Xeon X3480 vs Xeon E5-2609 v2
Xeon X3480
Xeon E5-2609 v2
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 Xeon E5-2609 v2 is on rank 667, so the Xeon E5-2609 v2 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 Xeon E5-2609 v2
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon X3480 | Xeon E5-2609 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($48) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Lynnfield (2009−2010) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge-EP (2013) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon X3480 | Xeon E5-2609 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Xeon E5-2609 v2
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.
Xeon E5-2609 v2
The Xeon E5-2609 v2 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge-EP (2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 2.5 GHz. L3 cache: 10 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,369 points. Launch price was $396.
Processing Power
The Xeon X3480 packs 4 cores / 8 threads, matching the Xeon E5-2609 v2's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.73 GHz on the Xeon X3480 versus 2.5 GHz on the Xeon E5-2609 v2 — a 39.5% clock advantage for the Xeon X3480 (base: 3.06 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The Xeon X3480 uses the Lynnfield (2009−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Xeon E5-2609 v2 uses Ivy Bridge-EP (2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon X3480 scores 3,327 against the Xeon E5-2609 v2's 3,369 — a 1.3% lead for the Xeon E5-2609 v2. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Xeon X3480 vs 10 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-2609 v2.
| Feature | Xeon X3480 | Xeon E5-2609 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.73 GHz+49% | 2.5 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.06 GHz+22% | 2.5 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total) | 10 MB (total)+25% |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 22 nm-51% |
| Architecture | Lynnfield (2009−2010) | Ivy Bridge-EP (2013) |
| PassMark | 3,327 | 3,369+1% |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon X3480 uses the LGA1156 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon E5-2609 v2 uses LGA2011 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon X3480 | Xeon E5-2609 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1156 | LGA2011 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
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