Xeon E5440 vs Core i5-661
Xeon E5440
Core i5-661
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 E5440 is positioned at rank 1008 and the Core i5-661 is on rank 959, so the Core i5-661 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5440
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-661
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5440 | Core i5-661 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($37) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($40) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Harpertown (2007−2008) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Clarkdale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5440 | Core i5-661 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+7%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($37) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($40) |
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 E5440 and Core i5-661
Xeon E5440
The Xeon E5440 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 11 November 2007 (18 years ago). It is based on the Harpertown (2007−2008) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.83 GHz, with boost up to 0.83 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB L2 Cache. L2 cache: 6 MB (total). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA771. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR2, DDR3 Depends on motherboard. Passmark benchmark score: 2,367 points. Launch price was $690.
Core i5-661
The Core i5-661 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 3.33 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1156. Thermal design power (TDP): 87 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,387 points. Launch price was $252.
Processing Power
The Xeon E5440 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i5-661 offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Xeon E5440 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 0.83 GHz on the Xeon E5440 versus 3.6 GHz on the Core i5-661 — a 125.1% clock advantage for the Core i5-661 (base: 2.83 GHz vs 3.33 GHz). The Xeon E5440 uses the Harpertown (2007−2008) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i5-661 uses Clarkdale (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5440 scores 2,367 against the Core i5-661's 2,387 — a 0.8% lead for the Core i5-661. L3 cache: 12 MB L2 Cache on the Xeon E5440 vs 4 MB (total) on the Core i5-661.
| Feature | Xeon E5440 | Core i5-661 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 0.83 GHz | 3.6 GHz+334% |
| Base Clock | 2.83 GHz | 3.33 GHz+18% |
| L3 Cache | 12 MB L2 Cache+200% | 4 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 6 MB (total)+2300% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 32 nm-29% |
| Architecture | Harpertown (2007−2008) | Clarkdale (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 2,367 | 2,387 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5440 uses the LGA771 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i5-661 uses LGA1156 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E5440 | Core i5-661 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA771 | LGA1156 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
Value Analysis
The Xeon E5440 launched at $690 MSRP, while the Core i5-661 debuted at $196. At current prices ($37 vs $40), the Xeon E5440 is $3 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon E5440 delivers 64.0 pts/$ vs 59.7 pts/$ for the Core i5-661 — making the Xeon E5440 the 7% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon E5440 | Core i5-661 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $690 | $196-72% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $37-8% | $40 |
| Performance per Dollar | 64.0+7% | 59.7 |
| Release Date | 2007 | 2010 |
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