
Xeon X6550 vs Core i5-2415M

Xeon X6550

Core i5-2415M
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 i5-2415M is on rank 898, 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 i5-2415M
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon X6550 | Core i5-2415M |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Legacy / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon X6550 | Core i5-2415M |
|---|---|---|
| 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 X6550 and Core i5-2415M

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 i5-2415M
The Core i5-2415M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 2.9 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1023. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,933 points. Launch price was $225.
Processing Power
The Xeon X6550 packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Core i5-2415M offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Xeon X6550 has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.4 GHz on the Xeon X6550 versus 2.9 GHz on the Core i5-2415M — a 18.9% clock advantage for the Core i5-2415M (base: 2 GHz vs 2.3 GHz). The Core i5-2415M is built on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. In PassMark, the Xeon X6550 scores 1,936 against the Core i5-2415M's 1,933 — a 0.2% lead for the Xeon X6550. L3 cache: 18 MB L3 Cache on the Xeon X6550 vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i5-2415M.
| Feature | Xeon X6550 | Core i5-2415M |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 16+300% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.4 GHz | 2.9 GHz+21% |
| Base Clock | 2 GHz | 2.3 GHz+15% |
| L3 Cache | 18 MB L3 Cache+500% | 3 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | — | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 32 nm-29% |
| Architecture | — | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) |
| PassMark | 1,936 | 1,933 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon X6550 uses the LGA1567 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Core i5-2415M uses BGA1023 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1333 memory speed. Memory channels: 4 (Xeon X6550) vs 2 (Core i5-2415M).
| Feature | Xeon X6550 | Core i5-2415M |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1567 | BGA1023 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 5.0+150% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 16 GB |
| RAM Channels | 4+100% | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Xeon X6550) vs VT-x (Core i5-2415M). The Core i5-2415M includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 3000), while the Xeon X6550 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Xeon X6550 targets Server, Core i5-2415M targets Mobile. Direct competitor: Xeon X6550 rivals Core i7-980X.
| Feature | Xeon X6550 | Core i5-2415M |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | HD Graphics 3000 |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | VT-x |
| Target Use | Server | Mobile |
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