Xeon E5-1603 vs Core i3-9100HL
Xeon E5-1603
Core i3-9100HL
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. The Xeon E5-1603 is positioned at rank #655 in our cost-efficiency ranking, representing a Lower cost-benefit for your build. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-1603
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-9100HL
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5-1603 | Core i3-9100HL |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($100) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Legacy / 32 nm) | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake (2017−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5-1603 | Core i3-9100HL |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($100) |
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 i3-9100HL
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 i3-9100HL
The Core i3-9100HL is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 April 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake (2017−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.6 GHz, with boost up to 2.9 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1440. Thermal design power (TDP): 25 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2666. Passmark benchmark score: 3,454 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
Both the Xeon E5-1603 and Core i3-9100HL share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. The Core i3-9100HL is built on the Coffee Lake (2017−2019) architecture. In PassMark, the Xeon E5-1603 scores 3,482 against the Core i3-9100HL's 3,454 — a 0.8% lead for the Xeon E5-1603. L3 cache: 10 MB on the Xeon E5-1603 vs 6 MB (total) on the Core i3-9100HL.
| Feature | Xeon E5-1603 | Core i3-9100HL |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | — | 2.9 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.8 GHz+75% | 1.6 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 10 MB+67% | 6 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | — | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 14 nm-56% |
| Architecture | — | Coffee Lake (2017−2019) |
| PassMark | 3,482 | 3,454 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 1,037 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 2,373 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5-1603 uses the LGA2011 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i3-9100HL uses BGA1440 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E5-1603 | Core i3-9100HL |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2011 | BGA1440 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR4 2666 MHz |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 64 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Xeon E5-1603) / true (Core i3-9100HL). The Core i3-9100HL includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics 630), while the Xeon E5-1603 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-9100HL targets Embedded.
| Feature | Xeon E5-1603 | Core i3-9100HL |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Intel UHD Graphics 630 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | true |
| Target Use | — | Embedded |
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 and Core i3-9100HL
