Xeon E5-1603 vs Core i3-4160
Xeon E5-1603
Core i3-4160
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 is positioned at rank 655 and the Core i3-4160 is on rank 596, so the Core i3-4160 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
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-4160
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5-1603 | Core i3-4160 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($52) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Legacy / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5-1603 | Core i3-4160 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($52) |
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 and Core i3-4160
Xeon E5-1603
The Xeon E5-1603 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency: 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 10 MB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-800, DDR3-1066. Passmark benchmark score: 3,482 points. Launch price was $800.
Core i3-4160
The Core i3-4160 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 21 July 2014 (11 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 54 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,506 points. Launch price was $133.
Processing Power
The Xeon E5-1603 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i3-4160 offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Xeon E5-1603 has 2 more cores. The Core i3-4160 is built on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. In PassMark, the Xeon E5-1603 scores 3,482 against the Core i3-4160's 3,506 — a 0.7% lead for the Core i3-4160. L3 cache: 10 MB on the Xeon E5-1603 vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-4160.
| Feature | Xeon E5-1603 | Core i3-4160 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | — | 3.6 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.8 GHz | 3.6 GHz+29% |
| L3 Cache | 10 MB+233% | 3 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | — | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 22 nm-31% |
| Architecture | — | Haswell (2013−2015) |
| PassMark | 3,482 | 3,506 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 1,100 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5-1603 uses the LGA2011 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i3-4160 uses LGA1150 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E5-1603 | Core i3-4160 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2011 | LGA1150 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Xeon E5-1603) / VT-x, EPT (Core i3-4160). The Core i3-4160 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 4400), while the Xeon E5-1603 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-4160 targets Budget Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i3-4160 rivals FX-6300.
| Feature | Xeon E5-1603 | Core i3-4160 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | HD Graphics 4400 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, EPT |
| Target Use | — | Budget Desktop |
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