Core i5-10600 vs Xeon E5-2670 v3

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.

Core i5-10600 vs Xeon E5-2670 v3 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Core i5-10600 vs Xeon E5-2670 v3: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Core i5-10600

2020

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +9.8% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 65W instead of 120W, a 55W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 30 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon E5-2670 v3, which brings 12 cores / 24 threads and 40 PCIe lanes.
❌Launch MSRP is still $244 MSRP, while Xeon E5-2670 v3 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Xeon E5-2670 v3

2014

Why buy it

✅+150% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 12 cores / 24 threads, plus 40 PCIe lanes vs 0.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (40 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-10600 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (13,489 vs 13,573).
❌84.6% higher power demand at 120W vs 65W.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-10600 better than Xeon E5-2670 v3?

Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Xeon E5-2670 v3 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Core i5-10600 is the more practical desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and everyday use.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i5-10600 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 9.8% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-10600 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.6% better PassMark, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core i5-10600 is the better buy right now. Core i5-10600 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $244 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 9.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (55.6 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core i5-10600 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2020 vs 2014) and more multi-core headroom with 6 cores / 12 threads instead of 12/24. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Core i5-10600 vs Xeon E5-2670 v3 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Core i5-10600

The Core i5-10600 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 April 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Comet Lake (2020−2025) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 4.8 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1200. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2666. Passmark benchmark score: 13,573 points. Launch price was $149.

Xeon E5-2670 v3

The Xeon E5-2670 v3 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 8 September 2014 (11 years ago). It is based on the Haswell-EP (2014−2015) architecture. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.1 GHz. L3 cache: 30 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 120 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1600, DDR4-1866, DDR4-2133. Passmark benchmark score: 13,489 points. Launch price was $1,589.

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Processing Power

The Core i5-10600 packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Xeon E5-2670 v3 offers 12 cores / 24 threads — the Xeon E5-2670 v3 has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.8 GHz on the Core i5-10600 versus 3.1 GHz on the Xeon E5-2670 v3 — a 43% clock advantage for the Core i5-10600 (base: 3.3 GHz vs 2.3 GHz). The Core i5-10600 uses the Comet Lake (2020−2025) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E5-2670 v3 uses Haswell-EP (2014−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-10600 scores 13,573 against the Xeon E5-2670 v3's 13,489 — a 0.6% lead for the Core i5-10600. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i5-10600 vs 30 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-2670 v3.

Feature	Core i5-10600	Xeon E5-2670 v3
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	12 / 24+100%
Boost Clock	4.8 GHz+55%	3.1 GHz
Base Clock	3.3 GHz+43%	2.3 GHz
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)	30 MB (total)+150%
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	256K (per core)
Process	14 nm-36%	22 nm
Architecture	Comet Lake (2020−2025)	Haswell-EP (2014−2015)
PassMark	13,573	13,489

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Memory & Platform

The Core i5-10600 uses the LGA1200 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E5-2670 v3 uses LGA2011 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.