Xeon W3550 vs i7-3820

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Aggregate performance score

Core i7-3820
2012
4 cores / 8 threads, 130 Watt
3.63
+77.9%
Xeon W3550
2009
4 cores / 8 threads, 130 Watt
2.04

Core i7-3820 outperforms Xeon W3550 by an impressive 78% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i7-3820 and Xeon W3550 processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking15021914
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation2.320.68
Market segmentDesktop processorServer
Power efficiency2.641.48
Architecture codenameSandy Bridge-E (2011−2013)Bloomfield (2008−2010)
Release dateFebruary 2012 (12 years ago)9 August 2009 (15 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$400$235

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

i7-3820 has 241% better value for money than Xeon W3550.

Detailed specifications

Core i7-3820 and Xeon W3550 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 speed3.6 GHz3.06 GHz
Boost clock speed3.8 GHz3.33 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 cache10240 KB (shared)8 MB (shared)
Chip lithography32 nm45 nm
Die size294 mm2263 mm2
Maximum core temperatureno data68 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)67 °Cno data
Number of transistors1270 million731 million
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility--

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-3820 and Xeon W3550 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
SocketFCLGA2011FCLGA1366
Power consumption (TDP)130 Watt130 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-3820 and Xeon W3550. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsIntel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVXIntel® SSE4.2
AES-NI+-
AVX+-
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
Turbo Boost Technology2.01.0
Hyper-Threading Technology++
Idle States++
Thermal Monitoring+-
Smart Response+no data
Demand Based Switching-+
PAEno data36 Bit

Security technologies

Core i7-3820 and Xeon W3550 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 i7-3820 and Xeon W3550 are enumerated here.

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

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i7-3820 and Xeon W3550. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR3DDR3
Maximum memory size64.23 GB24 GB
Max memory channels43
Maximum memory bandwidth51.2 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 i7-3820 and Xeon W3550.

PCIe version2.02.0
PCI Express lanes40no 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.

i7-3820 3.63
+77.9%
Xeon W3550 2.04

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.

i7-3820 5773
+78.6%
Xeon W3550 3233

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.

i7-3820 622
+34.1%
Xeon W3550 464

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.

i7-3820 2289
+46.4%
Xeon W3550 1563

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 3.63 2.04
Chip lithography 32 nm 45 nm

i7-3820 has a 77.9% higher aggregate performance score, and a 40.6% more advanced lithography process.

The Core i7-3820 is our recommended choice as it beats the Xeon W3550 in performance tests.

Note that Core i7-3820 is a desktop processor while Xeon W3550 is a server/workstation one.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-3820 and Xeon W3550, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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


Intel Core i7-3820
Core i7-3820
Intel Xeon W3550
Xeon W3550

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.


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Questions & comments

Here you can ask a question about Core i7-3820 or Xeon W3550, agree or disagree with our judgements, or report an error or mismatch.