CPU
GPU
Core i5-8210Y
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 i5-8210Y is positioned at rank 1086 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 i5-8210Y
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-2603 v2
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-8210Y | 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 | ✨ Modern (Amber Lake-Y (2018−2021) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge-EP (2013) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-8210Y | 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 i5-8210Y and Xeon E5-2603 v2
Core i5-8210Y
The Core i5-8210Y is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 October 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Amber Lake-Y (2018−2021) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1515. Thermal design power (TDP): 7 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,723 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 i5-8210Y 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 3.6 GHz on the Core i5-8210Y versus 1.8 GHz on the Xeon E5-2603 v2 — a 66.7% clock advantage for the Core i5-8210Y (base: 1.6 GHz vs 1.8 GHz). The Core i5-8210Y uses the Amber Lake-Y (2018−2021) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E5-2603 v2 uses Ivy Bridge-EP (2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-8210Y scores 2,723 against the Xeon E5-2603 v2's 2,735 — a 0.4% lead for the Xeon E5-2603 v2. L3 cache: 4 MB on the Core i5-8210Y vs 10 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-2603 v2.
| Feature | Core i5-8210Y | Xeon E5-2603 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3.6 GHz+100% | 1.8 GHz |
| Base Clock | 1.6 GHz | 1.8 GHz+12% |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB | 10 MB (total)+150% |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB+100% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm-36% | 22 nm |
| Architecture | Amber Lake-Y (2018−2021) | Ivy Bridge-EP (2013) |
| PassMark | 2,723 | 2,735 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 796 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-8210Y uses the FCBGA1515 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E5-2603 v2 uses LGA2011 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i5-8210Y | Xeon E5-2603 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1515 | LGA2011 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | LPDDR3-2133 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 10 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-8210Y) / not specified (Xeon E5-2603 v2). The Core i5-8210Y includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 617), while the Xeon E5-2603 v2 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-8210Y targets Tablet/2-in-1. Direct competitor: Core i5-8210Y rivals Athlon 3050U.
| Feature | Core i5-8210Y | Xeon E5-2603 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | UHD Graphics 617 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | — |
| Target Use | Tablet/2-in-1 | — |
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