Xeon E5462

The Xeon E5462 is a 4-core / 4-thread processor based on the Harpertown (2007−2008) architecture, manufactured on a 45 nm process node. It reaches a maximum boost clock of 2.8 GHz from a base frequency of 2.8 GHz— higher boost clocks directly translate to better single-threaded performance and responsiveness in gaming. With a massive 12 MB L2 Cache L3 cache (3D V-Cache technology), this processor has a significant gaming advantage — the large cache drastically reduces memory latency in game engines., plus 6 MB (total) of L2 cache and 64 kB (per core) of L1 cache per core. In the PassMark benchmark (a comprehensive multi-threaded test), it scores 2,213, placing it in the Entry Level performance tier as a Legacy generation product. Geekbench 6 single-core (the most relevant metric for gaming FPS) records 363, while multi-core reaches 1,239.

The Xeon E5462 fits into the LGA771 socket and supports PCIe 2.0 with 16 total PCIe lanes for expansion cards and storage. It supports DDR2, DDR3 Depends on motherboard memory at speeds up to DDR2 (faster RAM improves bandwidth-sensitive workloads), with a maximum capacity of 64 GB across 2 channels (dual-channel doubles bandwidth). It supports ECC memory, providing error-correcting capabilities — essential for mission-critical workloads and servers.

The Xeon E5462 is primarily designed for Server. Virtualization: VT-x — enables running virtual machines efficiently (important for development and server workloads). Its primary market competitor is the Athlon 64 X2 4000+.

The Xeon E5462 has a rated TDP (Thermal Design Power) of 80 Watt — this indicates the amount of heat generated under sustained load and determines what cooling solution is needed. No stock cooler is included — you will need to purchase an aftermarket cooler separately. Recommended cooling: Tower 140mm.

At an average price of $45 (MSRP: $342), the Xeon E5462 delivers 49 PassMark points per dollar. Performance ranking position: #2502 out of all indexed processors.