Xeon E3-1515M v5 vs Xeon X5660
Xeon E3-1515M v5
Xeon X5660
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 E3-1515M v5 is positioned at rank 488 and the Xeon X5660 is on rank 990, so the Xeon E3-1515M v5 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E3-1515M v5
Performance Per Dollar Xeon X5660
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E3-1515M v5 | Xeon X5660 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($10) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Skylake-H (2015−2016) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Westmere-EP (2010−2011) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E3-1515M v5 | Xeon X5660 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($10) |
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 E3-1515M v5 and Xeon X5660
Xeon E3-1515M v5
The Xeon E3-1515M v5 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 24 January 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Skylake-H (2015−2016) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1440. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 5,925 points. Launch price was $489.
Xeon X5660
The Xeon X5660 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 16 March 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Westmere-EP (2010−2011) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1366. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 5,979 points. Launch price was $33.
Processing Power
The Xeon E3-1515M v5 packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Xeon X5660 offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Xeon X5660 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the Xeon E3-1515M v5 versus 3.2 GHz on the Xeon X5660 — a 14.5% clock advantage for the Xeon E3-1515M v5 (base: 2.8 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Xeon E3-1515M v5 uses the Skylake-H (2015−2016) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon X5660 uses Westmere-EP (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E3-1515M v5 scores 5,925 against the Xeon X5660's 5,979 — a 0.9% lead for the Xeon X5660. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Xeon E3-1515M v5 vs 12 MB (total) on the Xeon X5660.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1515M v5 | Xeon X5660 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 6 / 12+50% |
| Boost Clock | 3.7 GHz+16% | 3.2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.8 GHz | 2.8 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total) | 12 MB (total)+50% |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm-56% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Skylake-H (2015−2016) | Westmere-EP (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 5,925 | 5,979 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,017 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E3-1515M v5 uses the BGA1440 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon X5660 uses LGA1366 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2133 on the Xeon E3-1515M v5 versus DDR3-1333 on the Xeon X5660 — the Xeon E3-1515M v5 supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Xeon E3-1515M v5) vs 3 (Xeon X5660). Chipset compatibility: SoC (Xeon E3-1515M v5) and Intel X58,Intel 5520 (Xeon X5660).
| Feature | Xeon E3-1515M v5 | Xeon X5660 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1440 | LGA1366 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2133+33% | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 3+50% |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Both support VT-x, VT-d, EPT virtualization. The Xeon E3-1515M v5 includes integrated graphics (Iris Pro Graphics P580), while the Xeon X5660 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Xeon E3-1515M v5 targets Productivity, Xeon X5660 targets Workstation. Direct competitor: Xeon E3-1515M v5 rivals Core i7-6700HQ; Xeon X5660 rivals Core i7-980X.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1515M v5 | Xeon X5660 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | Iris Pro Graphics P580 | — |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | Productivity | Workstation |
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