Xeon 5120 vs Core 2 Extreme X9000
Xeon 5120
Core 2 Extreme X9000
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 5120 is positioned at rank 857 and the Core 2 Extreme X9000 is on rank 915, so the Xeon 5120 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon 5120
Performance Per Dollar Core 2 Extreme X9000
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon 5120 | Core 2 Extreme X9000 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Woodcrest (2006) / 65 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Penryn (2008−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon 5120 | Core 2 Extreme X9000 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 5120 and Core 2 Extreme X9000
Xeon 5120
The Xeon 5120 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in Junho 2006 (19 years ago). It is based on the Woodcrest (2006) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.86 GHz, with boost up to 1.87 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 4 MB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: LGA771. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR2. Passmark benchmark score: 1,115 points. Launch price was $45.
Core 2 Extreme X9000
The Core 2 Extreme X9000 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 10 January 2008 (17 years ago). It is based on the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB L2 Cache. L2 cache: 6 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: PGA478. Thermal design power (TDP): 44 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,108 points. Launch price was $851.
Processing Power
Both the Xeon 5120 and Core 2 Extreme X9000 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 1.87 GHz on the Xeon 5120 versus 2.8 GHz on the Core 2 Extreme X9000 — a 39.8% clock advantage for the Core 2 Extreme X9000 (base: 1.86 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Xeon 5120 uses the Woodcrest (2006) architecture (65 nm), while the Core 2 Extreme X9000 uses Penryn (2008−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon 5120 scores 1,115 against the Core 2 Extreme X9000's 1,108 — a 0.6% lead for the Xeon 5120. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Xeon 5120 vs 6 MB L2 Cache on the Core 2 Extreme X9000.
| Feature | Xeon 5120 | Core 2 Extreme X9000 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 1.87 GHz | 2.8 GHz+50% |
| Base Clock | 1.86 GHz | 2.8 GHz+51% |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 6 MB L2 Cache |
| L2 Cache | 4 MB | 6 MB+50% |
| Process | 65 nm | 45 nm-31% |
| Architecture | Woodcrest (2006) | Penryn (2008−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,115 | 1,108 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon 5120 uses the LGA771 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core 2 Extreme X9000 uses PGA478 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon 5120 | Core 2 Extreme X9000 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA771 | PGA478 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0+82% | PCIe 1.1 |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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