Core i7-960 vs Xeon E5-4603
Core i7-960
Xeon E5-4603
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 i7-960 is positioned at rank 979 and the Xeon E5-4603 is on rank 670, so the Xeon E5-4603 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-960
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-4603
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-960 | Xeon E5-4603 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($110) | ✅ More affordable ($80) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Bloomfield (2008−2010) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-960 | Xeon E5-4603 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+37%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($110) | ✅ More affordable ($80) |
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 i7-960 and Xeon E5-4603
Core i7-960
The Core i7-960 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 20 October 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Bloomfield (2008−2010) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.46 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1366. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,400 points. Launch price was $316.
Xeon E5-4603
The Xeon E5-4603 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 May 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 2 GHz. L3 cache: 10240 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,391 points. Launch price was $712.
Processing Power
Both the Core i7-960 and Xeon E5-4603 share an identical 4-core/8-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.46 GHz on the Core i7-960 versus 2 GHz on the Xeon E5-4603 — a 53.5% clock advantage for the Core i7-960 (base: 3.2 GHz vs 2 GHz). The Core i7-960 uses the Bloomfield (2008−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Xeon E5-4603 uses Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-960 scores 3,400 against the Xeon E5-4603's 3,391 — a 0.3% lead for the Core i7-960. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-960 vs 10240 kB (total) on the Xeon E5-4603.
| Feature | Core i7-960 | Xeon E5-4603 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 3.46 GHz+73% | 2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.2 GHz+60% | 2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total) | 10240 kB (total)+25% |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 32 nm-29% |
| Architecture | Bloomfield (2008−2010) | Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) |
| PassMark | 3,400 | 3,391 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-960 uses the LGA1366 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon E5-4603 uses LGA2011 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-960 | Xeon E5-4603 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1366 | LGA2011 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
Value Analysis
The Core i7-960 launched at $309 MSRP, while the Xeon E5-4603 debuted at $202. At current prices ($110 vs $80), the Xeon E5-4603 is $30 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-960 delivers 30.9 pts/$ vs 42.4 pts/$ for the Xeon E5-4603 — making the Xeon E5-4603 the 31.3% better value option.
| Feature | Core i7-960 | Xeon E5-4603 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $309 | $202-35% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $110 | $80-27% |
| Performance per Dollar | 30.9 | 42.4+37% |
| Release Date | 2009 | 2012 |
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