Xeon X5355 vs Core i3-2102
Xeon X5355
Core i3-2102
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 X5355 is positioned at rank 1032 and the Core i3-2102 is on rank 857, so the Core i3-2102 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon X5355
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-2102
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon X5355 | Core i3-2102 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($4,000) | ✅ More affordable ($15) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Clovertown (2006−2007) / 65 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon X5355 | Core i3-2102 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+26436%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($4,000) | ✅ More affordable ($15) |
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 X5355 and Core i3-2102
Xeon X5355
The Xeon X5355 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 November 2006 (19 years ago). It is based on the Clovertown (2006−2007) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.66 GHz, with boost up to 0.67 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB L2 Cache. L2 cache: 4 MB (total). Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: LGA771. Thermal design power (TDP): 120 Watt. Memory support: DDR2, DDR3 Depends on motherboard. Passmark benchmark score: 2,039 points. Launch price was $1,172.
Core i3-2102
The Core i3-2102 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 June 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.1 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,029 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
The Xeon X5355 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i3-2102 offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Xeon X5355 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 0.67 GHz on the Xeon X5355 versus 3.1 GHz on the Core i3-2102 — a 128.9% clock advantage for the Core i3-2102 (base: 2.66 GHz vs 3.1 GHz). The Xeon X5355 uses the Clovertown (2006−2007) architecture (65 nm), while the Core i3-2102 uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon X5355 scores 2,039 against the Core i3-2102's 2,029 — a 0.5% lead for the Xeon X5355. L3 cache: 8 MB L2 Cache on the Xeon X5355 vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-2102.
| Feature | Xeon X5355 | Core i3-2102 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 0.67 GHz | 3.1 GHz+363% |
| Base Clock | 2.66 GHz | 3.1 GHz+17% |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB L2 Cache+167% | 3 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 4 MB (total)+1500% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 65 nm | 32 nm-51% |
| Architecture | Clovertown (2006−2007) | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) |
| PassMark | 2,039 | 2,029 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 515 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 1,082 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon X5355 uses the LGA771 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i3-2102 uses LGA1155 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon X5355 | Core i3-2102 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA771 | 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 X5355) / VT-x (Core i3-2102). The Core i3-2102 includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 2000), while the Xeon X5355 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-2102 targets Office Desktop.
| Feature | Xeon X5355 | Core i3-2102 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Intel HD Graphics 2000 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x |
| Target Use | — | Office Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Xeon X5355 launched at $4491 MSRP, while the Core i3-2102 debuted at $117. At current prices ($4000 vs $15), the Core i3-2102 is $3985 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon X5355 delivers 0.5 pts/$ vs 135.3 pts/$ for the Core i3-2102 — making the Core i3-2102 the 198.5% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon X5355 | Core i3-2102 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $4491 | $117-97% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $4000 | $15-100% |
| Performance per Dollar | 0.5 | 135.3+26960% |
| Release Date | 2006 | 2011 |
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