Core i3-2102 vs Xeon X5355
Core i3-2102
Xeon X5355
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 i3-2102 is positioned at rank 857 and the Xeon X5355 is on rank 1032, so the Core i3-2102 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-2102
Performance Per Dollar Xeon X5355
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-2102 | Xeon X5355 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($4,000) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Clovertown (2006−2007) / 65 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-2102 | Xeon X5355 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+26436%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($4,000) |
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 i3-2102 and Xeon X5355
Core i3-2102
The Core i3-2102 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 June 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.1 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,029 points. Launch price was $69.
Xeon X5355
The Xeon X5355 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 November 2006 (19 years ago). It is based on the Clovertown (2006−2007) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.66 GHz, with boost up to 0.67 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB L2 Cache. L2 cache: 4 MB (total). Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: LGA771. Thermal design power (TDP): 120 Watt. Memory support: DDR2, DDR3 Depends on motherboard. Passmark benchmark score: 2,039 points. Launch price was $1,172.
Processing Power
The Core i3-2102 packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Xeon X5355 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Xeon X5355 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.1 GHz on the Core i3-2102 versus 0.67 GHz on the Xeon X5355 — a 128.9% clock advantage for the Core i3-2102 (base: 3.1 GHz vs 2.66 GHz). The Core i3-2102 uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Xeon X5355 uses Clovertown (2006−2007) (65 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-2102 scores 2,029 against the Xeon X5355's 2,039 — a 0.5% lead for the Xeon X5355. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-2102 vs 8 MB L2 Cache on the Xeon X5355.
| Feature | Core i3-2102 | Xeon X5355 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3.1 GHz+363% | 0.67 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.1 GHz+17% | 2.66 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | 8 MB L2 Cache+167% |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 4 MB (total)+1500% |
| Process | 32 nm-51% | 65 nm |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Clovertown (2006−2007) |
| PassMark | 2,029 | 2,039 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 515 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 1,082 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-2102 uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon X5355 uses LGA771 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i3-2102 | Xeon X5355 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1155 | LGA771 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x (Core i3-2102) / not specified (Xeon X5355). The Core i3-2102 includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 2000), while the Xeon X5355 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-2102 targets Office Desktop.
| Feature | Core i3-2102 | Xeon X5355 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics 2000 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x | — |
| Target Use | Office Desktop | — |
Value Analysis
The Core i3-2102 launched at $117 MSRP, while the Xeon X5355 debuted at $4491. At current prices ($15 vs $4000), the Core i3-2102 is $3985 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i3-2102 delivers 135.3 pts/$ vs 0.5 pts/$ for the Xeon X5355 — making the Core i3-2102 the 198.5% better value option.
| Feature | Core i3-2102 | Xeon X5355 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $117-97% | $4491 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $15-100% | $4000 |
| Performance per Dollar | 135.3+26960% | 0.5 |
| Release Date | 2011 | 2006 |
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