CPU Comparison

The Intel Xeon W5590 and Intel Xeon X3470 are both 4-core, 8-thread Nehalem-era server processors, yet they are separated by more than just their average benchmark scores. The W5590 edges out the X3470 across every recorded Cinebench test, but the margins are remarkably slim, often less than half a percent. The data reveals a tale of two platforms: the W5590 leverages a higher base clock and triple-channel memory, while the X3470 offers a lower thermal envelope and a different socket. For anyone choosing between these two end-of-life parts, the decision hinges on platform requirements and thermal constraints rather than raw compute dominance.

Where Each One Wins

The head-to-head benchmark results are unambiguous: the Intel Xeon W5590 wins all five recorded comparisons. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the W5590 scores 288 against the X3470’s 287, a delta of 0.3%. The gap widens slightly in Cinebench R20 multicore, where the W5590 posts 1204 versus 1199, a 0.4% advantage. The single-core tests are even tighter: Cinebench R20 single-core shows a perfect tie at 169 for both, while Cinebench R23 single-core gives the W5590 a 404-to-403 win, a 0.2% margin. The largest relative victory for the W5590 comes in Cinebench R23 multicore, where it scores 2867 against 2857, again a 0.4% lead.

The X3470 does not win a single benchmark in this dataset. Its average benchmark score is 983, which places it in the 26th percentile of all CPUs, while the W5590’s average of 986 puts it in the 27th percentile. The practical interpretation is that the W5590 holds a consistent, albeit marginal, performance edge across both single-threaded and multi-threaded workloads. However, the X3470’s lower TDP of 95 watts versus the W5590’s 130 watts suggests that in thermally constrained systems, the X3470 might be the more practical choice, even if it does not win any performance tests. The data does not include power consumption benchmarks, so this remains a platform-level consideration rather than a measured performance win.

Architecture Differences

Both processors share the Nehalem architecture and are built on Intel’s 45 nm process node, but they come from different codenames and sockets. The W5590 is from the Gainestown family, designed for Intel Socket 1366, while the X3470 is a Lynnfield part, using Intel Socket 1156. This is a fundamental platform divergence: the W5590 requires a different motherboard and chipset than the X3470, and they are not interchangeable.

The core and cache configurations are identical on paper: 4 cores, 8 threads, 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The transistor counts differ slightly, with the W5590 at 731 million and the X3470 at 774 million, and the die sizes are 263 mm² for the W5590 versus 296 mm² for the X3470. These differences likely stem from the integrated memory controller and platform logic, not from the CPU cores themselves.

Clock speeds are where the W5590 gains its edge. The W5590 has a base clock of 3.33 GHz and a boost clock of 3.60 GHz, while the X3470 starts at 2.93 GHz and boosts to the same 3.60 GHz. The higher base clock of the W5590 explains its consistent lead in multi-threaded tests, where sustained all-core load benefits from a higher floor. Single-core performance is nearly identical because both processors reach the same 3.60 GHz boost clock.

Memory support is another key differentiator. Both support DDR3 and ECC memory, but the W5590 uses a triple-channel memory bus with a theoretical bandwidth of 32.0 GB/s, while the X3470 uses dual-channel with 21.3 GB/s. This 50% difference in memory bandwidth could matter in memory-intensive server workloads, though the benchmark data here does not isolate that effect. The X3470 also has a PCIe Gen 2 implementation limited to 16 lanes from the CPU, while the W5590’s PCIe configuration is not specified in the data beyond being Gen 2.

The Verdict

Based strictly on the benchmark data, the Intel Xeon W5590 is the faster processor. It wins all five head-to-head tests, with deltas ranging from 0% in Cinebench R20 single-core to 0.4% in Cinebench R20 and R23 multicore. Its average benchmark score of 986 is 0.3% higher than the X3470’s 983, and it sits one percentile point higher in the global distribution. For users who prioritize maximum compute throughput in Cinebench-style workloads, the W5590 is the clear choice, even if the margin is functionally negligible in real-world use.

The X3470, however, should not be dismissed. Its 95-watt TDP is significantly lower than the W5590’s 130-watt TDP, which could be a decisive factor in dense server chassis or systems with limited cooling capacity. The X3470 also launches at a much lower MSRP, $589 versus $1600 for the W5590, though this price difference is historical and may not reflect current market conditions. The X3470’s platform, Socket 1156, is different from the W5590’s Socket 1366, so the choice may come down to which motherboard and memory configuration the user already owns.

For a new build with no platform constraints, the data favors the W5590 for its higher base clock and triple-channel memory bandwidth. For an upgrade path from an existing Socket 1156 system, the X3470 offers nearly identical single-core performance and only slightly lower multi-core scores, while consuming less power. The verdict is not about raw capability, the W5590 wins that, but about system context and thermal budget.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Xeon W5590 has an average benchmark score of 986, while the Intel Xeon X3470 scores 983, giving the W5590 a 0.3% advantage.

Q: Do these processors have the same boost clock speed?

A: Yes, both the Intel Xeon W5590 and the Intel Xeon X3470 have a boost clock of 3.60 GHz. The base clocks differ, with the W5590 at 3.33 GHz and the X3470 at 2.93 GHz.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference between the two?

A: The Intel Xeon W5590 supports triple-channel DDR3 memory with a theoretical bandwidth of 32.0 GB/s. The Intel Xeon X3470 uses dual-channel memory with a bandwidth of 21.3 GB/s.

Q: Are the sockets different between these two Xeon processors?

A: Yes, the Intel Xeon W5590 uses Intel Socket 1366, while the Intel Xeon X3470 uses Intel Socket 1156. They are not compatible with the same motherboards.

Q: How do they compare in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The Intel Xeon W5590 scores 2867, and the Intel Xeon X3470 scores 2857, a 0.4% difference in favor of the W5590.

Q: Which processor has a lower thermal design power (TDP)?

A: The Intel Xeon X3470 has a TDP of 95 watts, while the Intel Xeon W5590 has a TDP of 130 watts.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench R15 multicore test shows the W5590 scoring 288 against the X3470’s 287, a 0.3% win for the Gainestown part. This is a minimal but measurable lead in an older rendering workload that is sensitive to both core count and clock speed. The W5590’s higher 3.33 GHz base clock likely contributes here, as sustained multi-core load does not always reach the 3.60 GHz boost on all cores.

In Cinebench R20 multicore, the W5590 extends its lead slightly to 0.4%, scoring 1204 versus 1199. This newer benchmark places more emphasis on memory bandwidth and cache efficiency, where the W5590’s triple-channel memory bus and 32.0 GB/s bandwidth may provide an advantage over the X3470’s dual-channel 21.3 GB/s. The transistor count difference, 731 million for the W5590 versus 774 million for the X3470, does not translate into a performance penalty for the W5590 in this test.

The single-core results are effectively a tie. Cinebench R20 single-core shows both processors at 169, a 0% delta, while Cinebench R23 single-core gives the W5590 a 404-to-403 win, a 0.2% margin. This aligns with the identical 3.60 GHz boost clock on both parts. Single-threaded performance is determined primarily by peak clock speed, and these two processors reach the same ceiling.

The largest absolute gap is in Cinebench R23 multicore, where the W5590 scores 2867 against 2857. The 0.4% delta mirrors the R20 multicore result, suggesting a consistent pattern: the W5590 is roughly 0.3% to 0.4% faster in multi-threaded workloads. Across all five tests, the W5590 wins, but the maximum delta is only 0.4%. The X3470’s lower TDP of 95 watts versus 130 watts does not appear in the benchmark scores, but it remains a relevant spec for system builders.

The nearest rival data reinforces the closeness of this matchup. The W5590’s nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-875K at 984 (0.2% delta) and the Intel Core i3-4130T at 984 (0.2% delta), with the X3470 at 983 (0.3% delta). The X3470’s rivals include the Intel Core i3-4370T at 983 (0% delta) and the Intel Core i3-4130T at 984 (-0.1% delta). Both processors are effectively in the same performance tier, surrounded by desktop and low-power parts. The benchmark data shows that the W5590 and X3470 are separated by less than 1% in average score, making the choice between them a matter of platform fit and power budget rather than measurable performance gains.