
Core 2 Duo T5670 vs Xeon E5-1603

Core 2 Duo T5670

Xeon E5-1603
Performance Spectrum - CPU
About PassMark
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.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Core 2 Duo T5670 is positioned at rank 2 and the Xeon E5-1603 is on rank 655, so the Core 2 Duo T5670 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core 2 Duo T5670
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-1603
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Duo T5670 | Xeon E5-1603 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Merom-2M (2008) / 65 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Legacy / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Duo T5670 | Xeon E5-1603 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
Performance Check
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.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Core 2 Duo T5670 and Xeon E5-1603

Core 2 Duo T5670
The Core 2 Duo T5670 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2008-01-01. It is based on the Merom-2M (2008) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.8 GHz, with boost up to 1.8 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB L2 Cache. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 3,440 points. Launch price was $249.

Xeon E5-1603
The Xeon E5-1603 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency: 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 10 MB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-800, DDR3-1066. Passmark benchmark score: 3,482 points. Launch price was $800.
Processing Power
The Core 2 Duo T5670 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Xeon E5-1603 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Xeon E5-1603 has 2 more cores. The Core 2 Duo T5670 is built on the Merom-2M (2008) architecture. In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo T5670 scores 3,440 against the Xeon E5-1603's 3,482 — a 1.2% lead for the Xeon E5-1603. L3 cache: 2 MB L2 Cache on the Core 2 Duo T5670 vs 10 MB on the Xeon E5-1603.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T5670 | Xeon E5-1603 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 1.8 GHz | — |
| Base Clock | 1.8 GHz | 2.8 GHz+56% |
| L3 Cache | 2 MB L2 Cache | 10 MB+400% |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB | — |
| Process | 65 nm | 32 nm-51% |
| Architecture | Merom-2M (2008) | — |
| PassMark | 3,440 | 3,482+1% |
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