Xeon 3.06 vs Opteron 246
Xeon 3.06
Opteron 246
Performance Spectrum - CPU
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.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Xeon 3.06 is positioned at rank 1015 and the Opteron 246 is on rank 762, so the Opteron 246 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon 3.06
Performance Per Dollar Opteron 246
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon 3.06 | Opteron 246 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Gallatin (2003−2004) / 130 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (SledgeHammer (2003−2005) / 130 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon 3.06 | Opteron 246 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Xeon 3.06 and Opteron 246
Xeon 3.06
The Xeon 3.06 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Gallatin (2003−2004) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Max frequency: 3.07 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 130 nm process technology. Socket: PGA604. Thermal design power (TDP): 97 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 535 points. Launch price was $800.
Opteron 246
The Opteron 246 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in Agosto 2003 (22 years ago). It is based on the SledgeHammer (2003−2005) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Max frequency: 2 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 130 nm process technology. Socket: 940. Thermal design power (TDP): 89 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 538 points. Launch price was $109.
Processing Power
Both the Xeon 3.06 and Opteron 246 share an identical 1-core/1-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.07 GHz on the Xeon 3.06 versus 2 GHz on the Opteron 246 — a 42.2% clock advantage for the Xeon 3.06. The Xeon 3.06 uses the Gallatin (2003−2004) architecture (130 nm), while the Opteron 246 uses SledgeHammer (2003−2005) (130 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon 3.06 scores 535 against the Opteron 246's 538 — a 0.6% lead for the Opteron 246. L3 cache: 2 MB on the Xeon 3.06 vs 0 kB on the Opteron 246.
| Feature | Xeon 3.06 | Opteron 246 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 1 / 1 | 1 / 1 |
| Boost Clock | 3.07 GHz+53% | 2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 2 MB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB | 1 MB+100% |
| Process | 130 nm | 130 nm |
| Architecture | Gallatin (2003−2004) | SledgeHammer (2003−2005) |
| PassMark | 535 | 538 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon 3.06 uses the PGA604 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Opteron 246 uses 940 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon 3.06 | Opteron 246 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA604 | 940 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
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