Xeon W5580 vs Core i7-2657M
Xeon W5580
Core i7-2657M
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 W5580 is positioned at rank 657 and the Core i7-2657M is on rank 268, so the Core i7-2657M offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon W5580
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-2657M
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon W5580 | Core i7-2657M |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Gainestown (2009−2010) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon W5580 | Core i7-2657M |
|---|---|---|
| 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 W5580 and Core i7-2657M
Xeon W5580
The Xeon W5580 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 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.46 GHz. L3 cache: 8 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: 3,459 points. Launch price was $102.
Core i7-2657M
The Core i7-2657M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 January 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.6 GHz, with boost up to 2.7 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1023. Thermal design power (TDP): 17 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1066, DDR3-1333. Passmark benchmark score: 3,491 points. Launch price was $317.
Processing Power
The Xeon W5580 packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Core i7-2657M offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Xeon W5580 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.46 GHz on the Xeon W5580 versus 2.7 GHz on the Core i7-2657M — a 24.7% clock advantage for the Xeon W5580 (base: 3.2 GHz vs 1.6 GHz). The Xeon W5580 uses the Gainestown (2009−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i7-2657M uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon W5580 scores 3,459 against the Core i7-2657M's 3,491 — a 0.9% lead for the Core i7-2657M. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Xeon W5580 vs 4 MB on the Core i7-2657M.
| Feature | Xeon W5580 | Core i7-2657M |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.46 GHz+28% | 2.7 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.2 GHz+100% | 1.6 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total)+100% | 4 MB |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 512 kB+100% |
| Process | 45 nm | 32 nm-29% |
| Architecture | Gainestown (2009−2010) | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) |
| PassMark | 3,459 | 3,491 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 535 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon W5580 uses the LGA1366 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i7-2657M uses BGA1023 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon W5580 | Core i7-2657M |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1366 | BGA1023 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 8 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Xeon W5580) / VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i7-2657M). The Core i7-2657M includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 3000), while the Xeon W5580 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-2657M targets Ultrabook. Direct competitor: Core i7-2657M rivals A6-3420M.
| Feature | Xeon W5580 | Core i7-2657M |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | HD Graphics 3000 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | — | Ultrabook |
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