Phenom II X4 850 vs Xeon E5606

AMD

Phenom II X4 850

4 Cores4 Thrd95 WWMax: 3.3 GHz2011
Similar parts
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VS
Intel

Xeon E5606

4 Cores4 Thrd80 WWMax: 0.13 GHz2011
Similar parts
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Phenom II X4 850 vs Xeon E5606 Performance Spectrum

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.

Phenom II X4 850 vs Xeon E5606: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Phenom II X4 850

2011

Why buy it

    Trade-offs

    • Lower PassMark (2,441 vs 2,443).
    • 18.8% higher power demand at 95W vs 80W.

    Xeon E5606

    2011

    Why buy it

    • +0.1% higher PassMark.
    • Draws 80W instead of 95W, a 15W reduction.

    Trade-offs

    • Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

    Quick Answers

    So, is Xeon E5606 better than Phenom II X4 850?
    Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Xeon E5606 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Phenom II X4 850 is the more practical desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and everyday use.
    Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
    For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Xeon E5606 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.1% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads.
    Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
    Xeon E5606 still makes the most sense overall. Xeon E5606 comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you 0.1% better PassMark.
    Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
    Xeon E5606 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting more multi-core headroom with 4 cores / 4 threads instead of 4/4. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

    Phenom II X4 850 vs Xeon E5606 Technical Specifications

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

    AMD

    Phenom II X4 850

    The Phenom II X4 850 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 1 June 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Propus (2009−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.3 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,441 points. Launch price was $111.

    Intel

    Xeon E5606

    The Xeon E5606 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 February 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Westmere-EP (2010−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.13 GHz, with boost up to 0.13 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1366. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,443 points. Launch price was $46.

    Processing Power

    Both the Phenom II X4 850 and Xeon E5606 share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.3 GHz on the Phenom II X4 850 versus 0.13 GHz on the Xeon E5606 — a 184.8% clock advantage for the Phenom II X4 850 (base: 3.3 GHz vs 2.13 GHz). The Phenom II X4 850 uses the Propus (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Xeon E5606 uses Westmere-EP (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Phenom II X4 850 scores 2,441 against the Xeon E5606's 2,443 — a 0.1% lead for the Xeon E5606. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Phenom II X4 850 vs 8 MB (total) on the Xeon E5606.

    FeaturePhenom II X4 850Xeon E5606
    Cores / Threads
    4 / 4
    4 / 4
    Boost Clock
    3.3 GHz+2438%
    0.13 GHz
    Base Clock
    3.3 GHz+55%
    2.13 GHz
    L3 Cache
    0 kB
    8 MB (total)
    L2 Cache
    512 kB (per core)+100%
    256 kB (per core)
    Process
    45 nm
    32 nm-29%
    Architecture
    Propus (2009−2011)
    Westmere-EP (2010−2011)
    PassMark
    2,441
    2,443
    🧠

    Memory & Platform

    The Phenom II X4 850 uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon E5606 uses LGA1366 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

    FeaturePhenom II X4 850Xeon E5606
    Socket
    AM3
    LGA1366
    PCIe Generation
    PCIe 2.0
    PCIe 2.0