Intel Core i7-860S vs Intel Xeon X5460 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded head-to-head comparison between the Intel Xeon X5460 and the Intel Core i7-860S is decisively one-sided. Across all five shared Cinebench tests, the Xeon X5460 takes the win, with deltas ranging from 8.9% to 9.3%. The single-core results are particularly telling: in Cinebench R20 single-core the Xeon scores 129 against 118 for the i7-860S, a 9.3% advantage, and in Cinebench R23 single-core the Xeon posts 309 versus 283, a 9.2% lead. This consistent margin in single-threaded workloads suggests the Xeon's higher base clock of 3.17 GHz versus 2.53 GHz plays a decisive role, despite the i7-860S having a boost capability up to 3.47 GHz.

Multi-core results follow the same pattern. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Xeon scores 220 against 202, an 8.9% advantage. The Cinebench R20 multi-core test shows 920 versus 844, a 9% delta, and Cinebench R23 multi-core records 2191 versus 2010, also a 9% lead. Interestingly, the i7-860S brings twice the thread count (8 threads versus 4) and an 8 MB shared L3 cache, yet the Xeon still comes out ahead in every rendered workload. This indicates the Xeon's per-core efficiency at its fixed 3.17 GHz clock outweighs the i7-860S's hyper-threading advantage in these specific Cinebench workloads.

The overall benchmark picture reinforces this. The Xeon X5460 has an average benchmark score of 754, while the i7-860S sits at 740. The Xeon's nearest rivals in the database are the Intel Core i5-3230M (754, delta -0.1%), the Intel Core i5-4250U (756, delta -0.2%), and the Intel Xeon E5450 (756, delta -0.3%). The i7-860S, by contrast, sits alongside the Intel Pentium G4400 (740, delta 0.1%), the Intel Core i5-670 (741, delta -0.1%), and the AMD Phenom II X4 B97 (741, delta -0.1%). Both processors land at the 20th percentile versus all CPUs in the database, meaning they occupy a similar tier overall, but the Xeon consistently edges ahead in every direct comparison.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Xeon X5460 wins with a score of 2191, which is 9% higher than the Intel Core i7-860S's 2010.

Q: Does the Core i7-860S ever beat the Xeon X5460 in the recorded head-to-head benchmarks?

A: No. The Xeon X5460 wins all five shared Cinebench tests. The i7-860S has no recorded wins in the head-to-head data.

Q: What is the clock speed difference between the two?

A: The Xeon X5460 runs at a fixed 3.17 GHz base clock with no boost clock listed. The Core i7-860S has a 2.53 GHz base clock and a 3.47 GHz boost clock.

Q: How do their thread counts compare?

A: The Xeon X5460 has 4 cores and 4 threads. The Core i7-860S has 4 cores and 8 threads, doubling the thread count via hyper-threading.

Q: What are their average benchmark scores?

A: The Xeon X5460 has an average benchmark score of 754. The Core i7-860S has an average benchmark score of 740.

Q: Which processor has a higher single-core Cinebench R20 score?

A: The Xeon X5460 scores 129, which is 9.3% higher than the Core i7-860S's 118.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon X5460 is the clear winner across every measured workload in the database. Its advantages span both single-core and multi-core Cinebench tests, with margins consistently around 9%. The Xeon's fixed 3.17 GHz clock delivers strong per-thread performance, which is reflected in the single-core scores of 129 (R20) and 309 (R23). For multi-threaded rendering, the Xeon's 2191 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 920 in R20 multi-core show that its four physical cores without hyper-threading still outperform the i7-860S's eight threads. This makes the Xeon suitable for workloads that favor raw clock speed and consistent per-core throughput.

The Intel Core i7-860S does not record a single benchmark win over the Xeon in the head-to-head data. However, its architectural features point to different strengths. The i7-860S has 8 threads, an 8 MB shared L3 cache, and a boost clock reaching 3.47 GHz, which exceeds the Xeon's maximum clock. The data shows the i7-860S also carries a Geekbench multi-core score of 1298 and a single-core score of 425, benchmarks the Xeon does not have recorded. In scenarios where hyper-threading is effectively utilized and the workload scales with thread count, the i7-860S's architecture could be expected to narrow the gap, though the recorded Cinebench results do not demonstrate such an outcome.

The i7-860S also offers a lower TDP of 82 watts versus 120 watts for the Xeon, and it uses the Intel Socket 1156 platform with dual-channel DDR3 memory support. The Xeon uses Intel Socket 771 and supports DDR2 or DDR3 depending on the motherboard. For users prioritizing lower power draw and a desktop-oriented platform, the i7-860S has structural advantages, but in terms of measured benchmark performance, the Xeon X5460 dominates every recorded comparison.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specification fields. The Xeon X5460 has a base clock of 3.17 GHz with no boost clock listed, while the Core i7-860S has a base clock of 2.53 GHz and a boost clock of 3.47 GHz. The Xeon is rated at 120 watts TDP, while the i7-860S is rated at 82 watts, a significant power efficiency difference.

Thread counts differ as well: the Xeon has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the i7-860S has 4 cores and 8 threads. The Xeon uses Intel Socket 771, while the i7-860S uses Intel Socket 1156. Memory support also diverges: the Xeon supports DDR2 or DDR3 depending on the motherboard, while the i7-860S supports DDR3 only. Both use dual-channel memory buses.

ECC memory support is present on the Xeon but absent on the i7-860S. The market segments also differ: the Xeon is classified as Server/Workstation, while the i7-860S is Desktop. The Xeon has a launch MSRP of $1172, while no launch MSRP is recorded for the i7-860S. The part numbers are SLANPSLBBA for the Xeon and SLBLG for the i7-860S. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

The release dates differ substantially. The Xeon was released on 2007-11-10, while the i7-860S came later on 2010-01-06. Both are end-of-life production status.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide between these two processors is significant. The Xeon X5460 is built on the Core 2 architecture with the codename Harpertown, while the i7-860S uses the Nehalem architecture with the codename Lynnfield. Both are fabricated on a 45 nm process by Intel, but the transistor counts differ: the Xeon has 820 million transistors across a dual-die design measuring 2x 107 mm², while the i7-860S has 774 million transistors on a single 296 mm² die.

Cache layouts are fundamentally different. The Xeon has 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 6 MB of L2 cache per die, with no L3 cache. The i7-860S also has 64 KB of L1 per core but offers 256 KB of L2 per core and a shared 8 MB L3 cache. The presence of a large shared L3 cache on the i7-860S is a hallmark of the Nehalem architecture, enabling faster communication between cores compared to the older Core 2 design.

PCI Express support is Gen 2 for both, but the i7-860S specifies 16 lanes from the CPU only. The Xeon does not specify lane counts in the database. The i7-860S's integrated memory controller and on-die PCIe controller reflect the Nehalem design's move toward integrating Northbridge functions onto the CPU, while the Xeon's Core 2 architecture relies on a separate chipset for these functions.

The generation labels reflect the different lineages: the Xeon is listed as Xeon (Harpertown) while the i7-860S is Core i7 (Lynnfield). The Xeon's server/workstation heritage is evident in its ECC support, dual-die packaging, and higher TDP, while the i7-860S's desktop orientation is clear from its lower power envelope, hyper-threading support, and integrated memory controller features. Despite the i7-860S being a newer architecture with more threads and a large L3 cache, the recorded benchmark data shows the older Xeon holding a consistent performance edge across all shared tests, a result that underscores the importance of clock speed and per-core efficiency in the Cinebench workloads measured.