Core i5-9600 vs Xeon E5-1660 v2
Core i5-9600
Xeon E5-1660 v2
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.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-9600
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-1660 v2
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-9600 | Xeon E5-1660 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($219) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake (2017−2019) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge-E (2013) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-9600 | Xeon E5-1660 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($219) | ✅ 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 i5-9600 and Xeon E5-1660 v2
Core i5-9600
The Core i5-9600 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 19 October 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake (2017−2019) architecture. It features 6 cores and 6 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 9 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2666. Passmark benchmark score: 10,313 points. Launch price was $213.
Xeon E5-1660 v2
The Xeon E5-1660 v2 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge-E (2013) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 15 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 10,332 points. Launch price was $1,809.
Processing Power
The Core i5-9600 packs 6 cores / 6 threads, matching the Xeon E5-1660 v2's 6 cores. Boost clocks reach 4.6 GHz on the Core i5-9600 versus 4 GHz on the Xeon E5-1660 v2 — a 14% clock advantage for the Core i5-9600 (base: 3.1 GHz vs 3.7 GHz). The Core i5-9600 uses the Coffee Lake (2017−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E5-1660 v2 uses Ivy Bridge-E (2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-9600 scores 10,313 against the Xeon E5-1660 v2's 10,332 — a 0.2% lead for the Xeon E5-1660 v2. L3 cache: 9 MB (total) on the Core i5-9600 vs 15 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-1660 v2.
| Feature | Core i5-9600 | Xeon E5-1660 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 6 | 6 / 12 |
| Boost Clock | 4.6 GHz+15% | 4 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.1 GHz | 3.7 GHz+19% |
| L3 Cache | 9 MB (total) | 15 MB (total)+67% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm-36% | 22 nm |
| Architecture | Coffee Lake (2017−2019) | Ivy Bridge-E (2013) |
| PassMark | 10,313 | 10,332 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,443 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-9600 uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E5-1660 v2 uses LGA2011 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i5-9600 | Xeon E5-1660 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1151 | LGA2011 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2666 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 128 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-9600) / not specified (Xeon E5-1660 v2). The Core i5-9600 includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 630), while the Xeon E5-1660 v2 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-9600 targets Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i5-9600 rivals Ryzen 5 3600.
| Feature | Core i5-9600 | Xeon E5-1660 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | UHD Graphics 630 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | — |
| Target Use | Desktop | — |
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