CPU
GPU
Xeon 5120
E2-3800
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 E2-3800 is on rank 1047, 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 E2-3800
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon 5120 | E2-3800 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($20) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Woodcrest (2006) / 65 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Kabini (2013−2014) / 28 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon 5120 | E2-3800 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+31%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($20) |
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 E2-3800
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.
E2-3800
The E2-3800 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2014-01-01. It is based on the Kabini (2013−2014) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Max frequency: 1.3 GHz. L2 cache: 2048 kB. Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: FT3. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1600. Passmark benchmark score: 1,136 points. Launch price was $50.
Processing Power
The Xeon 5120 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the E2-3800 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the E2-3800 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 1.87 GHz on the Xeon 5120 versus 1.3 GHz on the E2-3800 — a 36% clock advantage for the Xeon 5120. The Xeon 5120 uses the Woodcrest (2006) architecture (65 nm), while the E2-3800 uses Kabini (2013−2014) (28 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon 5120 scores 1,115 against the E2-3800's 1,136 — a 1.9% lead for the E2-3800.
| Feature | Xeon 5120 | E2-3800 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 1.87 GHz+44% | 1.3 GHz |
| Base Clock | 1.86 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | — |
| L2 Cache | 4 MB+100% | 2048 kB |
| Process | 65 nm | 28 nm-57% |
| Architecture | Woodcrest (2006) | Kabini (2013−2014) |
| PassMark | 1,115 | 1,136+2% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 136 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 389 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon 5120 uses the LGA771 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the E2-3800 uses FT3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon 5120 | E2-3800 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA771 | FT3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 16 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 1 |
| ECC Support | — | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 4 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Xeon 5120) / Yes (E2-3800). The E2-3800 includes integrated graphics (Radeon HD 8280), while the Xeon 5120 requires a dedicated GPU.
| Feature | Xeon 5120 | E2-3800 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Radeon HD 8280 |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | Yes |
Value Analysis
The Xeon 5120 launched at $107 MSRP, while the E2-3800 debuted at $100. At current prices ($15 vs $20), the Xeon 5120 is $5 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon 5120 delivers 74.3 pts/$ vs 56.8 pts/$ for the E2-3800 — making the Xeon 5120 the 26.7% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon 5120 | E2-3800 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $107 | $100-7% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $15-25% | $20 |
| Performance per Dollar | 74.3+31% | 56.8 |
| Release Date | 2006 | 2013 |
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