Xeon W3520 vs Xeon E5-2609
Xeon W3520
Xeon E5-2609
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 Xeon E5-2609 is on rank 725, so the Xeon E5-2609 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 Xeon E5-2609
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon W3520 | Xeon E5-2609 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Bloomfield (2008−2010) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon W3520 | Xeon E5-2609 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Xeon E5-2609
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.
Xeon E5-2609
The Xeon E5-2609 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 6 March 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 10240 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,943 points. Launch price was $143.
Processing Power
The Xeon W3520 packs 4 cores / 8 threads, matching the Xeon E5-2609's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.93 GHz on the Xeon W3520 versus 2.4 GHz on the Xeon E5-2609 — a 19.9% clock advantage for the Xeon W3520 (base: 2.66 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Xeon W3520 uses the Bloomfield (2008−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Xeon E5-2609 uses Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon W3520 scores 2,940 against the Xeon E5-2609's 2,943 — a 0.1% lead for the Xeon E5-2609. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Xeon W3520 vs 10240 kB (total) on the Xeon E5-2609.
| Feature | Xeon W3520 | Xeon E5-2609 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.93 GHz+22% | 2.4 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.66 GHz+11% | 2.4 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total) | 10240 kB (total)+25% |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 32 nm-29% |
| Architecture | Bloomfield (2008−2010) | Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) |
| PassMark | 2,940 | 2,943 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon W3520 uses the LGA1366 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon E5-2609 uses LGA2011 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon W3520 | Xeon E5-2609 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1366 | LGA2011 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
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