Xeon E5-2609 vs Xeon W3520
Xeon E5-2609
Xeon W3520
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 E5-2609 is positioned at rank 725 and the Xeon W3520 is on rank 861, so the Xeon E5-2609 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-2609
Performance Per Dollar Xeon W3520
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5-2609 | Xeon W3520 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Bloomfield (2008−2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5-2609 | Xeon W3520 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) |
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 E5-2609 and Xeon W3520
Xeon E5-2609
The Xeon E5-2609 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 6 March 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 10240 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,943 points. Launch price was $143.
Xeon W3520
The Xeon W3520 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 March 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Bloomfield (2008−2010) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.66 GHz, with boost up to 2.93 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1366. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,940 points. Launch price was $404.
Processing Power
The Xeon E5-2609 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, matching the Xeon W3520's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.4 GHz on the Xeon E5-2609 versus 2.93 GHz on the Xeon W3520 — a 19.9% clock advantage for the Xeon W3520 (base: 2.4 GHz vs 2.66 GHz). The Xeon E5-2609 uses the Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Xeon W3520 uses Bloomfield (2008−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-2609 scores 2,943 against the Xeon W3520's 2,940 — a 0.1% lead for the Xeon E5-2609. L3 cache: 10240 kB (total) on the Xeon E5-2609 vs 8 MB (total) on the Xeon W3520.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2609 | Xeon W3520 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 2.4 GHz | 2.93 GHz+22% |
| Base Clock | 2.4 GHz | 2.66 GHz+11% |
| L3 Cache | 10240 kB (total)+25% | 8 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm-29% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) | Bloomfield (2008−2010) |
| PassMark | 2,943 | 2,940 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5-2609 uses the LGA2011 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon W3520 uses LGA1366 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2609 | Xeon W3520 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2011 | LGA1366 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
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