Xeon E5-1603 vs Xeon W5580
Xeon E5-1603
Xeon W5580
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 Xeon W5580 is on rank 657, so the Xeon E5-1603 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 Xeon W5580
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5-1603 | Xeon W5580 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Legacy / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Gainestown (2009−2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5-1603 | Xeon W5580 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 Xeon W5580
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.
Xeon W5580
The Xeon W5580 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 March 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Gainestown (2009−2010) 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: 3,459 points. Launch price was $102.
Processing Power
The Xeon E5-1603 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, matching the Xeon W5580's 4 cores. The Xeon W5580 is built on the Gainestown (2009−2010) architecture. In PassMark, the Xeon E5-1603 scores 3,482 against the Xeon W5580's 3,459 — a 0.7% lead for the Xeon E5-1603. L3 cache: 10 MB on the Xeon E5-1603 vs 8 MB (total) on the Xeon W5580.
| Feature | Xeon E5-1603 | Xeon W5580 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | — | 3.46 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.8 GHz | 3.2 GHz+14% |
| L3 Cache | 10 MB+25% | 8 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | — | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm-29% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | — | Gainestown (2009−2010) |
| PassMark | 3,482 | 3,459 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5-1603 uses the LGA2011 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon W5580 uses LGA1366 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E5-1603 | Xeon W5580 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2011 | LGA1366 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
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