Core 2 Duo E6550 vs Xeon E5-2660

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Aggregate performance score

Xeon E5-2660
2012
8 cores / 16 threads, 95 Watt
5.26
+807%

Xeon E5-2660 outperforms Core 2 Duo E6550 by a whopping 807% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Xeon E5-2660 and Core 2 Duo E6550 processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in performance ranking11272713
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation6.780.68
Market segmentServerDesktop processor
Architecture codenameSandy Bridge-EP (2012)Conroe (2006−2007)
Release date6 March 2012 (12 years ago)July 2007 (17 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$85no data
Current price$32 (0.4x MSRP)$45

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

Xeon E5-2660 has 897% better value for money than Core 2 Duo E6550.

Detailed specifications

Xeon E5-2660 and Core 2 Duo E6550 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 cores8 (Octa-Core)2 (Dual-core)
Threads162
Base clock speed2.2 GHzno data
Boost clock speed3 GHz2.33 GHz
L1 cache64 KB (per core)64 KB
L2 cache256 KB (per core)4 MB
L3 cache20480 KB (shared)0 KB
Chip lithography32 nm65 nm
Die size435 mm2143 mm2
Maximum core temperature73 °C72 °C
Number of transistors2,270 million291 million
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility--
Unlocked multiplierNoNo

Compatibility

Information on Xeon E5-2660 and Core 2 Duo E6550 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 configuration21
Socket2011775
Power consumption (TDP)95 Watt65 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Xeon E5-2660 and Core 2 Duo E6550. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

AES-NI+no data
AVX+no data
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
Hyper-Threading Technology+no data

Security technologies

Xeon E5-2660 and Core 2 Duo E6550 technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT+no data

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Xeon E5-2660 and Core 2 Duo E6550. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR3DDR1, DDR2, DDR3
Maximum memory bandwidth51.2 GB/sno data
ECC memory support+no data

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Xeon E5-2660 and Core 2 Duo E6550.

PCIe version3.0no data
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.

Xeon E5-2660 5.26
+807%
Core 2 Duo E6550 0.58

Xeon E5-2660 outperforms Core 2 Duo E6550 by 807% based on our aggregate benchmark results.


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.

Benchmark coverage: 68%

Xeon E5-2660 8132
+809%
Core 2 Duo E6550 895

Xeon E5-2660 outperforms Core 2 Duo E6550 by 809% in Passmark.

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.

Benchmark coverage: 42%

Xeon E5-2660 441
+69.6%
Core 2 Duo E6550 260

Xeon E5-2660 outperforms Core 2 Duo E6550 by 70% in GeekBench 5 Single-Core.

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.

Benchmark coverage: 42%

Xeon E5-2660 2652
+514%
Core 2 Duo E6550 432

Xeon E5-2660 outperforms Core 2 Duo E6550 by 514% in GeekBench 5 Multi-Core.

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 5.26 0.58
Physical cores 8 2
Threads 16 2
Chip lithography 32 nm 65 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 95 Watt 65 Watt

Xeon E5-2660 has a 806.9% higher aggregate performance score, 300% more physical cores and 700% more threads, and a 103.1% more advanced lithography process.

Core 2 Duo E6550, on the other hand, has 46.2% lower power consumption.

The Xeon E5-2660 is our recommended choice as it beats the Core 2 Duo E6550 in performance tests.

Be aware that Xeon E5-2660 is a server/workstation processor while Core 2 Duo E6550 is a desktop one.


Should you still have questions on choice between Xeon E5-2660 and Core 2 Duo E6550, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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Intel Xeon E5-2660
Xeon E5-2660
Intel Core 2 Duo E6550
Core 2 Duo E6550

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Community ratings

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


4.5 132 votes

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Questions & comments

Here you can ask a question about Xeon E5-2660 or Core 2 Duo E6550, agree or disagree with our judgements, or report an error or mismatch.