultra M660 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Xeon E3-1220L's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.7 GHz on the Turion II Ultra M660 versus 3.4 GHz on the Xeon E3-1220L — a 23% clock advantage for the Xeon E3-1220L. The Turion II Ultra M660 uses the Caspian (2009) architecture (45 nm), while the Xeon E3-1220L uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Turion II Ultra M660 scores 2,278 against the Xeon E3-1220L's 2,263 — a 0.7% lead for the Turion II Ultra M660.

Feature	Turion II Ultra M660	Xeon E3-1220L
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	2 / 4
Boost Clock	2.7 GHz	3.4 GHz+26%
Base Clock	—	2.2 GHz
L3 Cache	—	3 MB (total)
L2 Cache	2 MB+700%	256 kB (per core)
Process	45 nm	32 nm-29%
Architecture	Caspian (2009)	Sandy Bridge (2011−2013)
PassMark	2,278	2,263

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Memory & Platform

The Turion II Ultra M660 uses the S1g3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon E3-1220L uses LGA1155 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.