CPU
GPU
Xeon 5160
Phenom II X4 900e
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 5160 is positioned at rank 903 and the Phenom II X4 900e is on rank 373, so the Phenom II X4 900e offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon 5160
Performance Per Dollar Phenom II X4 900e
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon 5160 | Phenom II X4 900e |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Woodcrest (2006) / 65 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Deneb (2009−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon 5160 | Phenom II X4 900e |
|---|---|---|
| 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 5160 and Phenom II X4 900e
Xeon 5160
The Xeon 5160 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 3 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 4 MB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: LGA771. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR2. Passmark benchmark score: 1,715 points. Launch price was $22.
Phenom II X4 900e
The Phenom II X4 900e is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Deneb (2009−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,727 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Xeon 5160 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Phenom II X4 900e offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Phenom II X4 900e has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3 GHz on the Xeon 5160 versus 2.4 GHz on the Phenom II X4 900e — a 22.2% clock advantage for the Xeon 5160 (base: 3 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Xeon 5160 uses the Woodcrest (2006) architecture (65 nm), while the Phenom II X4 900e uses Deneb (2009−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon 5160 scores 1,715 against the Phenom II X4 900e's 1,727 — a 0.7% lead for the Phenom II X4 900e. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Xeon 5160 vs 6 MB (total) on the Phenom II X4 900e.
| Feature | Xeon 5160 | Phenom II X4 900e |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3 GHz+25% | 2.4 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3 GHz+25% | 2.4 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 6 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 4 MB+700% | 512 kB (per core) |
| Process | 65 nm | 45 nm-31% |
| Architecture | Woodcrest (2006) | Deneb (2009−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,715 | 1,727 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon 5160 uses the LGA771 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Phenom II X4 900e uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon 5160 | Phenom II X4 900e |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA771 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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