CPU
GPU
Xeon L5609
Opteron 4386
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 L5609 is positioned at rank 735 and the Opteron 4386 is on rank 945, so the Xeon L5609 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon L5609
Performance Per Dollar Opteron 4386
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon L5609 | Opteron 4386 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($229) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($459) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Westmere-EP (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Seoul (2012) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon L5609 | Opteron 4386 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+102%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($229) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($459) |
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 L5609 and Opteron 4386
Xeon L5609
The Xeon L5609 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Westmere-EP (2010−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.86 GHz, with boost up to 1.86 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1366. Thermal design power (TDP): 40 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,298 points. Launch price was $800.
Opteron 4386
The Opteron 4386 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Seoul (2012) architecture. It features 8 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 8192 kB (total). L2 cache: 8192 kB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: C32. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,273 points. Launch price was $800.
Processing Power
The Xeon L5609 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Opteron 4386 offers 8 cores / 8 threads — the Opteron 4386 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 1.86 GHz on the Xeon L5609 versus 3.8 GHz on the Opteron 4386 — a 68.6% clock advantage for the Opteron 4386 (base: 1.86 GHz vs 3.1 GHz). The Xeon L5609 uses the Westmere-EP (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the Opteron 4386 uses Seoul (2012) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon L5609 scores 3,298 against the Opteron 4386's 3,273 — a 0.8% lead for the Xeon L5609. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Xeon L5609 vs 8192 kB (total) on the Opteron 4386.
| Feature | Xeon L5609 | Opteron 4386 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 8 / 8+100% |
| Boost Clock | 1.86 GHz | 3.8 GHz+104% |
| Base Clock | 1.86 GHz | 3.1 GHz+67% |
| L3 Cache | 12 MB (total)+50% | 8192 kB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 8192 kB+3100% |
| Process | 32 nm | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Westmere-EP (2010−2011) | Seoul (2012) |
| PassMark | 3,298 | 3,273 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon L5609 uses the LGA1366 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Opteron 4386 uses C32 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon L5609 | Opteron 4386 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1366 | C32 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1866 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 128 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 42 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Xeon L5609) / AMD-V (Opteron 4386). Primary use case: Opteron 4386 targets Server.
| Feature | Xeon L5609 | Opteron 4386 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | AMD-V |
| Target Use | — | Server |
Value Analysis
The Xeon L5609 launched at $229 MSRP, while the Opteron 4386 debuted at $459. At current prices ($229 vs $459), the Xeon L5609 is $230 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon L5609 delivers 14.4 pts/$ vs 7.1 pts/$ for the Opteron 4386 — making the Xeon L5609 the 67.5% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon L5609 | Opteron 4386 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $229-50% | $459 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $229-50% | $459 |
| Performance per Dollar | 14.4+103% | 7.1 |
| Release Date | 2010 | 2012 |
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