Core i3-6100H vs Xeon X5550
Core i3-6100H
Xeon X5550
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.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Core i3-6100H is positioned at rank 955 and the Xeon X5550 is on rank 712, so the Xeon X5550 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-6100H
Performance Per Dollar Xeon X5550
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-6100H | Xeon X5550 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Skylake (2015−2016) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Gainestown (2009−2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-6100H | Xeon X5550 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
Performance Check
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.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Core i3-6100H and Xeon X5550
Core i3-6100H
The Core i3-6100H is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 2.7 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1440. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 3,003 points. Launch price was $225.
Xeon X5550
The Xeon X5550 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 March 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Gainestown (2009−2010) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.66 GHz, with boost up to 3.06 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1366. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,036 points. Launch price was $62.
Processing Power
The Core i3-6100H packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Xeon X5550 offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Xeon X5550 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.7 GHz on the Core i3-6100H versus 3.06 GHz on the Xeon X5550 — a 12.5% clock advantage for the Xeon X5550 (base: 2.7 GHz vs 2.66 GHz). The Core i3-6100H uses the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon X5550 uses Gainestown (2009−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-6100H scores 3,003 against the Xeon X5550's 3,036 — a 1.1% lead for the Xeon X5550. L3 cache: 3 MB on the Core i3-6100H vs 8 MB (total) on the Xeon X5550.
| Feature | Core i3-6100H | Xeon X5550 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 8+100% |
| Boost Clock | 2.7 GHz | 3.06 GHz+13% |
| Base Clock | 2.7 GHz+2% | 2.66 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB | 8 MB (total)+167% |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB+100% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm-69% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Skylake (2015−2016) | Gainestown (2009−2010) |
| PassMark | 3,003 | 3,036+1% |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-6100H uses the BGA1440 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon X5550 uses LGA1366 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i3-6100H | Xeon X5550 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1440 | LGA1366 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1333 |
| RAM Channels | — | 3 |
| ECC Support | — | ✅ |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Core i3-6100H) / VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Xeon X5550). Primary use case: Xeon X5550 targets Workstation. Direct competitor: Xeon X5550 rivals Core i3-2100.
| Feature | Core i3-6100H | Xeon X5550 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | — | Workstation |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Core i3-6100H and Xeon X5550
