Core i7-6770HQ
VS
Xeon X5690

Core i7-6770HQ vs Xeon X5690

Intel

Core i7-6770HQ

4 Cores8 Thrd45 WWMax: 3.5 GHz2016
VS
Intel

Xeon X5690

6 Cores12 Thrd130 WWMax: 3.73 GHz2011

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 i7-6770HQ is positioned at rank 475 and the Xeon X5690 is on rank 514, so the Core i7-6770HQ offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.

MSRP is the manufacturer's suggested retail price.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.

Performance Per Dollar Core i7-6770HQ

#463
Atom x5-Z8300
MSRP: $20|Avg: N/A
621%
#464
Atom Z3735G
MSRP: $17|Avg: N/A
612%
#465
Core i5-480M
MSRP: $81|Avg: $77
562%
#466
Core i5-460M
MSRP: $80|Avg: $129
560%
#467
Core i5-2540M
MSRP: $266|Avg: $10
554%
#469
Core i5-450M
MSRP: $32|Avg: $31
535%
#470
Core i3-380M
MSRP: $49|Avg: $25
513%
#471
Core i5-430M
MSRP: N/A|Avg: $33
512%
#472
Core 2 Duo T6600
MSRP: N/A|Avg: $4
499%
#475
Core i7-6770HQ
MSRP: N/A|Avg: N/A
100%
#488
Processor U300
MSRP: $193|Avg: $180
98%
Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Per Dollar Xeon X5690

#1
Xeon Platinum 8454H
MSRP: $6540|Avg: N/A
7391%
#6
Xeon Gold 6240R
MSRP: $2444|Avg: N/A
1395%
#10
Xeon 6337P
MSRP: $60|Avg: $5
1240%
#15
EPYC 9174F
MSRP: $194|Avg: $30
958%
#316
Xeon Gold 6416H
MSRP: $1845|Avg: N/A
100%
#318
EPYC 7343
MSRP: $1565|Avg: $1350
99%
#319
Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5965WX
MSRP: $2399|Avg: $225
99%
#320
EPYC 7413
MSRP: $1825|Avg: $450
99%
#321
Xeon W-3335
MSRP: $1430|Avg: $1200
98%
#322
EPYC 9354P
MSRP: $2730|Avg: $2205
97%
#323
EPYC 9224
MSRP: $1825|Avg: $1199
95%
#324
Xeon Gold 6423N
MSRP: $2161|Avg: $2161
95%
#514
Xeon X5690
MSRP: $250|Avg: $250
100%
Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Comparison

About PassMark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

🚀 Performance Leadership

Use Case Distinction: This is a comparison between a Professional Workstation processor ($250) and a Consumer Desktop CPU. The Xeon X5690 is engineered for massive parallel workloads (rendering, scientific simulations), offering significantly higher core counts.
InsightCore i7-6770HQXeon X5690
Gaming
Lower gaming performance
Superior gaming performance
Workstation
Better multi-core power
Weaker in multi-core tasks
Price
More affordable ($0)
⚠️ Higher cost ($250)
Longevity
🛑 Legacy (Skylake (2015−2016) / 14 nm)
🛑 Legacy (Westmere-EP (2010−2011) / 32 nm)

💎 Value Proposition

The Core i7-6770HQ ($0), however, is optimized for mixed workloads and gaming. For most users, it offers superior single-thread performance and responsiveness at a fraction of the cost ($250 less, 100% cheaper), making it the better choice for daily use and gaming.
InsightCore i7-6770HQXeon X5690
Cost Efficiency
Lower cost efficiency
Lower cost efficiency
Upfront Cost
More affordable ($0)
⚠️ Higher cost ($250)

Performance Check

Paired with RTX 4090

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 i7-6770HQ and Xeon X5690

Intel

Core i7-6770HQ

The Core i7-6770HQ is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 January 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1440. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 7,083 points. Launch price was $434.

Intel

Xeon X5690

The Xeon X5690 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 February 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Westmere-EP (2010−2011) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.46 GHz, with boost up to 3.73 GHz. L3 cache: 12288 kB (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: 7,031 points. Launch price was $205.

Processing Power

The Core i7-6770HQ packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Xeon X5690 offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Xeon X5690 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the Core i7-6770HQ versus 3.73 GHz on the Xeon X5690 — a 6.4% clock advantage for the Xeon X5690 (base: 2.6 GHz vs 3.46 GHz). The Core i7-6770HQ uses the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon X5690 uses Westmere-EP (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-6770HQ scores 7,083 against the Xeon X5690's 7,031 — a 0.7% lead for the Core i7-6770HQ. L3 cache: 6 MB on the Core i7-6770HQ vs 12288 kB (total) on the Xeon X5690.

FeatureCore i7-6770HQXeon X5690
Cores / Threads
4 / 8
6 / 12+50%
Boost Clock
3.5 GHz
3.73 GHz+7%
Base Clock
2.6 GHz
3.46 GHz+33%
L3 Cache
6 MB
12288 kB (total)+100%
L2 Cache
1 MB+300%
256 kB (per core)
Process
14 nm-56%
32 nm
Architecture
Skylake (2015−2016)
Westmere-EP (2010−2011)
PassMark
7,083
7,031
Cinebench R23 Multi
3,000
Geekbench 6 Multi
1,769
🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-6770HQ uses the BGA1440 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon X5690 uses LGA1366 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 2133 on the Core i7-6770HQ versus DDR3-1333 on the Xeon X5690 — the Core i7-6770HQ supports 199.4% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i7-6770HQ) vs 3 (Xeon X5690). Chipset compatibility: HM170,QM170,CM236 (Core i7-6770HQ) and Intel X58,Intel 5520 (Xeon X5690).

FeatureCore i7-6770HQXeon X5690
Socket
BGA1440
LGA1366
PCIe Generation
PCIe 3.0+50%
PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed
2133+71000%
DDR3-1333
Max RAM Capacity
64
RAM Channels
2
3+50%
ECC Support
PCIe Lanes
16
🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: true (Core i7-6770HQ) vs VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Xeon X5690). The Core i7-6770HQ includes integrated graphics (Intel Iris Pro Graphics 580), while the Xeon X5690 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Xeon X5690 targets Workstation. Direct competitor: Xeon X5690 rivals Core i7-980X.

FeatureCore i7-6770HQXeon X5690
Integrated GPU
Yes
No
IGPU Model
Intel Iris Pro Graphics 580
Unlocked
No
No
AVX-512
No
No
Virtualization
true
VT-x, VT-d, EPT
Target Use
Workstation