CPU
GPU
Xeon L5520
Xeon E3-1220L
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 Xeon E3-1220L is on rank 812, so the Xeon E3-1220L 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 Xeon E3-1220L
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon L5520 | Xeon E3-1220L |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($27) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Gainestown (2009−2010) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon L5520 | Xeon E3-1220L |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($27) |
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 Xeon E3-1220L
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.
Xeon E3-1220L
The Xeon E3-1220L is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 20 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,263 points. Launch price was $800.
Processing Power
The Xeon L5520 packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Xeon E3-1220L offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Xeon L5520 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.48 GHz on the Xeon L5520 versus 3.4 GHz on the Xeon E3-1220L — a 31.3% clock advantage for the Xeon E3-1220L (base: 2.26 GHz vs 2.2 GHz). The Xeon L5520 uses the Gainestown (2009−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Xeon E3-1220L uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon L5520 scores 2,274 against the Xeon E3-1220L's 2,263 — a 0.5% lead for the Xeon L5520. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Xeon L5520 vs 3 MB (total) on the Xeon E3-1220L.
| Feature | Xeon L5520 | Xeon E3-1220L |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.48 GHz | 3.4 GHz+37% |
| Base Clock | 2.26 GHz+3% | 2.2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total)+167% | 3 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 32 nm-29% |
| Architecture | Gainestown (2009−2010) | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) |
| PassMark | 2,274 | 2,263 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon L5520 uses the LGA1366 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon E3-1220L uses LGA1155 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon L5520 | Xeon E3-1220L |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1366 | LGA1155 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
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