FX-6120
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Xeon E3-1220
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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.
Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook
This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.
FX-6120
2012Why buy it
Trade-offs
- ❌Lower PassMark (3,853 vs 3,859).
- ❌Launch MSRP is still $188 MSRP, while Xeon E3-1220 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
- ❌18.8% higher power demand at 95W vs 80W.
Xeon E3-1220
2011Why buy it
- ✅+0.2% higher PassMark.
- ✅Draws 80W instead of 95W, a 15W reduction.
Trade-offs
- ❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.
FX-6120
2012Xeon E3-1220
2011Why buy it
Why buy it
- ✅+0.2% higher PassMark.
- ✅Draws 80W instead of 95W, a 15W reduction.
Trade-offs
- ❌Lower PassMark (3,853 vs 3,859).
- ❌Launch MSRP is still $188 MSRP, while Xeon E3-1220 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
- ❌18.8% higher power demand at 95W vs 80W.
Trade-offs
- ❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.
Quick Answers
So, is FX-6120 better than Xeon E3-1220?
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Games Benchmarks
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.
Path of Exile 2
| Preset | FX-6120 | Xeon E3-1220 |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p | ||
| low | 96 FPS | 96 FPS |
| medium | 96 FPS | 96 FPS |
| high | 96 FPS | 96 FPS |
| ultra | 96 FPS | 85 FPS |
| 1440p | ||
| low | 96 FPS | 96 FPS |
| medium | 96 FPS | 96 FPS |
| high | 94 FPS | 87 FPS |
| ultra | 78 FPS | 70 FPS |
| 4K | ||
| low | 65 FPS | 62 FPS |
| medium | 57 FPS | 56 FPS |
| high | 45 FPS | 43 FPS |
| ultra | 36 FPS | 34 FPS |
Counter-Strike 2
| Preset | FX-6120 | Xeon E3-1220 |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p | ||
| low | 96 FPS | 96 FPS |
| medium | 96 FPS | 96 FPS |
| high | 96 FPS | 96 FPS |
| ultra | 96 FPS | 96 FPS |
| 1440p | ||
| low | 96 FPS | 96 FPS |
| medium | 96 FPS | 96 FPS |
| high | 96 FPS | 96 FPS |
| ultra | 96 FPS | 88 FPS |
| 4K | ||
| low | 96 FPS | 96 FPS |
| medium | 96 FPS | 92 FPS |
| high | 96 FPS | 71 FPS |
| ultra | 96 FPS | 51 FPS |
League of Legends
| Preset | FX-6120 | Xeon E3-1220 |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p | ||
| low | 96 FPS | 96 FPS |
| medium | 96 FPS | 96 FPS |
| high | 96 FPS | 96 FPS |
| ultra | 96 FPS | 96 FPS |
| 1440p | ||
| low | 96 FPS | 96 FPS |
| medium | 96 FPS | 96 FPS |
| high | 96 FPS | 96 FPS |
| ultra | 96 FPS | 96 FPS |
| 4K | ||
| low | 96 FPS | 96 FPS |
| medium | 96 FPS | 96 FPS |
| high | 96 FPS | 96 FPS |
| ultra | 96 FPS | 96 FPS |
Valorant
| Preset | FX-6120 | Xeon E3-1220 |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p | ||
| low | 96 FPS | 96 FPS |
| medium | 96 FPS | 96 FPS |
| high | 96 FPS | 96 FPS |
| ultra | 96 FPS | 96 FPS |
| 1440p | ||
| low | 96 FPS | 96 FPS |
| medium | 96 FPS | 96 FPS |
| high | 96 FPS | 96 FPS |
| ultra | 96 FPS | 96 FPS |
| 4K | ||
| low | 96 FPS | 96 FPS |
| medium | 96 FPS | 96 FPS |
| high | 96 FPS | 96 FPS |
| ultra | 96 FPS | 96 FPS |
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of FX-6120 and Xeon E3-1220
FX-6120
FX-6120
The FX-6120 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 23 October 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Zambezi (2011−2012) architecture. It features 6 cores and 6 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 6 MB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: AM3+. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,853 points. Launch price was $69.
Xeon E3-1220
Xeon E3-1220
The Xeon E3-1220 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 April 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,859 points. Launch price was $395.
Processing Power
The FX-6120 packs 6 cores / 6 threads, while the Xeon E3-1220 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the FX-6120 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.2 GHz on the FX-6120 versus 3.4 GHz on the Xeon E3-1220 — a 21.1% clock advantage for the FX-6120 (base: 3.6 GHz vs 3.1 GHz). The FX-6120 uses the Zambezi (2011−2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Xeon E3-1220 uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the FX-6120 scores 3,853 against the Xeon E3-1220's 3,859 — a 0.2% lead for the Xeon E3-1220. Both processors carry 8 MB (total) of L3 cache.
| Feature | FX-6120 | Xeon E3-1220 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 6+50% | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 4.2 GHz+24% | 3.4 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.6 GHz+16% | 3.1 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total) | 8 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 6 MB+2300% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Zambezi (2011−2012) | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) |
| PassMark | 3,853 | 3,859 |
Memory & Platform
The FX-6120 uses the AM3+ socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon E3-1220 uses LGA1155 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | FX-6120 | Xeon E3-1220 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3+ | LGA1155 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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