Xeon X6550 vs Core 2 Quad Q8300
Xeon X6550
Core 2 Quad Q8300
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 X6550 is positioned at rank 879 and the Core 2 Quad Q8300 is on rank 985, so the Xeon X6550 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon X6550
Performance Per Dollar Core 2 Quad Q8300
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon X6550 | Core 2 Quad Q8300 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($10) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Legacy / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Yorkfield (2007−2009) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon X6550 | Core 2 Quad Q8300 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($10) |
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 X6550 and Core 2 Quad Q8300
Xeon X6550
The Xeon X6550 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 18 MB L3 Cache. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1567. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,936 points. Launch price was $800.
Core 2 Quad Q8300
The Core 2 Quad Q8300 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2008-01-01. It is based on the Yorkfield (2007−2009) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 2.5 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 4 MB (total). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,917 points. Launch price was $249.
Processing Power
The Xeon X6550 packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Core 2 Quad Q8300 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Xeon X6550 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.4 GHz on the Xeon X6550 versus 2.5 GHz on the Core 2 Quad Q8300 — a 4.1% clock advantage for the Core 2 Quad Q8300 (base: 2 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The Core 2 Quad Q8300 is built on the Yorkfield (2007−2009) architecture. In PassMark, the Xeon X6550 scores 1,936 against the Core 2 Quad Q8300's 1,917 — a 1% lead for the Xeon X6550. L3 cache: 18 MB L3 Cache on the Xeon X6550 vs 0 kB on the Core 2 Quad Q8300.
| Feature | Xeon X6550 | Core 2 Quad Q8300 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 16+100% | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.4 GHz | 2.5 GHz+4% |
| Base Clock | 2 GHz | 2.5 GHz+25% |
| L3 Cache | 18 MB L3 Cache | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | — | 4 MB (total) |
| Process | 45 nm | 45 nm |
| Architecture | — | Yorkfield (2007−2009) |
| PassMark | 1,936 | 1,917 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon X6550 uses the LGA1567 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Core 2 Quad Q8300 uses LGA775 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon X6550 | Core 2 Quad Q8300 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1567 | LGA775 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 5.0+355% | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | — |
| RAM Channels | 4 | — |
| ECC Support | ✅ | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Xeon X6550) / not specified (Core 2 Quad Q8300). Primary use case: Xeon X6550 targets Server. Direct competitor: Xeon X6550 rivals Core i7-980X.
| Feature | Xeon X6550 | Core 2 Quad Q8300 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | — |
| Target Use | Server | — |
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