Xeon X5550 vs X5680

#ad 
Buy on Amazon
VS

Aggregate performance score

Xeon X5680
2010
6 cores / 12 threads, 130 Watt
4.31
+126%
Xeon X5550
2009
4 cores / 8 threads, 95 Watt
1.91

Xeon X5680 outperforms Xeon X5550 by a whopping 126% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Xeon X5680 and Xeon X5550 processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking13671977
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation4.410.32
Market segmentServerServer
Power efficiency3.141.90
Architecture codenameWestmere-EP (2010−2011)Gainestown (2009−2010)
Release date14 February 2010 (14 years ago)30 March 2009 (15 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$172$62

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

Xeon X5680 has 1278% better value for money than Xeon X5550.

Detailed specifications

Xeon X5680 and Xeon X5550 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 speed3.33 GHz2.66 GHz
Boost clock speed3.6 GHz3.06 GHz
L1 cache64 KB (per core)64 KB (per core)
L2 cache256 KB (per core)256 KB (per core)
L3 cache12 MB (shared)8 MB (shared)
Chip lithography32 nm45 nm
Die size239 mm2263 mm2
Maximum core temperature79 °C75 °C
Number of transistors1,170 million731 million
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility--

Compatibility

Information on Xeon X5680 and Xeon X5550 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 configuration22
SocketFCLGA1366,LGA1366FCLGA1366,PLGA1366
Power consumption (TDP)130 Watt95 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Xeon X5680 and Xeon X5550. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsIntel® SSE4.2no data
AES-NI+-
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
Turbo Boost Technology1.01.0
Hyper-Threading Technology++
Idle States++
Demand Based Switching++
PAE40 Bit40 Bit

Security technologies

Xeon X5680 and Xeon X5550 technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT++
EDB++

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Xeon X5680 and Xeon X5550 are enumerated here.

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

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Xeon X5680 and Xeon X5550. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR3DDR3
Maximum memory size288 GB144 GB
Max memory channels33
Maximum memory bandwidth32 GB/s32 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 Xeon X5680 and Xeon X5550.

PCIe version2.02.0

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.

Xeon X5680 4.31
+126%
Xeon X5550 1.91

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.

Xeon X5680 6842
+126%
Xeon X5550 3027

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.

Xeon X5680 529
+20.2%
Xeon X5550 440

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.

Xeon X5680 2496
+37%
Xeon X5550 1822

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 4.31 1.91
Recency 14 February 2010 30 March 2009
Physical cores 6 4
Threads 12 8
Chip lithography 32 nm 45 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 130 Watt 95 Watt

Xeon X5680 has a 125.7% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 10 months, 50% more physical cores and 50% more threads, and a 40.6% more advanced lithography process.

Xeon X5550, on the other hand, has 36.8% lower power consumption.

The Xeon X5680 is our recommended choice as it beats the Xeon X5550 in performance tests.


Should you still have questions on choice between Xeon X5680 and Xeon X5550, 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 Xeon X5680
Xeon X5680
Intel Xeon X5550
Xeon X5550

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.


4.5 339 votes

Rate Xeon X5680 on a scale of 1 to 5:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
3.5 41 vote

Rate Xeon X5550 on a scale of 1 to 5:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

Questions & comments

Here you can ask a question about Xeon X5680 or Xeon X5550, agree or disagree with our judgements, or report an error or mismatch.