Xeon E5503 vs Core 2 Duo T5550
Xeon E5503
Core 2 Duo T5550
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 E5503 is positioned at rank 895 and the Core 2 Duo T5550 is on rank 23, so the Core 2 Duo T5550 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5503
Performance Per Dollar Core 2 Duo T5550
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5503 | Core 2 Duo T5550 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($5) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Gainestown (2009−2010) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Merom (2006−2008) / 65 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5503 | Core 2 Duo T5550 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($5) |
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 E5503 and Core 2 Duo T5550
Xeon E5503
The Xeon E5503 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 16 March 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Gainestown (2009−2010) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 2 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: 1,815 points. Launch price was $287.
Core 2 Duo T5550
The Core 2 Duo T5550 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2008-01-01. It is based on the Merom (2006−2008) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.83 GHz, with boost up to 1.83 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB L2 Cache. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: PGA478. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,826 points. Launch price was $249.
Processing Power
Both the Xeon E5503 and Core 2 Duo T5550 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2 GHz on the Xeon E5503 versus 1.83 GHz on the Core 2 Duo T5550 — a 8.9% clock advantage for the Xeon E5503 (base: 2 GHz vs 1.83 GHz). The Xeon E5503 uses the Gainestown (2009−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Core 2 Duo T5550 uses Merom (2006−2008) (65 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5503 scores 1,815 against the Core 2 Duo T5550's 1,826 — a 0.6% lead for the Core 2 Duo T5550. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Xeon E5503 vs 2 MB L2 Cache on the Core 2 Duo T5550.
| Feature | Xeon E5503 | Core 2 Duo T5550 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2 GHz+9% | 1.83 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2 GHz+9% | 1.83 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total)+100% | 2 MB L2 Cache |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 2 MB+700% |
| Process | 45 nm-31% | 65 nm |
| Architecture | Gainestown (2009−2010) | Merom (2006−2008) |
| PassMark | 1,815 | 1,826 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5503 uses the LGA1366 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core 2 Duo T5550 uses PGA478 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E5503 | Core 2 Duo T5550 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1366 | PGA478 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0+82% | PCIe 1.1 |
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