Core i5-5300U vs Xeon E5-2603 v2
Core i5-5300U
Xeon E5-2603 v2
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 i5-5300U is positioned at rank 758 and the Xeon E5-2603 v2 is on rank 757, so the Xeon E5-2603 v2 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-5300U
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-2603 v2
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-5300U | Xeon E5-2603 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Broadwell-U (2015) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge-EP (2013) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-5300U | Xeon E5-2603 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 i5-5300U and Xeon E5-2603 v2
Core i5-5300U
The Core i5-5300U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 March 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Broadwell-U (2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 2.9 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1168. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,709 points. Launch price was $281.
Xeon E5-2603 v2
The Xeon E5-2603 v2 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge-EP (2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.8 GHz, with boost up to 1.8 GHz. L3 cache: 10 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,735 points. Launch price was $240.
Processing Power
The Core i5-5300U packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Xeon E5-2603 v2 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Xeon E5-2603 v2 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.9 GHz on the Core i5-5300U versus 1.8 GHz on the Xeon E5-2603 v2 — a 46.8% clock advantage for the Core i5-5300U (base: 2.3 GHz vs 1.8 GHz). The Core i5-5300U uses the Broadwell-U (2015) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E5-2603 v2 uses Ivy Bridge-EP (2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-5300U scores 2,709 against the Xeon E5-2603 v2's 2,735 — a 1% lead for the Xeon E5-2603 v2. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Core i5-5300U vs 10 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-2603 v2.
| Feature | Core i5-5300U | Xeon E5-2603 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 2.9 GHz+61% | 1.8 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.3 GHz+28% | 1.8 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | 10 MB (total)+233% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm-36% | 22 nm |
| Architecture | Broadwell-U (2015) | Ivy Bridge-EP (2013) |
| PassMark | 2,709 | 2,735 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-5300U uses the FCBGA1168 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E5-2603 v2 uses LGA2011 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i5-5300U | Xeon E5-2603 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1168 | LGA2011 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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