Xeon E5-2660 vs Core i5-9500T
Xeon E5-2660
Core i5-9500T
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. The Xeon E5-2660 is positioned at rank #963 in our cost-efficiency ranking, representing a Lower cost-benefit for your build. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-2660
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-9500T
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5-2660 | Core i5-9500T |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($65) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($132) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) / 32 nm) | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake (2017−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5-2660 | Core i5-9500T |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+102%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($65) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($132) |
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 E5-2660 and Core i5-9500T
Xeon E5-2660
The Xeon E5-2660 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 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 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): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 8,067 points. Launch price was $85.
Core i5-9500T
The Core i5-9500T is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 April 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake (2017−2019) architecture. It features 6 cores and 6 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 9 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2666. Passmark benchmark score: 8,095 points. Launch price was $192.
Processing Power
The Xeon E5-2660 packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Core i5-9500T offers 6 cores / 6 threads — the Xeon E5-2660 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3 GHz on the Xeon E5-2660 versus 3.7 GHz on the Core i5-9500T — a 20.9% clock advantage for the Core i5-9500T (base: 2.2 GHz vs 2.2 GHz). The Xeon E5-2660 uses the Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Core i5-9500T uses Coffee Lake (2017−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-2660 scores 8,067 against the Core i5-9500T's 8,095 — a 0.3% lead for the Core i5-9500T. L3 cache: 20480 kB (total) on the Xeon E5-2660 vs 9 MB (total) on the Core i5-9500T.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2660 | Core i5-9500T |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 16+33% | 6 / 6 |
| Boost Clock | 3 GHz | 3.7 GHz+23% |
| Base Clock | 2.2 GHz | 2.2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 20480 kB (total)+122% | 9 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 14 nm-56% |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) | Coffee Lake (2017−2019) |
| PassMark | 8,067 | 8,095 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 1,236 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 4,218 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5-2660 uses the LGA2011 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i5-9500T uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1600 on the Xeon E5-2660 versus DDR4-2666 on the Core i5-9500T — the Core i5-9500T supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon E5-2660 supports up to 384 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 100% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 4 (Xeon E5-2660) vs 2 (Core i5-9500T). PCIe lanes: 40 (Xeon E5-2660) vs 16 (Core i5-9500T) — the Xeon E5-2660 offers 24 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel X79,Intel C602 (Xeon E5-2660) and 300-series (Core i5-9500T).
| Feature | Xeon E5-2660 | Core i5-9500T |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2011 | LGA1151 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1600 | DDR4-2666+33% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 384 GB+200% | 128 GB |
| RAM Channels | 4+100% | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 40+150% | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Xeon E5-2660) / VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-9500T). The Core i5-9500T includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 630), while the Xeon E5-2660 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-9500T targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Core i5-9500T rivals Ryzen 5 2600.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2660 | Core i5-9500T |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | UHD Graphics 630 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | — | Gaming |
Value Analysis
The Xeon E5-2660 launched at $1329 MSRP, while the Core i5-9500T debuted at $192. At current prices ($65 vs $132), the Xeon E5-2660 is $67 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon E5-2660 delivers 124.1 pts/$ vs 61.3 pts/$ for the Core i5-9500T — making the Xeon E5-2660 the 67.7% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2660 | Core i5-9500T |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $1329 | $192-86% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $65-51% | $132 |
| Performance per Dollar | 124.1+102% | 61.3 |
| Release Date | 2012 | 2019 |
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