Intel Xeon E5520 vs Intel Core 2 Duo E8400

Comparative analysis of Intel Xeon E5520 and Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 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, 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), 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score.

Intel Xeon E5520

Intel Core 2 Duo E8400

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Xeon E5520

CPU is newer: launch date 1 year(s) 1 month(s) later
2 more cores, run more applications at once: 4 vs 2
2x more L1 cache, more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
3.8x better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 4642 vs 1210
2.7x better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 1969 vs 738
4.4x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 1.453 vs 0.33
2.4x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 62.27 vs 26.311
4.3x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s): 0.429 vs 0.099
3.6x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s): 2.436 vs 0.68
2.9x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s): 6.95 vs 2.408

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	March 2009 vs January 2008
Number of cores	4 vs 2
L1 cache	64 KB (per core) vs 128 KB
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	2 vs 1
Benchmarks
PassMark - CPU mark	4642 vs 1210
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	1969 vs 738
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	1.453 vs 0.33
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	62.27 vs 26.311
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.429 vs 0.099
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	2.436 vs 0.68
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	6.95 vs 2.408

Reasons to consider the Intel Core 2 Duo E8400

Around 19% higher clock speed: 3 GHz vs 2.53 GHz
Around 1% higher maximum core temperature: 72.4°C vs 72°C
6x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
Around 23% lower typical power consumption: 65 Watt vs 80 Watt
Around 12% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1234 vs 1104
Around 6% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 422 vs 397

Specifications (specs)
Maximum frequency	3 GHz vs 2.53 GHz
Maximum core temperature	72.4°C vs 72°C
L2 cache	6144 KB vs 256 KB (per core)
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	65 Watt vs 80 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1234 vs 1104
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	422 vs 397

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Xeon E5520
CPU 2: Intel Core 2 Duo E8400

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1104

1234

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

4642

1210

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

397

422

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

1969

738

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

1.453

0.33

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

62.27

26.311

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.429

0.099

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

2.436

0.68

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

6.95

2.408

Name	Intel Xeon E5520	Intel Core 2 Duo E8400
PassMark - Single thread mark	1104	1234
PassMark - CPU mark	4642	1210
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	397	422
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	1969	738
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	1.453	0.33
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	62.27	26.311
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.429	0.099
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	2.436	0.68
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	6.95	2.408
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score		2400

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Xeon E5520	Intel Core 2 Duo E8400
Essentials
Architecture codename	Nehalem EP	Wolfdale
Launch date	March 2009	January 2008
Launch price (MSRP)	$19
Place in performance rating	2725	2981
Price now	$42.39	$129.95
Processor Number	E5520	E8400
Series	Legacy Intel® Xeon® Processors	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status	Launched	Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)	30.90	4.87
Vertical segment	Server	Desktop
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	2.26 GHz	3.00 GHz
Bus Speed	5.86 GT/s QPI	1333 MHz FSB
Die size	263 mm2	107 mm2
L1 cache	64 KB (per core)	128 KB
L2 cache	256 KB (per core)	6144 KB
L3 cache	8192 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	45 nm	45 nm
Maximum core temperature	72°C	72.4°C
Maximum frequency	2.53 GHz	3 GHz
Number of cores	4	2
Number of QPI Links	2
Number of threads	8
Transistor count	731 million	410 million
VID voltage range	0.75V -1.35V	0.8500V-1.3625V
Maximum case temperature (TCase)		72 °C
Memory
ECC memory support
Max memory channels	3
Maximum memory bandwidth	25.6 GB/s
Maximum memory size	144 GB
Supported memory types	DDR3 800/1066	DDR1, DDR2, DDR3
Compatibility
Low Halogen Options Available
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	2	1
Package Size	42.5mm x 45mm	37.5mm x 37.5mm
Sockets supported	FCLGA1366	LGA775
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	80 Watt	65 Watt
Security & Reliability
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)
Advanced Technologies
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
Idle States
Intel 64
Intel® Demand Based Switching
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Physical Address Extensions (PAE)	40-bit
FSB parity
Intel® AES New Instructions
Thermal Monitoring
Virtualization
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)