Xeon W3520 vs Ryzen 7 3700X
Xeon W3520
Ryzen 7 3700X
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. The Xeon W3520 is positioned at rank #861 in our cost-efficiency ranking, representing a Lower cost-benefit for your build. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon W3520
Performance Per Dollar Ryzen 7 3700X
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon W3520 | Ryzen 7 3700X |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($140) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Bloomfield (2008−2010) / 45 nm) | ✨ Modern (Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) / 7 nm, 12 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon W3520 | Ryzen 7 3700X |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+22%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($140) |
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 Ryzen 7 3700X
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.
Ryzen 7 3700X
The Ryzen 7 3700X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 7 July 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 22,430 points. Launch price was $329.
Processing Power
The Xeon W3520 packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Ryzen 7 3700X offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Ryzen 7 3700X has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.93 GHz on the Xeon W3520 versus 4.4 GHz on the Ryzen 7 3700X — a 40.1% clock advantage for the Ryzen 7 3700X (base: 2.66 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Xeon W3520 uses the Bloomfield (2008−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Ryzen 7 3700X uses Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon W3520 scores 2,940 against the Ryzen 7 3700X's 22,430 — a 153.6% lead for the Ryzen 7 3700X. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Xeon W3520 vs 32 MB on the Ryzen 7 3700X.
| Feature | Xeon W3520 | Ryzen 7 3700X |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 8 / 16+100% |
| Boost Clock | 2.93 GHz | 4.4 GHz+50% |
| Base Clock | 2.66 GHz | 3.6 GHz+35% |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total) | 32 MB+300% |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 512K (per core)+100% |
| Process | 45 nm | 7 nm, 12 nm-84% |
| Architecture | Bloomfield (2008−2010) | Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) |
| PassMark | 2,940 | 22,430+663% |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon W3520 uses the LGA1366 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Ryzen 7 3700X uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon W3520 | Ryzen 7 3700X |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1366 | AM4 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 4.0+100% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR4-3200 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 128 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 24 |
Value Analysis
The Xeon W3520 launched at $284 MSRP, while the Ryzen 7 3700X debuted at $329. At current prices ($15 vs $140), the Xeon W3520 is $125 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon W3520 delivers 196.0 pts/$ vs 160.2 pts/$ for the Ryzen 7 3700X — making the Xeon W3520 the 20.1% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon W3520 | Ryzen 7 3700X |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $284-14% | $329 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $15-89% | $140 |
| Performance per Dollar | 196.0+22% | 160.2 |
| Release Date | 2009 | 2019 |
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