Xeon E5540 vs Processor N250
Xeon E5540
Processor N250
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 E5540 is positioned at rank #745 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 E5540
Performance Per Dollar
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5540 | Processor N250 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Gainestown (2009−2010) / 45 nm) | ✨ Modern (Twin Lake (2024−2025) / 10 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5540 | Processor N250 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 E5540 and Processor N250
Xeon E5540
The Xeon E5540 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 2.53 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 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: 2,805 points. Launch price was $30.
Processor N250
The Processor N250 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 7 January 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Twin Lake (2024−2025) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 0.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (total). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1264. Thermal design power (TDP): 6 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 2,786 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
The Xeon E5540 packs 4 cores / 8 threads, matching the Processor N250's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.8 GHz on the Xeon E5540 versus 3.8 GHz on the Processor N250 — a 30.3% clock advantage for the Processor N250 (base: 2.53 GHz vs 0.1 GHz). The Xeon E5540 uses the Gainestown (2009−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Processor N250 uses Twin Lake (2024−2025) (10 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5540 scores 2,805 against the Processor N250's 2,786 — a 0.7% lead for the Xeon E5540. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Xeon E5540 vs 6 MB (total) on the Processor N250.
| Feature | Xeon E5540 | Processor N250 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.8 GHz | 3.8 GHz+36% |
| Base Clock | 2.53 GHz+2430% | 0.1 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total)+33% | 6 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 2 MB (total)+700% |
| Process | 45 nm | 10 nm-78% |
| Architecture | Gainestown (2009−2010) | Twin Lake (2024−2025) |
| PassMark | 2,805 | 2,786 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5540 uses the LGA1366 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Processor N250 uses FCBGA1264 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E5540 | Processor N250 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1366 | FCBGA1264 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 4.0+100% |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Xeon E5540 and Processor N250
