
FX-9590 vs Xeon E5-1660 v2

FX-9590

Xeon E5-1660 v2
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 FX-9590 is positioned at rank 608 and the Xeon E5-1660 v2 is on rank 352, so the Xeon E5-1660 v2 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar FX-9590
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-1660 v2
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | FX-9590 | Xeon E5-1660 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($100) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Vishera (2012−2015) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge-E (2013) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | FX-9590 | Xeon E5-1660 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($100) | ✅ 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.

Path of Exile 2

League of Legends
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of FX-9590 and Xeon E5-1660 v2

FX-9590
The FX-9590 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 6 July 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Vishera (2012−2015) architecture. It features 8 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 4.7 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L2 cache: 8192 kB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: AM3+. Thermal design power (TDP): 220 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 10,194 points. Launch price was $149.

Xeon E5-1660 v2
The Xeon E5-1660 v2 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge-E (2013) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 15 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 10,332 points. Launch price was $1,809.
Processing Power
The FX-9590 packs 8 cores / 8 threads, while the Xeon E5-1660 v2 offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the FX-9590 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5 GHz on the FX-9590 versus 4 GHz on the Xeon E5-1660 v2 — a 22.2% clock advantage for the FX-9590 (base: 4.7 GHz vs 3.7 GHz). The FX-9590 uses the Vishera (2012−2015) architecture (32 nm), while the Xeon E5-1660 v2 uses Ivy Bridge-E (2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the FX-9590 scores 10,194 against the Xeon E5-1660 v2's 10,332 — a 1.3% lead for the Xeon E5-1660 v2.
| Feature | FX-9590 | Xeon E5-1660 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 8+33% | 6 / 12 |
| Boost Clock | 5 GHz+25% | 4 GHz |
| Base Clock | 4.7 GHz+27% | 3.7 GHz |
| L3 Cache | — | 15 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 8192 kB+3100% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 22 nm-31% |
| Architecture | Vishera (2012−2015) | Ivy Bridge-E (2013) |
| PassMark | 10,194 | 10,332+1% |
Memory & Platform
The FX-9590 uses the AM3+ socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon E5-1660 v2 uses LGA2011 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | FX-9590 | Xeon E5-1660 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3+ | LGA2011 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
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