Intel Xeon E5640
Intel processor specifications and benchmark scores
ECC MemoryAt a Glance
IntelIntel Xeon E5640 Specifications
Xeon E5640 Core Configuration
Processing cores and threading
The Intel Xeon E5640 features 4 physical cores and 8 threads, which directly impacts multi-threaded performance in CPU benchmarks. More cores allow the processor to handle parallel workloads efficiently, improving performance in video editing, 3D rendering, and multitasking scenarios. Thread count determines how many simultaneous tasks the CPU can process, with higher thread counts benefiting productivity applications and content creation workflows.
E5640 Clock Speeds
Base and boost frequencies
Clock speed is a critical factor in Xeon E5640 benchmark performance, measured in GHz. The base clock represents the guaranteed operating frequency, while the boost clock indicates maximum single-core performance under optimal conditions. Higher clock speeds translate to faster single-threaded performance, which is essential for gaming and applications that don't fully utilize multiple cores. The Xeon E5640 by Intel can dynamically adjust its frequency based on workload and thermal headroom.
Intel's Xeon E5640 Cache Hierarchy
L1, L2, L3 cache sizes
Cache memory is ultra-fast storage built directly into the E5640 processor die. L1 cache provides the fastest access for frequently used data, while L2 and L3 caches offer progressively larger storage with slightly higher latency. Larger cache sizes significantly improve CPU benchmark scores by reducing memory access times. The Xeon E5640's cache configuration is optimized for both gaming performance and productivity workloads, minimizing data fetch delays during intensive computations.
Westmere Architecture & Process
Manufacturing and design details
The Intel Xeon E5640 is built on Intel's 32 nm manufacturing process, which determines power efficiency and thermal characteristics. Smaller process nodes allow for more transistors in the same space, enabling higher performance per watt. The architecture defines how the processor handles instructions and manages data flow, directly impacting benchmark results across different workload types. Modern CPU architectures like the one in E5640 incorporate advanced branch prediction and out-of-order execution for optimal performance.
Westmere Instruction Set Features
Supported CPU instructions and extensions
The Xeon E5640 by Intel supports various instruction set extensions that enable optimized performance for specific workloads. SIMD instructions like SSE and AVX accelerate multimedia, scientific computing, and AI workloads by processing multiple data points simultaneously. Features like AES-NI provide hardware-accelerated encryption, while AVX-512 (if supported) enables advanced vector processing for data centers and high-performance computing. These instruction sets are critical for software compatibility and performance in modern applications.
Power & Thermal
TDP and power specifications
The Intel Xeon E5640 has a TDP (Thermal Design Power) of 80W, indicating the cooling solution required for sustained operation. TDP affects both system power consumption and the type of cooler needed. Lower TDP processors are ideal for compact builds and laptops, while higher TDP chips typically offer better sustained performance in demanding CPU benchmarks. Understanding power requirements helps ensure your system can deliver consistent performance without thermal throttling.
Intel Socket 1366 Platform & Socket
Compatibility information
The Xeon E5640 uses the Intel Socket 1366 socket, which determines motherboard compatibility. Choosing the right platform is essential for building a system around this processor. The socket type also influences available features like PCIe lanes, memory support, and upgrade paths. When comparing CPU benchmarks, ensure you're looking at processors compatible with your existing or planned motherboard to make informed purchasing decisions.
Intel Socket 1366 Memory Support
RAM compatibility and speeds
Memory support specifications for the E5640 define which RAM types and speeds are compatible. Faster memory can significantly improve CPU benchmark performance, especially in memory-intensive applications and gaming. The memory controller integrated into the Xeon E5640 determines maximum supported speeds and channels. Dual-channel or quad-channel memory configurations can double or quadruple memory bandwidth, providing noticeable performance gains in content creation and scientific workloads.
Product Information
Release and pricing details
The Intel Xeon E5640 is manufactured by Intel and represents their commitment to delivering competitive CPU performance. Understanding the release date and pricing helps contextualize benchmark comparisons with other processors from the same generation. Launch pricing provides a baseline for evaluating value, though street prices often differ. Whether you're building a new system or upgrading, the Xeon E5640 by Intel offers a specific balance of performance, features, and cost within Intel's product lineup.
About Intel Xeon E5640
The Intel Xeon E5640 is a 4-core, 8-thread server/workstation processor from Intel’s Xeon Westmere-EP generation, built on the 32 nm Westmere architecture. It runs a base clock of 2.67 GHz, a boost clock of 2.93 GHz, and carries an 80 W TDP. The aggregate benchmark score is 1135, placing it at the 32nd percentile of all CPUs in the database. It supports DDR3 memory on a triple-channel bus, lists ECC memory support as true, and uses Intel Socket 1366.
Single-Thread vs Multi-Thread Behavior
The split between single-thread and multi-thread performance is wide. In Cinebench R20, the E5640 scores 195 single-core and 1385 multi-core. In Cinebench R23, it scores 465 single-core and 3298 multi-core. Both versions show the same pattern: the multi-core score is several times the single-core score. That is the signature of a 4-core, 8-thread part that can spread work across many threads but does not have dominant per-core strength.
Workloads that cannot use more than one or two threads will stay close to the single-core numbers. The R20 single-core score of 195 and the R23 single-core score of 465 are the limiting figures for that kind of work. Lightly threaded tasks will therefore not benefit from the processor’s parallel capacity. By contrast, workloads that scale across all 8 threads can get much closer to the multi-core results. The R20 multi-core score of 1385 and the R23 multi-core score of 3298 show where the E5640 actually has usable throughput.
The cache layout also matters. Each core has 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2, and the chip shares a 12 MB L3 cache. That shared L3 gives parallel workloads a pool of data to work with once they spread across multiple cores. The data indicates that the E5640 is a parallel-work processor first and a single-thread performer second. The 32nd percentile aggregate ranking reinforces that assessment: the chip sits behind a majority of the CPU database, and the low single-core scores are a major reason. Multi-threaded rendering, batch encoding, or other threaded server/workstation tasks are where the E5640’s behavior makes sense; interactive single-thread response is not its strength.
How It Compares
Intel Core i5-4690T — The E5640’s average benchmark score is 1135, while the i5-4690T scores 1134. The delta is 0.1%, which is effectively a tie. In the aggregate data, these two processors occupy the same performance class.
AMD Athlon 300U — The Athlon 300U has an average score of 1133, putting it 0.2% behind the E5640. This is another near-identical result. The gap is tiny and far smaller than the difference between the E5640’s own single-core and multi-core scores.
Intel Core i5-2400 — The i5-2400 posts an average score of 1132, 0.2% behind the E5640. The two chips are grouped together in the database, with neither showing a meaningful aggregate advantage over the other.
AMD Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE — This rival leads the group with an average score of 1138. The E5640 trails by 0.3%, the largest gap among the nearest rivals. Even so, that gap is still very small, and the data treats the group as essentially clustered around the same performance level.
Benchmark Performance
The E5640’s benchmark record is documented across three Cinebench versions. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the score is 332. In Cinebench R20, the multi-core score is 1385 and the single-core score is 195. In Cinebench R23, the multi-core score is 3298 and the single-core score is 465. These results show a processor whose raw multi-threaded output is much stronger than its single-threaded output.
The aggregate benchmark score is 1135, and that is the summary used for the nearest-rival comparison. Against the Intel Core i5-4690T, the delta is +0.1%. Against the AMD Athlon 300U, it is +0.2%. Against the Intel Core i5-2400, it is +0.2%. Against the AMD Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE, the delta is -0.3%. The positive values mean the E5640 is ahead in those comparisons; the negative value means it is behind. The largest gap in the entire rival set is only 0.3%, so the aggregate score does not show a decisive hierarchy. Instead, the data places the E5640 in a tight performance cluster with these four rivals.
The 32nd percentile overall standing is more informative than the rival deltas. Most CPUs in the database score higher than the E5640. The Cinebench record explains why: the single-core scores are low, and while the multi-core scores are higher, they cannot lift the aggregate past 1135. The benchmark data presents the E5640 as a functional 8-thread part with limited per-core strength, not as a high-performance processor.
FAQ
Q: How many cores and threads does the Intel Xeon E5640 have?
A: It has 4 cores and 8 threads.
Q: What memory support does the E5640 have?
A: It supports DDR3 memory with a triple-channel memory bus, and ECC memory support is listed as true.
Q: Does the E5640 include integrated graphics?
A: No integrated graphics are listed in the data.
Q: Is the multiplier unlocked?
A: No, multiplierUnlocked is false.
Q: What is the production status of the E5640?
A: The production status is end-of-life, and the release date is 2010-03-15.
Q: What socket does the E5640 use?
A: It uses Intel Socket 1366.
Who Should Consider It
Consider the E5640 for a workload that is tied to Socket 1366 or that specifically needs ECC DDR3. The server/workstation market segment is the intended context, and the benchmark data supports that destination. Multi-threaded tasks are where this chip makes sense. The R20 multi-core score of 1385 and the R23 multi-core score of 3298 show that the 8 threads can deliver a reasonable amount of parallel throughput. Users running heavily threaded workloads on a compatible board are the right audience.
Single-thread-sensitive workloads are a poor fit. The R20 single-core score of 195 and the R23 single-core score of 465 are low, and the 32nd percentile aggregate ranking confirms that the processor is not positioned for high per-core performance. Gamers who need strong single-thread scores should not choose this part. Office and desktop use that is mostly single-threaded will not see the multi-core benefit, and the lack of integrated graphics means any build must account for a separate display solution.
The strongest case for the E5640 is a legacy workstation or server platform already built around Intel Socket 1366. The ECC support and triple-channel DDR3 capability are relevant for reliability-focused workloads. The multi-core Cinebench results give those workloads a base level of parallel throughput. This is not a recommendation for new high-performance systems; it is a targeted compatibility and workload decision for a specific existing platform.
Platform and Compatibility
The E5640 uses Intel Socket 1366 and the Westmere-EP codename, with the Westmere architecture. It is built on Intel’s 32 nm process with 1,170 million transistors and a 239 mm² die. The cache arrangement is 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3. Memory support is DDR3 over a triple-channel bus, and ECC memory support is enabled. PCIe support is Gen 2.
No integrated graphics are listed, so the processor does not provide display output. The multiplier is not unlocked, so the data does not show unlocked multiplier adjustment as an option. Production status is end-of-life, and the release date is 2010-03-15. The part number is SLBVC. For an upgrade path, the Socket 1366 package limits changes to other processors on the same socket; the data does not provide a path to a different socket.
Detailed benchmark scores and charts for the Intel Xeon E5640 are below.
Benchmark Scores
cinebench_cinebench_r15_multicoreSource
Cinebench R15 multi-core renders a complex 3D scene using all CPU threads simultaneously. This test reveals how Intel Xeon E5640 performs in parallel rendering workloads.
Top 5 Performers
Top 5 PerformersNearby Performers
Nearby Performerscinebench_cinebench_r20_multicoreSource
Cinebench R20 multi-core uses a scene requiring 4x more computational power than R15. This test better reflects modern CPU capabilities for professional rendering on Intel Xeon E5640. The more demanding workload provides better differentiation between current-generation processors. Content creators and 3D artists use this benchmark to estimate real-world render performance.
Top 5 Performers
Nearby Performers
cinebench_cinebench_r20_singlecoreSource
Cinebench R20 single-core tests one thread against a more demanding scene than R15. This reveals the true single-thread rendering capability of Intel Xeon E5640. The increased complexity provides more accurate performance differentiation between modern CPUs. Single-thread performance remains critical for gaming and applications with serial bottlenecks.
Top 5 Performers
Nearby Performers
cinebench_cinebench_r23_multicoreSource
Cinebench R23 multi-core is the current standard for CPU rendering benchmarks with a 10-minute minimum runtime. This extended test reveals sustained performance of Intel Xeon E5640 after thermal limits kick in. The longer duration exposes cooling limitations that shorter benchmarks miss. Professional users rely on R23 scores to predict real-world rendering performance under sustained workloads.
Top 5 Performers
Nearby Performers
cinebench_cinebench_r23_singlecoreSource
Cinebench R23 single-core measures sustained single-thread performance over 10 minutes. This reveals how Intel Xeon E5640 maintains boost clocks under continuous load. The extended runtime shows whether thermal throttling affects single-core performance. This score is particularly important for understanding real-world responsiveness beyond initial boost behavior.
Top 5 Performers
Nearby Performers
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