Xeon L5506 vs Core i5-2320
Xeon L5506
Core i5-2320
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 L5506 is positioned at rank 645 and the Core i5-2320 is on rank 777, so the Xeon L5506 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon L5506
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-2320
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon L5506 | Core i5-2320 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($22) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Gainestown (2009−2010) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon L5506 | Core i5-2320 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($22) |
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 L5506 and Core i5-2320
Xeon L5506
The Xeon L5506 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 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.13 GHz, with boost up to 0.13 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1366. Thermal design power (TDP): 60 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,706 points. Launch price was $125.
Core i5-2320
The Core i5-2320 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 September 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3.3 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,688 points. Launch price was $160.
Processing Power
Both the Xeon L5506 and Core i5-2320 share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 0.13 GHz on the Xeon L5506 versus 3.3 GHz on the Core i5-2320 — a 184.8% clock advantage for the Core i5-2320 (base: 2.13 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Xeon L5506 uses the Gainestown (2009−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i5-2320 uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon L5506 scores 3,706 against the Core i5-2320's 3,688 — a 0.5% lead for the Xeon L5506. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Xeon L5506 vs 6 MB (total) on the Core i5-2320.
| Feature | Xeon L5506 | Core i5-2320 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 0.13 GHz | 3.3 GHz+2438% |
| Base Clock | 2.13 GHz | 3 GHz+41% |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total) | 6 MB (total)+50% |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 32 nm-29% |
| Architecture | Gainestown (2009−2010) | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) |
| PassMark | 3,706 | 3,688 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 560 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon L5506 uses the LGA1366 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i5-2320 uses LGA1155 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon L5506 | Core i5-2320 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1366 | LGA1155 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Xeon L5506) / VT-x, EPT (Core i5-2320). The Core i5-2320 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 2000), while the Xeon L5506 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-2320 targets Legacy Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i5-2320 rivals Phenom II X4 965.
| Feature | Xeon L5506 | Core i5-2320 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | HD Graphics 2000 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, EPT |
| Target Use | — | Legacy Desktop |
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