Core 2 Quad Q8300 vs Xeon E5603
Core 2 Quad Q8300
Xeon E5603
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 Quad Q8300 is positioned at rank 985 and the Xeon E5603 is on rank 863, so the Xeon E5603 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 Quad Q8300
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5603
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Quad Q8300 | Xeon E5603 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($10) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($188) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Yorkfield (2007−2009) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Westmere-EP (2010−2011) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Quad Q8300 | Xeon E5603 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+1763%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($10) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($188) |
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 Quad Q8300 and Xeon E5603
Core 2 Quad Q8300
The Core 2 Quad Q8300 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2008-01-01. It is based on the Yorkfield (2007−2009) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 2.5 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 4 MB (total). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,917 points. Launch price was $249.
Xeon E5603
The Xeon E5603 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 February 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Westmere-EP (2010−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.6 GHz, with boost up to 1.6 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1366. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,935 points. Launch price was $286.
Processing Power
Both the Core 2 Quad Q8300 and Xeon E5603 share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.5 GHz on the Core 2 Quad Q8300 versus 1.6 GHz on the Xeon E5603 — a 43.9% clock advantage for the Core 2 Quad Q8300 (base: 2.5 GHz vs 1.6 GHz). The Core 2 Quad Q8300 uses the Yorkfield (2007−2009) architecture (45 nm), while the Xeon E5603 uses Westmere-EP (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Quad Q8300 scores 1,917 against the Xeon E5603's 1,935 — a 0.9% lead for the Xeon E5603. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Core 2 Quad Q8300 vs 4 MB (total) on the Xeon E5603.
| Feature | Core 2 Quad Q8300 | Xeon E5603 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.5 GHz+56% | 1.6 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.5 GHz+56% | 1.6 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 4 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 4 MB (total)+1500% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 32 nm-29% |
| Architecture | Yorkfield (2007−2009) | Westmere-EP (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,917 | 1,935 |
Memory & Platform
The Core 2 Quad Q8300 uses the LGA775 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Xeon E5603 uses LGA1366 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core 2 Quad Q8300 | Xeon E5603 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA775 | LGA1366 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 2.0+82% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1066 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 288 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 3 |
| ECC Support | — | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 32 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Core 2 Quad Q8300) / VT-x, VT-d (Xeon E5603). Primary use case: Xeon E5603 targets Server.
| Feature | Core 2 Quad Q8300 | Xeon E5603 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | — | Server |
Value Analysis
The Core 2 Quad Q8300 launched at $179 MSRP, while the Xeon E5603 debuted at $188.
| Feature | Core 2 Quad Q8300 | Xeon E5603 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $179-5% | $188 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $10 | — |
| Release Date | 2008 | 2011 |
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