Core i3-3240 vs Xeon E5-2603
Core i3-3240
Xeon E5-2603
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 i3-3240 is positioned at rank 847 and the Xeon E5-2603 is on rank 825, so the Xeon E5-2603 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-3240
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-2603
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-3240 | Xeon E5-2603 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-3240 | Xeon E5-2603 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) | ✅ 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.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Core i3-3240 and Xeon E5-2603
Core i3-3240
The Core i3-3240 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 September 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 55 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,352 points. Launch price was $75.
Xeon E5-2603
The Xeon E5-2603 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 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.8 GHz, with boost up to 1.8 GHz. L3 cache: 10240 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,325 points. Launch price was $207.
Processing Power
The Core i3-3240 packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Xeon E5-2603 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Xeon E5-2603 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.4 GHz on the Core i3-3240 versus 1.8 GHz on the Xeon E5-2603 — a 61.5% clock advantage for the Core i3-3240 (base: 3.4 GHz vs 1.8 GHz). The Core i3-3240 uses the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture (22 nm), while the Xeon E5-2603 uses Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-3240 scores 2,352 against the Xeon E5-2603's 2,325 — a 1.2% lead for the Core i3-3240. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-3240 vs 10240 kB (total) on the Xeon E5-2603.
| Feature | Core i3-3240 | Xeon E5-2603 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3.4 GHz+89% | 1.8 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.4 GHz+89% | 1.8 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | 10240 kB (total)+233% |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 22 nm-31% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) | Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) |
| PassMark | 2,352+1% | 2,325 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-3240 uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E5-2603 uses LGA2011 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i3-3240 | Xeon E5-2603 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1155 | LGA2011 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
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