CPU Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data is remarkably consistent: the Intel Xeon X3440 wins every single head-to-head comparison, albeit by narrow margins. Across five Cinebench tests, the X3440 leads the Xeon X5482 by deltas ranging from 1.1% to 1.4%. The X3440's average benchmark score of 815 sits slightly above the X5482's 805, and both processors land at the 22nd percentile among all CPUs. For workloads that rely on multi-threading, the X3440's 8 threads versus 4 give it a structural advantage that shows up in every multi-core test. The X5482, with its higher 3.20 GHz base clock, cannot overcome the thread deficit. However, the margins are so small, a 1.2% difference in Cinebench R23 multi-core translates to just 27 points, that in real-world use, most users would struggle to perceive a difference. The X3440 is the safer pick for mixed workloads, while the X5482 makes sense only for legacy Socket 771 platforms where upgrading the motherboard is not an option.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations. The Xeon X3440 is built on the Nehalem architecture, codenamed Lynnfield, and uses the Intel Socket 1156. The Xeon X5482 uses the older Core 2 architecture, codenamed Harpertown, on the Intel Socket 771. Both are manufactured on a 45 nm process at Intel's foundry, but the similarities end there. The X3440 integrates 774 million transistors on a single 296 mm² die, whereas the X5482 uses 820 million transistors spread across two dies, each measuring 107 mm². This dual-die design reflects the older generation's approach to scaling.

The cache layouts differ substantially. The X3440 features 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and a shared 8 MB L3 cache. The X5482 also has 64 KB of L1 per core, but its L2 is organized as 6 MB per die, and it has no L3 cache at all. Memory support also diverges: the X3440 runs DDR3 through a dual-channel memory bus with a stated bandwidth of 21.3 GB/s, while the X5482 supports both DDR2 and DDR3 depending on the motherboard, also dual-channel, but the fact pack does not list a bandwidth figure. Both support ECC memory, and neither has integrated graphics. PCIe support is Gen 2 for both, though the X3440 specifies 16 lanes from the CPU, while the X5482 simply lists Gen 2 without lane details.

Threading is the defining architectural difference. The X3440 has 4 cores and 8 threads, enabling simultaneous multi-threading. The X5482 has 4 cores and 4 threads, with no SMT capability. This explains why the X3440 edges ahead in every multi-core benchmark despite the X5482's higher base clock of 3.20 GHz versus 2.53 GHz. The X5482 also lacks any boost clock, while the X3440 can reach 2.93 GHz under load. The thermal design power tells the story of efficiency: the X3440 is rated at 95 W, while the X5482 draws 150 W.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The X3440 wins all five Cinebench tests, but the margins are consistently slim. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the X3440 scores 238 against the X5482's 235, a 1.3% lead. The R20 multi-core test shows a similar pattern: 994 versus 983, a 1.1% advantage. The R23 multi-core result is 2368 for the X3440 and 2341 for the X5482, again a 1.2% gap. Single-core tests follow the same trend. In R20 single-core, the X3440 scores 140 versus 138, a 1.4% lead. In R23 single-core, it is 334 versus 330, a 1.2% edge.

What is notable is that the X5482's higher 3.20 GHz base clock does not translate into a single-core win. The X3440, with a 2.53 GHz base and 2.93 GHz boost, still outperforms it in single-threaded workloads. This points to architectural efficiency in the Nehalem design, particularly the presence of the shared L3 cache, which the Core 2-based X5482 lacks. The X3440's 8 MB of L3 cache likely helps with data locality, reducing the penalty of cache misses that the X5482's dual-die L2 design may suffer.

The average benchmark scores reinforce the head-to-head results. The X3440's average of 815 places it just above the X5482's 805. Contextualizing these scores against nearest rivals, the X3440 is essentially tied with the Intel Core i5-L16G7 (816, -0.1%), the Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9775 (813, +0.2%), and the Intel Core i7-5550U (813, +0.2%), while trailing the Intel Xeon E5540 (820, -0.7%) by a hair. The X5482 sits level with the AMD Ryzen 3 2200U (805, 0%), slightly above the AMD Athlon X4 850 (806, -0.1%) and the Intel Core i5-3320M (803, +0.3%), and just below the Intel Core i7-870S (809, -0.4%). Both processors are firmly in the mid-range of historical CPU performance, far from modern flagships but still capable of basic productivity tasks.

Specification Differences

The table below lists only the fields where the two processors differ, drawn directly from the fact pack.

| Field | Intel Xeon X3440 | Intel Xeon X5482 |

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

| Threads | 8 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 2.53 GHz | 3.20 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 2.93 GHz | None |

| TDP | 95 W | 150 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1156 | Intel Socket 771 |

| Architecture | Nehalem | Core 2 |

| Codename | Lynnfield | Harpertown |

| Transistors | 774 million | 820 million |

| Die Size | 296 mm² | 2x 107 mm² |

| L2 Cache | 256 KB (per core) | 6 MB (per die) |

| L3 Cache | 8 MB (shared) | None |

| Memory Support | DDR3 | DDR2, DDR3 (depends on motherboard) |

| Memory Bandwidth | 21.3 GB/s | Not listed |

| PCIe | Gen 2, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 2 |

| Release Date | 2009-09-07 | 2007-11-10 |

| Launch MSRP | $215 | $1279 |

| Part Number | SLBLF | SLANZSLBBG |

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more threads?

A: The Intel Xeon X3440 has 8 threads, while the Intel Xeon X5482 has 4 threads. Both have 4 cores.

Q: Does the Xeon X5482 have a boost clock?

A: No, the fact pack lists no boost clock for the X5482. The X3440 boosts from 2.53 GHz to 2.93 GHz.

Q: How much larger is the L3 cache on the X3440?

A: The X3440 has 8 MB of shared L3 cache, while the X5482 has no L3 cache at all. The X5482's L2 cache is 6 MB per die.

Q: Which CPU has a higher TDP?

A: The Xeon X5482 has a TDP of 150 W, compared to the X3440's 95 W. The X5482 draws substantially more power.

Q: What is the difference in launch MSRP?

A: The X3440 launched at $215, while the X5482 launched at $1279.

Q: How close are their average benchmark scores?

A: The X3440's average benchmark score is 815, and the X5482's is 805, a difference of 10 points. Both sit at the 22nd percentile among all CPUs.

Where Each One Wins

The X3440 wins every benchmark in the head-to-head comparison, so the data does not support any scenario where the X5482 comes out ahead in raw performance. However, the context of each processor's platform and intended use matters. The X3440's wins are consistent: 1.3% in R15 multi-core, 1.1% in R20 multi-core, 1.4% in R20 single-core, 1.2% in R23 multi-core, and 1.2% in R23 single-core. For users running heavily threaded workloads, video rendering, software compilation, or database queries, the X3440's 8 threads provide a measurable, if modest, edge. Its 95 W TDP also makes it more suitable for dense server environments where thermal limits are a concern.

The X5482, despite losing all benchmarks, still holds a niche. Its 3.20 GHz base clock is the highest of the two, and for single-threaded legacy applications that do not scale with threads, the gap to the X3440 is just 1.2% to 1.4%. On a Socket 771 platform that is already in service, upgrading to the X5482 may be the only option without replacing the motherboard. The X5482's dual-die design with 6 MB L2 per die may also offer lower latency in certain memory access patterns, though the fact pack provides no direct benchmark to confirm this. For new builds, the data clearly favors the X3440, which delivers superior performance in every measured test at a lower TDP and a fraction of the launch price. The X5482's only real advantage is its higher clock speed, but that does not translate into a single benchmark win.