CPU
GPU
Phenom II X2 550
Xeon W3503
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 Phenom II X2 550 is positioned at rank 516 and the Xeon W3503 is on rank 978, so the Phenom II X2 550 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Phenom II X2 550
Performance Per Dollar Xeon W3503
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Phenom II X2 550 | Xeon W3503 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Callisto (2009−2010) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Bloomfield (2008−2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Phenom II X2 550 | Xeon W3503 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 Phenom II X2 550 and Xeon W3503
Phenom II X2 550
The Phenom II X2 550 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 4 November 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Callisto (2009−2010) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.1 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,142 points. Launch price was $133.
Xeon W3503
The Xeon W3503 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 March 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Bloomfield (2008−2010) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1366. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,125 points. Launch price was $65.
Processing Power
Both the Phenom II X2 550 and Xeon W3503 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.1 GHz on the Phenom II X2 550 versus 2.4 GHz on the Xeon W3503 — a 25.5% clock advantage for the Phenom II X2 550 (base: 3.1 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Phenom II X2 550 uses the Callisto (2009−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Xeon W3503 uses Bloomfield (2008−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Phenom II X2 550 scores 1,142 against the Xeon W3503's 1,125 — a 1.5% lead for the Phenom II X2 550. L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Phenom II X2 550 vs 4 MB (total) on the Xeon W3503.
| Feature | Phenom II X2 550 | Xeon W3503 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 3.1 GHz+29% | 2.4 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.1 GHz+29% | 2.4 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB (total)+50% | 4 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core)+100% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Callisto (2009−2010) | Bloomfield (2008−2010) |
| PassMark | 1,142+2% | 1,125 |
Memory & Platform
The Phenom II X2 550 uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon W3503 uses LGA1366 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Phenom II X2 550 | Xeon W3503 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3 | LGA1366 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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