CPU
GPU
Xeon L5520
Opteron 3260 HE
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 L5520 is positioned at rank 832 and the Opteron 3260 HE is on rank 214, so the Opteron 3260 HE offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon L5520
Performance Per Dollar Opteron 3260 HE
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon L5520 | Opteron 3260 HE |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Gainestown (2009−2010) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Zurich (2012) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon L5520 | Opteron 3260 HE |
|---|---|---|
| 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 L5520 and Opteron 3260 HE
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.
Opteron 3260 HE
The Opteron 3260 HE is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 20 March 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Zurich (2012) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 4 MB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: AM3+. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,283 points. Launch price was $125.
Processing Power
The Xeon L5520 packs 4 cores / 8 threads, matching the Opteron 3260 HE's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.48 GHz on the Xeon L5520 versus 3.7 GHz on the Opteron 3260 HE — a 39.5% clock advantage for the Opteron 3260 HE (base: 2.26 GHz vs 2.7 GHz). The Xeon L5520 uses the Gainestown (2009−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Opteron 3260 HE uses Zurich (2012) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon L5520 scores 2,274 against the Opteron 3260 HE's 2,283 — a 0.4% lead for the Opteron 3260 HE. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Xeon L5520 vs 4 MB (total) on the Opteron 3260 HE.
| Feature | Xeon L5520 | Opteron 3260 HE |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.48 GHz | 3.7 GHz+49% |
| Base Clock | 2.26 GHz | 2.7 GHz+19% |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total)+100% | 4 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 4 MB+1500% |
| Process | 45 nm | 32 nm-29% |
| Architecture | Gainestown (2009−2010) | Zurich (2012) |
| PassMark | 2,274 | 2,283 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon L5520 uses the LGA1366 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Opteron 3260 HE uses AM3+ (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon L5520 | Opteron 3260 HE |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1366 | AM3+ |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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