Xeon 5160 vs i7-870

VS

Aggregate performance score

Core i7-870
2009
4 cores / 8 threads, 95 Watt
1.97
+223%
Xeon 5160
2006
2 cores / 2 threads, 80 Watt
0.61

Core i7-870 outperforms Xeon 5160 by a whopping 223% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i7-870 and Xeon 5160 processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking19302788
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation0.182.15
Market segmentDesktop processorServer
Power efficiency1.960.72
Architecture codenameLynnfield (2009−2010)Woodcrest (2006)
Release date8 September 2009 (15 years ago)June 2006 (18 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$305$22

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

Xeon 5160 has 1094% better value for money than i7-870.

Detailed specifications

Core i7-870 and Xeon 5160 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)2 (Dual-core)
Threads82
Base clock speed2.93 GHz3 GHz
Boost clock speed3.6 GHz3 GHz
Bus rate2.5 GT/sno data
L1 cache64 KB (per core)0 KB
L2 cache256 KB (per core)4 MB
L3 cache8 MB (shared)0 KB
Chip lithography45 nm65 nm
Die size296 mm2no data
Maximum core temperature73 °C65 °C
Number of transistors774 millionno data
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility--
VID voltage rangeno dataB2=1.0V-1.5V, G0=.85V-1.5V

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-870 and Xeon 5160 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 configuration11
SocketFCLGA1156,LGA1156LGA771
Power consumption (TDP)95 Watt80 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-870 and Xeon 5160. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsIntel® SSE4.2no data
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
Turbo Boost Technology1.0-
Hyper-Threading Technology+-
Idle States++
Thermal Monitoring-+
Demand Based Switching--
PAE36 Bit32 Bit
FSB parityno data+

Security technologies

Core i7-870 and Xeon 5160 technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT+-
EDB++

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i7-870 and Xeon 5160 are enumerated here.

VT-d+no data
VT-x++
EPT+-

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i7-870 and Xeon 5160. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR3DDR2
Maximum memory size16 GBno data
Max memory channels2no data
Maximum memory bandwidth21 GB/sno data

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardN/Ano data

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i7-870 and Xeon 5160.

PCIe version2.0no data
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.

i7-870 1.97
+223%
Xeon 5160 0.61

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.

i7-870 3137
+226%
Xeon 5160 963

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.

i7-870 476
+25.9%
Xeon 5160 378

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.

i7-870 1555
+172%
Xeon 5160 571

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 1.97 0.61
Physical cores 4 2
Threads 8 2
Chip lithography 45 nm 65 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 95 Watt 80 Watt

i7-870 has a 223% higher aggregate performance score, 100% more physical cores and 300% more threads, and a 44.4% more advanced lithography process.

Xeon 5160, on the other hand, has 18.8% lower power consumption.

The Core i7-870 is our recommended choice as it beats the Xeon 5160 in performance tests.

Note that Core i7-870 is a desktop processor while Xeon 5160 is a server/workstation one.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-870 and Xeon 5160, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

Vote for your favorite

Do you think we are right or mistaken in our choice? Vote by clicking "Like" button near your favorite CPU.


Intel Core i7-870
Core i7-870
Intel Xeon 5160
Xeon 5160

Similar processor comparisons

We picked several similar comparisons of processors in the same market segment and performance relatively close to those reviewed on this page.

Community ratings

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


3.9 1106 votes

Rate Core i7-870 on a scale of 1 to 5:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
4.1 8 votes

Rate Xeon 5160 on a scale of 1 to 5:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

Questions & comments

Here you can ask a question about Core i7-870 or Xeon 5160, agree or disagree with our judgements, or report an error or mismatch.