Core 3 100U vs Xeon E5-1680 v3

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.

Core 3 100U vs Xeon E5-1680 v3 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Core 3 100U vs Xeon E5-1680 v3: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Core 3 100U

2024

Why buy it

✅+0.3% higher PassMark.
✅Draws 15W instead of 140W, a 125W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FCBGA1744 with DDR5 support instead of LGA2011 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon E5-1680 v3 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Smaller total L3 cache (10 MB vs 20 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon E5-1680 v3, which brings 8 cores / 16 threads and 40 PCIe lanes.

Xeon E5-1680 v3

2014

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +9.6% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (20 MB vs 10 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 8 cores / 16 threads, plus 40 PCIe lanes vs 0.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (40 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (13,273 vs 13,312).
❌Launch MSRP is still $1,723 MSRP, while Core 3 100U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌833.3% higher power demand at 140W vs 15W.
❌Older platform position on LGA2011 with DDR4, while Core 3 100U moves to FCBGA1744 and DDR5.

Quick Answers

So, is Core 3 100U better than Xeon E5-1680 v3?

Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Xeon E5-1680 v3 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Core 3 100U is the more practical desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and everyday use.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core 3 100U is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.3% better PassMark, backed by 6 cores and 8 threads.

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

Core 3 100U is still the faster CPU overall, but Xeon E5-1680 v3 is easier to justify if budget matters more than peak performance. Core 3 100U comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $1,723 MSRP, and it still gives you 0.3% better PassMark. The compromise is that Xeon E5-1680 v3 is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 9.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Xeon E5-1680 v3 is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (7.7 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), which is why it can still make sense for tighter-budget builds on paper.

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

Core 3 100U makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2024 vs 2014), a healthier platform with FCBGA1744 and DDR5 instead of LGA2011, and more multi-core headroom with 6 cores / 8 threads instead of 8/16. That gives you a healthier platform runway for motherboard, RAM, and later CPU upgrades.

Core 3 100U vs Xeon E5-1680 v3 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Core 3 100U

The Core 3 100U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 8 January 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Raptor Lake-U Refresh (2024) architecture. It features 6 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 1.2 GHz, with boost up to 4.7 GHz. L3 cache: 10 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1744. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-5200, DDR4-3200, LPDDR4X-4267. Passmark benchmark score: 13,312 points. Launch price was $426.

Xeon E5-1680 v3

The Xeon E5-1680 v3 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Haswell-EP (2014−2015) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 20 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 140 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1333, DDR4-1600, DDR4-1866, DDR4-2133. Passmark benchmark score: 13,273 points. Launch price was $800.

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Processing Power

The Core 3 100U packs 6 cores / 8 threads, while the Xeon E5-1680 v3 offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Xeon E5-1680 v3 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.7 GHz on the Core 3 100U versus 3.8 GHz on the Xeon E5-1680 v3 — a 21.2% clock advantage for the Core 3 100U (base: 1.2 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The Core 3 100U uses the Raptor Lake-U Refresh (2024) architecture (10 nm), while the Xeon E5-1680 v3 uses Haswell-EP (2014−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core 3 100U scores 13,312 against the Xeon E5-1680 v3's 13,273 — a 0.3% lead for the Core 3 100U. L3 cache: 10 MB (total) on the Core 3 100U vs 20 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-1680 v3.

Feature	Core 3 100U	Xeon E5-1680 v3
Cores / Threads	6 / 8	8 / 16+33%
Boost Clock	4.7 GHz+24%	3.8 GHz
Base Clock	1.2 GHz	3.2 GHz+167%
L3 Cache	10 MB (total)	20 MB (total)+100%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	256K (per core)+20380%
Process	10 nm-55%	22 nm
Architecture	Raptor Lake-U Refresh (2024)	Haswell-EP (2014−2015)
PassMark	13,312	13,273
Geekbench 6 Single	—	1,141
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	8,782

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Memory & Platform

The Core 3 100U uses the FCBGA1744 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Xeon E5-1680 v3 uses LGA2011 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core 3 100U	Xeon E5-1680 v3
Socket	FCBGA1744	LGA2011
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+67%	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	—	DDR4-2133
Max RAM Capacity	—	768 GB
RAM Channels	—	4
ECC Support	—	Yes
PCIe Lanes	—	40