Core i7-860 vs Xeon L5630
Core i7-860
Xeon L5630
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 i7-860 is positioned at rank 986 and the Xeon L5630 is on rank 707, so the Xeon L5630 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-860
Performance Per Dollar Xeon L5630
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-860 | Xeon L5630 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($30) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Lynnfield (2009−2010) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Westmere-EP (2010−2011) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-860 | Xeon L5630 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($30) | ✅ 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 i7-860 and Xeon L5630
Core i7-860
The Core i7-860 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 8 September 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Lynnfield (2009−2010) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 3.46 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1156. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,011 points. Launch price was $229.
Xeon L5630
The Xeon L5630 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 16 March 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Westmere-EP (2010−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.13 GHz, with boost up to 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1366. Thermal design power (TDP): 40 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,048 points. Launch price was $1,100.
Processing Power
Both the Core i7-860 and Xeon L5630 share an identical 4-core/8-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.46 GHz on the Core i7-860 versus 2.4 GHz on the Xeon L5630 — a 36.2% clock advantage for the Core i7-860 (base: 2.8 GHz vs 2.13 GHz). The Core i7-860 uses the Lynnfield (2009−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Xeon L5630 uses Westmere-EP (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-860 scores 3,011 against the Xeon L5630's 3,048 — a 1.2% lead for the Xeon L5630. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-860 vs 12 MB (total) on the Xeon L5630.
| Feature | Core i7-860 | Xeon L5630 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 3.46 GHz+44% | 2.4 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.8 GHz+31% | 2.13 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total) | 12 MB (total)+50% |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 32 nm-29% |
| Architecture | Lynnfield (2009−2010) | Westmere-EP (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 3,011 | 3,048+1% |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-860 uses the LGA1156 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon L5630 uses LGA1366 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-860 | Xeon L5630 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1156 | LGA1366 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 4.0+100% |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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