Xeon X5690 vs Core i7-990X
Xeon X5690
Core i7-990X
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 i7-990X is on rank 1046, so the Xeon X5690 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 i7-990X
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon X5690 | Core i7-990X |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($250) | ✅ More affordable ($225) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Westmere-EP (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Gulftown (2010−2011) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon X5690 | Core i7-990X |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+13%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($250) | ✅ More affordable ($225) |
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 i7-990X
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 i7-990X
The Core i7-990X is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 24 February 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Gulftown (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: 12 MB (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: 7,135 points. Launch price was $1,104.
Processing Power
Both the Xeon X5690 and Core i7-990X share an identical 6-core/12-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.73 GHz on the Xeon X5690 versus 3.73 GHz on the Core i7-990X — identical boost frequencies (base: 3.46 GHz vs 3.46 GHz). The Xeon X5690 uses the Westmere-EP (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the Core i7-990X uses Gulftown (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon X5690 scores 7,031 against the Core i7-990X's 7,135 — a 1.5% lead for the Core i7-990X. L3 cache: 12288 kB (total) on the Xeon X5690 vs 12 MB (total) on the Core i7-990X.
| Feature | Xeon X5690 | Core i7-990X |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12 | 6 / 12 |
| Boost Clock | 3.73 GHz | 3.73 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.46 GHz | 3.46 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 12288 kB (total) | 12 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Westmere-EP (2010−2011) | Gulftown (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 7,031 | 7,135+1% |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 3,000 | — |
Memory & Platform
Both processors use the LGA1366 socket with PCIe 2.0.
| Feature | Xeon X5690 | Core i7-990X |
|---|---|---|
| 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 X5690) / not specified (Core i7-990X). Primary use case: Xeon X5690 targets Workstation. Direct competitor: Xeon X5690 rivals Core i7-980X.
| Feature | Xeon X5690 | Core i7-990X |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | — |
| Target Use | Workstation | — |
Value Analysis
The Xeon X5690 launched at $250 MSRP, while the Core i7-990X debuted at $999. At current prices ($250 vs $225), the Core i7-990X is $25 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon X5690 delivers 28.1 pts/$ vs 31.7 pts/$ for the Core i7-990X — making the Core i7-990X the 12% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon X5690 | Core i7-990X |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $250-75% | $999 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $250 | $225-10% |
| Performance per Dollar | 28.1 | 31.7+13% |
| Release Date | 2011 | 2011 |
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