Core i7-3537U vs Xeon E5-2403
Core i7-3537U
Xeon E5-2403
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 i7-3537U is positioned at rank 1165 and the Xeon E5-2403 is on rank 816, so the Xeon E5-2403 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-3537U
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-2403
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-3537U | Xeon E5-2403 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($346) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge-EN (2012) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-3537U | Xeon E5-2403 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($346) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 i7-3537U and Xeon E5-2403
Core i7-3537U
The Core i7-3537U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 8 January 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 3.1 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1023. Thermal design power (TDP): 17 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,349 points. Launch price was $346.
Xeon E5-2403
The Xeon E5-2403 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 May 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge-EN (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: LGA1356. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,367 points. Launch price was $230.
Processing Power
The Core i7-3537U packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Xeon E5-2403 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Xeon E5-2403 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.1 GHz on the Core i7-3537U versus 1.8 GHz on the Xeon E5-2403 — a 53.1% clock advantage for the Core i7-3537U (base: 2 GHz vs 1.8 GHz). The Core i7-3537U uses the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture (22 nm), while the Xeon E5-2403 uses Sandy Bridge-EN (2012) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-3537U scores 2,349 against the Xeon E5-2403's 2,367 — a 0.8% lead for the Xeon E5-2403. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Core i7-3537U vs 10240 kB (total) on the Xeon E5-2403.
| Feature | Core i7-3537U | Xeon E5-2403 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3.1 GHz+72% | 1.8 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2 GHz+11% | 1.8 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total) | 10240 kB (total)+150% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 22 nm-31% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) | Sandy Bridge-EN (2012) |
| PassMark | 2,349 | 2,367 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-3537U uses the BGA1023 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E5-2403 uses LGA1356 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-3537U | Xeon E5-2403 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1023 | LGA1356 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | 1600 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: true (Core i7-3537U) / not specified (Xeon E5-2403). The Core i7-3537U includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 4000), while the Xeon E5-2403 requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core i7-3537U rivals AMD A10-4655M.
| Feature | Core i7-3537U | Xeon E5-2403 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics 4000 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | true | — |
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