Intel Xeon X5260 vs AMD Opteron 252

Comparative analysis of Intel Xeon X5260 and AMD Opteron 252 processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Compatibility, Security & Reliability, Advanced Technologies, Virtualization. Benchmark processor performance analysis: 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), PassMark - Single thread mark, PassMark - CPU mark.

Intel Xeon X5260

AMD Opteron 252

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Xeon X5260

CPU is newer: launch date 2 year(s) 9 month(s) later
1 more cores, run more applications at once: 2 vs 1
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 45 nm vs 90 nm
6x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
Around 15% lower typical power consumption: 80 Watt vs 92 Watt

Launch date	11 Nov 2007 vs February 2005
Number of cores	2 vs 1
Manufacturing process technology	45 nm vs 90 nm
L2 cache	6 MB vs 1024 KB
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	80 Watt vs 92 Watt

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Xeon X5260
CPU 2: AMD Opteron 252

Name	Intel Xeon X5260	AMD Opteron 252
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	0.436
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	31.038
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.121
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	0.907
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	3.139
PassMark - Single thread mark		0
PassMark - CPU mark		760

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Xeon X5260	AMD Opteron 252
Essentials
Architecture codename	Wolfdale	Troy
Launch date	11 Nov 2007	February 2005
Launch price (MSRP)	$851	$63
Place in performance rating	3289	3328
Processor Number	X5260
Series	Legacy Intel Xeon Processors
Status	Launched
Vertical segment	Server	Server
Price now		$63.36
Value for money (0-100)		3.54
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.33 GHz
Bus Speed	1333 MHz
Die size	107 mm2
L1 cache	128 KB	128 KB
L2 cache	6 MB	1024 KB
Manufacturing process technology	45 nm	90 nm
Maximum core temperature	66°C
Number of cores	2	1
Number of threads	2
Transistor count	410 million	106 million
VID voltage range	0.8500V-1.3500V
Maximum frequency		2.6 GHz
Compatibility
Package Size	37.5mm x 37.5mm
Sockets supported	LGA771	940
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	80 Watt	92 Watt
Max number of CPUs in a configuration		2
Security & Reliability
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)
Advanced Technologies
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
FSB parity
Idle States
Intel 64
Intel® Demand Based Switching
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Thermal Monitoring
Virtualization
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)