Xeon E5420

Details and Benchmarks for Intel Xeon E5420

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Benchmark Results

Combined benchmark scores based on multiple data points, giving a quick overview of this processor's performance.

Overall Score

Overall score for Xeon E5420 based on all benchmark results gathered. Look at this like a meta score, you will find more specific workload ratings below.

4,289 Rank: 1541
Rank Name Score Visual
1537 Pentium B960 4,291
+0%
1538 A6-5357M 4,291
+0%
1539 Core i7-2635QM 4,289
+0%
1540 A6-6400K 4,289
+0%
1541 Xeon E5420 4,289
1542 Phenom II X4 925 4,288
+-0%
1543 Pentium E6600 4,288
+-0%
1544 Core 2 Duo P9700 4,286
-0.1%
1545 Phenom II X2 555 4,284
-0.1%
1546 A10-6700T 4,282
-0.2%

View full ranking →

Multicore Score

Multicore performance score for Xeon E5420 based on multi-threaded benchmark results.

4,470 Rank: 1283
Rank Name Score Visual
1279 Core i7-5600U 4,473
+0.1%
1280 Phenom II X6 1055T 4,473
+0.1%
1281 A8-7600 4,471
+0%
1282 Athlon Silver 7120U 4,471
+0%
1283 Xeon E5420 4,470
1284 Core i5-660 4,470
+0%
1285 Core i3-3240 4,469
+-0%
1286 Core i5-2300 4,468
+-0%
1287 Core M 5Y31 4,467
-0.1%
1288 Core i3-2350M 4,467
-0.1%

View full ranking →

Singlecore Score

Single-core performance score for Xeon E5420 based on single-threaded benchmark results.

4,169 Rank: 1610
Rank Name Score Visual
1606 Phenom II X4 925 4,172
+0.1%
1607 Core 2 Duo P9500 4,172
+0.1%
1608 Celeron N4000 4,171
+0%
1609 Core 2 Duo E7500 4,171
+0%
1610 Xeon E5420 4,169
1611 Core i7-920XM 4,169
+0%
1612 Celeron 1005M 4,167
+-0%
1613 Athlon II X2 240 4,166
-0.1%
1614 Athlon II X2 220 4,166
-0.1%
1615 Pentium 3825U 4,166
-0.1%

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Workload Scores

Performance scores grouped by workload type, normalized and aggregated from multiple raw benchmark results.

Number Crunching

Aggregated score for Xeon E5420 based on integer math, floating point math, and prime number computation benchmarks.

4,550 Rank: 1169
Rank Name Score Visual
1165 Pentium Silver N6000 4,551
+0%
1166 Athlon X4 730 4,551
+0%
1167 Core i7-5650U 4,550
+0%
1168 Core i7-3540M 4,550
+0%
1169 Xeon E5420 4,550
1170 Core i3-4160T 4,550
+0%
1171 Core i7-6500U 4,549
+-0%
1172 Core i5-7200U 4,549
+-0%
1173 Core i3-7167U 4,549
+-0%
1174 Pentium G3430 4,549
+-0%

View full ranking →

Data Processing

Aggregated score for Xeon E5420 based on data encryption, data compression, and string sorting benchmarks.

4,515 Rank: 1245
Rank Name Score Visual
1241 Core i5-6200U 4,515
+0%
1242 Core i3-2120 4,515
+0%
1243 Athlon II X3 460 4,515
+0%
1244 Phenom II X4 810 4,515
+0%
1245 Xeon E5420 4,515
1246 Athlon Silver 3050U 4,515
+0%
1247 Pentium G4500 4,514
+-0%
1248 Core i3-6100H 4,514
+-0%
1249 Core i5-3230M 4,514
+-0%
1250 A8-6500 4,514
+-0%

View full ranking →

Physics & Compute

Aggregated score for Xeon E5420 based on physics simulation and extended instruction set (SSE/AVX) benchmarks.

4,498 Rank: 1424
Rank Name Score Visual
1420 Celeron G1830 4,498
+0%
1421 Pentium G870 4,498
+0%
1422 Pentium G645 4,498
+0%
1423 Phenom II X4 810 4,498
+0%
1424 Xeon E5420 4,498
1425 Phenom II X3 B77 4,498
+0%
1426 Celeron N4100 4,497
+-0%
1427 Xeon X5472 4,497
+-0%
1428 Celeron G1620 4,497
+-0%
1429 Celeron G1610 4,497
+-0%

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Xeon E5420 Details

The Intel Xeon E5420 stands as a relic of an earlier era in server and workstation computing, released during a time when multi-core performance was still evolving and integrated graphics were beginning to gain prominence. As of March 2026, this processor is over 20 years old, placing it firmly in the category of legacy hardware. Despite its age, the Xeon E5420 retains relevance in niche environments where legacy system compatibility is essential, particularly in older data centers or embedded systems still relying on LGA771 socket infrastructure.

Designed on Intel's 45 nm process, the Xeon E5420 features a quad-core configuration with four threads, leveraging a base clock speed of 2.5 GHz and a turbo frequency of 2.66 GHz. This modest performance is supported by a 1333 MHz front-side bus and a 65 W TDP, making it energy-efficient for its time but significantly outpaced by modern processors. The chip supports DDR3L and LPDDR memory types, with a maximum capacity of 16 GB and a memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s across two channels. It also includes Intel's integrated HD Graphics 5500, which operates at a base frequency of 300 MHz and can boost up to 850 MHz, capable of driving up to three displays simultaneously.

While the Xeon E5420 lacks modern instruction set extensions such as AVX-512 or support for DDR5 memory, it does include a suite of enterprise-grade features including ECC memory support, VT-x virtualization, and Intel vPro technology, making it suitable for older virtualized environments. However, its performance metrics reflect its outdated architecture. In benchmark testing, the processor achieves an Overall Score of 4289, ranking #1539 of 2060, with a Singlecore Score of 4169 (#1610 of 2060) and a Multicore Score of 4470 (#1283 of 2060). These results place it well behind contemporary CPUs, even among entry-level modern processors.

In competitive comparison, the Xeon E5420 is outperformed by nearly every current generation of CPU, even in the low-end segment. It sits just below the Core i3-3240 and Core i5-2300, both of which offer more efficient architectures and significantly better performance despite their own age. Its strongest performance category is multicore, where it ranks relatively higher than in single-core tests, suggesting that its quad-core design, while modest by today’s standards, still provides some benefit in parallel workloads.

In conclusion, the Xeon E5420 is best suited for legacy systems requiring compatibility with older software or hardware platforms. It is not competitive in modern computing tasks such as content creation, gaming, or high-performance computing. For users seeking modern performance, the Xeon E5420 serves as a historical artifact rather than a practical solution, highlighting the rapid pace of advancement in CPU design and performance.
Frequently Compared

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Intel Xeon E5420

Main Specifications

Designer: Intel
Name: Xeon E5420
Model Number: E5420
Cores: 4
Threads: 4
Base Frequency: 2500 MHz
Socket: LGA771
Max CPUs: 1
TDP: 80 W

Cache Specifications

Memory Specifications

Supported Memory Type: DDR3L 1333/1600 LPDDR 1333 /1600
Memory Channels: 2
Maximum Memory: 0 GB
Maximum Bandwidth: 25.6 GB/s
ECC Support: No

PCI-Express Specifications

PCIe Revision: 2.0
PCIe Lanes: 12
PCIe Configuration: 4x1 2x4

Integrated Graphics

GPU: HD Graphics 5500
GPU Designer: Intel
GPU Max Frequency: 850 MHz

Physical Specifications

Process: 45 nm
Word Size: 64-bit

CPU Features

SSE4.1 SSE4.2 AES x86-64 HT EIST TXT vPro VT-x VT-d EPT Secure Key SMEP SIPP IPT TSX Flex Memory FMA
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