Intel Xeon W5590

The Intel Xeon W5590 is a 4-core, 8-thread server and workstation processor from the Nehalem generation, built on Intel's 45nm Gainestown architecture. Launched in August 2009 for the Intel Socket 1366 platform, this end-of-life chip offers a base clock of 3.33 GHz and a boost clock of 3.60 GHz, with a 130W TDP. Its benchmark profile places it in the 26th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 977, positioning it as a legacy part whose performance is now comparable to entry-level desktop processors from several generations ago.

Benchmark Performance

The W5590's average benchmark score of 977 places it in a tight cluster with several much newer, lower-power desktop chips. The data shows it is effectively tied with the Intel Core i5-5257U (deltaPct 0), the AMD Athlon X4 840 (deltaPct 0.2), the AMD A10-7870K (deltaPct 0.2), and the Intel Core i3-4130 (deltaPct 0.3). This is a striking result: a high-end workstation Xeon from 2009 matches the aggregate performance of a 2014 dual-core Core i3 and a 2015 quad-core AMD APU. The differences among these parts are negligible, with a maximum spread of only 0.3 percent. In practical terms, the W5590 delivers roughly the same overall compute throughput as these mainstream rivals, but it does so with an older architecture, higher power draw, and a platform that lacks modern features.

Looking at specific multi-threaded workloads, the W5590 scores 286 points in Cinebench R15 multi-core, 1192 in Cinebench R20 multi-core, and 2840 in Cinebench R23 multi-core. These numbers reflect a chip that can handle modest parallel workloads but is far from competitive by modern standards. The R23 score, for instance, is well below what any current mainstream desktop processor achieves, which is consistent with its 26th percentile ranking. The W5590's 4 cores and 8 threads are simply outmatched by modern 6-core and 8-core designs that also benefit from significantly higher IPC and clock speeds. For legacy software that was optimized for the Nehalem era, the processor remains functional, but benchmark results indicate it will be a bottleneck in any modern multi-threaded application that scales beyond eight threads.

Single-Thread vs Multi-Thread Behavior

The W5590's single-core scores are 168 in Cinebench R20 and 401 in Cinebench R23. These results reveal a significant weakness: the chip's single-thread performance is poor by contemporary standards. The 3.60 GHz boost clock cannot compensate for the low instructions-per-clock of the 45nm Nehalem architecture. In single-threaded workloads, the W5590 will feel sluggish, particularly in applications that rely on a single fast core, such as older games, spreadsheet calculations, or lightly-threaded productivity tools. The delta between its single-core and multi-core scores shows that the chip scales reasonably well when all four cores are engaged, but the absolute performance level is low in both cases.

For real workloads, this split means the W5590 is best suited to tasks that are explicitly parallelized and can use all 8 threads. Multi-threaded rendering, video encoding, and batch processing will see a modest benefit from the extra threads, but the per-core performance will still limit the overall result. Conversely, any task that is latency-sensitive or single-thread-bound will perform poorly. The benchmark data indicates that the W5590's multi-thread performance is about 7 times its single-thread performance in Cinebench R23 (2840 vs 401), which is a healthy scaling ratio, but the starting point is too low to make the chip useful for modern single-threaded applications. Users should expect a balanced but dated experience: adequate for parallel batch jobs, underwhelming for interactive use.

Power and Thermals

The W5590 carries a TDP of 130W, which is substantial for a 4-core processor. This figure places it in the power envelope of high-end desktop parts from its era, but it is notably higher than the thermal requirements of the rival chips it matches in performance. The Intel Core i5-5257U, for instance, is a 28W part, and the AMD A10-7870K is a 95W part. The W5590 draws significantly more power to achieve the same level of performance, a clear indication of its older 45nm process node and less efficient architecture. The 130W TDP means that any cooling solution must be rated for that heat output; a capable air cooler with a 120mm fan or a basic liquid cooler will be necessary to maintain reasonable temperatures under load. The chip's 263 mm² die size, housing 731 million transistors, generates heat across a relatively large surface, but the 130W envelope is manageable with a mid-range tower cooler. Users building a system with this processor should not attempt to cool it with a stock low-profile cooler, as sustained multi-threaded loads will likely cause thermal throttling. The 45nm process node is inherently less efficient than modern nodes, so expect the system to run warmer and draw more power from the wall than a comparable modern build.

Who Should Consider It

Given its benchmark profile, the W5590 is not a sensible choice for modern gaming. The single-thread scores of 401 in Cinebench R23 and 168 in R20 are far too low for contemporary game engines, which typically rely on one or two high-speed cores. The chip will bottleneck any modern graphics card, resulting in low frame rates and stuttering even at 1080p. The multi-thread scores do not compensate, as games rarely scale well to 8 threads on an architecture with such low IPC. For content creation, the W5590 is only viable for legacy software that was compiled for the Nehalem instruction set and does not require modern AVX2 or AVX-512 extensions. Simple batch operations like transcoding older video formats or running CPU-based rendering in older applications will work, but the 2840 Cinebench R23 score means any modern renderer will take far longer than on a current entry-level chip. Office productivity is a mixed bag: basic word processing, spreadsheets, and web browsing will run, but the poor single-thread performance will make the system feel less responsive than a modern budget laptop. The W5590 is best suited to a hobbyist or collector who wants to build a period-correct Windows 7 or early Windows 10 workstation, or who needs a cheap, reliable server for light file serving or a dedicated legacy application that does not require high per-core performance. For any other purpose, the data clearly shows that the four rival chips listed — all of which match its average score — are more modern and efficient alternatives.

Platform and Compatibility

The W5590 uses the Intel Socket 1366 platform, which was Intel's high-end desktop and server socket from 2008 to 2011. The processor supports DDR3 memory in a triple-channel configuration, providing a memory bandwidth of 32.0 GB/s. This is a significant limitation today, as DDR3 is end-of-life and triple-channel kits are scarce and expensive. The platform also supports ECC memory, which is a plus for server use, but it requires a compatible motherboard that supports registered or unbuffered ECC DIMMs. The chip provides PCIe Gen 2 connectivity, which is two generations behind current standards; this means modern graphics cards and NVMe SSDs will run at reduced bandwidth, though for a 4-core CPU from this era, the PCIe limitation is rarely the primary bottleneck. The socket 1366 platform offers an upgrade path to other Nehalem and Westmere Xeon processors, including 6-core models that would increase thread count, but the motherboard must support those chips via a BIOS update. The W5590's multiplier is locked, so overclocking is not possible through the CPU multiplier; users must rely on base clock adjustments, which are limited by the platform's stability. The processor has no integrated graphics, so a discrete GPU is mandatory. The launch MSRP is $1600, which was typical for a high-end Xeon at the time, but the end-of-life production status means the chip is only available on the used market, often at a fraction of that price. Users should verify that any used motherboard has the correct BIOS revision to support the W5590 (part number SLBGE) before purchase.

FAQ

Q: How does the Intel Xeon W5590 compare to the Intel Core i3-4130?

A: The W5590 has an average benchmark score of 977, which is effectively identical to the Core i3-4130's 974, a delta of 0.3 percent. In multi-threaded Cinebench R20, the W5590 scores 1192, but its single-thread score of 168 is significantly lower than what the i3-4130 achieves, making the i3 the better choice for single-threaded tasks.

Q: What memory type and configuration does the W5590 require?

A: The W5590 supports DDR3 memory in a triple-channel configuration, yielding a memory bandwidth of 32.0 GB/s. It also supports ECC memory, which is important for error-correcting workloads in a server environment.

Q: Can the W5590 be overclocked?

A: No, the multiplier is locked, so the CPU multiplier cannot be adjusted. Overclocking would have to be done via the base clock, which is limited by the platform's stability and is not recommended for reliable operation.

Q: Is the W5590 suitable for a modern gaming PC?

A: No. The single-thread score of 401 in Cinebench R23 is far too low for modern game engines. The chip's 26th percentile ranking and poor per-core performance will bottleneck any contemporary graphics card, leading to low frame rates.

Q: What is the thermal design power of the W5590, and what cooling does it need?

A: The TDP is 130W, which requires a cooling solution rated for that heat output. A capable air cooler or a basic liquid cooler is necessary; a low-profile stock cooler will not suffice under sustained load.

Q: What socket does the W5590 use, and is there an upgrade path?

A: The W5590 uses Intel Socket 1366. The platform supports other Nehalem and Westmere Xeon processors, including 6-core models, but a BIOS update on the motherboard is required to support newer chips in the same socket family.