CPU
GPU
Xeon E5420
Celeron G3900E
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 E5420 is positioned at rank 1033 and the Celeron G3900E is on rank 816, so the Celeron G3900E offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5420
Performance Per Dollar Celeron G3900E
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5420 | Celeron G3900E |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($6,500) | ✅ More affordable ($35) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Harpertown (2007−2008) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Skylake (2015−2016) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5420 | Celeron G3900E |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+18381%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($6,500) | ✅ More affordable ($35) |
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 E5420 and Celeron G3900E
Xeon E5420
The Xeon E5420 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 11 November 2007 (18 years ago). It is based on the Harpertown (2007−2008) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 2.5 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB L2 Cache. L2 cache: 6 MB (total). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA771. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR2, DDR3 Depends on motherboard. Passmark benchmark score: 2,044 points. Launch price was $316.
Celeron G3900E
The Celeron G3900E is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 January 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: LPDDR3-1866. Passmark benchmark score: 2,034 points. Launch price was $107.
Processing Power
The Xeon E5420 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Celeron G3900E offers 2 cores / 2 threads — the Xeon E5420 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.5 GHz on the Xeon E5420 versus 2.4 GHz on the Celeron G3900E — a 4.1% clock advantage for the Xeon E5420. The Xeon E5420 uses the Harpertown (2007−2008) architecture (45 nm), while the Celeron G3900E uses Skylake (2015−2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5420 scores 2,044 against the Celeron G3900E's 2,034 — a 0.5% lead for the Xeon E5420. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 314 vs 699, a 76% lead for the Celeron G3900E that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 881 vs 948 (7.3% advantage for the Celeron G3900E). L3 cache: 12 MB L2 Cache on the Xeon E5420 vs 2 MB on the Celeron G3900E.
| Feature | Xeon E5420 | Celeron G3900E |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.5 GHz+4% | 2.4 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.5 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 12 MB L2 Cache+500% | 2 MB |
| L2 Cache | 6 MB (total)+1100% | 512 kB |
| Process | 45 nm | 14 nm-69% |
| Architecture | Harpertown (2007−2008) | Skylake (2015−2016) |
| PassMark | 2,044 | 2,034 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 314 | 699+123% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 881 | 948+8% |
Memory & Platform
Maximum memory speed reaches DDR2-667 on the Xeon E5420 versus DDR4-2133 on the Celeron G3900E — the Celeron G3900E supports 66.7% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Celeron G3900E supports up to 64 GB of RAM compared to 32 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 4 (Xeon E5420) vs 2 (Celeron G3900E). PCIe lanes: 32 (Xeon E5420) vs 16 (Celeron G3900E) — the Xeon E5420 offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel 5000P,Intel 5100,Intel 5400 (Xeon E5420) and H110,B150,H170,Z170 (Celeron G3900E).
| Feature | Xeon E5420 | Celeron G3900E |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA771 | — |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR2-667 | DDR4-2133+100% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | 64 GB+100% |
| RAM Channels | 4+100% | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 32+100% | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization support: Yes (Xeon E5420) vs VT-x (Celeron G3900E). The Celeron G3900E includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 510), while the Xeon E5420 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Celeron G3900E targets Budget. Direct competitor: Celeron G3900E rivals Pentium G4400.
| Feature | Xeon E5420 | Celeron G3900E |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | HD Graphics 510 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | Yes | VT-x |
| Target Use | — | Budget |
Value Analysis
The Xeon E5420 launched at $7214 MSRP, while the Celeron G3900E debuted at $107. At current prices ($6500 vs $35), the Celeron G3900E is $6465 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon E5420 delivers 0.3 pts/$ vs 58.1 pts/$ for the Celeron G3900E — making the Celeron G3900E the 197.8% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon E5420 | Celeron G3900E |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $7214 | $107-99% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $6500 | $35-99% |
| Performance per Dollar | 0.3 | 58.1+19267% |
| Release Date | 2007 | 2016 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Xeon E5420 and Celeron G3900E
