Xeon E5-2650L vs Microsoft SQ1
Xeon E5-2650L
Microsoft SQ1
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 E5-2650L is positioned at rank 916 and the Microsoft SQ1 is on rank 877, so the Microsoft SQ1 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-2650L
Performance Per Dollar Microsoft SQ1
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5-2650L | Microsoft SQ1 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($129) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($180) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) / 32 nm) | ✨ Modern (Cortex-A76 / A55 (Kryo 495) (2019) / 7 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5-2650L | Microsoft SQ1 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+40%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($129) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($180) |
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 E5-2650L and Microsoft SQ1
Xeon E5-2650L
The Xeon E5-2650L is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 6 March 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 1.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.3 GHz. L3 cache: 20480 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 70 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 6,055 points. Launch price was $142.
Microsoft SQ1
The Microsoft SQ1 is manufactured by Microsoft. It was released in 2 October 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Cortex-A76 / A55 (Kryo 495) (2019) architecture. It features 8 cores and 8 threads. Max frequency: 3 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB. Built on 7 nm process technology. Thermal design power (TDP): + 2 MB. Passmark benchmark score: 6,039 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Xeon E5-2650L packs 8 cores / 16 threads, matching the Microsoft SQ1's 8 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.3 GHz on the Xeon E5-2650L versus 3 GHz on the Microsoft SQ1 — a 26.4% clock advantage for the Microsoft SQ1. The Xeon E5-2650L uses the Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Microsoft SQ1 uses Cortex-A76 / A55 (Kryo 495) (2019) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-2650L scores 6,055 against the Microsoft SQ1's 6,039 — a 0.3% lead for the Xeon E5-2650L. L3 cache: 20480 kB (total) on the Xeon E5-2650L vs 2 MB on the Microsoft SQ1.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2650L | Microsoft SQ1 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 16 | 8 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 2.3 GHz | 3 GHz+30% |
| Base Clock | 1.8 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 20480 kB (total)+900% | 2 MB |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | — |
| Process | 32 nm | 7 nm-78% |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) | Cortex-A76 / A55 (Kryo 495) (2019) |
| PassMark | 6,055 | 6,039 |
Value Analysis
The Xeon E5-2650L launched at $748 MSRP, while the Microsoft SQ1 debuted at $300. At current prices ($129 vs $180), the Xeon E5-2650L is $51 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon E5-2650L delivers 46.9 pts/$ vs 33.5 pts/$ for the Microsoft SQ1 — making the Xeon E5-2650L the 33.3% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2650L | Microsoft SQ1 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $748 | $300-60% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $129-28% | $180 |
| Performance per Dollar | 46.9+40% | 33.5 |
| Release Date | 2012 | 2019 |
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