Core i5-2320 vs Xeon L5638
Core i5-2320
Xeon L5638
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 i5-2320 is positioned at rank 777 and the Xeon L5638 is on rank 644, so the Xeon L5638 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-2320
Performance Per Dollar Xeon L5638
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-2320 | Xeon L5638 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($22) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Westmere-EP (2010−2011) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-2320 | Xeon L5638 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($22) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 i5-2320 and Xeon L5638
Core i5-2320
The Core i5-2320 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 September 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 GHz, with boost up to 3.3 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,688 points. Launch price was $160.
Xeon L5638
The Xeon L5638 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 16 March 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Westmere-EP (2010−2011) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1366. Thermal design power (TDP): 60 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,707 points. Launch price was $90.
Processing Power
The Core i5-2320 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Xeon L5638 offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Xeon L5638 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.3 GHz on the Core i5-2320 versus 2.4 GHz on the Xeon L5638 — a 31.6% clock advantage for the Core i5-2320 (base: 3 GHz vs 2 GHz). The Core i5-2320 uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Xeon L5638 uses Westmere-EP (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-2320 scores 3,688 against the Xeon L5638's 3,707 — a 0.5% lead for the Xeon L5638. L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Core i5-2320 vs 12 MB (total) on the Xeon L5638.
| Feature | Core i5-2320 | Xeon L5638 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 6 / 12+50% |
| Boost Clock | 3.3 GHz+38% | 2.4 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3 GHz+50% | 2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB (total) | 12 MB (total)+100% |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Westmere-EP (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 3,688 | 3,707 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 560 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-2320 uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon L5638 uses LGA1366 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i5-2320 | Xeon L5638 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1155 | LGA1366 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 4.0+100% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, EPT (Core i5-2320) / not specified (Xeon L5638). The Core i5-2320 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 2000), while the Xeon L5638 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-2320 targets Legacy Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i5-2320 rivals Phenom II X4 965.
| Feature | Core i5-2320 | Xeon L5638 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 2000 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, EPT | — |
| Target Use | Legacy Desktop | — |
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