Xeon E5520 vs Core i5-670
Xeon E5520
Core i5-670
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 E5520 is positioned at rank 788 and the Core i5-670 is on rank 1013, so the Xeon E5520 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5520
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-670
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5520 | Core i5-670 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($100) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Gainestown (2009−2010) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Clarkdale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5520 | Core i5-670 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($100) |
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 E5520 and Core i5-670
Xeon E5520
The Xeon E5520 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 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.26 GHz, with boost up to 2.53 GHz. L3 cache: 8 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: 2,541 points. Launch price was $19.
Core i5-670
The Core i5-670 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 3.46 GHz, with boost up to 3.73 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1156. Thermal design power (TDP): 73 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,553 points. Launch price was $252.
Processing Power
The Xeon E5520 packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Core i5-670 offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Xeon E5520 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.53 GHz on the Xeon E5520 versus 3.73 GHz on the Core i5-670 — a 38.3% clock advantage for the Core i5-670 (base: 2.26 GHz vs 3.46 GHz). The Xeon E5520 uses the Gainestown (2009−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i5-670 uses Clarkdale (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5520 scores 2,541 against the Core i5-670's 2,553 — a 0.5% lead for the Core i5-670. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Xeon E5520 vs 4 MB (total) on the Core i5-670.
| Feature | Xeon E5520 | Core i5-670 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.53 GHz | 3.73 GHz+47% |
| Base Clock | 2.26 GHz | 3.46 GHz+53% |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total)+100% | 4 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 32 nm-29% |
| Architecture | Gainestown (2009−2010) | Clarkdale (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 2,541 | 2,553 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 638 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5520 uses the LGA1366 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i5-670 uses LGA1156 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E5520 | Core i5-670 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1366 | LGA1156 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 16 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Xeon E5520) / VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-670). The Core i5-670 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics), while the Xeon E5520 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-670 targets Legacy Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i5-670 rivals Phenom II X4 955.
| Feature | Xeon E5520 | Core i5-670 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | HD Graphics |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | — | Legacy Desktop |
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