CPU
GPU
Xeon L5430
Xeon L5520
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 L5430 is positioned at rank 972 and the Xeon L5520 is on rank 832, so the Xeon L5520 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon L5430
Performance Per Dollar Xeon L5520
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon L5430 | Xeon L5520 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($380) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Harpertown (2007−2008) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Gainestown (2009−2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon L5430 | Xeon L5520 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($380) | ✅ 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 L5430 and Xeon L5520
Xeon L5430
The Xeon L5430 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 8 September 2008 (17 years ago). It is based on the Harpertown (2007−2008) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.66 GHz, with boost up to 0.67 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB L2 Cache. L2 cache: 6 MB (total). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA771. Thermal design power (TDP): 50 Watt. Memory support: DDR2, DDR3 Depends on motherboard. Passmark benchmark score: 2,260 points. Launch price was $562.
Xeon L5520
The Xeon L5520 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 2.48 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1366. Thermal design power (TDP): 60 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,274 points. Launch price was $100.
Processing Power
The Xeon L5430 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, matching the Xeon L5520's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 0.67 GHz on the Xeon L5430 versus 2.48 GHz on the Xeon L5520 — a 114.9% clock advantage for the Xeon L5520 (base: 2.66 GHz vs 2.26 GHz). The Xeon L5430 uses the Harpertown (2007−2008) architecture (45 nm), while the Xeon L5520 uses Gainestown (2009−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon L5430 scores 2,260 against the Xeon L5520's 2,274 — a 0.6% lead for the Xeon L5520. L3 cache: 12 MB L2 Cache on the Xeon L5430 vs 8 MB (total) on the Xeon L5520.
| Feature | Xeon L5430 | Xeon L5520 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 0.67 GHz | 2.48 GHz+270% |
| Base Clock | 2.66 GHz+18% | 2.26 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 12 MB L2 Cache+50% | 8 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 6 MB (total)+2300% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Harpertown (2007−2008) | Gainestown (2009−2010) |
| PassMark | 2,260 | 2,274 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon L5430 uses the LGA771 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon L5520 uses LGA1366 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon L5430 | Xeon L5520 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA771 | LGA1366 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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