Xeon X5660 vs Xeon E5-2450L
Xeon X5660
Xeon E5-2450L
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 Xeon E5-2450L is on rank 980, so the Xeon E5-2450L 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 Xeon E5-2450L
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon X5660 | Xeon E5-2450L |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($10) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($78) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Westmere-EP (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge-EN (2012) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon X5660 | Xeon E5-2450L |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+671%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($10) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($78) |
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 Xeon E5-2450L
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.
Xeon E5-2450L
The Xeon E5-2450L is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 May 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge-EN (2012) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 1.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.3 GHz. L3 cache: 20480 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1356. Thermal design power (TDP): 70 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 6,047 points. Launch price was $72.
Processing Power
The Xeon X5660 packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Xeon E5-2450L offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Xeon E5-2450L has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.2 GHz on the Xeon X5660 versus 2.3 GHz on the Xeon E5-2450L — a 32.7% clock advantage for the Xeon X5660 (base: 2.8 GHz vs 1.8 GHz). The Xeon X5660 uses the Westmere-EP (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the Xeon E5-2450L uses Sandy Bridge-EN (2012) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon X5660 scores 5,979 against the Xeon E5-2450L's 6,047 — a 1.1% lead for the Xeon E5-2450L. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Xeon X5660 vs 20480 kB (total) on the Xeon E5-2450L.
| Feature | Xeon X5660 | Xeon E5-2450L |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12 | 8 / 16+33% |
| Boost Clock | 3.2 GHz+39% | 2.3 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.8 GHz+56% | 1.8 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 12 MB (total) | 20480 kB (total)+67% |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Westmere-EP (2010−2011) | Sandy Bridge-EN (2012) |
| PassMark | 5,979 | 6,047+1% |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon X5660 uses the LGA1366 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon E5-2450L uses LGA1356 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon X5660 | Xeon E5-2450L |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1366 | LGA1356 |
| 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 (Xeon E5-2450L). Primary use case: Xeon X5660 targets Workstation. Direct competitor: Xeon X5660 rivals Core i7-980X.
| Feature | Xeon X5660 | Xeon E5-2450L |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Xeon E5-2450L debuted at $1106. At current prices ($10 vs $78), the Xeon X5660 is $68 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon X5660 delivers 597.9 pts/$ vs 77.5 pts/$ for the Xeon E5-2450L — making the Xeon X5660 the 154.1% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon X5660 | Xeon E5-2450L |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $1219 | $1106-9% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $10-87% | $78 |
| Performance per Dollar | 597.9+671% | 77.5 |
| Release Date | 2010 | 2012 |
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