Core i3-10300 vs Xeon E5-2680
Core i3-10300
Xeon E5-2680
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.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-10300
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-2680
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-10300 | Xeon E5-2680 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($140.49) | ✅ More affordable ($40) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Comet Lake (2020−2025) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-10300 | Xeon E5-2680 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+251%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($140.49) | ✅ More affordable ($40) |
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 i3-10300 and Xeon E5-2680
Core i3-10300
The Core i3-10300 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 April 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Comet Lake (2020−2025) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1200. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2666. Passmark benchmark score: 9,290 points. Launch price was $149.
Xeon E5-2680
The Xeon E5-2680 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 6 March 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 20 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 9,289 points. Launch price was $1,723.
Processing Power
The Core i3-10300 packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Xeon E5-2680 offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Xeon E5-2680 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i3-10300 versus 3.5 GHz on the Xeon E5-2680 — a 22.8% clock advantage for the Core i3-10300 (base: 3.7 GHz vs 2.7 GHz). The Core i3-10300 uses the Comet Lake (2020−2025) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E5-2680 uses Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-10300 scores 9,290 against the Xeon E5-2680's 9,289 — a 0% lead for the Core i3-10300. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Core i3-10300 vs 20 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-2680.
| Feature | Core i3-10300 | Xeon E5-2680 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 8 / 16+100% |
| Boost Clock | 4.4 GHz+26% | 3.5 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.7 GHz+37% | 2.7 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total) | 20 MB (total)+150% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm-56% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Comet Lake (2020−2025) | Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) |
| PassMark | 9,290 | 9,289 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-10300 uses the LGA1200 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E5-2680 uses LGA2011 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i3-10300 | Xeon E5-2680 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1200 | LGA2011 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 384 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 4 |
| ECC Support | — | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 40 |
Value Analysis
At current prices ($140.49 vs $40), the Xeon E5-2680 is $100 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i3-10300 delivers 66.1 pts/$ vs 232.2 pts/$ for the Xeon E5-2680 — making the Xeon E5-2680 the 111.3% better value option.
| Feature | Core i3-10300 | Xeon E5-2680 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | — | $3226 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $140.49 | $40-72% |
| Performance per Dollar | 66.1 | 232.2+251% |
| Release Date | 2020 | 2012 |
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