Xeon E5603 vs Xeon X6550
Xeon E5603
Xeon X6550
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 E5603 is positioned at rank 863 and the Xeon X6550 is on rank 879, so the Xeon E5603 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5603
Performance Per Dollar Xeon X6550
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5603 | Xeon X6550 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($188) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Westmere-EP (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Legacy / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5603 | Xeon X6550 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($188) | ✅ 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 E5603 and Xeon X6550
Xeon E5603
The Xeon E5603 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 February 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Westmere-EP (2010−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.6 GHz, with boost up to 1.6 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1366. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,935 points. Launch price was $286.
Xeon X6550
The Xeon X6550 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 18 MB L3 Cache. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1567. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,936 points. Launch price was $800.
Processing Power
The Xeon E5603 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Xeon X6550 offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Xeon X6550 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 1.6 GHz on the Xeon E5603 versus 2.4 GHz on the Xeon X6550 — a 40% clock advantage for the Xeon X6550 (base: 1.6 GHz vs 2 GHz). The Xeon E5603 is built on the Westmere-EP (2010−2011) architecture. In PassMark, the Xeon E5603 scores 1,935 against the Xeon X6550's 1,936 — a 0.1% lead for the Xeon X6550. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Xeon E5603 vs 18 MB L3 Cache on the Xeon X6550.
| Feature | Xeon E5603 | Xeon X6550 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 8 / 16+100% |
| Boost Clock | 1.6 GHz | 2.4 GHz+50% |
| Base Clock | 1.6 GHz | 2 GHz+25% |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total) | 18 MB L3 Cache+350% |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | — |
| Process | 32 nm-29% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Westmere-EP (2010−2011) | — |
| PassMark | 1,935 | 1,936 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5603 uses the LGA1366 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon X6550 uses LGA1567 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1066 memory speed. Memory channels: 3 (Xeon E5603) vs 4 (Xeon X6550).
| Feature | Xeon E5603 | Xeon X6550 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1366 | LGA1567 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 5.0+150% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1066 | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 288 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 3 | 4+33% |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 32 | — |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Xeon E5603) vs VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Xeon X6550). Primary use case: Xeon E5603 targets Server, Xeon X6550 targets Server. Direct competitor: Xeon X6550 rivals Core i7-980X.
| Feature | Xeon E5603 | Xeon X6550 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | Server | Server |
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