Intel

Intel BX80563L5320A Xeon L5320 1.86GHz 8MB Processor

Four Xeon cores at 1.86GHz with an 8MB shared cache deliver reliable, low-power throughput for dual-socket server builds where efficiency matters more than raw clock speed.

$77.11*
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*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated:Jun 04, 2026.Price and availability are subject to change.

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Overview

The Intel Xeon L5320 is a quad-core server processor built on the LGA771 socket, operating at 1.86GHz with a 1066MHz front side bus and 8MB of L2 cache split across two dual-core Woodcrest dies. The "L" series designation is the operative detail here: Intel binned these chips for a 50W TDP target, compared to 80W for the standard-voltage E5320 running at the same clock. That 30W difference is significant in high-density rack environments where power budgets per unit are enforced by the facility, not just by preference. The 8MB cache — 4MB shared per die pair — provides enough staging area for typical server workloads without requiring constant round-trips to the relatively slow DDR2 FB-DIMM memory bus.

This processor is purpose-built for dual-socket legacy server deployments: 1U/2U rack systems from the 2007–2009 era where a second CPU socket sits empty and the upgrade path demands both power efficiency and quad-core parallelism. It fits cleanly into HP ProLiant G5 and Dell PowerEdge 1950/2950 platforms still running as secondary infrastructure, NAS appliances, or low-traffic virtualization hosts. For anyone standing up a Proxmox or ESXi node on a decommissioned enterprise server, the L5320 gives four threads at a power envelope that won't trip a shared PDU. It is not a competitive choice for new builds, but within its platform constraints it remains a sensible, well-understood component.

Key Features

Intel Xeon DP Quad-core L5320 1.86GHz Processor - 1.86GHz

Specifications

Processor Model
Xeon L5320
Clock Speed
1.86GHz
Cores
Quad-core
Cache
8MB

Pros & Cons

👍 Pros

  • 50W TDP enables deployment in thermally constrained 1U rack and blade chassis where 80W+ CPUs cannot be used.
  • 8MB total L2 cache (4MB per die pair) reduces memory bus pressure for workloads with moderate working-set sizes.
  • Quad-core configuration across a single LGA771 socket doubles thread count versus contemporary dual-core Xeon 5100-series parts.
  • 1066MHz FSB provides sufficient bandwidth headroom for the CPU's 1.86GHz core clock, avoiding artificial bottlenecks at this performance tier.
  • sSpec code SLA4Q is well-documented, making firmware and compatibility verification straightforward for server administrators.

👎 Cons

  • 1.86GHz clock speed is a hard ceiling — the L5320 has no Turbo Boost, so single-threaded performance is fixed and measurably lower than even modest modern server CPUs.
  • Dual-die packaging means the four cores do not share a unified L2 cache; cross-die thread communication incurs additional latency versus a monolithic quad-core design.
  • LGA771 is a legacy platform — DDR2 FB-DIMM memory required by compatible boards is expensive per-gigabyte and increasingly scarce.
  • Maximum addressable memory on most compatible platforms tops out at 32–64GB, a constraint for modern virtualization workloads.
  • No hardware virtualization extensions beyond VT-x; lacks VT-d (IOMMU) support found in later Intel Xeon generations, limiting PCIe passthrough scenarios.

Frequently Asked Questions

The L5320 uses Socket LGA771. It is compatible with dual-socket server platforms built around Intel's 5000-series (Blackford) chipset, including many HP ProLiant DL360/DL380 G5 and Dell PowerEdge 1950/2950 systems. Verify your board's supported CPU list before purchasing.
The "L" designates Intel's low-voltage Xeon DP line. The L5320 carries a 50W TDP — roughly half that of the standard E5320 running at the same clock — making it a meaningful choice in 1U/2U blade and rack environments where per-socket thermal headroom is limited.
At 1.86GHz core speed, the 1066MHz FSB is adequate for the workloads this CPU targets — file serving, light virtualization, and database reads. It will become a bottleneck under sustained memory-bandwidth-intensive tasks (e.g., in-memory analytics), where a higher-clocked Harpertown part with a faster FSB would be preferable.
The L5320 is a dual-die package: two Woodcrest dual-core dies, each sharing a 4MB L2 cache between its two cores. This means cores 0/1 share one 4MB pool and cores 2/3 share the other. Workloads that keep threads within a die see lower latency than cross-die communication.
Yes. LGA771 boards that support the 1066MHz FSB can also run the Xeon E5320 (1.86GHz, 80W) or step up to the Harpertown generation (E5400/L5400 series, 1333MHz FSB) if the motherboard firmware supports it. The L5320 is typically the ceiling for strictly low-power configurations.