Xeon E5540 vs i7-5820K

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Aggregate performance score

Core i7-5820K
2014
6 cores / 12 threads, 140 Watt
6.19
+254%
Xeon E5540
2009
4 cores / 8 threads, 80 Watt
1.75

Core i7-5820K outperforms Xeon E5540 by a whopping 254% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i7-5820K and Xeon E5540 processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking10892035
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation1.190.64
Market segmentDesktop processorServer
Power efficiency4.182.07
Architecture codenameHaswell-E (2014)Gainestown (2009−2010)
Release date1 September 2014 (10 years ago)30 March 2009 (15 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$410$30

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

i7-5820K has 86% better value for money than Xeon E5540.

Detailed specifications

Core i7-5820K and Xeon E5540 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 cores6 (Hexa-Core)4 (Quad-Core)
Threads128
Base clock speed3.3 GHz2.53 GHz
Boost clock speed3.6 GHz2.8 GHz
Bus rate0 GT/sno data
L1 cache64 KB (per core)64 KB (per core)
L2 cache256 KB (per core)256 KB (per core)
L3 cache15 MB (shared)8 MB (shared)
Chip lithography22 nm45 nm
Die size356 mm2263 mm2
Maximum core temperature67 °C76 °C
Number of transistors2,600 million731 million
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility--
Unlocked multiplier+-

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-5820K and Xeon E5540 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
SocketFCLGA2011FCLGA1366
Power consumption (TDP)140 Watt80 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-5820K and Xeon E5540. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsIntel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2no data
AES-NI+-
AVX+-
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
Turbo Boost Technology2.01.0
Hyper-Threading Technology++
TSX+-
Idle States++
Thermal Monitoring+-
Smart Response+no data
Demand Based Switching-+
PAEno data40 Bit

Security technologies

Core i7-5820K and Xeon E5540 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 i7-5820K and Xeon E5540 are enumerated here.

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

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i7-5820K and Xeon E5540. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR4DDR3
Maximum memory size64 GB144 GB
Max memory channels43
Maximum memory bandwidth68 GB/s25.6 GB/s
ECC memory support-+

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardno dataN/A

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i7-5820K and Xeon E5540.

PCIe version3.02.0
PCI Express lanes28no 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.

i7-5820K 6.19
+254%
Xeon E5540 1.75

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.

i7-5820K 9835
+253%
Xeon E5540 2783

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.

i7-5820K 1171
+211%
Xeon E5540 376

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.

i7-5820K 5452
+296%
Xeon E5540 1376

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 6.19 1.75
Recency 1 September 2014 30 March 2009
Physical cores 6 4
Threads 12 8
Chip lithography 22 nm 45 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 140 Watt 80 Watt

i7-5820K has a 253.7% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 5 years, 50% more physical cores and 50% more threads, and a 104.5% more advanced lithography process.

Xeon E5540, on the other hand, has 75% lower power consumption.

The Core i7-5820K is our recommended choice as it beats the Xeon E5540 in performance tests.

Note that Core i7-5820K is a desktop processor while Xeon E5540 is a server/workstation one.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-5820K and Xeon E5540, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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Intel Core i7-5820K
Core i7-5820K
Intel Xeon E5540
Xeon E5540

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Community ratings

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Questions & comments

Here you can ask a question about Core i7-5820K or Xeon E5540, agree or disagree with our judgements, or report an error or mismatch.