
Core i3-9320 vs Xeon E5-2650

Core i3-9320

Xeon E5-2650
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 i3-9320
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-2650
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-9320 | Xeon E5-2650 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($80) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake (2017−2019) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-9320 | Xeon E5-2650 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($80) | ✅ 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 i3-9320 and Xeon E5-2650

Core i3-9320
The Core i3-9320 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 23 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 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 62 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 7,358 points. Launch price was $149.

Xeon E5-2650
The Xeon E5-2650 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 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 20480 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: 7,349 points. Launch price was $91.
Processing Power
The Core i3-9320 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Xeon E5-2650 offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Xeon E5-2650 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i3-9320 versus 2.8 GHz on the Xeon E5-2650 — a 44.4% clock advantage for the Core i3-9320 (base: 3.7 GHz vs 2 GHz). The Core i3-9320 uses the Coffee Lake (2017−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E5-2650 uses Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-9320 scores 7,358 against the Xeon E5-2650's 7,349 — a 0.1% lead for the Core i3-9320. L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Core i3-9320 vs 20480 kB (total) on the Xeon E5-2650.
| Feature | Core i3-9320 | Xeon E5-2650 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 8 / 16+100% |
| Boost Clock | 4.4 GHz+57% | 2.8 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.7 GHz+85% | 2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB (total) | 20480 kB (total)+233% |
| 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 | 7,358 | 7,349 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-9320 uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E5-2650 uses LGA2011 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i3-9320 | Xeon E5-2650 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1151 | LGA2011 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 5.0+67% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 384 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 4 |
| ECC Support | — | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 40 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Core i3-9320) / VT-x, VT-d (Xeon E5-2650). Primary use case: Xeon E5-2650 targets Server.
| Feature | Core i3-9320 | Xeon E5-2650 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | — | Server |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.














