Xeon E5520 vs i7-2600K

VS

Aggregate performance score

Core i7-2600K
2011
4 cores / 8 threads, 95 Watt
3.46
+118%
Xeon E5520
2009
4 cores / 8 threads, 80 Watt
1.59

Core i7-2600K outperforms Xeon E5520 by a whopping 118% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i7-2600K and Xeon E5520 processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking15552109
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation0.472.58
Market segmentDesktop processorServer
SeriesIntel Core i7 (Desktop)no data
Power efficiency3.441.88
Architecture codenameSandy Bridge (2011−2013)Gainestown (2009−2010)
Release date9 January 2011 (13 years ago)30 March 2009 (15 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$317$19

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

Xeon E5520 has 449% better value for money than i7-2600K.

Detailed specifications

Core i7-2600K and Xeon E5520 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)4 (Quad-Core)
Threads88
Base clock speed3.4 GHz2.26 GHz
Boost clock speed3.8 GHz2.53 GHz
Bus rate5 GT/sno data
L1 cache64 KB (per core)64 KB (per core)
L2 cache256K (per core)256 KB (per core)
L3 cache8 MB (shared)8 MB (shared)
Chip lithography32 nm45 nm
Die size216 mm2263 mm2
Maximum core temperature73 °C72 °C
Number of transistors1,160 million731 million
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility--
Unlocked multiplier+-

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-2600K and Xeon E5520 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
Power consumption (TDP)95 Watt80 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-2600K and Xeon E5520. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVXno data
AES-NI+-
AVX+-
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
Turbo Boost Technology+1.0
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 i7-2600K and Xeon E5520 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 i7-2600K and Xeon E5520 are enumerated here.

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

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i7-2600K and Xeon E5520. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR3DDR3
Maximum memory size32 GB144 GB
Max memory channels23
Maximum memory bandwidth21 GB/s25.6 GB/s
ECC memory support-+

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardIntel HD Graphics 3000N/A
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 i7-2600K and Xeon E5520 integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported2no data

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i7-2600K and Xeon E5520.

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.

i7-2600K 3.46
+118%
Xeon E5520 1.59

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.

i7-2600K 5492
+117%
Xeon E5520 2533

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.

i7-2600K 666
+91.4%
Xeon E5520 348

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.

i7-2600K 2293
+58.4%
Xeon E5520 1448

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 3.46 1.59
Recency 9 January 2011 30 March 2009
Chip lithography 32 nm 45 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 95 Watt 80 Watt

i7-2600K has a 117.6% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 1 year, and a 40.6% more advanced lithography process.

Xeon E5520, on the other hand, has 18.8% lower power consumption.

The Core i7-2600K is our recommended choice as it beats the Xeon E5520 in performance tests.

Note that Core i7-2600K is a desktop processor while Xeon E5520 is a server/workstation one.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-2600K and Xeon E5520, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

Vote for your favorite

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Intel Core i7-2600K
Core i7-2600K
Intel Xeon E5520
Xeon E5520

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Community ratings

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


4.2 1522 votes

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3.3 28 votes

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Questions & comments

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