Core i5-660 vs Xeon E5606
Core i5-660
Xeon E5606
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 i5-660 is positioned at rank 954 and the Xeon E5606 is on rank 802, so the Xeon E5606 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-660
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5606
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-660 | Xeon E5606 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($150) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Clarkdale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Westmere-EP (2010−2011) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-660 | Xeon E5606 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($150) | ✅ 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 i5-660 and Xeon E5606
Core i5-660
The Core i5-660 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 7 January 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Clarkdale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.33 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1156. Thermal design power (TDP): 73 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,439 points. Launch price was $70.
Xeon E5606
The Xeon E5606 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 February 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Westmere-EP (2010−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.13 GHz, with boost up to 0.13 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1366. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,443 points. Launch price was $46.
Processing Power
The Core i5-660 packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Xeon E5606 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Xeon E5606 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.6 GHz on the Core i5-660 versus 0.13 GHz on the Xeon E5606 — a 186.1% clock advantage for the Core i5-660 (base: 3.33 GHz vs 2.13 GHz). The Core i5-660 uses the Clarkdale (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the Xeon E5606 uses Westmere-EP (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-660 scores 2,439 against the Xeon E5606's 2,443 — a 0.2% lead for the Xeon E5606. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Core i5-660 vs 8 MB (total) on the Xeon E5606.
| Feature | Core i5-660 | Xeon E5606 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3.6 GHz+2669% | 0.13 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.33 GHz+56% | 2.13 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total) | 8 MB (total)+100% |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Clarkdale (2010−2011) | Westmere-EP (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 2,439 | 2,443 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-660 uses the LGA1156 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon E5606 uses LGA1366 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i5-660 | Xeon E5606 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1156 | LGA1366 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
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