CPU
GPU
Xeon L5520
Xeon L5430
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 L5430 is on rank 972, 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 L5520
Performance Per Dollar Xeon L5430
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon L5520 | Xeon L5430 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($380) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Gainestown (2009−2010) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Harpertown (2007−2008) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon L5520 | Xeon L5430 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($380) |
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 L5430
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 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.
Processing Power
The Xeon L5520 packs 4 cores / 8 threads, matching the Xeon L5430's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.48 GHz on the Xeon L5520 versus 0.67 GHz on the Xeon L5430 — a 114.9% clock advantage for the Xeon L5520 (base: 2.26 GHz vs 2.66 GHz). The Xeon L5520 uses the Gainestown (2009−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Xeon L5430 uses Harpertown (2007−2008) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon L5520 scores 2,274 against the Xeon L5430's 2,260 — a 0.6% lead for the Xeon L5520. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Xeon L5520 vs 12 MB L2 Cache on the Xeon L5430.
| Feature | Xeon L5520 | Xeon L5430 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.48 GHz+270% | 0.67 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.26 GHz | 2.66 GHz+18% |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total) | 12 MB L2 Cache+50% |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 6 MB (total)+2300% |
| Process | 45 nm | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Gainestown (2009−2010) | Harpertown (2007−2008) |
| PassMark | 2,274 | 2,260 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon L5520 uses the LGA1366 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon L5430 uses LGA771 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon L5520 | Xeon L5430 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1366 | LGA771 |
| 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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