Core i3-9100HL vs Xeon E5-1603
Core i3-9100HL
Xeon E5-1603
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.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-9100HL
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-1603
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-9100HL | Xeon E5-1603 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($100) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake (2017−2019) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Legacy / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-9100HL | Xeon E5-1603 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($100) | ✅ 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 i3-9100HL and Xeon E5-1603
Core i3-9100HL
The Core i3-9100HL is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 April 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake (2017−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.6 GHz, with boost up to 2.9 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1440. Thermal design power (TDP): 25 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2666. Passmark benchmark score: 3,454 points. Launch price was $69.
Xeon E5-1603
The Xeon E5-1603 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency: 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 10 MB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-800, DDR3-1066. Passmark benchmark score: 3,482 points. Launch price was $800.
Processing Power
Both the Core i3-9100HL and Xeon E5-1603 share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. The Core i3-9100HL is built on the Coffee Lake (2017−2019) architecture. In PassMark, the Core i3-9100HL scores 3,454 against the Xeon E5-1603's 3,482 — a 0.8% lead for the Xeon E5-1603. L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Core i3-9100HL vs 10 MB on the Xeon E5-1603.
| Feature | Core i3-9100HL | Xeon E5-1603 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.9 GHz | — |
| Base Clock | 1.6 GHz | 2.8 GHz+75% |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB (total) | 10 MB+67% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | — |
| Process | 14 nm-56% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Coffee Lake (2017−2019) | — |
| PassMark | 3,454 | 3,482 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,037 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 2,373 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-9100HL uses the BGA1440 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E5-1603 uses LGA2011 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i3-9100HL | Xeon E5-1603 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1440 | LGA2011 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4 2666 MHz | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ✅ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: true (Core i3-9100HL) / not specified (Xeon E5-1603). The Core i3-9100HL includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics 630), while the Xeon E5-1603 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-9100HL targets Embedded.
| Feature | Core i3-9100HL | Xeon E5-1603 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | Intel UHD Graphics 630 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | true | — |
| Target Use | Embedded | — |
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