CPU
GPU
Core i7-8550U
Xeon E5-2630
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 i7-8550U is positioned at rank 686 and the Xeon E5-2630 is on rank 702, so the Core i7-8550U offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-8550U
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-2630
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-8550U | Xeon E5-2630 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($395) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Kaby Lake Refresh (2017−2019) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-8550U | Xeon E5-2630 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($395) |
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 i7-8550U and Xeon E5-2630
Core i7-8550U
The Core i7-8550U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 21 August 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake Refresh (2017−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 1.8 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1356. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 6,118 points. Launch price was $409.
Xeon E5-2630
The Xeon E5-2630 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 6 March 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 15360 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 6,077 points. Launch price was $74.
Processing Power
The Core i7-8550U packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Xeon E5-2630 offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Xeon E5-2630 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4 GHz on the Core i7-8550U versus 2.8 GHz on the Xeon E5-2630 — a 35.3% clock advantage for the Core i7-8550U (base: 1.8 GHz vs 2.3 GHz). The Core i7-8550U uses the Kaby Lake Refresh (2017−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E5-2630 uses Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-8550U scores 6,118 against the Xeon E5-2630's 6,077 — a 0.7% lead for the Core i7-8550U. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-8550U vs 15360 kB (total) on the Xeon E5-2630.
| Feature | Core i7-8550U | Xeon E5-2630 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 6 / 12+50% |
| Boost Clock | 4 GHz+43% | 2.8 GHz |
| Base Clock | 1.8 GHz | 2.3 GHz+28% |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total) | 15360 kB (total)+88% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm-56% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Kaby Lake Refresh (2017−2019) | Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) |
| PassMark | 6,118 | 6,077 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-8550U uses the BGA1356 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E5-2630 uses LGA2011 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-8550U | Xeon E5-2630 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1356 | LGA2011 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 4.0+33% |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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