Core i7-5850HQ vs Xeon X5680
Core i7-5850HQ
Xeon X5680
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 i7-5850HQ is positioned at rank 795 and the Xeon X5680 is on rank 704, so the Xeon X5680 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-5850HQ
Performance Per Dollar Xeon X5680
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-5850HQ | Xeon X5680 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | Balanced gaming performance | Balanced gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($13) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Broadwell-H (2015) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Westmere-EP (2010−2011) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-5850HQ | Xeon X5680 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($13) |
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 i7-5850HQ and Xeon X5680
Core i7-5850HQ
The Core i7-5850HQ is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 June 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Broadwell-H (2015) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1364. Thermal design power (TDP): 47 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 6,866 points. Launch price was $434.
Xeon X5680
The Xeon X5680 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 February 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Westmere-EP (2010−2011) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.33 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1366. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 6,910 points. Launch price was $172.
Processing Power
The Core i7-5850HQ packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Xeon X5680 offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Xeon X5680 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.6 GHz on the Core i7-5850HQ versus 3.6 GHz on the Xeon X5680 — identical boost frequencies (base: 2.7 GHz vs 3.33 GHz). The Core i7-5850HQ uses the Broadwell-H (2015) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon X5680 uses Westmere-EP (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-5850HQ scores 6,866 against the Xeon X5680's 6,910 — a 0.6% lead for the Xeon X5680. L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Core i7-5850HQ vs 12 MB (total) on the Xeon X5680.
| Feature | Core i7-5850HQ | Xeon X5680 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 6 / 12+50% |
| Boost Clock | 3.6 GHz | 3.6 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.7 GHz | 3.33 GHz+23% |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB (total) | 12 MB (total)+100% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm-56% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Broadwell-H (2015) | Westmere-EP (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 6,866 | 6,910 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-5850HQ uses the BGA1364 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon X5680 uses LGA1366 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-5850HQ | Xeon X5680 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1364 | 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 i7-5850HQ) / VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Xeon X5680). Primary use case: Xeon X5680 targets Workstation. Direct competitor: Xeon X5680 rivals Core i7-980X.
| Feature | Core i7-5850HQ | Xeon X5680 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | — | Workstation |
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