Xeon E5-2620

The Xeon E5-2620 is a 6-core / 12-thread processor based on the Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) architecture, manufactured on a 32 nm process node. It reaches a maximum boost clock of 2.5 GHz from a base frequency of 2 GHz— higher boost clocks directly translate to better single-threaded performance and responsiveness in gaming. With a massive 15360 kB (total) L3 cache (3D V-Cache technology), this processor has a significant gaming advantage — the large cache drastically reduces memory latency in game engines., plus 256 kB (per core) of L2 cache and 64 kB (per core) of L1 cache per core. In the PassMark benchmark (a comprehensive multi-threaded test), it scores 5,328, placing it in the Entry Level performance tier as a Legacy generation product.

The Xeon E5-2620 fits into the LGA2011 socket and supports PCIe 2.0 with 40 total PCIe lanes for expansion cards and storage. It supports DDR3 memory at speeds up to DDR3-1333 (faster RAM improves bandwidth-sensitive workloads), with a maximum capacity of 384 GB across 4 channels (dual-channel doubles bandwidth). It supports ECC memory, providing error-correcting capabilities — essential for mission-critical workloads and servers.

The Xeon E5-2620 has a rated TDP (Thermal Design Power) of 95 Watt — this indicates the amount of heat generated under sustained load and determines what cooling solution is needed.

At an average price of $89 (MSRP: $360), the Xeon E5-2620 delivers 60 PassMark points per dollar. It currently holds Rank #722 in the overall cost-benefit ranking — this ranking factors in performance-per-dollar relative to all available processors. Performance ranking position: #1831 out of all indexed processors.