CPU Comparison

The Intel Xeon X5492 and AMD FX-8800P represent two very different approaches to computing, separated by seven years of silicon evolution. The Xeon is a 150W server/workstation part built on Intel's 45nm Core 2 architecture, while the FX-8800P is a 15W mobile processor on AMD's 28nm Excavator design. Despite their contrasting physical characteristics, benchmark results reveal a surprisingly close performance contest, with the older Xeon maintaining a narrow but consistent edge across all tested workloads.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data shows a clean sweep for the Intel Xeon X5492, though the margins are remarkably thin. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Xeon scores 249 against the FX-8800P's 242, a 2.9% advantage. This pattern repeats across every test: R20 multi-core shows 1039 versus 1010 (2.9%), R20 single-core shows 146 versus 142 (2.8%), R23 multi-core shows 2475 versus 2407 (2.8%), and R23 single-core shows 349 versus 339 (2.9%). The consistency of these deltas, all falling between 2.8% and 2.9%, suggests a fundamental per-clock throughput difference rather than workload-specific scaling behavior.

The single-core results are particularly telling. The Xeon's 3.40 GHz base clock (with no boost) edges out the FX-8800P's 2.10 GHz base and 3.40 GHz boost in R20 single-core by 2.8% and in R23 single-core by 2.9%. This indicates that Intel's older Core 2 architecture delivers slightly higher instructions-per-clock than AMD's Excavator design, despite the latter having a smaller process node and more modern feature set. The FX-8800P's integrated Radeon R7 8CU graphics do not influence these CPU-only tests, leaving the comparison purely on compute.

Multi-core performance follows the same trajectory. With both parts offering 4 cores and 4 threads, the 2.9% lead in R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests reinforces that the Xeon's advantage scales uniformly across thread counts. The FX-8800P's lower TDP (15W versus 150W) does not translate into a performance deficit as large as one might expect; the power draw difference is substantial, but the actual compute gap is minimal. The Xeon's 5-0 win tally in head-to-head benchmarks is decisive in terms of wins, yet the average margin of under 3% places these processors in the same performance tier.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Xeon X5492 has an average benchmark score of 852, compared to the AMD FX-8800P's 843. This places the Xeon at the 23rd percentile of all CPUs, while the FX-8800P sits at the 22nd percentile, essentially adjacent in overall standings.

Q: How does the FX-8800P compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The FX-8800P's average score of 843 is exactly matched by the Intel Core i7-3520M (0% delta), and it sits 0.3% ahead of the Intel Core i7-920 and 0.4% ahead of the Intel Xeon X5470. It also leads the Intel Core i5-3380M by 0.6%.

Q: Does the FX-8800P have any benchmark advantage over the Xeon?

A: The head-to-head results show the Xeon winning all five Cinebench tests. However, the FX-8800P has additional Geekbench scores (1234 multi-core, 524 single-core) that were not measured for the Xeon, so a direct Geekbench comparison is not possible from the available data.

Q: What are the memory bandwidth capabilities of each processor?

A: The AMD FX-8800P has a specified memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s, while the Intel Xeon X5492 has no memory bandwidth figure listed. Both support dual-channel memory, but the Xeon supports DDR2 and DDR3, whereas the FX-8800P supports only DDR3.

Q: How does the Xeon's nearest rival comparison differ from the FX-8800P's?

A: The Xeon's nearest rival is the Intel Core i5-5250U, with a delta of -0.4%, meaning the Xeon is slightly behind it. Its other rivals include the AMD Athlon X4 830 (0.4% ahead), Intel Core i5-2500T (-0.5%), and Intel Core i7-4500U (-0.8%). The FX-8800P's closest rivals are Intel parts, with the Core i7-3520M at 0% delta.

Q: Which processor has a higher launch price?

A: The Intel Xeon X5492 has a launch MSRP of $1493. The AMD FX-8800P has no launch MSRP listed in the data.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear but narrow victory for the Intel Xeon X5492. It wins every head-to-head benchmark with margins between 2.8% and 2.9%, and its average benchmark score of 852 exceeds the FX-8800P's 843 by roughly 1%. The Xeon also holds a higher percentile ranking (23rd versus 22nd). For users prioritizing raw compute performance in Cinebench workloads, the Xeon is the better choice.

However, the FX-8800P is not without justification. Its 15W TDP compared to the Xeon's 150W represents a tenfold reduction in power draw, and it includes integrated Radeon R7 8CU graphics, which the Xeon lacks entirely. The FX-8800P also supports PCIe Gen 3 (8 lanes) versus the Xeon's Gen 2, and it has a modern 28nm process node versus 45nm. For mobile or low-power applications, the FX-8800P delivers nearly identical performance at a fraction of the power envelope.

The Xeon targets server/workstation deployments where power efficiency is secondary to absolute throughput and ECC memory support. The FX-8800P targets mobile environments where the integrated graphics and low TDP are critical. Neither chip is currently in production, but the Xeon's 2008 release date versus the FX-8800P's 2015 release date shows how far mobile performance has come, a 2015 15W part nearly matches a 2008 150W server chip.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every physical and feature specification. The Xeon uses the Intel Socket 771, while the FX-8800P uses AMD Socket FP4. The Xeon's base clock is 3.40 GHz with no boost capability; the FX-8800P has a 2.10 GHz base and a 3.40 GHz boost. TDP is dramatically different: 150W for the Xeon versus 15W for the FX-8800P.

Memory support diverges as well. The Xeon supports both DDR2 and DDR3 in dual-channel configuration with ECC memory support. The FX-8800P supports only DDR3, also dual-channel, but has no ECC capability. The FX-8800P specifies 34.1 GB/s memory bandwidth; the Xeon lists none. PCIe generations differ, with the Xeon at Gen 2 and the FX-8800P at Gen 3 with 8 lanes (CPU only). The Xeon has no integrated graphics, while the FX-8800P includes Radeon R7 8CU. The Xeon's market segment is Server/Workstation; the FX-8800P targets Mobile. The Xeon's launch MSRP is $1493; the FX-8800P has no listed launch MSRP.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these chips is substantial. The Intel Xeon X5492 is built on the Core 2 architecture with the Harpertown codename, using a 45nm process node fabricated by Intel. It contains 820 million transistors across a die size of 2x 107 mm². Its cache hierarchy includes 64 KB of L1 per core and 6 MB of L2 per die, with no L3 cache.

The AMD FX-8800P uses the Excavator architecture with the Carrizo codename, manufactured on a 28nm process by GlobalFoundries. It packs 3,100 million transistors into a 250 mm² die. Its cache configuration is notably different: 320 KB of L1 and 1 MB of L2 per module, again with no L3 cache. The FX-8800P's transistor count is nearly four times higher than the Xeon's, yet it delivers slightly lower performance, a testament to the power efficiency gains of newer process nodes and architecture designs.

The Xeon's Core 2 architecture is a monolithic dual-die design, while the FX-8800P's Excavator uses a module-based layout. The Xeon's ECC memory support and server-oriented feature set contrast with the FX-8800P's integrated Radeon R7 8CU graphics and mobile-focused design. The FX-8800P's PCIe Gen 3 support with 8 CPU-only lanes reflects its mobile positioning, whereas the Xeon's Gen 2 implementation is typical of its 2008 server era. Both processors are end-of-life, but they represent different eras of design philosophy: the Xeon prioritizes raw compute in a power-hungry package, while the FX-8800P emphasizes integration and efficiency at the cost of a slight performance deficit.