CPU
GPU
Xeon X5698
Core i7-2657M
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 X5698 is positioned at rank 659 and the Core i7-2657M is on rank 268, so the Core i7-2657M offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon X5698
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-2657M
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon X5698 | Core i7-2657M |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Westmere-EP (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon X5698 | Core i7-2657M |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 X5698 and Core i7-2657M
Xeon X5698
The Xeon X5698 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Westmere-EP (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 4.4 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 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: 3,447 points. Launch price was $800.
Core i7-2657M
The Core i7-2657M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 January 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.6 GHz, with boost up to 2.7 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1023. Thermal design power (TDP): 17 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1066, DDR3-1333. Passmark benchmark score: 3,491 points. Launch price was $317.
Processing Power
Both the Xeon X5698 and Core i7-2657M share an identical 2-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Xeon X5698 versus 2.7 GHz on the Core i7-2657M — a 47.9% clock advantage for the Xeon X5698 (base: 4.4 GHz vs 1.6 GHz). The Xeon X5698 uses the Westmere-EP (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the Core i7-2657M uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon X5698 scores 3,447 against the Core i7-2657M's 3,491 — a 1.3% lead for the Core i7-2657M. L3 cache: 12288 kB (total) on the Xeon X5698 vs 4 MB on the Core i7-2657M.
| Feature | Xeon X5698 | Core i7-2657M |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 4.4 GHz+63% | 2.7 GHz |
| Base Clock | 4.4 GHz+175% | 1.6 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 12288 kB (total)+200% | 4 MB |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 512 kB+100% |
| Process | 32 nm | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Westmere-EP (2010−2011) | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) |
| PassMark | 3,447 | 3,491+1% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 535 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon X5698 uses the LGA1366 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i7-2657M uses BGA1023 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1333 memory speed. Memory channels: 3 (Xeon X5698) vs 2 (Core i7-2657M). Chipset compatibility: Intel X58,Intel 5520 (Xeon X5698) and HM65,HM67,QM67,QS67,UM67 (Core i7-2657M).
| Feature | Xeon X5698 | Core i7-2657M |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1366 | BGA1023 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 8 GB |
| RAM Channels | 3+50% | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Both support VT-x, VT-d, EPT virtualization. The Core i7-2657M includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 3000), while the Xeon X5698 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Xeon X5698 targets Workstation, Core i7-2657M targets Ultrabook. Direct competitor: Xeon X5698 rivals Core i7-980X; Core i7-2657M rivals A6-3420M.
| Feature | Xeon X5698 | Core i7-2657M |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | HD Graphics 3000 |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | Workstation | Ultrabook |
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