Intel Xeon E5649 vs Intel Xeon E5540

Comparative analysis of Intel Xeon E5649 and Intel Xeon E5540 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).

Intel Xeon E5649

Intel Xeon E5540

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Xeon E5649

CPU is newer: launch date 1 year(s) 11 month(s) later
2 more cores, run more applications at once: 6 vs 4
4 more threads: 12 vs 8
Around 5% higher clock speed: 2.93 GHz vs 2.80 GHz
Around 0% higher maximum core temperature: 76.2°C vs 76°C
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 32 nm vs 45 nm
Around 50% more L1 cache; more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
Around 50% more L2 cache; more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
Around 50% more L3 cache; more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
2x more maximum memory size: 288 GB vs 144 GB
Around 9% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1214 vs 1113
Around 97% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 9558 vs 4841
Around 23% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 470 vs 383
Around 79% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 2849 vs 1596

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	February 2011 vs March 2009
Number of cores	6 vs 4
Number of threads	12 vs 8
Maximum frequency	2.93 GHz vs 2.80 GHz
Maximum core temperature	76.2°C vs 76°C
Manufacturing process technology	32 nm vs 45 nm
L1 cache	64 KB (per core) vs 64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	256 KB (per core) vs 256 KB (per core)
L3 cache	12288 KB (shared) vs 8192 KB (shared)
Maximum memory size	288 GB vs 144 GB
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1214 vs 1113
PassMark - CPU mark	9558 vs 4841
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	470 vs 383
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	2849 vs 1596

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Xeon E5649
CPU 2: Intel Xeon E5540

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1214

1113

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

9558

4841

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

470

383

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

2849

1596

Name	Intel Xeon E5649	Intel Xeon E5540
PassMark - Single thread mark	1214	1113
PassMark - CPU mark	9558	4841
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	470	383
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	2849	1596
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	2.594
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	25.435
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.647

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Xeon E5649	Intel Xeon E5540
Essentials
Architecture codename	Westmere EP	Nehalem EP
Launch date	February 2011	March 2009
Launch price (MSRP)	$45	$30
Place in performance rating	2407	2441
Price now	$115	$35
Processor Number	E5649	E5540
Series	Legacy Intel® Xeon® Processors	Legacy Intel® Xeon® Processors
Status	Launched	Launched
Value for money (0-100)	17.77	40.05
Vertical segment	Server	Server
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	2.53 GHz	2.53 GHz
Bus Speed	5.86 GT/s QPI	5.86 GT/s QPI
Die size	239 mm	263 mm2
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)	8192 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	32 nm	45 nm
Maximum core temperature	76.2°C	76°C
Maximum frequency	2.93 GHz	2.80 GHz
Number of cores	6	4
Number of QPI Links	2	2
Number of threads	12	8
Transistor count	1170 million	731 million
VID voltage range	0.750V-1.350V	0.75V -1.35V
Memory
ECC memory support
Max memory channels	3	3
Maximum memory bandwidth	32 GB/s	25.6 GB/s
Maximum memory size	288 GB	144 GB
Supported memory types	DDR3 800/1066/1333	DDR3 800/1066
Compatibility
Low Halogen Options Available
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	2	2
Package Size	42.5mm X 45mm	42.5mm x 45mm
Sockets supported	FCLGA1366	FCLGA1366
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	80 Watt	80 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 64
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Demand Based Switching
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Physical Address Extensions (PAE)	40-bit	40-bit
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)