Core i7-2820QM vs Xeon L5639
Core i7-2820QM
Xeon L5639
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 i7-2820QM is positioned at rank 1138 and the Xeon L5639 is on rank 595, so the Xeon L5639 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-2820QM
Performance Per Dollar Xeon L5639
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-2820QM | Xeon L5639 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($568) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Westmere-EP (2010−2011) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-2820QM | Xeon L5639 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($568) | ✅ 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 i7-2820QM and Xeon L5639
Core i7-2820QM
The Core i7-2820QM is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 January 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1066, DDR3-1333, DDR3-1600. Passmark benchmark score: 4,379 points. Launch price was $568.
Xeon L5639
The Xeon L5639 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Westmere-EP (2010−2011) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.133 GHz, with boost up to 2.67 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1366. Thermal design power (TDP): 60 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 4,419 points. Launch price was $800.
Processing Power
The Core i7-2820QM packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Xeon L5639 offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Xeon L5639 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.4 GHz on the Core i7-2820QM versus 2.67 GHz on the Xeon L5639 — a 24.1% clock advantage for the Core i7-2820QM (base: 2.3 GHz vs 2.133 GHz). The Core i7-2820QM uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Xeon L5639 uses Westmere-EP (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-2820QM scores 4,379 against the Xeon L5639's 4,419 — a 0.9% lead for the Xeon L5639. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-2820QM vs 12 MB (total) on the Xeon L5639.
| Feature | Core i7-2820QM | Xeon L5639 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 6 / 12+50% |
| Boost Clock | 3.4 GHz+27% | 2.67 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.3 GHz+8% | 2.133 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total) | 12 MB (total)+50% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Westmere-EP (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 4,379 | 4,419 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 554 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 1,763 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-2820QM uses the PGA988 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon L5639 uses LGA1366 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-2820QM | Xeon L5639 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA988 | LGA1366 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 4.0+100% |
| Max RAM Speed | 1600 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: true (Core i7-2820QM) / not specified (Xeon L5639). The Core i7-2820QM includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 3000), while the Xeon L5639 requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core i7-2820QM rivals AMD A8-3510MX.
| Feature | Core i7-2820QM | Xeon L5639 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics 3000 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | true | — |
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