Core i5-3550 vs Xeon E5640
Core i5-3550
Xeon E5640
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 i5-3550 is positioned at rank 694 and the Xeon E5640 is on rank 574, so the Xeon E5640 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-3550
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5640
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-3550 | Xeon E5640 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($30) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Legacy / Standard Node) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-3550 | Xeon E5640 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($30) | ✅ 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 i5-3550 and Xeon E5640
Core i5-3550
The Core i5-3550 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 29 April 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 77 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 4,778 points. Launch price was $205.
Xeon E5640
The Xeon E5640 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. Passmark benchmark score: 4,755 points. Launch price was $800.
Processing Power
The Core i5-3550 is built on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. In PassMark, the Core i5-3550 scores 4,778 against the Xeon E5640's 4,755 — a 0.5% lead for the Core i5-3550.
| Feature | Core i5-3550 | Xeon E5640 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | — |
| Boost Clock | 3.7 GHz | — |
| Base Clock | 3.3 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB (total) | — |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | — |
| Process | 22 nm | — |
| Architecture | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) | — |
| PassMark | 4,778 | 4,755 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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