Xeon 3.20 vs Athlon 64 3500+
Xeon 3.20
Athlon 64 3500+
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 3.20 is positioned at rank 1030 and the Athlon 64 3500+ is on rank 1102, so the Xeon 3.20 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon 3.20
Performance Per Dollar Athlon 64 3500+
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon 3.20 | Athlon 64 3500+ |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Gallatin (2003−2004) / 130 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (San Diego (2001−2005) / 130 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon 3.20 | Athlon 64 3500+ |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+1%) | ❌ 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 3.20 and Athlon 64 3500+
Xeon 3.20
The Xeon 3.20 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: 3.2 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: 575 points. Launch price was $800.
Athlon 64 3500+
The Athlon 64 3500+ is manufactured by AMD. It was released in Janeiro 2001 (24 years ago). It is based on the San Diego (2001−2005) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Max frequency: 2.2 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 130 nm process technology. Socket: 939. Thermal design power (TDP): 89 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 570 points. Launch price was $59.
Processing Power
Both the Xeon 3.20 and Athlon 64 3500+ share an identical 1-core/1-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.2 GHz on the Xeon 3.20 versus 2.2 GHz on the Athlon 64 3500+ — a 37% clock advantage for the Xeon 3.20. The Xeon 3.20 uses the Gallatin (2003−2004) architecture (130 nm), while the Athlon 64 3500+ uses San Diego (2001−2005) (130 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon 3.20 scores 575 against the Athlon 64 3500+'s 570 — a 0.9% lead for the Xeon 3.20. L3 cache: 2 MB on the Xeon 3.20 vs 0 kB on the Athlon 64 3500+.
| Feature | Xeon 3.20 | Athlon 64 3500+ |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 1 / 1 | 1 / 1 |
| Boost Clock | 3.2 GHz+45% | 2.2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 2 MB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB | 512 kB |
| Process | 130 nm | 130 nm |
| Architecture | Gallatin (2003−2004) | San Diego (2001−2005) |
| PassMark | 575 | 570 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon 3.20 uses the PGA604 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Athlon 64 3500+ uses 939 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon 3.20 | Athlon 64 3500+ |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA604 | 939 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0+82% | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR-400 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 4 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 0 |
Value Analysis
The Xeon 3.20 launched at $851 MSRP, while the Athlon 64 3500+ debuted at $272. At current prices ($10 vs $10), the Athlon 64 3500+ is $0 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon 3.20 delivers 57.5 pts/$ vs 57.0 pts/$ for the Athlon 64 3500+ — making the Xeon 3.20 the 0.9% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon 3.20 | Athlon 64 3500+ |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $851 | $272-68% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $10 | $10 |
| Performance per Dollar | 57.5 | 57.0 |
| Release Date | 2003 | 2001 |
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