Xeon X3480 vs Opteron X3421
Xeon X3480
Opteron X3421
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 X3480 is positioned at rank 981 and the Opteron X3421 is on rank 102, so the Opteron X3421 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon X3480
Performance Per Dollar Opteron X3421
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon X3480 | Opteron X3421 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($48) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Lynnfield (2009−2010) / 45 nm) | ✨ Modern (Excavator (2017−2018) / 28 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon X3480 | Opteron X3421 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($48) | ✅ 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 X3480 and Opteron X3421
Xeon X3480
The Xeon X3480 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 May 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Lynnfield (2009−2010) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.06 GHz, with boost up to 3.73 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1156. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-800, DDR3-1066, DDR3-1333. Passmark benchmark score: 3,327 points. Launch price was $612.
Opteron X3421
The Opteron X3421 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Excavator (2017−2018) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L2 cache: 2 MB (total). Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: FP4. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 3,306 points. Launch price was $800.
Processing Power
The Xeon X3480 packs 4 cores / 8 threads, matching the Opteron X3421's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.73 GHz on the Xeon X3480 versus 3.4 GHz on the Opteron X3421 — a 9.3% clock advantage for the Xeon X3480 (base: 3.06 GHz vs 2.1 GHz). The Xeon X3480 uses the Lynnfield (2009−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Opteron X3421 uses Excavator (2017−2018) (28 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon X3480 scores 3,327 against the Opteron X3421's 3,306 — a 0.6% lead for the Xeon X3480.
| Feature | Xeon X3480 | Opteron X3421 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.73 GHz+10% | 3.4 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.06 GHz+46% | 2.1 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total) | — |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 2 MB (total)+700% |
| Process | 45 nm | 28 nm-38% |
| Architecture | Lynnfield (2009−2010) | Excavator (2017−2018) |
| PassMark | 3,327 | 3,306 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon X3480 uses the LGA1156 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Opteron X3421 uses FP4 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon X3480 | Opteron X3421 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1156 | FP4 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Xeon X3480 and Opteron X3421
