CPU
GPU
Xeon E5-2650L
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 E5-2650L is positioned at rank 916 and the Xeon X5660 is on rank 990, so the Xeon E5-2650L 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 Xeon X5660
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5-2650L | Xeon X5660 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($129) | ✅ More affordable ($10) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Westmere-EP (2010−2011) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5-2650L | Xeon X5660 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+1174%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($129) | ✅ More affordable ($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.
Counter-Strike 2
Valorant
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Xeon E5-2650L and Xeon X5660
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.
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 E5-2650L packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Xeon X5660 offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Xeon E5-2650L has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.3 GHz on the Xeon E5-2650L versus 3.2 GHz on the Xeon X5660 — a 32.7% clock advantage for the Xeon X5660 (base: 1.8 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Xeon E5-2650L uses the Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Xeon X5660 uses Westmere-EP (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-2650L scores 6,055 against the Xeon X5660's 5,979 — a 1.3% lead for the Xeon E5-2650L. L3 cache: 20480 kB (total) on the Xeon E5-2650L vs 12 MB (total) on the Xeon X5660.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2650L | Xeon X5660 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 16+33% | 6 / 12 |
| Boost Clock | 2.3 GHz | 3.2 GHz+39% |
| Base Clock | 1.8 GHz | 2.8 GHz+56% |
| L3 Cache | 20480 kB (total)+67% | 12 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) | Westmere-EP (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 6,055+1% | 5,979 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5-2650L uses the LGA2011 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Xeon X5660 uses LGA1366 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2650L | Xeon X5660 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2011 | LGA1366 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 5.0+150% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1333 |
| RAM Channels | — | 3 |
| ECC Support | — | ✅ |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Xeon E5-2650L) / VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Xeon X5660). Primary use case: Xeon X5660 targets Workstation. Direct competitor: Xeon X5660 rivals Core i7-980X.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2650L | Xeon X5660 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | — | Workstation |
Value Analysis
The Xeon E5-2650L launched at $748 MSRP, while the Xeon X5660 debuted at $1219. At current prices ($129 vs $10), the Xeon X5660 is $119 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon E5-2650L delivers 46.9 pts/$ vs 597.9 pts/$ for the Xeon X5660 — making the Xeon X5660 the 170.9% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2650L | Xeon X5660 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $748-39% | $1219 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $129 | $10-92% |
| Performance per Dollar | 46.9 | 597.9+1175% |
| Release Date | 2012 | 2010 |
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