CPU
GPU
Xeon E5-2609
Xeon X3460
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 X3460 is on rank 886, 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 X3460
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5-2609 | Xeon X3460 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($25) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Lynnfield (2009−2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5-2609 | Xeon X3460 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($25) |
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 X3460
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 X3460
The Xeon X3460 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 8 September 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Lynnfield (2009−2010) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 3.46 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1156. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-800, DDR3-1066, DDR3-1333. Passmark benchmark score: 2,955 points. Launch price was $316.
Processing Power
The Xeon E5-2609 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, matching the Xeon X3460's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.4 GHz on the Xeon E5-2609 versus 3.46 GHz on the Xeon X3460 — a 36.2% clock advantage for the Xeon X3460 (base: 2.4 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Xeon E5-2609 uses the Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Xeon X3460 uses Lynnfield (2009−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-2609 scores 2,943 against the Xeon X3460's 2,955 — a 0.4% lead for the Xeon X3460. L3 cache: 10240 kB (total) on the Xeon E5-2609 vs 8 MB (total) on the Xeon X3460.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2609 | Xeon X3460 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 2.4 GHz | 3.46 GHz+44% |
| Base Clock | 2.4 GHz | 2.8 GHz+17% |
| 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) | Lynnfield (2009−2010) |
| PassMark | 2,943 | 2,955 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5-2609 uses the LGA2011 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon X3460 uses LGA1156 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2609 | Xeon X3460 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2011 | LGA1156 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
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