Xeon E3120 vs Athlon 64 X2 5000+
Xeon E3120
Athlon 64 X2 5000+
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 E3120 is positioned at rank 948 and the Athlon 64 X2 5000+ is on rank 988, so the Xeon E3120 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E3120
Performance Per Dollar Athlon 64 X2 5000+
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E3120 | Athlon 64 X2 5000+ |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($42) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Legacy / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Windsor (2006−2007) / 90 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E3120 | Athlon 64 X2 5000+ |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($42) |
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 E3120 and Athlon 64 X2 5000+
Xeon E3120
The Xeon E3120 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. Base frequency: 3.16 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB L2 Cache. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,408 points. Launch price was $800.
Athlon 64 X2 5000+
The Athlon 64 X2 5000+ is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Windsor (2006−2007) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2.6 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 90 nm process technology. Socket: AM2. Thermal design power (TDP): 89 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,425 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Athlon 64 X2 5000+ is built on the Windsor (2006−2007) architecture. In PassMark, the Xeon E3120 scores 1,408 against the Athlon 64 X2 5000+'s 1,425 — a 1.2% lead for the Athlon 64 X2 5000+. L3 cache: 6 MB L2 Cache on the Xeon E3120 vs 0 kB on the Athlon 64 X2 5000+.
| Feature | Xeon E3120 | Athlon 64 X2 5000+ |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | — | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | — | 2.6 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.16 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB L2 Cache | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | — | 512 kB |
| Process | 45 nm-50% | 90 nm |
| Architecture | — | Windsor (2006−2007) |
| PassMark | 1,408 | 1,425+1% |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E3120 uses the LGA775 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Athlon 64 X2 5000+ uses AM2 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E3120 | Athlon 64 X2 5000+ |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA775 | AM2 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0+82% | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR2-800 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 16 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 0 |
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