
Xeon E5520 vs Atom x7213RE

Xeon E5520

Atom x7213RE
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 E5520 is positioned at rank 788 and the Atom x7213RE is on rank 401, so the Atom x7213RE offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5520
Performance Per Dollar Atom x7213RE
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5520 | Atom x7213RE |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Gainestown (2009−2010) / 45 nm) | ✨ Modern (Amston Lake (2024−2025) / 10 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5520 | Atom x7213RE |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 E5520 and Atom x7213RE

Xeon E5520
The Xeon E5520 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 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.26 GHz, with boost up to 2.53 GHz. L3 cache: 8 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: 2,541 points. Launch price was $19.

Atom x7213RE
The Atom x7213RE is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 8 April 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Amston Lake (2024−2025) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (total). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1264. Thermal design power (TDP): 9 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 2,538 points. Launch price was $42.
Processing Power
The Xeon E5520 packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Atom x7213RE offers 2 cores / 2 threads — the Xeon E5520 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.53 GHz on the Xeon E5520 versus 3.4 GHz on the Atom x7213RE — a 29.3% clock advantage for the Atom x7213RE (base: 2.26 GHz vs 2 GHz). The Xeon E5520 uses the Gainestown (2009−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Atom x7213RE uses Amston Lake (2024−2025) (10 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5520 scores 2,541 against the Atom x7213RE's 2,538 — a 0.1% lead for the Xeon E5520. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Xeon E5520 vs 6 MB (total) on the Atom x7213RE.
| Feature | Xeon E5520 | Atom x7213RE |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8+100% | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.53 GHz | 3.4 GHz+34% |
| Base Clock | 2.26 GHz+13% | 2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total)+33% | 6 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 2 MB (total)+700% |
| Process | 45 nm | 10 nm-78% |
| Architecture | Gainestown (2009−2010) | Amston Lake (2024−2025) |
| PassMark | 2,541 | 2,538 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5520 uses the LGA1366 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Atom x7213RE uses FCBGA1264 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E5520 | Atom x7213RE |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1366 | FCBGA1264 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 4.0+100% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR5-4800 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 16 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 1 |
| ECC Support | — | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 9 |
Advanced Features
The Atom x7213RE includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics (16EU)), while the Xeon E5520 requires a dedicated GPU.
| Feature | Xeon E5520 | Atom x7213RE |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Intel UHD Graphics (16EU) |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.















