Intel Core i7-990X vs Intel Xeon X5690

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i7-990X and Intel Xeon X5690 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 X5690

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-990X

Processor is unlocked, an unlocked multiplier allows for easier overclocking
Around 4% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 665 vs 637
Around 3% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 3608 vs 3517

Specifications (specs)
Unlocked	Unlocked vs Locked
Benchmarks
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	665 vs 637
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	3608 vs 3517

Reasons to consider the Intel Xeon X5690

Around 16% higher maximum core temperature: 78.5°C vs 67.9°C
12x more maximum memory size: 288 GB vs 24 GB
Around 9% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1713 vs 1574
Around 81% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 12914 vs 7119

Specifications (specs)
Maximum core temperature	78.5°C vs 67.9°C
Maximum memory size	288 GB vs 24 GB
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	2 vs 1
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1713 vs 1574
PassMark - CPU mark	12914 vs 7119

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i7-990X
CPU 2: Intel Xeon X5690

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1574

1713

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

7119

12914

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

665

637

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

3608

3517

Name	Intel Core i7-990X	Intel Xeon X5690
PassMark - Single thread mark	1574	1713
PassMark - CPU mark	7119	12914
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	665	637
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	3608	3517
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	0	0
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)		3.301
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)		57.148
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)		0.762
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)		5.122
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)		15.77

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i7-990X	Intel Xeon X5690
Essentials
Architecture codename	Gulftown	Westmere EP
Launch date	February 2011	February 2011
Launch price (MSRP)	$1,104	$205
Place in performance rating	2174	2267
Price now	$349.99	$149
Processor Number	i7-990X	X5690
Series	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors	Legacy Intel® Xeon® Processors
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)	7.65	17.68
Vertical segment	Desktop	Server
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.46 GHz	3.46 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	78.5°C
Maximum frequency	3.73 GHz	3.73 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	130 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)