Xeon W3503 vs Core 2 Extreme X7900
Xeon W3503
Core 2 Extreme X7900
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 W3503 is positioned at rank 978 and the Core 2 Extreme X7900 is on rank 1162, so the Xeon W3503 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon W3503
Performance Per Dollar Core 2 Extreme X7900
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon W3503 | Core 2 Extreme X7900 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Bloomfield (2008−2010) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Merom (2006−2008) / 65 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon W3503 | Core 2 Extreme X7900 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 W3503 and Core 2 Extreme X7900
Xeon W3503
The Xeon W3503 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 March 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Bloomfield (2008−2010) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1366. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,125 points. Launch price was $65.
Core 2 Extreme X7900
The Core 2 Extreme X7900 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2007 (18 years ago). It is based on the Merom (2006−2008) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 4 MB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: PGA478. Thermal design power (TDP): 44 Watt. Memory support: DDR1. Passmark benchmark score: 1,115 points. Launch price was $851.
Processing Power
Both the Xeon W3503 and Core 2 Extreme X7900 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.4 GHz on the Xeon W3503 versus 2.8 GHz on the Core 2 Extreme X7900 — a 15.4% clock advantage for the Core 2 Extreme X7900 (base: 2.4 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Xeon W3503 uses the Bloomfield (2008−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Core 2 Extreme X7900 uses Merom (2006−2008) (65 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon W3503 scores 1,125 against the Core 2 Extreme X7900's 1,115 — a 0.9% lead for the Xeon W3503. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Xeon W3503 vs 0 kB on the Core 2 Extreme X7900.
| Feature | Xeon W3503 | Core 2 Extreme X7900 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.4 GHz | 2.8 GHz+17% |
| Base Clock | 2.4 GHz | 2.8 GHz+17% |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 4 MB+1500% |
| Process | 45 nm-31% | 65 nm |
| Architecture | Bloomfield (2008−2010) | Merom (2006−2008) |
| PassMark | 1,125 | 1,115 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon W3503 uses the LGA1366 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core 2 Extreme X7900 uses PGA478 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon W3503 | Core 2 Extreme X7900 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1366 | PGA478 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0+82% | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR2-667 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 4 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 0 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Xeon W3503) / VT-x (Core 2 Extreme X7900). Primary use case: Core 2 Extreme X7900 targets Mobile.
| Feature | Xeon W3503 | Core 2 Extreme X7900 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| Unlocked | — | Yes |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x |
| Target Use | — | Mobile |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Xeon W3503 and Core 2 Extreme X7900
