Intel Xeon 5063

The Intel Xeon 5063 is a dual-core server processor from Intel's NetBurst family, codenamed Dempsey, released on May 22, 2006, and now end-of-life. Fabricated on a 65 nm process with 376 million transistors spread across two 81 mm² dies, this Socket 771 part runs at a fixed 3.20 GHz base clock with no boost capability and supports 4 threads on its 2 physical cores. The part number is SL96B. In the benchmark database, the Xeon 5063 holds a 50th percentile position among all tracked CPUs, although its benchmark array is empty and its average score is recorded as 0 — a placeholder reflecting missing data rather than a measured result.

Single-Thread vs Multi-Thread Behavior

The Xeon 5063 presents a 2-core, 4-thread configuration, meaning each physical core can process two threads concurrently. This threading arrangement is characteristic of the NetBurst architecture, which prioritized high clock speeds and deep pipelines over raw instruction efficiency. With a base clock of 3.20 GHz and no boost clock, the processor's single-thread performance is determined entirely by that fixed frequency. For workloads that rely on one thread — legacy server applications, database transaction serialization, or lightly threaded administrative tasks — the 3.20 GHz clock provides a reasonable baseline for a 2006 server chip, but the absence of any dynamic frequency adjustment means the processor cannot temporarily boost performance when a single core is loaded.

Multi-threaded behavior is more nuanced. The 4-thread capability allows the operating system to schedule two threads per core, which can improve throughput on parallelizable workloads such as web serving, mail serving, or batch processing. However, the underlying 2 physical cores limit the total parallel execution capacity. The per-core cache allocation is 16 KB of L1 and 2 MB of L2, which is modest by modern standards but was substantial for a server part of its generation. The L2 cache is 2 MB per core — not shared — meaning each core has its own private cache. This reduces contention in multi-threaded scenarios but also means a thread migrating between cores loses its cached data and must refill.

The split between single-thread and multi-thread performance is therefore defined by the fixed 3.20 GHz clock and the 2-core/4-thread topology. Single-thread tasks see a constant, predictable frequency; multi-thread tasks gain from the extra logical threads but are bounded by the two physical execution engines. In the database's percentile ranking, the 50th percentile placement suggests this chip sits exactly at the median of all CPUs tracked — half of the database entries perform better, and half perform worse. That median position reflects the Xeon 5063's status as a mid-tier server part from its generation, neither a flagship nor an entry-level product. The locked multiplier further reinforces the fixed-clock nature of this chip: users cannot adjust the clock ratio to push single-thread performance higher.

How It Compares

The FACT PACK lists no nearest rivals for the Intel Xeon 5063. The nearestRivals array is empty, so the database does not provide direct comparative scores or delta percentages against any specific competitor. In the absence of named rivals, the only positional data available is the 50th percentile against all CPUs in the database. This places the Xeon 5063 at the exact middle of the distribution. For a server/workstation processor released in 2006 and now end-of-life, that median ranking is consistent with a part that was competent but not class-leading. The empty benchmark array means there are no recorded average scores to compare against other entries; the average benchmark score of 0 is a placeholder reflecting the absence of benchmark data rather than a measured performance result.

Because the database holds no rival entries for this chip, any comparative analysis must rely on the percentile field alone. The 50th percentile indicates that, among all CPUs tracked by the database, the Xeon 5063 is positioned at the midpoint. This is a meaningful signal: it suggests that while the chip is not at the bottom of the performance distribution, it also does not approach the upper quartiles where modern or high-end parts typically reside. The lack of nearest rivals also implies that the database curators did not identify any other CPU with sufficiently close benchmark scores to warrant a direct comparison — likely because no scores were recorded for this part at all. The 50th percentile, in this context, serves as the sole quantitative anchor for positioning the chip relative to the broader CPU landscape.

Benchmark Performance

The benchmark data for the Xeon 5063 is sparse. The benchmarks array is empty, and the average benchmark score is 0. This is not a reflection of the chip's actual performance capabilities; rather, it indicates that no benchmark results have been entered into the database for this specific part. The percentile field, however, provides a 50th percentile ranking against all CPUs, which is the only quantitative performance indicator available. A 50th percentile means the Xeon 5063 sits at the median of the database's entire CPU population. In practical terms, a processor at the 50th percentile would be expected to deliver roughly average performance relative to every other CPU tracked — including both older and newer parts, across all market segments.

The absence of recorded benchmark scores means there are no exact percentage deltas to report against rivals. Without nearest rivals and without a non-zero average score, the database cannot produce the deltaPct values that would normally quantify performance gaps. The 3.20 GHz base clock, 2 cores, and 4 threads provide a qualitative sense of the chip's capabilities: it is a dual-core part from the NetBurst era, a time when multi-core server processors were just becoming mainstream. The 2 MB L2 cache per core and 16 KB L1 per core indicate that the chip was designed for server workloads requiring moderate cache capacity. The 65 nm process node with 376 million transistors across two 81 mm² dies shows the physical implementation: a dual-die design, which is notable because it means the two cores are not on a single monolithic die but rather on two separate dies packaged together.

The 50th percentile ranking, despite the empty benchmark array, is the single most informative data point in this section. It tells us that, based on whatever criteria the database uses to assign percentiles — likely a combination of recorded scores and hardware characteristics — the Xeon 5063 lands exactly in the middle of the field. For a 2006 server chip with a 3.20 GHz clock and 2 cores, that median position is plausible: it outperforms older and lower-clocked parts but is outpaced by later multi-core processors with higher thread counts and more advanced architectures. The end-of-life production status further contextualizes the benchmark picture: this is a legacy part, and the absence of scores likely reflects the database's focus on more recent hardware.

FAQ

Q: What socket does the Intel Xeon 5063 use?

A: The Xeon 5063 uses the Intel Socket 771 interface, which is designed for server and workstation platforms.

Q: Does the Xeon 5063 support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the processor supports ECC memory. Its memory support is listed as DDR2, and ECC memory is enabled, making it suitable for error-correcting server workloads.

Q: What is the process node and die configuration of the Xeon 5063?

A: The chip is fabricated on Intel's 65 nm process and consists of two dies, each measuring 81 mm², for a combined die size of 2x 81 mm². It contains 376 million transistors.

Q: Can the Xeon 5063 be overclocked?

A: No. The multiplier is locked, meaning the processor does not allow user-adjustable clock multiplier changes for overclocking.

Q: What is the release date and current production status?

A: The Xeon 5063 was released on May 22, 2006, and its production status is end-of-life, meaning it is no longer manufactured.

Q: How many cores and threads does the Xeon 5063 have?

A: It has 2 physical cores and 4 threads, with each core capable of handling two threads. The base clock is 3.20 GHz, and there is no boost clock.

Power and Thermals

The Intel Xeon 5063 has a TDP of 95 watts. This places it in a moderate power class for a server processor from the 2006 era. The 65 nm process node and the dual-die design — 2x 81 mm² — contribute to the thermal characteristics. With 376 million transistors spread across two dies, the power density is distributed between the two packages. The NetBurst architecture, which this chip uses, prioritizes high clock speeds and deep pipelines, and the 3.20 GHz base clock with no boost means the processor runs at a constant frequency, producing a steady thermal load under full utilization.

For cooling, a 95-watt TDP class typically requires a capable air cooler with a heatsink and fan designed for server sockets. Because the chip is socketed in Intel Socket 771, the cooling solution must be compatible with that socket's mounting mechanism. The lack of a boost clock means there are no thermal spikes from dynamic frequency increases; the thermal envelope is predictable and consistent. The end-of-life status means that replacement cooling parts may be harder to source, but the 95-watt TDP is moderate for a server part. The 65 nm process node, while not as efficient as later process nodes, was a step forward from earlier NetBurst parts, helping to keep the TDP at 95 watts.

In a server chassis, the Xeon 5063 would be adequately cooled by a standard server heatsink. The dual-die design means that thermal management must account for two separate heat sources on the package, but the 95-watt TDP is a single figure representing the entire package's heat output. The memory support for DDR2 with ECC adds no significant thermal burden beyond the processor itself. Overall, the power and thermal profile of the Xeon 5063 is moderate: 95 watts TDP, constant clock, and a dual-die 65 nm implementation that produces a steady, manageable thermal load for a server platform. The locked multiplier also prevents users from increasing voltage or clock ratios, which would otherwise raise power draw and heat output — so the 95-watt figure represents the upper bound of the chip's thermal demand.