Intel Xeon E7540 vs Intel Xeon E5-4603

Comparative analysis of Intel Xeon E7540 and Intel Xeon E5-4603 processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Compatibility, Security & Reliability, Advanced Technologies, Virtualization, Memory, Peripherals. Benchmark processor performance analysis: PassMark - Single thread mark, PassMark - CPU mark.

Intel Xeon E7540

Intel Xeon E5-4603

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Xeon E7540

2 more cores, run more applications at once: 6 vs 4
4 more threads: 12 vs 8
Around 14% higher clock speed: 2.27 GHz vs 2 GHz
Around 41% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 9409 vs 6690

Specifications (specs)
Number of cores	6 vs 4
Number of threads	12 vs 8
Maximum frequency	2.27 GHz vs 2 GHz
Benchmarks
PassMark - CPU mark	9409 vs 6690

Reasons to consider the Intel Xeon E5-4603

A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 32 nm vs 45 nm
582542.2x more L3 cache, more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
Around 11% lower typical power consumption: 95 Watt vs 105 Watt
Around 9% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 995 vs 911

Specifications (specs)
Manufacturing process technology	32 nm vs 45 nm
L3 cache	10240 KB (shared) vs 18 MB L3 Cache
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	95 Watt vs 105 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	995 vs 911

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Xeon E7540
CPU 2: Intel Xeon E5-4603

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

911

995

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

9409

6690

Name	Intel Xeon E7540	Intel Xeon E5-4603
PassMark - Single thread mark	911	995
PassMark - CPU mark	9409	6690

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Xeon E7540	Intel Xeon E5-4603
Essentials
Architecture codename	Nehalem EX	Sandy Bridge EP
Launch date	Q1'10	May 2012
Place in performance rating	2009	2013
Processor Number	E7540	E5-4603
Series	Legacy Intel Xeon Processors	Intel® Xeon® Processor E5 Family
Vertical segment	Server	Server
Launch price (MSRP)		$712
Price now		$1,890.99
Status		Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)		0.78
Performance
Base frequency	2.00 GHz	2.00 GHz
Bus Speed	6.4 GT/s	6.4 GT/s QPI
L3 cache	18 MB L3 Cache	10240 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	45 nm	32 nm
Maximum core temperature	64°C
Maximum frequency	2.27 GHz	2 GHz
Number of cores	6	4
Number of threads	12	8
64 bit support
Die size		294 mm
L1 cache		64 KB (per core)
L2 cache		256 KB (per core)
Number of QPI Links		2
Transistor count		1270 million
VID voltage range		0.6V-1.35V
Compatibility
Sockets supported	FCLGA1567	FCLGA2011
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	105 Watt	95 Watt
Low Halogen Options Available
Max number of CPUs in a configuration		4
Package Size		52.5mm x 45.0mm
Security & Reliability
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Identity Protection technology
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)
Advanced Technologies
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
Intel 64
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Idle States
Instruction set extensions		Intel® AVX
Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX)
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Demand Based Switching
Intel® Flex Memory Access
Intel® vPro™ Platform Eligibility
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)
Memory
ECC memory support
Max memory channels		4
Maximum memory bandwidth		34.1 GB/s
Maximum memory size		384 GB
Supported memory types		DDR3 800/1066
Peripherals
Max number of PCIe lanes		40
PCI Express revision		3.0
Scalability		4S Only