Xeon X5560 vs Core i7-950
Xeon X5560
Core i7-950
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 X5560 is positioned at rank 687 and the Core i7-950 is on rank 1067, so the Xeon X5560 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon X5560
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-950
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon X5560 | Core i7-950 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Gainestown (2009−2010) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Bloomfield (2008−2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon X5560 | Core i7-950 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($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 X5560 and Core i7-950
Xeon X5560
The Xeon X5560 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 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1366. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,231 points. Launch price was $44.
Core i7-950
The Core i7-950 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 June 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Bloomfield (2008−2010) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.06 GHz, with boost up to 3.33 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: 3,250 points. Launch price was $290.
Processing Power
Both the Xeon X5560 and Core i7-950 share an identical 4-core/8-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.2 GHz on the Xeon X5560 versus 3.33 GHz on the Core i7-950 — a 4% clock advantage for the Core i7-950 (base: 2.8 GHz vs 3.06 GHz). The Xeon X5560 uses the Gainestown (2009−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i7-950 uses Bloomfield (2008−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon X5560 scores 3,231 against the Core i7-950's 3,250 — a 0.6% lead for the Core i7-950. Both processors carry 8 MB (total) of L3 cache.
| Feature | Xeon X5560 | Core i7-950 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 3.2 GHz | 3.33 GHz+4% |
| Base Clock | 2.8 GHz | 3.06 GHz+9% |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total) | 8 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Gainestown (2009−2010) | Bloomfield (2008−2010) |
| PassMark | 3,231 | 3,250 |
Memory & Platform
Both processors use the LGA1366 socket with PCIe 2.0.
| Feature | Xeon X5560 | Core i7-950 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1366 | LGA1366 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | — |
| RAM Channels | 3 | — |
| ECC Support | ✅ | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Xeon X5560) / not specified (Core i7-950). Primary use case: Xeon X5560 targets Workstation. Direct competitor: Xeon X5560 rivals Core i3-2100.
| Feature | Xeon X5560 | Core i7-950 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | — |
| Target Use | Workstation | — |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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