Pentium M 730 vs Xeon 2.66

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.

Pentium M 730 vs Xeon 2.66 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Pentium M 730 vs Xeon 2.66: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Pentium M 730

2005

Why buy it

✅Draws 27W instead of 89W, a 62W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (435 vs 445).

Xeon 2.66

2002

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $337 MSRP, while Pentium M 730 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌229.6% higher power demand at 89W vs 27W.

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon 2.66 better than Pentium M 730?

Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Xeon 2.66 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Pentium M 730 is the more practical desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and everyday use.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Xeon 2.66 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 0.2% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Xeon 2.66 is the stronger fit. You are getting 2.3% better PassMark, backed by 1 cores and 1 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Xeon 2.66 is the better buy right now. Xeon 2.66 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $337 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 0.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (1.3 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Pentium M 730 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2005 vs 2002). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Pentium M 730 vs Xeon 2.66 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Pentium M 730

The Pentium M 730 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the Dothan (2004−2005) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Base frequency is 1.6 GHz, with boost up to 1.6 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 90 nm process technology. Socket: PGA478. Thermal design power (TDP): 27 Watt. Memory support: DDR2. Passmark benchmark score: 435 points. Launch price was $69.

Xeon 2.66

The Xeon 2.66 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Prestonia (2002) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Max frequency: 2.66 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 130 nm process technology. Socket: PGA604. Thermal design power (TDP): 89 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 445 points. Launch price was $800.

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Processing Power

Both the Pentium M 730 and Xeon 2.66 share an identical 1-core/1-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 1.6 GHz on the Pentium M 730 versus 2.66 GHz on the Xeon 2.66 — a 49.8% clock advantage for the Xeon 2.66. The Pentium M 730 uses the Dothan (2004−2005) architecture (90 nm), while the Xeon 2.66 uses Prestonia (2002) (130 nm). In PassMark, the Pentium M 730 scores 435 against the Xeon 2.66's 445 — a 2.3% lead for the Xeon 2.66. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.

Feature	Pentium M 730	Xeon 2.66
Cores / Threads	1 / 1	1 / 1
Boost Clock	1.6 GHz	2.66 GHz+66%
Base Clock	1.6 GHz	—
L3 Cache	0 kB	0 kB
L2 Cache	2 MB+300%	512 kB
Process	90 nm-31%	130 nm
Architecture	Dothan (2004−2005)	Prestonia (2002)
PassMark	435	445+2%

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Memory & Platform

The Pentium M 730 uses the PGA478 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Xeon 2.66 uses PGA604 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.