Intel Xeon X5560
Intel processor specifications and benchmark scores
ECC MemoryAt a Glance
IntelIntel Xeon X5560 Specifications
Xeon X5560 Core Configuration
Processing cores and threading
The Intel Xeon X5560 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.
X5560 Clock Speeds
Base and boost frequencies
Clock speed is a critical factor in Xeon X5560 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 X5560 by Intel can dynamically adjust its frequency based on workload and thermal headroom.
Intel's Xeon X5560 Cache Hierarchy
L1, L2, L3 cache sizes
Cache memory is ultra-fast storage built directly into the X5560 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 X5560's cache configuration is optimized for both gaming performance and productivity workloads, minimizing data fetch delays during intensive computations.
Nehalem Architecture & Process
Manufacturing and design details
The Intel Xeon X5560 is built on Intel's 45 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 X5560 incorporate advanced branch prediction and out-of-order execution for optimal performance.
Nehalem Instruction Set Features
Supported CPU instructions and extensions
The Xeon X5560 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.
X5560 Power & Thermal
TDP and power specifications
The Intel Xeon X5560 has a TDP (Thermal Design Power) of 95W, 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 X5560 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 X5560 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 X5560 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.
Xeon X5560 Product Information
Release and pricing details
The Intel Xeon X5560 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 X5560 by Intel offers a specific balance of performance, features, and cost within Intel's product lineup.
Xeon X5560 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 X5560 performs in parallel rendering workloads like video production and 3D animation. The R15 version remains useful for comparing against older hardware benchmarks. Higher scores directly correlate with faster render times in Cinema 4D and similar 3D 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 X5560. The more demanding workload provides better differentiation between current-generation processors.
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 X5560. The increased complexity provides more accurate performance differentiation between modern CPUs.
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 X5560 after thermal limits kick in. The longer duration exposes cooling limitations that shorter benchmarks miss.
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 X5560 maintains boost clocks under continuous load. The extended runtime shows whether thermal throttling affects single-core performance.
Top 5 Performers
Nearby Performers
About Intel Xeon X5560
The Intel Xeon X5560 is a server/workstation processor in the Gainestown line, built on Intel's 45nm Nehalem architecture. It has 4 cores and 8 threads, a 2.80GHz base clock, a 3.20GHz boost clock, and a 95W TDP. Benchmark results put its average score at 942, which lands at the 24th percentile among all CPUs in the database. The chip uses Intel Socket 1366, supports triple-channel DDR3 with ECC, and provides PCIe Gen 2.
How It Compares
The Xeon X5560 is a dead heat with the Intel Core i7-2715QE in aggregate performance. Both CPUs average 942 in the benchmark database, and the delta is 0%. Despite the Xeon's server/workstation segment origins, the overall benchmark scores treat them as equivalent processors.
Against the Intel Pentium Gold G5400T, the Xeon sits 0.1% behind an average score of 943. In practical terms, that gap is negligible; any real difference would come from workload behavior rather than the overall average.
The same pattern applies to the AMD Athlon X4 860K. The Athlon averages 943, and the delta is -0.1%. The Xeon is neither ahead nor at a meaningful disadvantage in the aggregate data.
The largest gap among the four nearest rivals is against the AMD A8-7670K. That chip averages 944, giving a -0.3% delta. Even that gap is small enough that the Xeon remains in the same performance neighborhood as the entire rival group.
Who Should Consider It
The Xeon X5560 makes sense for a narrow set of use cases: existing Intel Socket 1366 server or workstation boards that require ECC DDR3. The 4-core/8-thread layout gives it parallel capacity that the single-core scores do not, making it usable for workloads that can spread work across eight threads. Consider this CPU only if the platform is already in hand and the software can use multiple threads.
For creation-style workloads like Cinebench rendering, the multi-core results are the strongest part of the chip. The processor scores 275 in Cinebench R15 multicore, 1149 in R20 multicore, and 2737 in R23 multicore. A system that keeps all eight threads busy will extract more throughput than a single-threaded workload would.
Gaming and everyday interactive office applications are not this CPU's target. The single-core Cinebench scores are 162 in R20 and 386 in R23, and the overall 24th percentile ranking means the aggregate throughput is low compared with most of the database. The per-thread ceiling is modest, and the market segment is server/workstation rather than desktop.
If the workload is parallel and the requirement includes ECC memory, the Xeon X5560 can still be a workable fit. If the workload depends on strong single-thread response, the benchmark data points elsewhere.
Benchmark Performance
The Xeon X5560 averages 942 across its benchmark results. That places it at the 24th percentile of all CPUs, meaning the bulk of the database sits above it. The absolute scores are low: the 45nm Nehalem design from 2009 cannot keep pace with the upper portion of the benchmark pool.
In Cinebench R15 multicore, the chip produces 275. In Cinebench R20, the multi-core score is 1149 while the single-core score is 162. In Cinebench R23, the multi-core score is 2737 and the single-core score is 386. Across these tests, the single-core numbers remain consistently low while the multi-core numbers show the benefit of 8 threads across 4 cores.
Against the nearest rivals, the average-score deltas are 0 versus the Intel Core i7-2715QE, -0.1 versus the Intel Pentium Gold G5400T, -0.1 versus the AMD Athlon X4 860K, and -0.3 versus the AMD A8-7670K. In other words, the Xeon is at parity with one rival and behind three others by 0.1% or 0.3%. The differences are minor, but the direction is consistent: none of the nearest rivals is slower in aggregate.
The Cinebench results tell the same story across multiple benchmark versions. The multi-core scores show that the 4-core/8-thread configuration is fully used in parallel tests, while the single-core scores define the limit of the architecture.
Platform and Compatibility
The Xeon X5560 uses Intel Socket 1366 and is built on Intel's 45nm process. The architecture is Nehalem, with the codename Gainestown. The die contains 731 million transistors and measures 263 mm². The cache layout is 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 8 MB shared L3.
Memory support is triple-channel DDR3, and ECC memory is supported. That makes the chip suitable for server or workstation builds where error-checked memory matters. PCIe support is Gen 2, which is the interface generation paired with this platform era.
The chip has a 95W TDP and a locked multiplier. The listed operating clocks are 2.80GHz base and 3.20GHz boost. Production status is end-of-life, with a release date of 2009-03-29 and part number SLBF4.
The upgrade path is constrained by the platform. Any replacement must still fit Intel Socket 1366 and use DDR3 memory. Because the processor is end-of-life, the platform is best treated as a fixed configuration rather than an upgrade path.
FAQ
Q: What are the core, thread, and clock specifications of the Xeon X5560?
A: It has 4 cores and 8 threads, with a 2.80GHz base clock and a 3.20GHz boost clock.
Q: Does it support ECC memory?
A: Yes. Memory support is triple-channel DDR3, and ECC memory is supported.
Q: What socket does it require?
A: Intel Socket 1366. It also provides PCIe Gen 2 connectivity.
Q: Is the multiplier unlocked?
A: No, the multiplier is locked. The stated clocks are 2.80GHz base and 3.20GHz boost.
Q: What is the production status and release date?
A: The processor is end-of-life, with a release date of 2009-03-29 and part number SLBF4.
Q: How does its average benchmark score compare to the nearest rivals?
A: Its average benchmark score is 942. This is identical to the Intel Core i7-2715QE, 0.1% behind the Intel Pentium Gold G5400T and AMD Athlon X4 860K, and 0.3% behind the AMD A8-7670K.
Single-Thread vs Multi-Thread Behavior
The split in Cinebench results is clear. In R20, the Xeon scores 162 single-core and 1149 multi-core. In R23, it scores 386 single-core and 2737 multi-core. The multi-core figures are far ahead of the single-core figures, but the single-core figures determine the ceiling for lightly threaded work.
The processor should be used where work can be distributed. The eight threads allow the multi-core tests to produce much higher scores than the single-core tests, indicating that parallelism is the only way this chip achieves competitive throughput. Single-threaded workloads will expose the Nehalem core's limited speed.
The low single-core numbers also drag down the overall 942 average and 24th percentile ranking, because the database contains many CPUs with faster per-thread performance. For interactive workloads, that low single-thread result is a liability.
Practical guidance from the data: assign long-running, parallel work to the Xeon, and keep it away from latency-sensitive single-thread tasks. The 4-core/8-thread structure can still feed a rendering workload, but any application that cannot use multiple threads will be held back by the single-core ceiling.
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