CPU
GPU
Core i7-5600U
Xeon X5550
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 i7-5600U is positioned at rank 341 and the Xeon X5550 is on rank 712, so the Core i7-5600U offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-5600U
Performance Per Dollar Xeon X5550
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-5600U | Xeon X5550 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Broadwell-U (2015) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Gainestown (2009−2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-5600U | Xeon X5550 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 i7-5600U and Xeon X5550
Core i7-5600U
The Core i7-5600U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 March 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Broadwell-U (2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1168. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,011 points. Launch price was $393.
Xeon X5550
The Xeon X5550 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 March 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Gainestown (2009−2010) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.66 GHz, with boost up to 3.06 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1366. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,036 points. Launch price was $62.
Processing Power
The Core i7-5600U packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Xeon X5550 offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Xeon X5550 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.2 GHz on the Core i7-5600U versus 3.06 GHz on the Xeon X5550 — a 4.5% clock advantage for the Core i7-5600U (base: 2.6 GHz vs 2.66 GHz). The Core i7-5600U uses the Broadwell-U (2015) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon X5550 uses Gainestown (2009−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-5600U scores 3,011 against the Xeon X5550's 3,036 — a 0.8% lead for the Xeon X5550. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Core i7-5600U vs 8 MB (total) on the Xeon X5550.
| Feature | Core i7-5600U | Xeon X5550 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 8+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3.2 GHz+5% | 3.06 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.6 GHz | 2.66 GHz+2% |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total) | 8 MB (total)+100% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm-69% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Broadwell-U (2015) | Gainestown (2009−2010) |
| PassMark | 3,011 | 3,036 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-5600U uses the FCBGA1168 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon X5550 uses LGA1366 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-5600U | Xeon X5550 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1168 | 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 i7-5600U) / VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Xeon X5550). Primary use case: Xeon X5550 targets Workstation. Direct competitor: Xeon X5550 rivals Core i3-2100.
| Feature | Core i7-5600U | Xeon X5550 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | — | Workstation |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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