Core i5-3550 vs Xeon X7460
Core i5-3550
Xeon X7460
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 X7460 is on rank 571, so the Xeon X7460 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 X7460
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-3550 | Xeon X7460 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($30) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Dunnington (2008) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-3550 | Xeon X7460 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 X7460
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 X7460
The Xeon X7460 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 15 September 2008 (17 years ago). It is based on the Dunnington (2008) architecture. It features 6 cores and 6 threads. Base frequency is 2.66 GHz, with boost up to 0.67 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 3 MB (per module). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: PGA604. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 4,803 points. Launch price was $2,729.
Processing Power
The Core i5-3550 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Xeon X7460 offers 6 cores / 6 threads — the Xeon X7460 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the Core i5-3550 versus 0.67 GHz on the Xeon X7460 — a 138.7% clock advantage for the Core i5-3550 (base: 3.3 GHz vs 2.66 GHz). The Core i5-3550 uses the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture (22 nm), while the Xeon X7460 uses Dunnington (2008) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-3550 scores 4,778 against the Xeon X7460's 4,803 — a 0.5% lead for the Xeon X7460. L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Core i5-3550 vs 16 MB (total) on the Xeon X7460.
| Feature | Core i5-3550 | Xeon X7460 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 6 / 6+50% |
| Boost Clock | 3.7 GHz+452% | 0.67 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.3 GHz+24% | 2.66 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB (total) | 16 MB (total)+167% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 3 MB (per module)+1100% |
| Process | 22 nm-51% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) | Dunnington (2008) |
| PassMark | 4,778 | 4,803 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-3550 uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon X7460 uses PGA604 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i5-3550 | Xeon X7460 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1155 | PGA604 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR2-667 |
| RAM Channels | — | 4 |
| ECC Support | — | ✅ |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Core i5-3550) / VT-x (Xeon X7460). Primary use case: Xeon X7460 targets Server. Direct competitor: Xeon X7460 rivals Core i7-980X.
| Feature | Core i5-3550 | Xeon X7460 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x |
| Target Use | — | Server |
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