Xeon X5450 vs Core i5-661
Xeon X5450
Core i5-661
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 X5450 is positioned at rank 807 and the Core i5-661 is on rank 959, so the Xeon X5450 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon X5450
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-661
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon X5450 | Core i5-661 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($40) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Harpertown (2007−2008) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Clarkdale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon X5450 | Core i5-661 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($40) |
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 X5450 and Core i5-661
Xeon X5450
The Xeon X5450 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 11 November 2007 (18 years ago). It is based on the Harpertown (2007−2008) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB L2 Cache. L2 cache: 6 MB (total). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA771. Thermal design power (TDP): 120 Watt. Memory support: DDR2, DDR3 Depends on motherboard. Passmark benchmark score: 2,416 points. Launch price was $851.
Core i5-661
The Core i5-661 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 7 January 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Clarkdale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.33 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1156. Thermal design power (TDP): 87 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,387 points. Launch price was $252.
Processing Power
The Xeon X5450 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i5-661 offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Xeon X5450 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3 GHz on the Xeon X5450 versus 3.6 GHz on the Core i5-661 — a 18.2% clock advantage for the Core i5-661 (base: 3 GHz vs 3.33 GHz). The Xeon X5450 uses the Harpertown (2007−2008) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i5-661 uses Clarkdale (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon X5450 scores 2,416 against the Core i5-661's 2,387 — a 1.2% lead for the Xeon X5450. L3 cache: 12 MB L2 Cache on the Xeon X5450 vs 4 MB (total) on the Core i5-661.
| Feature | Xeon X5450 | Core i5-661 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3 GHz | 3.6 GHz+20% |
| Base Clock | 3 GHz | 3.33 GHz+11% |
| L3 Cache | 12 MB L2 Cache+200% | 4 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 6 MB (total)+2300% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 32 nm-29% |
| Architecture | Harpertown (2007−2008) | Clarkdale (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 2,416+1% | 2,387 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon X5450 uses the LGA771 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i5-661 uses LGA1156 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon X5450 | Core i5-661 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA771 | LGA1156 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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