CPU
GPU
Core i5-4260U
Xeon E5-2603
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 i5-4260U is positioned at rank 296 and the Xeon E5-2603 is on rank 825, so the Core i5-4260U offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-4260U
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-2603
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-4260U | Xeon E5-2603 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-4260U | Xeon E5-2603 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 i5-4260U and Xeon E5-2603
Core i5-4260U
The Core i5-4260U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 April 2014 (11 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.4 GHz, with boost up to 2.7 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1168. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,311 points. Launch price was $325.
Xeon E5-2603
The Xeon E5-2603 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 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.8 GHz, with boost up to 1.8 GHz. L3 cache: 10240 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,325 points. Launch price was $207.
Processing Power
The Core i5-4260U packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Xeon E5-2603 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Xeon E5-2603 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.7 GHz on the Core i5-4260U versus 1.8 GHz on the Xeon E5-2603 — a 40% clock advantage for the Core i5-4260U (base: 1.4 GHz vs 1.8 GHz). The Core i5-4260U uses the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the Xeon E5-2603 uses Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-4260U scores 2,311 against the Xeon E5-2603's 2,325 — a 0.6% lead for the Xeon E5-2603. L3 cache: 3 MB on the Core i5-4260U vs 10240 kB (total) on the Xeon E5-2603.
| Feature | Core i5-4260U | Xeon E5-2603 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 2.7 GHz+50% | 1.8 GHz |
| Base Clock | 1.4 GHz | 1.8 GHz+29% |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB | 10240 kB (total)+233% |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB+100% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 22 nm-31% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Haswell (2013−2015) | Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) |
| PassMark | 2,311 | 2,325 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-4260U uses the FCBGA1168 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E5-2603 uses LGA2011 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i5-4260U | Xeon E5-2603 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1168 | LGA2011 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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