Intel Xeon X5355
Intel processor specifications and benchmark scores
ECC MemoryAt a Glance
IntelIntel Xeon X5355 Specifications
Xeon X5355 Core Configuration
Processing cores and threading
The Intel Xeon X5355 features 4 physical cores and 4 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.
X5355 Clock Speeds
Base and boost frequencies
Clock speed is a critical factor in Xeon X5355 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 X5355 by Intel can dynamically adjust its frequency based on workload and thermal headroom.
Intel's Xeon X5355 Cache Hierarchy
L1, L2, L3 cache sizes
Cache memory is ultra-fast storage built directly into the X5355 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 X5355's cache configuration is optimized for both gaming performance and productivity workloads, minimizing data fetch delays during intensive computations.
Core 2 Architecture & Process
Manufacturing and design details
The Intel Xeon X5355 is built on Intel's 65 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 X5355 incorporate advanced branch prediction and out-of-order execution for optimal performance.
Core 2 Instruction Set Features
Supported CPU instructions and extensions
The Xeon X5355 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 X5355 has a TDP (Thermal Design Power) of 120W, 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 771 Platform & Socket
Compatibility information
The Xeon X5355 uses the Intel Socket 771 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 771 Memory Support
RAM compatibility and speeds
Memory support specifications for the X5355 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 X5355 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 X5355 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 X5355 by Intel offers a specific balance of performance, features, and cost within Intel's product lineup.
About Intel Xeon X5355
Intel Xeon X5355 is a 4-core, 4-thread server/workstation processor from the Clovertown generation of Xeon, based on the Core 2 architecture. It is built on a 65 nm process with 582 million transistors across a 2x 143 mm² die, runs at a 2.67 GHz base clock, and has no boost clock. In this database it lands at the 13th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 594. The listed Cinebench results are 174 in R15 multi-core, 725 in R20 multi-core, 102 in R20 single-core, 1728 in R23 multi-core, and 243 in R23 single-core. The product is end-of-life, carries a 120 W TDP, and launched with an MSRP of $1172.
Who Should Consider It
The natural audience for the X5355 is users who are already anchored to an Intel Socket 771 platform. The memory support is DDR2 or DDR3 depending on motherboard, the memory bus is dual-channel, and ECC memory is supported, which fits a server/workstation context. Because production status is end-of-life, this is not a chip for a new high-performance build; it makes more sense as a replacement or maintenance part for an existing board.
The benchmark profile defines its limits. The 13th-percentile ranking means the large majority of CPUs in the database outperform it in aggregate. The Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 1728 and R20 multi-core score of 725 place it at the low end for threaded workloads. Older rendering or encoding jobs can still run on the 4-core/4-thread layout, but they will complete slowly. The R20 single-core score of 102 and R23 single-core score of 243 are even more limiting for interactive or latency-sensitive tasks. Light administrative workloads, legacy software, and basic office use are more realistic scenarios than modern content creation.
Gaming is not a natural fit. The chip has no integrated graphics, and the single-thread scores are weak by current expectations. A separate graphics solution would be required, and even then the 243 R23 single-core number suggests a CPU bottleneck in many titles. The 4 MB L2 per die and 64 KB L1 per core are part of the package, but they do not change the overall picture. The X5355 is a legacy server/workstation part with a narrow set of viable use cases.
Platform and Compatibility
The X5355 uses Intel Socket 771. Its architecture is Core 2, its codename is Clovertown, and it belongs to the Xeon (Clovertown) generation. The 65 nm process node and 2x 143 mm² die size define the physical construction. Memory support is motherboard-dependent: the chip accepts DDR2 or DDR3, and the memory bus is dual-channel. ECC memory support is present, which aligns with the server/workstation market segment.
The cache hierarchy is 64 KB L1 per core and 4 MB L2 per die, with no L3 cache listed. The multiplier is locked, so the 2.67 GHz base clock is not an unlocked overclocking target. There is no integrated graphics. The part number is SL9YMSLAC4SLAEG. The release date is 2006-11-13, and production status is end-of-life. For anyone on a Socket 771 board, the motherboard is the compatibility boundary: the same processor can pair with either DDR2 or DDR3 boards depending on what the motherboard provides, and ECC support gives it a stability-oriented profile. The locked multiplier keeps configuration simple, while the 120 W TDP is a fixed point that any compatible board must accommodate.
Single-Thread vs Multi-Thread Behavior
The Cinebench results in this database reveal a clean split between single-thread and multi-thread performance. In Cinebench R20, the X5355 scores 725 multi-core and 102 single-core. In Cinebench R23, it scores 1728 multi-core and 243 single-core. The R15 multi-core result of 174 is an additional snapshot of all-core behavior. In both R20 and R23, the multi-core result is far larger than the single-core result, which is what a 4-core/4-thread processor should show when all threads are occupied.
There is no boost clock, so the 2.67 GHz base clock is the maximum clock under any workload. That means single-thread performance is anchored to that frequency and to the Core 2 architecture. The R20 single-core score of 102 and R23 single-core score of 243 are modest absolute numbers. For serial workloads, or for software that relies on one or two threads, the X5355 will not feel responsive by current standards.
Multi-threaded workloads extract more from the chip because all 4 threads can participate. The multi-core scores of 725 and 1728 indicate that applications with thread-level parallelism will use the processor more fully. The R15 multi-core score of 174 reinforces that pattern. The split is consistent: the X5355 is a throughput-oriented part relative to its own single-core capability, but its absolute throughput remains low in the wider CPU landscape.
How It Compares
The X5355's average benchmark score is 594. Its nearest rivals all sit at either 594 or 593, so the comparisons are close by definition.
The Intel Xeon E5410 matches the X5355 exactly, with an average score of 594 and a deltaPct of 0. These two Xeon processors are effectively interchangeable in aggregate performance, and the 0 delta places them at the same point in this database.
The Intel Core i7-620M also shows an average score of 594, with a deltaPct of -0.1. That difference is negligible on an aggregate scale, putting the X5355 and the i7-620M in the same performance tier despite their different market positions.
The Intel Core M-5Y51 posts an average score of 593, with a deltaPct of 0.1. It sits slightly apart from the 594 average, but the delta is small enough that the two chips remain in the same immediate neighborhood.
The Intel Core i3-2102 also has an average score of 593 and a deltaPct of 0.1. Against this desktop i3, the X5355 is effectively indistinguishable in the database's aggregate benchmark metric.
Power and Thermals
The X5355 is rated at a 120 W TDP. That is the central thermal specification in the data. The 65 nm process and dual-die 2x 143 mm² construction account for a 582 million-transistor package, and the 4 MB L2 per die plus 64 KB L1 per core are part of the die layout. With no boost clock, the 2.67 GHz base clock is the sustained clock under load, so the 120 W figure represents a steady operating target rather than a short-lived boost state.
The cooling implication is straightforward: a 120 W TDP requires a capable air cooler or a server-style heatsink with directed airflow. Low-power or passive cooling concepts are not appropriate for this class of part. The server/workstation market segment reinforces that expectation. The X5355 is not a chip that can be treated like a low-power mobile processor; its thermal design is built around continuous multi-core operation in a chassis with adequate ventilation. Since the processor is end-of-life, the reference cooling solution from its original Socket 771 platform is the practical baseline.
Detailed benchmark scores and charts for the Intel Xeon X5355 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 X5355 performs in parallel rendering workloads like video production and 3D animation. Higher scores mean faster render times in professional applications.
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 X5355.
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 X5355.
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 X5355 after thermal limits kick in.
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 X5355 maintains boost clocks under continuous load.
Top 5 Performers
Nearby Performers
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