Intel Core i7-990X vs Intel Xeon X5650

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i7-990X and Intel Xeon X5650 processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Compatibility, Security & Reliability, Advanced Technologies, Virtualization. Benchmark processor performance analysis: PassMark - Single thread mark, PassMark - CPU mark, Geekbench 4 - Single Core, Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core, 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score, CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s).

Intel Core i7-990X

Intel Xeon X5650

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-990X

CPU is newer: launch date 11 month(s) later
Processor is unlocked, an unlocked multiplier allows for easier overclocking
Around 22% higher clock speed: 3.73 GHz vs 3.06 GHz
Around 19% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1574 vs 1324
Around 29% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 665 vs 515
Around 18% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 3608 vs 3060

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	February 2011 vs March 2010
Unlocked	Unlocked vs Locked
Maximum frequency	3.73 GHz vs 3.06 GHz
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1574 vs 1324
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	665 vs 515
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	3608 vs 3060

Reasons to consider the Intel Xeon X5650

Around 20% higher maximum core temperature: 81.3°C vs 67.9°C
12x more maximum memory size: 288 GB vs 24 GB
Around 37% lower typical power consumption: 95 Watt vs 130 Watt
Around 43% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 10165 vs 7119

Specifications (specs)
Maximum core temperature	81.3°C vs 67.9°C
Maximum memory size	288 GB vs 24 GB
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	2 vs 1
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	95 Watt vs 130 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - CPU mark	10165 vs 7119

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i7-990X
CPU 2: Intel Xeon X5650

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1574

1324

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

7119

10165

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

665

515

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

3608

3060

Name	Intel Core i7-990X	Intel Xeon X5650
PassMark - Single thread mark	1574	1324
PassMark - CPU mark	7119	10165
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	665	515
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	3608	3060
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	0	3987
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)		2.639
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)		56.607
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)		0.711
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)		4.087
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)		12.497

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i7-990X	Intel Xeon X5650
Essentials
Architecture codename	Gulftown	Westmere EP
Launch date	February 2011	March 2010
Launch price (MSRP)	$1,104	$53
Place in performance rating	2174	2290
Price now	$349.99	$29.91
Processor Number	i7-990X	X5650
Series	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors	Legacy Intel® Xeon® Processors
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)	7.65	73.02
Vertical segment	Desktop	Server
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.46 GHz	2.66 GHz
Bus Speed	6.4 GT/s QPI	6.4 GT/s QPI
Die size	239 mm2	239 mm
L1 cache	64 KB (per core)	64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	256 KB (per core)	256 KB (per core)
L3 cache	12288 KB (shared)	12288 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	32 nm	32 nm
Maximum core temperature	67.9°C	81.3°C
Maximum frequency	3.73 GHz	3.06 GHz
Number of cores	6	6
Number of QPI Links	1	2
Number of threads	12	12
Transistor count	1170 million	1170 million
Unlocked
VID voltage range	0.800V-1.375V	0.750V-1.350V
Memory
Max memory channels	3	3
Maximum memory bandwidth	25.6 GB/s	32 GB/s
Maximum memory size	24 GB	288 GB
Supported memory types	DDR3 1066	DDR3 800/1066/1333
ECC memory support
Compatibility
Low Halogen Options Available
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1	2
Package Size	42.5mm X 45.0mm	42.5mm X 45mm
Sockets supported	FCLGA1366	FCLGA1366
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	130 Watt	95 Watt
Security & Reliability
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)
Advanced Technologies
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
Idle States
Instruction set extensions	Intel® SSE4.2	Intel® SSE4.2
Intel 64
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Demand Based Switching
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Physical Address Extensions (PAE)	36-bit	40-bit
Thermal Monitoring
Virtualization
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)