CPU
GPU
Xeon W5590
Xeon E5-2609 v2
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 W5590 is positioned at rank 678 and the Xeon E5-2609 v2 is on rank 667, so the Xeon E5-2609 v2 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon W5590
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-2609 v2
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon W5590 | Xeon E5-2609 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($30) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Gainestown (2009−2010) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge-EP (2013) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon W5590 | Xeon E5-2609 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($30) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 W5590 and Xeon E5-2609 v2
Xeon W5590
The Xeon W5590 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 9 August 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Gainestown (2009−2010) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.33 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 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: 3,342 points. Launch price was $270.
Xeon E5-2609 v2
The Xeon E5-2609 v2 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge-EP (2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 2.5 GHz. L3 cache: 10 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,369 points. Launch price was $396.
Processing Power
The Xeon W5590 packs 4 cores / 8 threads, matching the Xeon E5-2609 v2's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.6 GHz on the Xeon W5590 versus 2.5 GHz on the Xeon E5-2609 v2 — a 36.1% clock advantage for the Xeon W5590 (base: 3.33 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The Xeon W5590 uses the Gainestown (2009−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Xeon E5-2609 v2 uses Ivy Bridge-EP (2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon W5590 scores 3,342 against the Xeon E5-2609 v2's 3,369 — a 0.8% lead for the Xeon E5-2609 v2. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Xeon W5590 vs 10 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-2609 v2.
| Feature | Xeon W5590 | Xeon E5-2609 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.6 GHz+44% | 2.5 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.33 GHz+33% | 2.5 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total) | 10 MB (total)+25% |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 22 nm-51% |
| Architecture | Gainestown (2009−2010) | Ivy Bridge-EP (2013) |
| PassMark | 3,342 | 3,369 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon W5590 uses the LGA1366 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon E5-2609 v2 uses LGA2011 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon W5590 | Xeon E5-2609 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1366 | LGA2011 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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