AMD A8-6600K vs Intel Xeon X5460 Comparison

The Verdict

The AMD A8-6600K and Intel Xeon X5460 are both end-of-life desktop or server/workstation parts that land in the same percentile bracket, with the A8-6600K at the 20th percentile and the Xeon X5460 also at the 20th percentile. Their average benchmark scores are nearly identical: the A8-6600K posts 764, while the Xeon X5460 posts 754, a gap of just 10 points. If you are building from the data alone, the A8-6600K is the pick for a modern, low-cost desktop platform with integrated graphics and an unlocked multiplier. The Xeon X5460 is the pick for a used workstation or server motherboard that supports Socket 771 and requires ECC memory, but it lacks integrated graphics and has a locked multiplier.

The A8-6600K wins on flexibility: it has a Radeon HD 8570D integrated GPU, so no separate graphics card is needed for basic display output. It also has a higher base clock at 3.90 GHz and a boost clock at 4.20 GHz, versus the Xeon's fixed 3.17 GHz. The Xeon X5460 counters with ECC memory support and a higher TDP of 120 watts, which suggests it was built for sustained server loads rather than desktop responsiveness. The recorded data shows the Xeon's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-3230M at a 0.1% lower average score, while the A8-6600K sits near the Core i3-3240 at 0.5% higher. Neither part is a performance leader; both sit in the low 20th percentile of all CPUs, so the choice depends on platform priorities, not raw speed.

Where Each One Wins

The A8-6600K wins in single-threaded headroom and integrated features. Its base clock of 3.90 GHz and boost clock of 4.20 GHz are the highest clock figures in this comparison, and the unlocked multiplier means the owner can push it further without changing the board. The data shows its Geekbench single-core score is 451, which is a usable result for everyday desktop tasks. The integrated Radeon HD 8570D means the A8-6600K can run a full system without a discrete GPU, making it the better choice for a cheap office or media PC where the motherboard has an FM2 socket.

The Xeon X5460 wins in server-oriented workloads and memory integrity. It supports ECC memory, which the A8-6600K does not, and its Cinebench R20 multicore score of 920 and R23 multicore score of 2191 show that it can sustain multi-threaded rendering tasks. The Xeon also has a larger L2 cache per die at 6 MB per die, compared to the A8-6600K's 4 MB total L2. The Xeon's memory support is listed as DDR2 and DDR3 depending on the motherboard, which gives platform flexibility for older server boards. The A8-6600K has no Cinebench scores in the record, so the Xeon is the only one with a documented multi-threaded rendering win, despite the lower clock speed.

Architecture Differences

The A8-6600K uses AMD's Piledriver architecture, built on a 32 nm process at GlobalFoundries, with a die size of 246 mm² and 1,303 million transistors. The Xeon X5460 uses Intel's Core 2 architecture, codenamed Harpertown, built on a 45 nm process at Intel, with a die size of 2x 107 mm² and 820 million transistors. The process node difference is significant: 32 nm versus 45 nm means the AMD part is denser and newer, which explains its lower TDP of 100 watts versus the Xeon's 120 watts despite similar core counts.

The cache layouts differ structurally. The A8-6600K has 192 KB of L1 cache and 4 MB of L2 cache, with no L3 cache. The Xeon X5460 has 64 KB per core of L1 cache and 6 MB per die of L2 cache, also with no L3 cache. The Xeon's L2 is per die, which reflects its dual-die construction; the A8-6600K has a single monolithic die. The memory controllers also differ: the A8-6600K supports DDR3 with a dual-channel bus and a measured bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s, while the Xeon X5460 supports DDR2 and DDR3 depending on the motherboard, also dual-channel, but no bandwidth figure is recorded. The A8-6600K has no ECC support, the Xeon has ECC support. Both use PCIe Gen 2, but the A8-6600K has integrated Radeon HD 8570D graphics, while the Xeon has none.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has the higher clock speed?

A: The AMD A8-6600K has a base clock of 3.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.20 GHz. The Intel Xeon X5460 has a fixed base clock of 3.17 GHz with no boost clock listed.

Q: Does either CPU support ECC memory?

A: The Intel Xeon X5460 supports ECC memory, while the AMD A8-6600K does not. This makes the Xeon suitable for error-correcting server workloads.

Q: Which CPU has integrated graphics?

A: The AMD A8-6600K includes a Radeon HD 8570D integrated GPU. The Intel Xeon X5460 has no integrated graphics, so it requires a discrete graphics card for display output.

Q: Are these CPUs still in production?

A: No. Both are marked as end-of-life. The AMD A8-6600K was released on 2013-05-31, and the Intel Xeon X5460 was released on 2007-11-10.

Q: Which CPU has a higher TDP?

A: The Intel Xeon X5460 has a TDP of 120 watts, while the AMD A8-6600K has a TDP of 100 watts. The Xeon consumes more power, which is consistent with its server/workstation market segment.

Q: Can the multiplier be adjusted on either CPU?

A: The AMD A8-6600K has an unlocked multiplier, allowing overclocking. The Intel Xeon X5460 has a locked multiplier, so it cannot be overclocked via multiplier adjustment.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded head-to-head benchmark array is empty, so no direct test results exist between these two specific CPUs. However, the individual benchmark scores provide a basis for comparison. The AMD A8-6600K has Geekbench scores of 1076 for multicore and 451 for single-core. The Intel Xeon X5460 has no Geekbench scores; instead, it has Cinebench scores across several versions: R15 multicore at 220, R20 multicore at 920, R20 single-core at 129, R23 multicore at 2191, and R23 single-core at 309.

The biggest win for the A8-6600K is the Geekbench single-core score of 451, which is not directly comparable to the Xeon's single-core Cinebench scores but indicates a stronger single-threaded showing given the higher clock speed. The Xeon's biggest win is in multi-threaded rendering: its Cinebench R23 multicore score of 2191 is the highest recorded score in this comparison, and its R20 multicore score of 920 shows sustained multi-core capability. The A8-6600K has no Cinebench scores, so it cannot challenge the Xeon on that front.

Looking at average scores, the A8-6600K's 764 average is 10 points higher than the Xeon's 754. The nearest rivals for the A8-6600K include the Intel Core i3-3240 at 0.5% higher average score, the Intel Core i5-3210M at 0.8% higher, and the Intel Core i3-5020U at 0.9% higher. The nearest rivals for the Xeon X5460 include the Intel Core i5-3230M at 0.1% lower, the Intel Core i5-4250U at 0.2% lower, and the Intel Xeon E5450 at 0.3% lower. This places the Xeon slightly below the A8-6600K in overall average score, but the difference is within the margin of a single percentage point.

In practice, the A8-6600K will feel faster in single-threaded desktop tasks due to the 4.20 GHz boost clock and the Geekbench single-core score of 451. The Xeon X5460 will pull ahead in multi-threaded rendering workloads, as shown by its Cinebench R23 multicore score of 2191, which is more than double the R20 score of 920, indicating scaling across its four cores. The A8-6600K's lack of any Cinebench scores in the database means the Xeon has the only documented rendering performance data, so the Xeon is the safer choice for CPU-bound rendering tasks.

Specification Differences

The two CPUs differ in nearly every specification category. The AMD A8-6600K has a base clock of 3.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.20 GHz; the Intel Xeon X5460 has a base clock of 3.17 GHz and no boost clock. The A8-6600K has a TDP of 100 watts, while the Xeon X5460 has a TDP of 120 watts. The A8-6600K uses AMD Socket FM2, while the Xeon X5460 uses Intel Socket 771. The A8-6600K is built on a 32 nm process at GlobalFoundries, while the Xeon X5460 is built on a 45 nm process at Intel.

The A8-6600K has 1,303 million transistors on a 246 mm² die, while the Xeon X5460 has 820 million transistors on a dual-die setup of 2x 107 mm². The A8-6600K has 192 KB of L1 cache and 4 MB of L2 cache; the Xeon X5460 has 64 KB per core of L1 cache and 6 MB per die of L2 cache. The A8-6600K supports DDR3 memory with a dual-channel bus and a bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s, while the Xeon X5460 supports DDR2 and DDR3 depending on the motherboard, also dual-channel, with no bandwidth listed. The A8-6600K has no ECC memory support, while the Xeon X5460 supports ECC memory.

The A8-6600K has integrated Radeon HD 8570D graphics, while the Xeon X5460 has no integrated graphics. The A8-6600K has an unlocked multiplier, while the Xeon X5460 has a locked multiplier. The A8-6600K is a Desktop part, while the Xeon X5460 is a Server/Workstation part. The A8-6600K was released on 2013-05-31, and the Xeon X5460 was released on 2007-11-10. The Xeon X5460 has a launch MSRP of $1172, while the A8-6600K has no recorded launch MSRP. Both use PCIe Gen 2, and both are end-of-life.