CPU
GPU
Xeon E5502
Xeon 5160
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 E5502 is positioned at rank 893 and the Xeon 5160 is on rank 903, so the Xeon E5502 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5502
Performance Per Dollar Xeon 5160
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5502 | Xeon 5160 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($39) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Gainestown (2009−2010) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Woodcrest (2006) / 65 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5502 | Xeon 5160 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($39) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 E5502 and Xeon 5160
Xeon E5502
The Xeon E5502 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 March 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Gainestown (2009−2010) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.86 GHz, with boost up to 1.87 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1366. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,725 points. Launch price was $95.
Xeon 5160
The Xeon 5160 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in Junho 2006 (19 years ago). It is based on the Woodcrest (2006) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 4 MB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: LGA771. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR2. Passmark benchmark score: 1,715 points. Launch price was $22.
Processing Power
Both the Xeon E5502 and Xeon 5160 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 1.87 GHz on the Xeon E5502 versus 3 GHz on the Xeon 5160 — a 46.4% clock advantage for the Xeon 5160 (base: 1.86 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Xeon E5502 uses the Gainestown (2009−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Xeon 5160 uses Woodcrest (2006) (65 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5502 scores 1,725 against the Xeon 5160's 1,715 — a 0.6% lead for the Xeon E5502. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Xeon E5502 vs 0 kB on the Xeon 5160.
| Feature | Xeon E5502 | Xeon 5160 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 1.87 GHz | 3 GHz+60% |
| Base Clock | 1.86 GHz | 3 GHz+61% |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 4 MB+1500% |
| Process | 45 nm-31% | 65 nm |
| Architecture | Gainestown (2009−2010) | Woodcrest (2006) |
| PassMark | 1,725 | 1,715 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 200 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 800 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5502 uses the LGA1366 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon 5160 uses LGA771 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E5502 | Xeon 5160 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1366 | LGA771 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-800 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 144 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 3 | — |
| ECC Support | ✅ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 32 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: true (Xeon E5502) / not specified (Xeon 5160).
| Feature | Xeon E5502 | Xeon 5160 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | true | — |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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