Intel Xeon X5679
Also called intel xeon x5679, xeon x5679, xeon-x5679
Intel Xeon server processor on Westmere,.
What you need to know
Intel Xeon X5679 is a legacy server cpu.
Intel Xeon X5679 launched in 2011., Core and thread counts are not recorded here on Westmere. Treat the spec table as the facts. Age alone does not tell you to throw it out.
- Still good?
- Only if the workload is light
- Product age
- 15 years old
- Upgrade pressure
- Moderate
What this hardware means today
Age and usefulness are not the same number. This page keeps them separate.
- Performance today
- Modest. Modest for the class when RAM, storage, and the GPU keep up.
- Product age 15 years old
- Legacy. Launched 2011. Newer platforms exist. That does not make this chip unusable by itself.
- Support status
- Supported. Current Windows and current applications still run on this class of CPU. Platform BIOS support depends on the motherboard or laptop vendor.
- Upgrade pressure
- Moderate. Upgrade pressure comes from platform features and specific CPU-bound work, not from the chip being unusable.
Where does it sit?
Westmere sits on Intel's recent Core timeline. Later desktop branding moved toward Core Ultra.
Performance context
These are qualitative readings, not a fake 8.7 out of 10. Workload still wins.
Gaming: Poor fit
Not the job. Use a desktop or workstation part if games are the point.
Productivity: Modest
Core count is not recorded, so treat productivity claims as unknown.
Multithreaded workloads: Average
Thread count is not recorded on this sheet.
General use: Good
Everyday Windows use is not where most people notice this SKU first.
Efficiency: Good
Power is not recorded on this sheet.
Should you upgrade?
Probably not based on CPU performance alone.
Upgrade makes more sense if
- Your workload is strongly CPU limited
- You need a platform this SKU cannot offer
- You need substantially more multicore performance
- You need newer connectivity that your current board cannot offer
Upgrade makes less sense if
- The GPU is the real bottleneck
- Current applications are already responsive
- The CPU rarely limits your workload
Specifications
Figures below follow the Feex Hardware Database record for this SKU. Fields without a recorded value are omitted.
Processor
Intel Xeon X5679 is built on Westmere.
| Manufacturer | Intel |
|---|---|
| Family | Xeon |
| Architecture | Westmere |
| Segment | Server |
Market
Intel Xeon X5679 launched 2011.
| Launch date | 2011 |
|---|
Independent scores
These are PassMark CPU figures. They are not Feex measurements.
| Single-core score | 1,547 |
|---|---|
| Multi-core score | 7,095 |
| Overall score | 3,313 |
| Productivity score | 6,778 |
| Creator score | 6,687 |
| Gaming score | 6,415 |
Compatibility
Confirm the platform from the manufacturer sheet before you buy a board for this SKU.
Cooler clearance, VRM quality, and power limits matter as much as the socket name.
Read the memory list on the board. The CPU can list more standards than one motherboard will accept.
No post after a CPU swap
Clear CMOS only after you confirm the board list includes this SKU and the BIOS is new enough. A supported name on a box is not the same as a flashed board.
Sources and verification
Reviewed by Feex editorial. Last verified August 2026 Status: Partially Verified. How we research.
- Feex Hardware Database · Specification source used for this sheet. CC BY 4.0.
- PassMark Software · CPU benchmark page for Intel Xeon X5679
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