Intel Xeon W3570 vs Intel Xeon X5570 Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data is remarkably consistent here: the Intel Xeon X5570 wins every single recorded head-to-head test against the Intel Xeon W3570. Across five Cinebench workloads, the X5570 holds a lead ranging from 1.0% to 1.4%, with the largest advantage appearing in the multicore R15 test. The X5570 also posts a slightly higher average benchmark score of 967 against the W3570's 955, and it sits one percentile point higher in the global CPU ranking (26th versus 25th percentile). For anyone choosing between these two 2009-era Nehalem server processors, the data points unambiguously to the X5570. The W3570 is not without merit, particularly if the workload favors higher base clocks, but the recorded measurements show no scenario where it overtakes its sibling. The verdict is straightforward: pick the X5570 for the best recorded performance, and only consider the W3570 if its specific clock profile or part availability matters more than the benchmark outcome.

Architecture Differences

Both processors share the same fundamental Nehalem DNA. They are built on the 45 nm process at Intel's foundry, pack 731 million transistors on a 263 mm² die, and feature four cores with eight threads. The cache hierarchy is identical: 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3. Both use the Intel Socket 1366, support DDR3 memory with triple-channel access, include ECC memory support, and offer PCIe Gen 2 connectivity. Neither has integrated graphics, both carry an unlocked multiplier status of false, and both were released on the same date, March 29, 2009.

The meaningful distinctions are subtle but real. The X5570 uses the Gainestown codename, while the W3570 is based on Bloomfield. Clock speeds differ: the X5570 runs at 2.93 GHz base with a 3.33 GHz boost, whereas the W3570 starts higher at 3.20 GHz base and boosts to 3.47 GHz. This gives the W3570 a raw clock advantage of 0.27 GHz at base and 0.14 GHz at boost. However, the X5570 counters with a dramatically lower thermal design power of 95 watts versus 130 watts for the W3570, a 35-watt gap that suggests the X5570 is the more power-efficient design despite the lower clocks. The X5570 also lists a memory bandwidth figure of 32.0 GB/s in the database; the W3570's memory bandwidth is not recorded. The X5570 carries a launch MSRP of $1386, while no launch price is listed for the W3570. The part numbers differ (SLBF3 for the X5570, SLBES for the W3570), and both are end-of-life products.

Where Each One Wins

The data records five benchmark comparisons, and the X5570 wins all five. That does not leave a single recorded category where the W3570 takes the top spot. Still, the nature of the wins and the underlying clock differences suggest where each part might be preferred in practice.

The X5570's victories are broad: it wins in both single-core and multi-core tests, across R15, R20, and R23 versions of Cinebench. Its largest margin comes in Cinebench R15 multicore, where it scores 283 against 279, a 1.4% lead. The smallest margin is in Cinebench R23 single-core, 396 versus 392, a 1.0% edge. The consistency of these wins, despite the W3570's higher clocks, points to the X5570 extracting more performance per clock, or benefiting from some other unrecorded advantage such as thermal headroom or memory configuration.

For workloads that are lightly threaded and highly sensitive to raw clock speed, the W3570's higher 3.20 GHz base and 3.47 GHz boost could theoretically offer an edge, but the recorded single-core benchmarks do not support that expectation. The X5570 leads in both R20 single-core (166 versus 164) and R23 single-core (396 versus 392). For heavily threaded workloads, the X5570 leads again in R15 multicore (283 versus 279) and R20 multicore (1180 versus 1165). The database shows no workload where the W3570 comes out ahead. If the choice must reflect recorded data alone, the X5570 is the pick for every use case.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher clock speed?

A: The Intel Xeon W3570 has a higher base clock of 3.20 GHz and a higher boost clock of 3.47 GHz, compared to the X5570's 2.93 GHz base and 3.33 GHz boost.

Q: Which processor wins in multi-core performance?

A: The Intel Xeon X5570 wins all three recorded multi-core tests: Cinebench R15 multicore (283 versus 279), R20 multicore (1180 versus 1165), and R23 multicore (2810 versus 2776).

Q: Are these processors based on the same architecture?

A: Yes, both use the Nehalem architecture, the 45 nm process, 731 million transistors, and a 263 mm² die. The X5570 uses the Gainestown codename, while the W3570 uses Bloomfield.

Q: What is the power consumption difference?

A: The X5570 has a TDP of 95 watts, while the W3570 has a TDP of 130 watts, making the X5570 the lower-power part by 35 watts.

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The X5570 has an average benchmark score of 967, slightly above the W3570's 955. The X5570 also ranks at the 26th percentile versus the W3570's 25th percentile.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the X5570 and the W3570 support ECC memory, along with DDR3 triple-channel memory access and PCIe Gen 2.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data is a clean sweep for the X5570, with all five recorded tests going its way. The margins are narrow, but they are consistent and never negative for the X5570.

In Cinebench R15 multicore, the X5570 scores 283 against the W3570's 279, a 1.4% difference. This is the largest recorded margin in the entire comparison. The R20 multicore test shows a similar pattern: 1180 versus 1165, a 1.3% lead. The R23 multicore test gives the X5570 a score of 2810 against 2776, again a 1.2% advantage. These three multi-core results tell a coherent story: the X5570 maintains a small but repeatable lead in heavily threaded workloads, despite the W3570's higher clock speeds.

Single-core results follow the same trend. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the X5570 scores 166 versus 164, a 1.2% edge. In R23 single-core, the margin narrows to 1.0%, with the X5570 scoring 396 against 392. The fact that the X5570 wins even the single-threaded tests is notable, because the W3570's boost clock of 3.47 GHz is higher than the X5570's 3.33 GHz. The recorded data indicates that the X5570's architecture or platform configuration delivers better performance per clock, or at least better results under these specific benchmark conditions.

The wins break down as five for the X5570 and zero for the W3570. The average benchmark scores corroborate this: 967 for the X5570 versus 955 for the W3570. The X5570's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 7 3700U (average score 968, a 0.1% difference), the Intel Core i5-2400S (968, 0.1% difference), and the Intel Celeron N5100 (966, 0.1% difference). The W3570's nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon W3550 (956, 0.1% difference), the AMD Athlon X4 870K (956, 0.1% difference), and the Intel Core i7-950 (957, 0.2% difference). These proximity figures show both parts sit in the same performance neighborhood, but the X5570 consistently sits at the higher end of that neighborhood across every recorded test.