Core i5-6600 vs Xeon X5660
Core i5-6600
Xeon X5660
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 i5-6600 is positioned at rank 641 and the Xeon X5660 is on rank 990, so the Core i5-6600 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-6600
Performance Per Dollar Xeon X5660
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-6600 | Xeon X5660 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($90) | ✅ More affordable ($10) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Skylake (2015−2016) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Westmere-EP (2010−2011) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-6600 | Xeon X5660 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+788%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($90) | ✅ More affordable ($10) |
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 i5-6600 and Xeon X5660
Core i5-6600
The Core i5-6600 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 July 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 6,058 points. Launch price was $224.
Xeon X5660
The Xeon X5660 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 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1366. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 5,979 points. Launch price was $33.
Processing Power
The Core i5-6600 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Xeon X5660 offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Xeon X5660 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.9 GHz on the Core i5-6600 versus 3.2 GHz on the Xeon X5660 — a 19.7% clock advantage for the Core i5-6600 (base: 3.3 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Core i5-6600 uses the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon X5660 uses Westmere-EP (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-6600 scores 6,058 against the Xeon X5660's 5,979 — a 1.3% lead for the Core i5-6600. L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Core i5-6600 vs 12 MB (total) on the Xeon X5660.
| Feature | Core i5-6600 | Xeon X5660 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 6 / 12+50% |
| Boost Clock | 3.9 GHz+22% | 3.2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.3 GHz+18% | 2.8 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB (total) | 12 MB (total)+100% |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm-56% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Skylake (2015−2016) | Westmere-EP (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 6,058+1% | 5,979 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-6600 uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon X5660 uses LGA1366 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i5-6600 | Xeon X5660 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1151 | 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 i5-6600) / VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Xeon X5660). Primary use case: Xeon X5660 targets Workstation. Direct competitor: Xeon X5660 rivals Core i7-980X.
| Feature | Core i5-6600 | Xeon X5660 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | — | Workstation |
Value Analysis
The Core i5-6600 launched at $224 MSRP, while the Xeon X5660 debuted at $1219. At current prices ($90 vs $10), the Xeon X5660 is $80 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-6600 delivers 67.3 pts/$ vs 597.9 pts/$ for the Xeon X5660 — making the Xeon X5660 the 159.5% better value option.
| Feature | Core i5-6600 | Xeon X5660 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $224-82% | $1219 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $90 | $10-89% |
| Performance per Dollar | 67.3 | 597.9+788% |
| Release Date | 2015 | 2010 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Core i5-6600 and Xeon X5660
