Core i3-7300 vs Xeon E5-1603 v3
Core i3-7300
Xeon E5-1603 v3
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 i3-7300 is positioned at rank 695 and the Xeon E5-1603 v3 is on rank 683, so the Xeon E5-1603 v3 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-7300
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-1603 v3
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-7300 | Xeon E5-1603 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($46) | ✅ More affordable ($40) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Kaby Lake (2016−2019) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell-EP (2014−2015) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-7300 | Xeon E5-1603 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+13%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($46) | ✅ 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 i3-7300 and Xeon E5-1603 v3
Core i3-7300
The Core i3-7300 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 January 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 4 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 51 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 4,519 points. Launch price was $147.
Xeon E5-1603 v3
The Xeon E5-1603 v3 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Haswell-EP (2014−2015) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 10 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011-3. Thermal design power (TDP): 140 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1333, DDR4-1600, DDR4-1866. Passmark benchmark score: 4,460 points. Launch price was $800.
Processing Power
The Core i3-7300 packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Xeon E5-1603 v3 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Xeon E5-1603 v3 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4 GHz on the Core i3-7300 versus 2.8 GHz on the Xeon E5-1603 v3 — a 35.3% clock advantage for the Core i3-7300 (base: 4 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Core i3-7300 uses the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E5-1603 v3 uses Haswell-EP (2014−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-7300 scores 4,519 against the Xeon E5-1603 v3's 4,460 — a 1.3% lead for the Core i3-7300. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Core i3-7300 vs 10 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-1603 v3.
| Feature | Core i3-7300 | Xeon E5-1603 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 4 GHz+43% | 2.8 GHz |
| Base Clock | 4 GHz+43% | 2.8 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total) | 10 MB (total)+150% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm-36% | 22 nm |
| Architecture | Kaby Lake (2016−2019) | Haswell-EP (2014−2015) |
| PassMark | 4,519+1% | 4,460 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-7300 uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E5-1603 v3 uses LGA2011-3 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i3-7300 | Xeon E5-1603 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1151 | LGA2011-3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2400 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ✅ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i3-7300) / not specified (Xeon E5-1603 v3). The Core i3-7300 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 630), while the Xeon E5-1603 v3 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-7300 targets Desktop.
| Feature | Core i3-7300 | Xeon E5-1603 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 630 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | — |
| Target Use | Desktop | — |
Value Analysis
The Core i3-7300 launched at $184 MSRP, while the Xeon E5-1603 v3 debuted at $273. At current prices ($46 vs $40), the Xeon E5-1603 v3 is $6 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i3-7300 delivers 98.2 pts/$ vs 111.5 pts/$ for the Xeon E5-1603 v3 — making the Xeon E5-1603 v3 the 12.6% better value option.
| Feature | Core i3-7300 | Xeon E5-1603 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $184-33% | $273 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $46 | $40-13% |
| Performance per Dollar | 98.2 | 111.5+14% |
| Release Date | 2017 | 2014 |
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