Xeon X5660 vs Opteron 6344
Xeon X5660
Opteron 6344
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 X5660 is positioned at rank 990 and the Opteron 6344 is on rank 55, so the Opteron 6344 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon X5660
Performance Per Dollar Opteron 6344
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon X5660 | Opteron 6344 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | Balanced gaming performance | Balanced gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($10) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($49) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Westmere-EP (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Abu Dhabi (2012) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon X5660 | Opteron 6344 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+383%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($10) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($49) |
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 X5660 and Opteron 6344
Xeon X5660
The Xeon X5660 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 16 March 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Westmere-EP (2010−2011) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1366. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 5,979 points. Launch price was $33.
Opteron 6344
The Opteron 6344 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 5 November 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Abu Dhabi (2012) architecture. It features 12 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per module). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: G34. Thermal design power (TDP): 115 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 6,069 points. Launch price was $415.
Processing Power
The Xeon X5660 packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Opteron 6344 offers 12 cores / 12 threads — the Opteron 6344 has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.2 GHz on the Xeon X5660 versus 3.2 GHz on the Opteron 6344 — identical boost frequencies (base: 2.8 GHz vs 2.6 GHz). The Xeon X5660 uses the Westmere-EP (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the Opteron 6344 uses Abu Dhabi (2012) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon X5660 scores 5,979 against the Opteron 6344's 6,069 — a 1.5% lead for the Opteron 6344. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Xeon X5660 vs 8 MB (total) on the Opteron 6344.
| Feature | Xeon X5660 | Opteron 6344 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12 | 12 / 12+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3.2 GHz | 3.2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.8 GHz+8% | 2.6 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 12 MB (total)+50% | 8 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 2 MB (per module)+700% |
| Process | 32 nm | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Westmere-EP (2010−2011) | Abu Dhabi (2012) |
| PassMark | 5,979 | 6,069+2% |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon X5660 uses the LGA1366 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Opteron 6344 uses G34 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon X5660 | Opteron 6344 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1366 | G34 |
| 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 X5660) / not specified (Opteron 6344). Primary use case: Xeon X5660 targets Workstation. Direct competitor: Xeon X5660 rivals Core i7-980X.
| Feature | Xeon X5660 | Opteron 6344 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | — |
| Target Use | Workstation | — |
Value Analysis
The Xeon X5660 launched at $1219 MSRP, while the Opteron 6344 debuted at $415. At current prices ($10 vs $49), the Xeon X5660 is $39 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon X5660 delivers 597.9 pts/$ vs 123.9 pts/$ for the Opteron 6344 — making the Xeon X5660 the 131.4% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon X5660 | Opteron 6344 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $1219 | $415-66% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $10-80% | $49 |
| Performance per Dollar | 597.9+383% | 123.9 |
| Release Date | 2010 | 2012 |
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