
Xeon W3520 vs Core 2 Duo P8800

Xeon W3520

Core 2 Duo P8800
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 W3520 is positioned at rank 861 and the Core 2 Duo P8800 is on rank 128, so the Core 2 Duo P8800 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon W3520
Performance Per Dollar Core 2 Duo P8800
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon W3520 | Core 2 Duo P8800 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Bloomfield (2008−2010) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Penryn (2008−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon W3520 | Core 2 Duo P8800 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) | ✅ 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 W3520 and Core 2 Duo P8800

Xeon W3520
The Xeon W3520 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 March 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Bloomfield (2008−2010) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.66 GHz, with boost up to 2.93 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1366. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,940 points. Launch price was $404.

Core 2 Duo P8800
The Core 2 Duo P8800 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 April 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.66 GHz, with boost up to 2.66 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB L2 Cache. L2 cache: 3 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: PGA478. Thermal design power (TDP): 25 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 2,932 points. Launch price was $241.
Processing Power
The Xeon W3520 packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Core 2 Duo P8800 offers 2 cores / 2 threads — the Xeon W3520 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.93 GHz on the Xeon W3520 versus 2.66 GHz on the Core 2 Duo P8800 — a 9.7% clock advantage for the Xeon W3520 (base: 2.66 GHz vs 2.66 GHz). The Xeon W3520 uses the Bloomfield (2008−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Core 2 Duo P8800 uses Penryn (2008−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon W3520 scores 2,940 against the Core 2 Duo P8800's 2,932 — a 0.3% lead for the Xeon W3520. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Xeon W3520 vs 3 MB L2 Cache on the Core 2 Duo P8800.
| Feature | Xeon W3520 | Core 2 Duo P8800 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8+100% | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.93 GHz+10% | 2.66 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.66 GHz | 2.66 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total)+167% | 3 MB L2 Cache |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 3 MB+1100% |
| Process | 45 nm | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Bloomfield (2008−2010) | Penryn (2008−2011) |
| PassMark | 2,940 | 2,932 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon W3520 uses the LGA1366 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core 2 Duo P8800 uses PGA478 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon W3520 | Core 2 Duo P8800 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1366 | PGA478 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0+82% | PCIe 1.1 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.















