Xeon L3406 vs Core 2 Extreme X7900
Xeon L3406
Core 2 Extreme X7900
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 L3406 is positioned at rank 969 and the Core 2 Extreme X7900 is on rank 1162, so the Xeon L3406 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon L3406
Performance Per Dollar Core 2 Extreme X7900
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon L3406 | Core 2 Extreme X7900 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($30) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Legacy / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Merom (2006−2008) / 65 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon L3406 | Core 2 Extreme X7900 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($30) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 L3406 and Core 2 Extreme X7900
Xeon L3406
The Xeon L3406 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.26 GHz, with boost up to 2.53 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB Intel® Smart Cache. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1156. Thermal design power (TDP): 30 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1066. Passmark benchmark score: 1,104 points. Launch price was $800.
Core 2 Extreme X7900
The Core 2 Extreme X7900 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2007 (18 years ago). It is based on the Merom (2006−2008) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 4 MB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: PGA478. Thermal design power (TDP): 44 Watt. Memory support: DDR1. Passmark benchmark score: 1,115 points. Launch price was $851.
Processing Power
The Xeon L3406 packs 2 cores / 4 threads, matching the Core 2 Extreme X7900's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.53 GHz on the Xeon L3406 versus 2.8 GHz on the Core 2 Extreme X7900 — a 10.1% clock advantage for the Core 2 Extreme X7900 (base: 2.26 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Core 2 Extreme X7900 is built on the Merom (2006−2008) architecture. In PassMark, the Xeon L3406 scores 1,104 against the Core 2 Extreme X7900's 1,115 — a 1% lead for the Core 2 Extreme X7900. L3 cache: 4 MB Intel® Smart Cache on the Xeon L3406 vs 0 kB on the Core 2 Extreme X7900.
| Feature | Xeon L3406 | Core 2 Extreme X7900 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.53 GHz | 2.8 GHz+11% |
| Base Clock | 2.26 GHz | 2.8 GHz+24% |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB Intel® Smart Cache | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | — | 4 MB |
| Process | 32 nm-51% | 65 nm |
| Architecture | — | Merom (2006−2008) |
| PassMark | 1,104 | 1,115 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon L3406 uses the LGA1156 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core 2 Extreme X7900 uses PGA478 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon L3406 | Core 2 Extreme X7900 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1156 | PGA478 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0+82% | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR2-667 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 4 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 0 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Xeon L3406) / VT-x (Core 2 Extreme X7900). Primary use case: Core 2 Extreme X7900 targets Mobile.
| Feature | Xeon L3406 | Core 2 Extreme X7900 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| Unlocked | — | Yes |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x |
| Target Use | — | Mobile |
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