Where do older Intel Xeon Processors Rate?

[gerrym]

I'm in the market for a used computer and I'm having a heck of a time comparing processors. This computer has the Intel Xeon 3.0GHz 0F41 (EM64T) processor. It was released in 2004 and appears to be a power hog 103W TDP, but I'm trying to see where this rates with the current processors out there. I can't seem to find it in the processor comparison charts online. Here's the link to the processor http://ark.intel.com/Product.aspx?id=28016. Thanks.

 

[GhislainG]

Performance wise, it rates the same as a P4 541 as they both run at 3.2GHz. It's too old and too slow to be on the charts. It fells below the slowest CPU that's on the charts. It isn't suitable for gaming, but it's fine as a file server, for Internet browsing, etc. I have an HP server with a P4 541 and it's fine as a file server. I even have a VM running on it without problems.

 

[gerrym]

Thanks, so why are they still selling for $300+? Do the Xeon processors do anything particularly well or some special task they're suited for? Wondering why you always seem to find them on high-end workstations?

 

[GhislainG]

Because they had features not available on the desktop version, e.g., Demand Based Switching and Speedstep technology that were and still are important in a data center, but not necessarily on a home PC. They were selling for over $300 in '04, but you can buy them for $30 or less on eBay: http://cgi.ebay.com/Intel-Xeon-Processor-3-20-GHz-With-Heatsink-SL7PF_W0QQitemZ350310213214QQcmdZViewItemQQptZCPUs?hash=item51901da65e