Core i3-8100 vs Xeon E5-2630
Core i3-8100
Xeon E5-2630
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 i3-8100 is positioned at rank 410 and the Xeon E5-2630 is on rank 702, so the Core i3-8100 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-8100
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-2630
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-8100 | Xeon E5-2630 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($45) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($395) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake (2017−2019) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-8100 | Xeon E5-2630 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+777%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($45) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($395) |
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 i3-8100 and Xeon E5-2630
Core i3-8100
The Core i3-8100 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 5 October 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake (2017−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 6,073 points. Launch price was $117.
Xeon E5-2630
The Xeon E5-2630 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 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 15360 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 6,077 points. Launch price was $74.
Processing Power
The Core i3-8100 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Xeon E5-2630 offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Xeon E5-2630 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.6 GHz on the Core i3-8100 versus 2.8 GHz on the Xeon E5-2630 — a 25% clock advantage for the Core i3-8100 (base: 3.6 GHz vs 2.3 GHz). The Core i3-8100 uses the Coffee Lake (2017−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E5-2630 uses Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-8100 scores 6,073 against the Xeon E5-2630's 6,077 — a 0.1% lead for the Xeon E5-2630. L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Core i3-8100 vs 15360 kB (total) on the Xeon E5-2630.
| Feature | Core i3-8100 | Xeon E5-2630 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 6 / 12+50% |
| Boost Clock | 3.6 GHz+29% | 2.8 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.6 GHz+57% | 2.3 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB (total) | 15360 kB (total)+150% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm-56% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Coffee Lake (2017−2019) | Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) |
| PassMark | 6,073 | 6,077 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,200 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 3,600 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-8100 uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E5-2630 uses LGA2011 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i3-8100 | Xeon E5-2630 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1151 | LGA2011 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 4.0+33% |
| 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 i3-8100) / not specified (Xeon E5-2630). The Core i3-8100 includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics 630), while the Xeon E5-2630 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-8100 targets Budget Desktop.
| Feature | Core i3-8100 | Xeon E5-2630 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | Intel UHD Graphics 630 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | — |
| Target Use | Budget Desktop | — |
Value Analysis
The Core i3-8100 launched at $117 MSRP, while the Xeon E5-2630 debuted at $395. At current prices ($45 vs $395), the Core i3-8100 is $350 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i3-8100 delivers 135.0 pts/$ vs 15.4 pts/$ for the Xeon E5-2630 — making the Core i3-8100 the 159.1% better value option.
| Feature | Core i3-8100 | Xeon E5-2630 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $117-70% | $395 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $45-89% | $395 |
| Performance per Dollar | 135.0+777% | 15.4 |
| Release Date | 2017 | 2012 |
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