Xeon E5-1603 v3 vs Core i3-7300
Xeon E5-1603 v3
Core i3-7300
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 Xeon E5-1603 v3 is positioned at rank 683 and the Core i3-7300 is on rank 695, 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 Xeon E5-1603 v3
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-7300
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5-1603 v3 | Core i3-7300 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($40) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($46) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell-EP (2014−2015) / 22 nm) | ✨ Modern (Kaby Lake (2016−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5-1603 v3 | Core i3-7300 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+13%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($40) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($46) |
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 Xeon E5-1603 v3 and Core i3-7300
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.
Core i3-7300
The Core i3-7300 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 January 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 4 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 51 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 4,519 points. Launch price was $147.
Processing Power
The Xeon E5-1603 v3 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i3-7300 offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Xeon E5-1603 v3 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.8 GHz on the Xeon E5-1603 v3 versus 4 GHz on the Core i3-7300 — a 35.3% clock advantage for the Core i3-7300 (base: 2.8 GHz vs 4 GHz). The Xeon E5-1603 v3 uses the Haswell-EP (2014−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the Core i3-7300 uses Kaby Lake (2016−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-1603 v3 scores 4,460 against the Core i3-7300's 4,519 — a 1.3% lead for the Core i3-7300. L3 cache: 10 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-1603 v3 vs 4 MB (total) on the Core i3-7300.
| Feature | Xeon E5-1603 v3 | Core i3-7300 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.8 GHz | 4 GHz+43% |
| Base Clock | 2.8 GHz | 4 GHz+43% |
| L3 Cache | 10 MB (total)+150% | 4 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 22 nm | 14 nm-36% |
| Architecture | Haswell-EP (2014−2015) | Kaby Lake (2016−2019) |
| PassMark | 4,460 | 4,519+1% |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5-1603 v3 uses the LGA2011-3 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i3-7300 uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E5-1603 v3 | Core i3-7300 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2011-3 | LGA1151 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR4-2400 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 64 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Xeon E5-1603 v3) / VT-x, VT-d (Core i3-7300). The Core i3-7300 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 630), while the Xeon E5-1603 v3 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-7300 targets Desktop.
| Feature | Xeon E5-1603 v3 | Core i3-7300 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | HD Graphics 630 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | — | Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Xeon E5-1603 v3 launched at $273 MSRP, while the Core i3-7300 debuted at $184. At current prices ($40 vs $46), the Xeon E5-1603 v3 is $6 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon E5-1603 v3 delivers 111.5 pts/$ vs 98.2 pts/$ for the Core i3-7300 — making the Xeon E5-1603 v3 the 12.6% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon E5-1603 v3 | Core i3-7300 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $273 | $184-33% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $40-13% | $46 |
| Performance per Dollar | 111.5+14% | 98.2 |
| Release Date | 2014 | 2017 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Xeon E5-1603 v3 and Core i3-7300
