Core i3-7100U vs Xeon E5-2603 v2
Core i3-7100U
Xeon E5-2603 v2
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 i3-7100U is positioned at rank 752 and the Xeon E5-2603 v2 is on rank 757, so the Core i3-7100U offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-7100U
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-2603 v2
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-7100U | Xeon E5-2603 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Kaby Lake (2016−2019) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge-EP (2013) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-7100U | Xeon E5-2603 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 i3-7100U and Xeon E5-2603 v2
Core i3-7100U
The Core i3-7100U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 August 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1356. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 2,721 points. Launch price was $281.
Xeon E5-2603 v2
The Xeon E5-2603 v2 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge-EP (2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.8 GHz, with boost up to 1.8 GHz. L3 cache: 10 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,735 points. Launch price was $240.
Processing Power
The Core i3-7100U packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Xeon E5-2603 v2 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Xeon E5-2603 v2 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.4 GHz on the Core i3-7100U versus 1.8 GHz on the Xeon E5-2603 v2 — a 28.6% clock advantage for the Core i3-7100U (base: 2.4 GHz vs 1.8 GHz). The Core i3-7100U uses the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E5-2603 v2 uses Ivy Bridge-EP (2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-7100U scores 2,721 against the Xeon E5-2603 v2's 2,735 — a 0.5% lead for the Xeon E5-2603 v2. L3 cache: 3 MB on the Core i3-7100U vs 10 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-2603 v2.
| Feature | Core i3-7100U | Xeon E5-2603 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 2.4 GHz+33% | 1.8 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.4 GHz+33% | 1.8 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB | 10 MB (total)+233% |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB+100% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm-36% | 22 nm |
| Architecture | Kaby Lake (2016−2019) | Ivy Bridge-EP (2013) |
| PassMark | 2,721 | 2,735 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 841 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-7100U uses the BGA1356 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E5-2603 v2 uses LGA2011 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i3-7100U | Xeon E5-2603 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1356 | LGA2011 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2133 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 12 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i3-7100U) / not specified (Xeon E5-2603 v2). The Core i3-7100U includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 620), while the Xeon E5-2603 v2 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-7100U targets Mainstream Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i3-7100U rivals Ryzen 3 3200U.
| Feature | Core i3-7100U | Xeon E5-2603 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 620 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | — |
| Target Use | Mainstream Laptop | — |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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