CPU
GPU
Xeon E5606
Phenom II X4 850
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 E5606 is positioned at rank 802 and the Phenom II X4 850 is on rank 251, so the Phenom II X4 850 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5606
Performance Per Dollar Phenom II X4 850
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5606 | Phenom II X4 850 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($28) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Westmere-EP (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Propus (2009−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5606 | Phenom II X4 850 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($28) |
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 E5606 and Phenom II X4 850
Xeon E5606
The Xeon E5606 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 2.13 GHz, with boost up to 0.13 GHz. L3 cache: 8 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: 2,443 points. Launch price was $46.
Phenom II X4 850
The Phenom II X4 850 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 1 June 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Propus (2009−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.3 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,441 points. Launch price was $111.
Processing Power
Both the Xeon E5606 and Phenom II X4 850 share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 0.13 GHz on the Xeon E5606 versus 3.3 GHz on the Phenom II X4 850 — a 184.8% clock advantage for the Phenom II X4 850 (base: 2.13 GHz vs 3.3 GHz). The Xeon E5606 uses the Westmere-EP (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the Phenom II X4 850 uses Propus (2009−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5606 scores 2,443 against the Phenom II X4 850's 2,441 — a 0.1% lead for the Xeon E5606. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Xeon E5606 vs 0 kB on the Phenom II X4 850.
| Feature | Xeon E5606 | Phenom II X4 850 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 0.13 GHz | 3.3 GHz+2438% |
| Base Clock | 2.13 GHz | 3.3 GHz+55% |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 512 kB (per core)+100% |
| Process | 32 nm-29% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Westmere-EP (2010−2011) | Propus (2009−2011) |
| PassMark | 2,443 | 2,441 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5606 uses the LGA1366 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Phenom II X4 850 uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E5606 | Phenom II X4 850 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1366 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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