Pentium G3420T vs Xeon E5603
Pentium G3420T
Xeon E5603
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 Pentium G3420T is positioned at rank 680 and the Xeon E5603 is on rank 863, so the Pentium G3420T offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Pentium G3420T
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5603
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Pentium G3420T | Xeon E5603 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($40) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($188) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Westmere-EP (2010−2011) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Pentium G3420T | Xeon E5603 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+364%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($40) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($188) |
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 Pentium G3420T and Xeon E5603
Pentium G3420T
The Pentium G3420T is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 2.7 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,912 points. Launch price was $75.
Xeon E5603
The Xeon E5603 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 February 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Westmere-EP (2010−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.6 GHz, with boost up to 1.6 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1366. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,935 points. Launch price was $286.
Processing Power
The Pentium G3420T packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Xeon E5603 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Xeon E5603 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.7 GHz on the Pentium G3420T versus 1.6 GHz on the Xeon E5603 — a 51.2% clock advantage for the Pentium G3420T (base: 2.7 GHz vs 1.6 GHz). The Pentium G3420T uses the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the Xeon E5603 uses Westmere-EP (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Pentium G3420T scores 1,912 against the Xeon E5603's 1,935 — a 1.2% lead for the Xeon E5603. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Pentium G3420T vs 4 MB (total) on the Xeon E5603.
| Feature | Pentium G3420T | Xeon E5603 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 2.7 GHz+69% | 1.6 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.7 GHz+69% | 1.6 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | 4 MB (total)+33% |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 22 nm-31% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Haswell (2013−2015) | Westmere-EP (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,912 | 1,935+1% |
Memory & Platform
The Pentium G3420T uses the LGA1150 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E5603 uses LGA1366 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1600 memory speed. The Xeon E5603 supports up to 288 GB of RAM compared to 32 GB — 160% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Pentium G3420T) vs 3 (Xeon E5603). PCIe lanes: 16 (Pentium G3420T) vs 32 (Xeon E5603) — the Xeon E5603 offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.
| Feature | Pentium G3420T | Xeon E5603 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1150 | LGA1366 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1600 | DDR3-1066 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | 288 GB+800% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 3+50% |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 32+100% |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Both support VT-x, VT-d virtualization. The Pentium G3420T includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics), while the Xeon E5603 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Xeon E5603 targets Server.
| Feature | Pentium G3420T | Xeon E5603 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics | — |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | — | Server |
Value Analysis
The Pentium G3420T launched at $75 MSRP, while the Xeon E5603 debuted at $188.
| Feature | Pentium G3420T | Xeon E5603 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $75-60% | $188 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $40 | — |
| Release Date | 2013 | 2011 |
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