Xeon W3520 vs Core i5-4300M
Xeon W3520
Core i5-4300M
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 i5-4300M is on rank 1017, so the Xeon W3520 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 i5-4300M
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon W3520 | Core i5-4300M |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($227) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Bloomfield (2008−2010) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon W3520 | Core i5-4300M |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+1403%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($227) |
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 i5-4300M
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 i5-4300M
The Core i5-4300M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.3 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: PGA946. Thermal design power (TDP): 37 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,960 points. Launch price was $227.
Processing Power
The Xeon W3520 packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Core i5-4300M offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Xeon W3520 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.93 GHz on the Xeon W3520 versus 3.3 GHz on the Core i5-4300M — a 11.9% clock advantage for the Core i5-4300M (base: 2.66 GHz vs 2.6 GHz). The Xeon W3520 uses the Bloomfield (2008−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i5-4300M uses Haswell (2013−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon W3520 scores 2,940 against the Core i5-4300M's 2,960 — a 0.7% lead for the Core i5-4300M. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Xeon W3520 vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i5-4300M.
| Feature | Xeon W3520 | Core i5-4300M |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.93 GHz | 3.3 GHz+13% |
| Base Clock | 2.66 GHz+2% | 2.6 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total)+167% | 3 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 22 nm-51% |
| Architecture | Bloomfield (2008−2010) | Haswell (2013−2015) |
| PassMark | 2,940 | 2,960 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon W3520 uses the LGA1366 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i5-4300M uses PGA946 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon W3520 | Core i5-4300M |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1366 | PGA946 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
Value Analysis
The Xeon W3520 launched at $284 MSRP, while the Core i5-4300M debuted at $227.
| Feature | Xeon W3520 | Core i5-4300M |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $284 | $227-20% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $15 | — |
| Release Date | 2009 | 2013 |
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