
Core i3-2330E

Xeon E5503
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 i3-2330E is positioned at rank 1133 and the Xeon E5503 is on rank 895, so the Xeon E5503 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-2330E
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5503
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-2330E | Xeon E5503 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($10) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Gainestown (2009−2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-2330E | Xeon E5503 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($10) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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.

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Valorant
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Core i3-2330E and Xeon E5503

Core i3-2330E
The Core i3-2330E 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 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 2.2 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,823 points. Launch price was $225.

Xeon E5503
The Xeon E5503 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 16 March 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Gainestown (2009−2010) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 2 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1366. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,815 points. Launch price was $287.
Processing Power
The Core i3-2330E packs 2 cores / 4 threads, matching the Xeon E5503's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.2 GHz on the Core i3-2330E versus 2 GHz on the Xeon E5503 — a 9.5% clock advantage for the Core i3-2330E (base: 2.2 GHz vs 2 GHz). The Core i3-2330E uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Xeon E5503 uses Gainestown (2009−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-2330E scores 1,823 against the Xeon E5503's 1,815 — a 0.4% lead for the Core i3-2330E. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-2330E vs 4 MB (total) on the Xeon E5503.
| Feature | Core i3-2330E | Xeon E5503 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.2 GHz+10% | 2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.2 GHz+10% | 2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | 4 MB (total)+33% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm-29% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Gainestown (2009−2010) |
| PassMark | 1,823 | 1,815 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-2330E uses the PGA988 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon E5503 uses LGA1366 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i3-2330E | Xeon E5503 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA988 | LGA1366 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x (Core i3-2330E) / not specified (Xeon E5503). The Core i3-2330E includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 3000), while the Xeon E5503 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-2330E targets Embedded.
| Feature | Core i3-2330E | Xeon E5503 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 3000 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x | — |
| Target Use | Embedded | — |
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