Intel Xeon E5620

The Intel Xeon E5620 is a 4-core, 8-thread processor from the Westmere-EP generation, built on Intel's 32nm process. It carries an 80W TDP, supports DDR3 triple-channel memory with ECC, and uses Intel Socket 1366. In the benchmark database, it holds the 29th percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 1059.

Who Should Consider It

The benchmark results make the E5620's character unambiguous: this is a multi-threaded processor first and a single-threaded one second. In Cinebench R23, the multi-core score stands at 3077, while the single-core score is only 434. The R20 test repeats the pattern with 1292 multi-core and 182 single-core. Anyone running software that can use eight threads — 3D rendering, video encoding, batch scientific computation, virtualization — will get meaningful throughput out of this chip. The 12MB of shared L3 cache and 256KB of L2 per core provide enough on-die storage for heavily parallel working sets. The triple-channel DDR3 memory controller, combined with ECC support, makes the E5620 attractive for file servers or workstation tasks where data corruption is unacceptable.

The reverse holds for single-threaded workloads. Legacy games, many office applications, and lightly threaded database queries will be pinned to the 434 single-core R23 score, which feels sluggish against modern chips. The 29th percentile overall ranking is a direct consequence of this imbalance: multi-core scores prop the chip up, but single-core scores drag it down. The 80W TDP and end-of-life production status further narrow the audience. If you own a Socket 1366 motherboard and need a drop-in replacement with eight threads, this Xeon is a practical choice. For a brand-new system, the 2010-03-15 release date makes it an outdated foundation. Workloads that stay heavily parallel, tolerate low clock speeds, and benefit from ECC memory are the ones where this processor still earns its keep.

How It Compares

Against the AMD FX-8320E, the E5620 posts an identical average benchmark score of 1059, with a delta of 0%. In the aggregate, the two processors are exact statistical equals. The Xeon relies on 4 cores and 8 threads, but the database treats their overall performance as indistinguishable. Any real-world differences would come down to specific applications rather than the average score.

Against the Intel Core i3-4360, the E5620 trails by 0.1%. The i3-4360 scores 1060, so the gap is one point on a 1059-point scale. In single-threaded tasks, the i3-4360 would likely pull ahead, but the Xeon's 8 threads give it an edge in parallel workloads that the average benchmark score does not fully capture. Still, in this database's ranking, the two chips are effectively tied.

Against the Intel Core i3-7100, the E5620 again sits 0.1% behind. The i3-7100 averages 1061, and the delta is -0.1%. This is another statistical dead heat. The i3-7100 has a far higher single-core ceiling, but the Xeon answers with twice as many threads. In a multi-threaded render or compile, the older Xeon can hold its own; in a click-to-open latency test, it cannot.

Against the AMD Opteron 4376 HE, the E5620 falls behind by 0.2%, with the Opteron scoring 1061. That is the largest deficit among the four nearest rivals, but it remains a trifling margin. All four rival chips cluster between 1059 and 1061, meaning the E5620 sits in a tightly packed performance band where no competitor can claim a decisive aggregate advantage.

Power and Thermals

The E5620 is rated at an 80W TDP, a modest figure for a quad-core, eight-thread server processor. Standard air coolers built for the LGA 1366 era are fully sufficient; no high-end liquid cooling or oversized tower is required. The 32nm process node, along with a die size of 239 mm² containing 1,170 million transistors, explains why the chip stays within this envelope. Because the multiplier is locked, the processor runs at its 2.40 GHz base clock and 2.67 GHz boost clock with no overclocking headroom to feed. The lack of integrated graphics means the CPU package dissipates heat only from the cores, simplifying the thermal solution further. For a server chassis with restricted airflow, an 80W-class heatsink with a low-speed fan is adequate. Given the 2010-03-15 release date and end-of-life status, any cooler that originally shipped with this socket generation remains a safe match.

FAQ

Q: Does the E5620 support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the FACT PACK lists the ECC memory field as true.

Q: What type of memory and channel architecture does it use?

A: It uses DDR3 memory in a triple-channel configuration.

Q: Does this processor have integrated graphics?

A: No, the integrated graphics field is null, so a discrete GPU or server management graphics solution is required.

Q: What is the production status?

A: The production status is end-of-life, with a release date of 2010-03-15.

Q: Is the multiplier unlocked?

A: No, the multiplier is locked (multiplierUnlocked is false), limiting the CPU to its 2.40 GHz base and 2.67 GHz boost clocks.

Q: What socket does it use?

A: It uses Intel Socket 1366.

Single-Thread vs Multi-Thread Behavior

The split between single-thread and multi-thread performance is stark. In Cinebench R20, the single-core score is 182, while the multi-core score is 1292 — a gap that shows 8 threads working together far outweigh one thread acting alone. The R23 test mirrors this: 434 single-core versus 3077 multi-core. The R15 multi-core score of 310, while from an older benchmark generation, continues the same trend. The base clock of 2.40 GHz and boost clock of 2.67 GHz are the limiting factors for any single-threaded execution. Modern software that depends on high per-core speed will not be well served. But workloads built to scale across cores — renderers, encoders, compilers, virtual machine hosts — will see the E5620 deliver performance roughly proportional to its thread count. The 29th percentile overall ranking is a blend of these two very different behaviors. In practical terms, a user should expect the E5620 to feel like a much older chip in casual desktop use and like a far more capable server part when the load spreads across all eight threads. The architecture and cache layout (64KB L1 per core, 256KB L2 per core, 12MB shared L3) support this parallel-friendly design.

Platform and Compatibility

The E5620 is anchored to Intel Socket 1366, a platform from the Westmere-EP generation. Memory support is DDR3 with a triple-channel controller, and ECC is enabled, which is standard for server and workstation boards of that era. PCIe support is Gen 2, and there is no integrated graphics. The end-of-life production status means this chip is a replacement part for existing systems, not a component for new platform builds. Compatibility is limited to motherboards that accept Socket 1366 and its DDR3 memory topology. The 12MB shared L3 cache and the per-core L1/L2 sizes are fixed within the silicon, so no configurable options affect cache capacity. The multiplier is locked, meaning users cannot raise the core ratio; the only operating points are the 2.40 GHz base and 2.67 GHz boost. For a system already running a Socket 1366 processor, the E5620 slots in directly with no motherboard change. The 80W TDP ensures that most 1366-era cooling solutions remain adequate. Overall, the platform is a legacy server/workstation environment with ECC memory and triple-channel bandwidth as its main remaining assets, while the processor's performance is best utilized in sustained, threaded workloads that match its eight-thread design.