Xeon X5690 vs Core i7-6770HQ
Xeon X5690
Core i7-6770HQ
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 X5690 is positioned at rank 514 and the Core i7-6770HQ is on rank 475, so the Core i7-6770HQ offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon X5690
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-6770HQ
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon X5690 | Core i7-6770HQ |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($250) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Westmere-EP (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Skylake (2015−2016) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon X5690 | Core i7-6770HQ |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($250) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 X5690 and Core i7-6770HQ
Xeon X5690
The Xeon X5690 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 February 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Westmere-EP (2010−2011) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.46 GHz, with boost up to 3.73 GHz. L3 cache: 12288 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1366. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 7,031 points. Launch price was $205.
Core i7-6770HQ
The Core i7-6770HQ is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 January 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1440. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 7,083 points. Launch price was $434.
Processing Power
The Xeon X5690 packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Core i7-6770HQ offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Xeon X5690 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.73 GHz on the Xeon X5690 versus 3.5 GHz on the Core i7-6770HQ — a 6.4% clock advantage for the Xeon X5690 (base: 3.46 GHz vs 2.6 GHz). The Xeon X5690 uses the Westmere-EP (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the Core i7-6770HQ uses Skylake (2015−2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon X5690 scores 7,031 against the Core i7-6770HQ's 7,083 — a 0.7% lead for the Core i7-6770HQ. L3 cache: 12288 kB (total) on the Xeon X5690 vs 6 MB on the Core i7-6770HQ.
| Feature | Xeon X5690 | Core i7-6770HQ |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12+50% | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 3.73 GHz+7% | 3.5 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.46 GHz+33% | 2.6 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 12288 kB (total)+100% | 6 MB |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 1 MB+300% |
| Process | 32 nm | 14 nm-56% |
| Architecture | Westmere-EP (2010−2011) | Skylake (2015−2016) |
| PassMark | 7,031 | 7,083 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 3,000 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 1,769 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon X5690 uses the LGA1366 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i7-6770HQ uses BGA1440 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1333 on the Xeon X5690 versus 2133 on the Core i7-6770HQ — the Core i7-6770HQ supports 199.4% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Memory channels: 3 (Xeon X5690) vs 2 (Core i7-6770HQ). Chipset compatibility: Intel X58,Intel 5520 (Xeon X5690) and HM170,QM170,CM236 (Core i7-6770HQ).
| Feature | Xeon X5690 | Core i7-6770HQ |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1366 | BGA1440 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | 2133+71000% |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 64 |
| RAM Channels | 3+50% | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Xeon X5690) vs true (Core i7-6770HQ). The Core i7-6770HQ includes integrated graphics (Intel Iris Pro Graphics 580), while the Xeon X5690 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Xeon X5690 targets Workstation. Direct competitor: Xeon X5690 rivals Core i7-980X.
| Feature | Xeon X5690 | Core i7-6770HQ |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Intel Iris Pro Graphics 580 |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | true |
| Target Use | Workstation | — |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Xeon X5690 and Core i7-6770HQ
