Xeon W3520 vs Xeon E5-2637
Xeon W3520
Xeon E5-2637
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 E5-2637 is on rank 1010, 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 Xeon E5-2637
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon W3520 | Xeon E5-2637 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($40) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Bloomfield (2008−2010) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon W3520 | Xeon E5-2637 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+163%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($40) |
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 E5-2637
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 E5-2637
The Xeon E5-2637 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 5120 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: 2,978 points. Launch price was $800.
Processing Power
The Xeon W3520 packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Xeon E5-2637 offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Xeon W3520 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.93 GHz on the Xeon W3520 versus 3.5 GHz on the Xeon E5-2637 — a 17.7% clock advantage for the Xeon E5-2637 (base: 2.66 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Xeon W3520 uses the Bloomfield (2008−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Xeon E5-2637 uses Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon W3520 scores 2,940 against the Xeon E5-2637's 2,978 — a 1.3% lead for the Xeon E5-2637. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Xeon W3520 vs 5120 kB (total) on the Xeon E5-2637.
| Feature | Xeon W3520 | Xeon E5-2637 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.93 GHz | 3.5 GHz+19% |
| Base Clock | 2.66 GHz | 3 GHz+13% |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total)+60% | 5120 kB (total) |
| 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 | 2,978+1% |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 2,000 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 550 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 1,500 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon W3520 uses the LGA1366 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon E5-2637 uses LGA2011 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon W3520 | Xeon E5-2637 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1366 | LGA2011 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 4.0+100% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 384 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 4 |
| ECC Support | — | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 40 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Xeon W3520) / VT-x, VT-d (Xeon E5-2637). Primary use case: Xeon E5-2637 targets Server.
| Feature | Xeon W3520 | Xeon E5-2637 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | — | Server |
Value Analysis
The Xeon W3520 launched at $284 MSRP, while the Xeon E5-2637 debuted at $885. At current prices ($15 vs $40), the Xeon W3520 is $25 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon W3520 delivers 196.0 pts/$ vs 74.5 pts/$ for the Xeon E5-2637 — making the Xeon W3520 the 89.9% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon W3520 | Xeon E5-2637 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $284-68% | $885 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $15-63% | $40 |
| Performance per Dollar | 196.0+163% | 74.5 |
| Release Date | 2009 | 2012 |
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