Xeon E5-2637 vs Xeon W3520
Xeon E5-2637
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 E5-2637 is positioned at rank 1010 and the Xeon W3520 is on rank 861, so the Xeon W3520 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-2637
Performance Per Dollar Xeon W3520
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5-2637 | Xeon W3520 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($40) | ✅ More affordable ($15) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Bloomfield (2008−2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5-2637 | Xeon W3520 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+163%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($40) | ✅ More affordable ($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 E5-2637 and Xeon W3520
Xeon E5-2637
The Xeon E5-2637 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 5120 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: 2,978 points. Launch price was $800.
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 E5-2637 packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Xeon W3520 offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Xeon W3520 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the Xeon E5-2637 versus 2.93 GHz on the Xeon W3520 — a 17.7% clock advantage for the Xeon E5-2637 (base: 3 GHz vs 2.66 GHz). The Xeon E5-2637 uses the Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Xeon W3520 uses Bloomfield (2008−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-2637 scores 2,978 against the Xeon W3520's 2,940 — a 1.3% lead for the Xeon E5-2637. L3 cache: 5120 kB (total) on the Xeon E5-2637 vs 8 MB (total) on the Xeon W3520.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2637 | Xeon W3520 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 8+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3.5 GHz+19% | 2.93 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3 GHz+13% | 2.66 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 5120 kB (total) | 8 MB (total)+60% |
| 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 | 2,978+1% | 2,940 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 2,000 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 550 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 1,500 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5-2637 uses the LGA2011 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Xeon W3520 uses LGA1366 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2637 | Xeon W3520 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2011 | LGA1366 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0+100% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1600 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 384 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 4 | — |
| ECC Support | ✅ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 40 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Xeon E5-2637) / not specified (Xeon W3520). Primary use case: Xeon E5-2637 targets Server.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2637 | Xeon W3520 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | — |
| Target Use | Server | — |
Value Analysis
The Xeon E5-2637 launched at $885 MSRP, while the Xeon W3520 debuted at $284. At current prices ($40 vs $15), the Xeon W3520 is $25 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon E5-2637 delivers 74.5 pts/$ vs 196.0 pts/$ for the Xeon W3520 — making the Xeon W3520 the 89.9% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2637 | Xeon W3520 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $885 | $284-68% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $40 | $15-63% |
| Performance per Dollar | 74.5 | 196.0+163% |
| Release Date | 2012 | 2009 |
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