Core i5-6442EQ vs Xeon E5-1603 v3
Core i5-6442EQ
Xeon E5-1603 v3
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 i5-6442EQ is positioned at rank 843 and the Xeon E5-1603 v3 is on rank 683, so the Xeon E5-1603 v3 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-6442EQ
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-1603 v3
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-6442EQ | Xeon E5-1603 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($250) | ✅ More affordable ($40) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Skylake (2015−2016) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell-EP (2014−2015) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-6442EQ | Xeon E5-1603 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+522%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($250) | ✅ More affordable ($40) |
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 i5-6442EQ and Xeon E5-1603 v3
Core i5-6442EQ
The Core i5-6442EQ is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 12 October 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Max frequency: 1.9 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Thermal design power (TDP): 25 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 4,483 points. Launch price was $250.
Xeon E5-1603 v3
The Xeon E5-1603 v3 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Haswell-EP (2014−2015) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 10 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011-3. Thermal design power (TDP): 140 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1333, DDR4-1600, DDR4-1866. Passmark benchmark score: 4,460 points. Launch price was $800.
Processing Power
Both the Core i5-6442EQ and Xeon E5-1603 v3 share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 1.9 GHz on the Core i5-6442EQ versus 2.8 GHz on the Xeon E5-1603 v3 — a 38.3% clock advantage for the Xeon E5-1603 v3. The Core i5-6442EQ uses the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E5-1603 v3 uses Haswell-EP (2014−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-6442EQ scores 4,483 against the Xeon E5-1603 v3's 4,460 — a 0.5% lead for the Core i5-6442EQ. L3 cache: 6 MB on the Core i5-6442EQ vs 10 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-1603 v3.
| Feature | Core i5-6442EQ | Xeon E5-1603 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 1.9 GHz | 2.8 GHz+47% |
| Base Clock | — | 2.8 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB | 10 MB (total)+67% |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB+300% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm-36% | 22 nm |
| Architecture | Skylake (2015−2016) | Haswell-EP (2014−2015) |
| PassMark | 4,483 | 4,460 |
Value Analysis
The Core i5-6442EQ launched at $250 MSRP, while the Xeon E5-1603 v3 debuted at $273. At current prices ($250 vs $40), the Xeon E5-1603 v3 is $210 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-6442EQ delivers 17.9 pts/$ vs 111.5 pts/$ for the Xeon E5-1603 v3 — making the Xeon E5-1603 v3 the 144.6% better value option.
| Feature | Core i5-6442EQ | Xeon E5-1603 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $250-8% | $273 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $250 | $40-84% |
| Performance per Dollar | 17.9 | 111.5+523% |
| Release Date | 2015 | 2014 |
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