Xeon W3680 vs Xeon X5690
Xeon W3680
Xeon X5690
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 W3680 is positioned at rank 817 and the Xeon X5690 is on rank 514, so the Xeon X5690 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon W3680
Performance Per Dollar Xeon X5690
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon W3680 | Xeon X5690 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($26) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($250) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Gulftown (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Westmere-EP (2010−2011) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon W3680 | Xeon X5690 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+861%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($26) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($250) |
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 W3680 and Xeon X5690
Xeon W3680
The Xeon W3680 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 16 March 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Gulftown (2010−2011) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.33 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1366. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 7,025 points. Launch price was $350.
Xeon X5690
The Xeon X5690 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 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.46 GHz, with boost up to 3.73 GHz. L3 cache: 12288 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1366. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 7,031 points. Launch price was $205.
Processing Power
Both the Xeon W3680 and Xeon X5690 share an identical 6-core/12-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.6 GHz on the Xeon W3680 versus 3.73 GHz on the Xeon X5690 — a 3.5% clock advantage for the Xeon X5690 (base: 3.33 GHz vs 3.46 GHz). The Xeon W3680 uses the Gulftown (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the Xeon X5690 uses Westmere-EP (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon W3680 scores 7,025 against the Xeon X5690's 7,031 — a 0.1% lead for the Xeon X5690. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Xeon W3680 vs 12288 kB (total) on the Xeon X5690.
| Feature | Xeon W3680 | Xeon X5690 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12 | 6 / 12 |
| Boost Clock | 3.6 GHz | 3.73 GHz+4% |
| Base Clock | 3.33 GHz | 3.46 GHz+4% |
| L3 Cache | 12 MB (total) | 12288 kB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Gulftown (2010−2011) | Westmere-EP (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 7,025 | 7,031 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 3,000 |
Memory & Platform
Both processors use the LGA1366 socket with PCIe 2.0.
| Feature | Xeon W3680 | Xeon X5690 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1366 | LGA1366 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1333 |
| RAM Channels | — | 3 |
| ECC Support | — | ✅ |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Xeon W3680) / VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Xeon X5690). Primary use case: Xeon X5690 targets Workstation. Direct competitor: Xeon X5690 rivals Core i7-980X.
| Feature | Xeon W3680 | Xeon X5690 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | — | Workstation |
Value Analysis
The Xeon W3680 launched at $594 MSRP, while the Xeon X5690 debuted at $250. At current prices ($26 vs $250), the Xeon W3680 is $224 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon W3680 delivers 270.2 pts/$ vs 28.1 pts/$ for the Xeon X5690 — making the Xeon W3680 the 162.3% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon W3680 | Xeon X5690 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $594 | $250-58% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $26-90% | $250 |
| Performance per Dollar | 270.2+862% | 28.1 |
| Release Date | 2010 | 2011 |
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