Xeon X3480 vs Xeon L5609
Xeon X3480
Xeon L5609
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 L5609 is on rank 735, so the Xeon L5609 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 L5609
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon X3480 | Xeon L5609 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($48) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($229) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Lynnfield (2009−2010) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Westmere-EP (2010−2011) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon X3480 | Xeon L5609 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+381%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($48) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($229) |
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 L5609
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 L5609
The Xeon L5609 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Westmere-EP (2010−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.86 GHz, with boost up to 1.86 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1366. Thermal design power (TDP): 40 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,298 points. Launch price was $800.
Processing Power
The Xeon X3480 packs 4 cores / 8 threads, matching the Xeon L5609's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.73 GHz on the Xeon X3480 versus 1.86 GHz on the Xeon L5609 — a 66.9% clock advantage for the Xeon X3480 (base: 3.06 GHz vs 1.86 GHz). The Xeon X3480 uses the Lynnfield (2009−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Xeon L5609 uses Westmere-EP (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon X3480 scores 3,327 against the Xeon L5609's 3,298 — a 0.9% lead for the Xeon X3480. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Xeon X3480 vs 12 MB (total) on the Xeon L5609.
| Feature | Xeon X3480 | Xeon L5609 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.73 GHz+101% | 1.86 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.06 GHz+65% | 1.86 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total) | 12 MB (total)+50% |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 32 nm-29% |
| Architecture | Lynnfield (2009−2010) | Westmere-EP (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 3,327 | 3,298 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon X3480 uses the LGA1156 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon L5609 uses LGA1366 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon X3480 | Xeon L5609 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1156 | LGA1366 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
Value Analysis
The Xeon X3480 launched at $612 MSRP, while the Xeon L5609 debuted at $229. At current prices ($48 vs $229), the Xeon X3480 is $181 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon X3480 delivers 69.3 pts/$ vs 14.4 pts/$ for the Xeon L5609 — making the Xeon X3480 the 131.2% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon X3480 | Xeon L5609 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $612 | $229-63% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $48-79% | $229 |
| Performance per Dollar | 69.3+381% | 14.4 |
| Release Date | 2010 | 2010 |
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