Phenom II X6 1045T vs Xeon X5560

PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Phenom II X6 1045T

2010

Why buy it

✅+0.4% higher PassMark.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (6 MB vs 8 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon X5560, which brings 4 cores / 8 threads.

Xeon X5560

2009

Why buy it

✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (8 MB vs 6 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 4 cores / 8 threads.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (3,231 vs 3,244).

Phenom II X6 1045T

2010

Xeon X5560

2009

Why buy it

✅+0.4% higher PassMark.

Why buy it

✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (8 MB vs 6 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 4 cores / 8 threads.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (6 MB vs 8 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon X5560, which brings 4 cores / 8 threads.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (3,231 vs 3,244).

Quick Answers

So, is Phenom II X6 1045T better than Xeon X5560?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Xeon X5560 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Phenom II X6 1045T is the better mainstream desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and day-to-day practicality.

Which one is better for gaming?

For gaming, the two CPUs are effectively a wash in the available data.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Phenom II X6 1045T is the better fit. You are getting 0.4% better PassMark, backed by 6 cores and 6 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Phenom II X6 1045T still looks like the safer overall buy. Phenom II X6 1045T is at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you 0.4% higher PassMark.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Phenom II X6 1045T is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2010 vs 2009) and more multi-core headroom with 6 cores / 6 threads instead of 4/8. That extra compute headroom should age better as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.

Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.

Phenom II X6 1045T Benchmark Check

Xeon X5560 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Phenom II X6 1045T	Xeon X5560
1080p
low	81 FPS	81 FPS
medium	81 FPS	81 FPS
high	81 FPS	81 FPS
ultra	81 FPS	81 FPS
1440p
low	81 FPS	81 FPS
medium	81 FPS	81 FPS
high	81 FPS	81 FPS
ultra	70 FPS	69 FPS
4K
low	61 FPS	61 FPS
medium	55 FPS	55 FPS
high	43 FPS	42 FPS
ultra	34 FPS	33 FPS

Open Phenom II X6 1045T Open Xeon X5560

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Phenom II X6 1045T	Xeon X5560
1080p
low	81 FPS	81 FPS
medium	81 FPS	81 FPS
high	81 FPS	81 FPS
ultra	81 FPS	81 FPS
1440p
low	81 FPS	81 FPS
medium	81 FPS	81 FPS
high	81 FPS	81 FPS
ultra	81 FPS	81 FPS
4K
low	81 FPS	81 FPS
medium	81 FPS	81 FPS
high	81 FPS	77 FPS
ultra	72 FPS	54 FPS

Open Phenom II X6 1045T Open Xeon X5560

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Phenom II X6 1045T	Xeon X5560
1080p
low	81 FPS	81 FPS
medium	81 FPS	81 FPS
high	81 FPS	81 FPS
ultra	81 FPS	81 FPS
1440p
low	81 FPS	81 FPS
medium	81 FPS	81 FPS
high	81 FPS	81 FPS
ultra	81 FPS	81 FPS
4K
low	81 FPS	81 FPS
medium	81 FPS	81 FPS
high	81 FPS	81 FPS
ultra	81 FPS	81 FPS

Open Phenom II X6 1045T Open Xeon X5560

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Phenom II X6 1045T	Xeon X5560
1080p
low	81 FPS	81 FPS
medium	81 FPS	81 FPS
high	81 FPS	81 FPS
ultra	81 FPS	81 FPS
1440p
low	81 FPS	81 FPS
medium	81 FPS	81 FPS
high	81 FPS	81 FPS
ultra	81 FPS	81 FPS
4K
low	81 FPS	81 FPS
medium	81 FPS	81 FPS
high	81 FPS	81 FPS
ultra	81 FPS	81 FPS

Open Phenom II X6 1045T Open Xeon X5560

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Phenom II X6 1045T and Xeon X5560

Phenom II X6 1045T

The Phenom II X6 1045T is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 1 September 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Thuban (2010) architecture. It features 6 cores and 6 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,244 points. Launch price was $175.

Xeon X5560

The Xeon X5560 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 March 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Gainestown (2009−2010) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1366. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,231 points. Launch price was $44.

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Processing Power

The Phenom II X6 1045T packs 6 cores / 6 threads, while the Xeon X5560 offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Phenom II X6 1045T has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.2 GHz on the Phenom II X6 1045T versus 3.2 GHz on the Xeon X5560 — identical boost frequencies (base: 2.7 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Phenom II X6 1045T uses the Thuban (2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Xeon X5560 uses Gainestown (2009−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Phenom II X6 1045T scores 3,244 against the Xeon X5560's 3,231 — a 0.4% lead for the Phenom II X6 1045T. L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Phenom II X6 1045T vs 8 MB (total) on the Xeon X5560.

Feature	Phenom II X6 1045T	Xeon X5560
Cores / Threads	6 / 6+50%	4 / 8
Boost Clock	3.2 GHz	3.2 GHz
Base Clock	2.7 GHz	2.8 GHz+4%
L3 Cache	6 MB (total)	8 MB (total)+33%
L2 Cache	512 kB (per core)+100%	256 kB (per core)
Process	45 nm	45 nm
Architecture	Thuban (2010)	Gainestown (2009−2010)
PassMark	3,244	3,231

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Memory & Platform

The Phenom II X6 1045T uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon X5560 uses LGA1366 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Phenom II X6 1045T	Xeon X5560
Socket	AM3	LGA1366
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	—	DDR3-1333
RAM Channels	—	3
ECC Support	—	Yes

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Phenom II X6 1045T) / VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Xeon X5560). Primary use case: Xeon X5560 targets Workstation. Direct competitor: Xeon X5560 rivals Core i3-2100.