Intel Core i7-5500U vs Intel Xeon X5560 Comparison

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Xeon X5560 wins every single benchmark in this comparison, taking all five head-to-head tests with a consistent margin of roughly 13% across the board. If you are choosing strictly on benchmark performance, the Xeon X5560 is the pick without hesitation.

The Intel Core i7-5500U is a mobile part aimed at thin-and-light laptops, while the Xeon X5560 is a server/workstation processor. The benchmark results reflect that divide clearly. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Xeon scores 2749 against the i7's 2381, a 13.4% advantage. Single-core performance tells the same story: the Xeon posts 388 in Cinebench R23 single-core against the i7's 336, again a 13.4% lead.

That said, the i7-5500U is not without its own appeal. It is a 15-watt part versus the Xeon's 95-watt TDP, and it includes integrated graphics (Intel HD 5500) while the Xeon has none. If you need a low-power mobile chip with built-in display output, the i7 is your only option here. But if you are building or upgrading a desktop workstation and raw compute performance is the priority, the Xeon X5560 is the clear winner. The data shows zero wins for the i7-5500U; the Xeon takes all five.

Architecture Differences

These two processors come from completely different eras and design philosophies. The i7-5500U is built on Intel's Broadwell architecture, specifically the Broadwell-U codename, using a 14 nm process node. It packs 1,300 million transistors into an 82 mm² die. The Xeon X5560, by contrast, uses the older Nehalem architecture under the Gainestown codename, built on a 45 nm node with 731 million transistors spread across a much larger 263 mm² die.

The core counts differ substantially. The i7-5500U has 2 cores and 4 threads, while the Xeon X5560 doubles that to 4 cores and 8 threads. Cache hierarchies also diverge: both have 64 KB L1 per core and 256 KB L2 per core, but the Xeon's shared L3 cache is 8 MB versus the i7's 4 MB.

Memory support presents another key divergence. Both support DDR3, but the i7 uses a dual-channel memory bus with a listed bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s, while the Xeon uses a triple-channel configuration (no bandwidth figure is provided in the data). ECC memory is supported on the Xeon but not on the i7. The i7 also carries integrated Intel HD 5500 graphics, whereas the Xeon has no integrated graphics at all.

PCIe support differs as well: the i7 lists Gen 2 with 12 lanes (CPU only), while the Xeon lists Gen 2 without a lane count in the data. The i7 uses the Intel BGA 1168 socket, while the Xeon uses Intel Socket 1366. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier.

The release dates reflect the generational gap: the i7-5500U arrived in late February 2015, while the Xeon X5560 launched in late March 2009. Both are now end-of-life products. The i7 carries a launch MSRP of $393; no launch MSRP is listed for the Xeon.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data is remarkably consistent. Across five Cinebench tests, the Xeon X5560 wins every one, with delta percentages hovering in the 13% to 13.4% range. This consistency suggests a fundamental performance advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk.

Starting with Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Xeon scores 276 against the i7's 240, a 13% deficit for the i7. Moving to Cinebench R20 multi-core, the Xeon posts 1154 versus the i7's 1000, a 13.3% gap. The margin narrows slightly in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the Xeon's 2749 beats the i7's 2381 by 13.4%.

Single-core tests show a similar story. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the Xeon scores 162 while the i7 manages 141, a 13% difference. Cinebench R23 single-core gives the Xeon 388 and the i7 336, again a 13.4% spread.

The i7-5500U does have additional Geekbench results in its own benchmark list — a multi-core score of 1689 and a single-core score of 881 — but the Xeon X5560 has no corresponding Geekbench entries in the head-to-head data, so no direct comparison is possible there.

What is notable is that the Xeon wins even in single-core tests, despite having a older architecture. Its higher base clock of 2.80 GHz and boost clock of 3.20 GHz, versus the i7's 2.40 GHz base and 3.00 GHz boost, likely explain that edge. The extra cores and threads then compound the advantage in multi-threaded workloads.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i7-5500U | Intel Xeon X5560 |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 2 | 4 |

| Threads | 4 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 2.40 GHz | 2.80 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.00 GHz | 3.20 GHz |

| TDP | 15 W | 95 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1168 | Intel Socket 1366 |

| Architecture | Broadwell | Nehalem |

| Codename | Broadwell-U | Gainestown |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 45 nm |

| Transistors | 1,300 million | 731 million |

| Die Size | 82 mm² | 263 mm² |

| L3 Cache | 4 MB (shared) | 8 MB (shared) |

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Triple-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 25.6 GB/s | Not listed |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe | Gen 2, 12 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 2 |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 5500 | None |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Server/Workstation |

| Release Date | 2015-02-28 | 2009-03-29 |

The specification table shows a clear trade-off. The i7-5500U is dramatically more efficient, drawing only 15 W compared to the Xeon's 95 W. It is also built on a much more advanced 14 nm process versus the Xeon's 45 nm node. The i7 has nearly twice the transistor density despite having a smaller die.

However, the Xeon counters with more cores, more threads, higher clocks, double the L3 cache, triple-channel memory, and ECC support. For server workloads that benefit from those features, the Xeon's older process node and higher power draw are acceptable costs.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster in multi-core workloads?

A: The Intel Xeon X5560 wins all multi-core tests. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 2749 against the i7-5500U's 2381, a 13.4% advantage. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the Xeon's 1154 beats the i7's 1000 by 13.3%.

Q: Does the i7-5500U win in any benchmark?

A: No. The head-to-head data shows the Xeon X5560 winning all five Cinebench tests. The i7-5500U has zero wins in this comparison.

Q: Can the i7-5500U support ECC memory?

A: No. ECC memory support is listed as false for the i7-5500U. The Xeon X5560 does support ECC memory, which is typical for its server/workstation market segment.

Q: Which CPU has integrated graphics?

A: The i7-5500U includes Intel HD 5500 integrated graphics. The Xeon X5560 has no integrated graphics listed, so a discrete GPU would be required for display output.

Q: How do the power requirements compare?

A: The i7-5500U has a TDP of 15 W, while the Xeon X5560 has a TDP of 95 W. The i7 is a mobile part designed for efficiency, while the Xeon is a server/workstation part that consumes considerably more power.

Q: Are these CPUs similar in overall benchmark standing?

A: Yes. Both sit at the 25th percentile among all CPUs in the database. The i7-5500U has an average benchmark score of 953, while the Xeon X5560 averages 946.

Where Each One Wins

Intel Xeon X5560 — This is the performance winner in every measured category. The Xeon takes all five head-to-head Cinebench tests with margins between 13% and 13.4%. It wins multi-core workloads thanks to its 4 cores and 8 threads versus the i7's 2 cores and 4 threads. It also wins single-core tests, likely due to its higher base clock of 2.80 GHz and boost clock of 3.20 GHz. The Xeon's 8 MB of shared L3 cache doubles the i7's 4 MB, and its triple-channel memory bus provides a wider path for memory-intensive server tasks. ECC memory support makes it suitable for error-sensitive workstation or server environments. If your workload is compute-heavy and you can tolerate a 95 W TDP, the Xeon X5560 is the clear choice.

Intel Core i7-5500U — The i7 does not win a single benchmark, but it wins on platform attributes. Its 15 W TDP is dramatically lower than the Xeon's 95 W, making it suitable for laptops and other power-constrained mobile devices. It includes Intel HD 5500 integrated graphics, eliminating the need for a separate GPU in basic display scenarios. The i7 also uses a much newer 14 nm process node versus the Xeon's 45 nm, and it packs more transistors (1,300 million versus 731 million) into a smaller die (82 mm² versus 263 mm²). The dual-channel memory bus with 25.6 GB/s bandwidth covers typical mobile workloads. For a compact, low-power system where benchmark performance is secondary to efficiency and integrated graphics, the i7-5500U is the only viable option between these two.

The final breakdown is simple: the Xeon X5560 wins on raw performance across the board, while the i7-5500U wins on power efficiency, integrated graphics, and modern process technology. Choose based on your platform needs, not on benchmark scores — the data has already decided that question.