Xeon X5660 vs i7-2600

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Aggregate performance score

Core i7-2600
2011
4 cores / 8 threads, 95 Watt
3.37
Xeon X5660
2010
6 cores / 12 threads, 95 Watt
3.79
+12.5%

Xeon X5660 outperforms Core i7-2600 by a moderate 12% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i7-2600 and Xeon X5660 processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking15751480
Place by popularity62not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation0.583.05
Market segmentDesktop processorServer
Power efficiency3.363.78
Architecture codenameSandy Bridge (2011−2013)Westmere-EP (2010−2011)
Release date9 January 2011 (13 years ago)16 March 2010 (14 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$247$33

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

Xeon X5660 has 426% better value for money than i7-2600.

Detailed specifications

Core i7-2600 and Xeon X5660 basic parameters such as number of cores, number of threads, base frequency and turbo boost clock, lithography, cache size and multiplier lock state. These parameters indirectly say of CPU speed, though for more precise assessment you have to consider their test results.

Physical cores4 (Quad-Core)6 (Hexa-Core)
Threads812
Base clock speed3.4 GHz2.8 GHz
Boost clock speed3.8 GHz3.2 GHz
Bus rate5 GT/sno data
L1 cache64 KB (per core)64 KB (per core)
L2 cache256 KB (per core)256 KB (per core)
L3 cache8192 KB (shared)12 MB (shared)
Chip lithography32 nm32 nm
Die size216 mm2239 mm2
Maximum core temperature73 °C81 °C
Number of transistors1,160 million1,170 million
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility--

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-2600 and Xeon X5660 compatibility with other computer components: motherboard (look for socket type), power supply unit (look for power consumption) etc. Useful when planning a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. Note that power consumption of some processors can well exceed their nominal TDP, even without overclocking. Some can even double their declared thermals given that the motherboard allows to tune the CPU power parameters.

Number of CPUs in a configuration12
SocketLGA1155FCLGA1366,LGA1366
Power consumption (TDP)95 Watt95 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-2600 and Xeon X5660. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVXIntel® SSE4.2
AES-NI++
AVX+-
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
Turbo Boost Technology2.01.0
Hyper-Threading Technology++
Idle States++
Thermal Monitoring+-
Flex Memory Access+no data
Demand Based Switchingno data+
PAEno data40 Bit
FDI+no data
Fast Memory Access+no data

Security technologies

Core i7-2600 and Xeon X5660 technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT++
EDB++
Identity Protection+-

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i7-2600 and Xeon X5660 are enumerated here.

VT-d++
VT-x++
EPT++

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i7-2600 and Xeon X5660. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR3DDR3
Maximum memory size32 GB288 GB
Max memory channels23
Maximum memory bandwidth21 GB/s32 GB/s
ECC memory support-+

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardIntel HD Graphics 2000no data
Quick Sync Video+-
Clear Video HD+no data
Graphics max frequency1.35 GHzno data
InTru 3D+no data

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i7-2600 and Xeon X5660 integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported2no data

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i7-2600 and Xeon X5660.

PCIe version2.02.0
PCI Express lanes16no data

Synthetic benchmark performance

Various benchmark results of the processors in comparison. Overall score is measured in points in 0-100 range, higher is better.


Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark performance rating. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

i7-2600 3.37
Xeon X5660 3.79
+12.5%

Passmark

Passmark CPU Mark is a widespread benchmark, consisting of 8 different types of workload, including integer and floating point math, extended instructions, compression, encryption and physics calculation. There is also one separate single-threaded scenario measuring single-core performance.

i7-2600 5346
Xeon X5660 6017
+12.6%

GeekBench 5 Single-Core

GeekBench 5 Single-Core is a cross-platform application developed in the form of CPU tests that independently recreate certain real-world tasks with which to accurately measure performance. This version uses only a single CPU core.

i7-2600 612
+32.8%
Xeon X5660 461

GeekBench 5 Multi-Core

GeekBench 5 Multi-Core is a cross-platform application developed in the form of CPU tests that independently recreate certain real-world tasks with which to accurately measure performance. This version uses all available CPU cores.

i7-2600 2050
Xeon X5660 2196
+7.1%

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 3.37 3.79
Recency 9 January 2011 16 March 2010
Physical cores 4 6
Threads 8 12

i7-2600 has an age advantage of 9 months.

Xeon X5660, on the other hand, has a 12.5% higher aggregate performance score, and 50% more physical cores and 50% more threads.

The Xeon X5660 is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i7-2600 in performance tests.

Note that Core i7-2600 is a desktop processor while Xeon X5660 is a server/workstation one.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-2600 and Xeon X5660, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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Intel Core i7-2600
Core i7-2600
Intel Xeon X5660
Xeon X5660

Similar processor comparisons

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Community ratings

Here you can see how users rate the processors, as well as rate them yourself.


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Questions & comments

Here you can ask a question about Core i7-2600 or Xeon X5660, agree or disagree with our judgements, or report an error or mismatch.