Xeon 5150 vs Core i3-540
Xeon 5150
Core i3-540
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 Xeon 5150 is positioned at rank 921 and the Core i3-540 is on rank 970, so the Xeon 5150 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon 5150
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-540
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon 5150 | Core i3-540 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($5) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Woodcrest (2006) / 65 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Clarkdale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon 5150 | Core i3-540 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($5) |
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 Xeon 5150 and Core i3-540
Xeon 5150
The Xeon 5150 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in Junho 2006 (19 years ago). It is based on the Woodcrest (2006) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.66 GHz, with boost up to 2.67 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 4 MB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: LGA771. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR2. Passmark benchmark score: 1,555 points. Launch price was $16.
Core i3-540
The Core i3-540 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 7 January 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Clarkdale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.06 GHz, with boost up to 0.07 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1156. Thermal design power (TDP): 73 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,554 points. Launch price was $45.
Processing Power
The Xeon 5150 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Core i3-540's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.67 GHz on the Xeon 5150 versus 0.07 GHz on the Core i3-540 — a 189.8% clock advantage for the Xeon 5150 (base: 2.66 GHz vs 3.06 GHz). The Xeon 5150 uses the Woodcrest (2006) architecture (65 nm), while the Core i3-540 uses Clarkdale (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon 5150 scores 1,555 against the Core i3-540's 1,554 — a 0.1% lead for the Xeon 5150. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Xeon 5150 vs 4 MB (total) on the Core i3-540.
| Feature | Xeon 5150 | Core i3-540 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.67 GHz+3714% | 0.07 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.66 GHz | 3.06 GHz+15% |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 4 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 4 MB+1500% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 65 nm | 32 nm-51% |
| Architecture | Woodcrest (2006) | Clarkdale (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,555 | 1,554 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon 5150 uses the LGA771 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i3-540 uses LGA1156 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon 5150 | Core i3-540 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA771 | LGA1156 |
| 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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