Xeon E3120 vs Core 2 Duo E6550
Xeon E3120
Core 2 Duo E6550
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 Core 2 Duo E6550 is on rank 1022, 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 Core 2 Duo E6550
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E3120 | Core 2 Duo E6550 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($20) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Legacy / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Conroe (2006−2007) / 65 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E3120 | Core 2 Duo E6550 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ 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 E3120 and Core 2 Duo E6550
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.
Core 2 Duo E6550
The Core 2 Duo E6550 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2008-01-01. It is based on the Conroe (2006−2007) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.33 GHz, with boost up to 2.33 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 4 MB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,395 points. Launch price was $249.
Processing Power
The Core 2 Duo E6550 is built on the Conroe (2006−2007) architecture. In PassMark, the Xeon E3120 scores 1,408 against the Core 2 Duo E6550's 1,395 — a 0.9% lead for the Xeon E3120. L3 cache: 6 MB L2 Cache on the Xeon E3120 vs 0 kB on the Core 2 Duo E6550.
| Feature | Xeon E3120 | Core 2 Duo E6550 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | — | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | — | 2.33 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.16 GHz+36% | 2.33 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB L2 Cache | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | — | 4 MB |
| Process | 45 nm-31% | 65 nm |
| Architecture | — | Conroe (2006−2007) |
| PassMark | 1,408 | 1,395 |
Memory & Platform
Both processors use the LGA775 socket with PCIe 2.0.
| Feature | Xeon E3120 | Core 2 Duo E6550 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA775 | LGA775 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0+82% | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | 1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 16 |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Xeon E3120) / true (Core 2 Duo E6550). Direct competitor: Core 2 Duo E6550 rivals Athlon 64 X2 6000+.
| Feature | Xeon E3120 | Core 2 Duo E6550 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| IGPU Model | — | None |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | true |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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