CPU
GPU
Xeon E5502
Athlon II X3 440
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 E5502 is positioned at rank 893 and the Athlon II X3 440 is on rank 722, so the Athlon II X3 440 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5502
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X3 440
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5502 | Athlon II X3 440 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($39) | ✅ More affordable ($10) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Gainestown (2009−2010) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Rana (2009−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5502 | Athlon II X3 440 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+294%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($39) | ✅ More affordable ($10) |
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 E5502 and Athlon II X3 440
Xeon E5502
The Xeon E5502 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 March 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Gainestown (2009−2010) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.86 GHz, with boost up to 1.87 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1366. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,725 points. Launch price was $95.
Athlon II X3 440
The Athlon II X3 440 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 25 January 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Rana (2009−2011) architecture. It features 3 cores and 3 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,743 points. Launch price was $47.
Processing Power
The Xeon E5502 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Athlon II X3 440 offers 3 cores / 3 threads — the Athlon II X3 440 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 1.87 GHz on the Xeon E5502 versus 3 GHz on the Athlon II X3 440 — a 46.4% clock advantage for the Athlon II X3 440 (base: 1.86 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Xeon E5502 uses the Gainestown (2009−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Athlon II X3 440 uses Rana (2009−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5502 scores 1,725 against the Athlon II X3 440's 1,743 — a 1% lead for the Athlon II X3 440. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Xeon E5502 vs 0 kB on the Athlon II X3 440.
| Feature | Xeon E5502 | Athlon II X3 440 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 3 / 3+50% |
| Boost Clock | 1.87 GHz | 3 GHz+60% |
| Base Clock | 1.86 GHz | 3 GHz+61% |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 512 kB (per core)+100% |
| Process | 45 nm | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Gainestown (2009−2010) | Rana (2009−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,725 | 1,743+1% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 200 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 800 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5502 uses the LGA1366 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Athlon II X3 440 uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-800 memory speed. The Xeon E5502 supports up to 144 GB of RAM compared to 32 GB — 127.3% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 3 (Xeon E5502) vs 2 (Athlon II X3 440). PCIe lanes: 32 (Xeon E5502) vs 0 (Athlon II X3 440) — the Xeon E5502 offers 32 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel 5500,Intel 5520,Intel X58 (Xeon E5502) and AMD AM3 (Athlon II X3 440).
| Feature | Xeon E5502 | Athlon II X3 440 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1366 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-800 | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 144 GB+350% | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | 3+50% | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 32 | 0 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: true (Xeon E5502) / not specified (Athlon II X3 440).
| Feature | Xeon E5502 | Athlon II X3 440 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | true | — |
Value Analysis
The Xeon E5502 launched at $188 MSRP, while the Athlon II X3 440 debuted at $75. At current prices ($39 vs $10), the Athlon II X3 440 is $29 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon E5502 delivers 44.2 pts/$ vs 174.3 pts/$ for the Athlon II X3 440 — making the Athlon II X3 440 the 119% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon E5502 | Athlon II X3 440 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $188 | $75-60% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $39 | $10-74% |
| Performance per Dollar | 44.2 | 174.3+294% |
| Release Date | 2009 | 2010 |
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