CPU
GPU
Xeon E5-2403
Core i5-661
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 E5-2403 is positioned at rank 816 and the Core i5-661 is on rank 959, so the Xeon E5-2403 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-2403
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-661
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5-2403 | Core i5-661 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($40) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge-EN (2012) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Clarkdale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5-2403 | Core i5-661 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($40) |
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 E5-2403 and Core i5-661
Xeon E5-2403
The Xeon E5-2403 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 May 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge-EN (2012) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.8 GHz, with boost up to 1.8 GHz. L3 cache: 10240 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1356. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,367 points. Launch price was $230.
Core i5-661
The Core i5-661 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 7 January 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Clarkdale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.33 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1156. Thermal design power (TDP): 87 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,387 points. Launch price was $252.
Processing Power
The Xeon E5-2403 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i5-661 offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Xeon E5-2403 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 1.8 GHz on the Xeon E5-2403 versus 3.6 GHz on the Core i5-661 — a 66.7% clock advantage for the Core i5-661 (base: 1.8 GHz vs 3.33 GHz). The Xeon E5-2403 uses the Sandy Bridge-EN (2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Core i5-661 uses Clarkdale (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-2403 scores 2,367 against the Core i5-661's 2,387 — a 0.8% lead for the Core i5-661. L3 cache: 10240 kB (total) on the Xeon E5-2403 vs 4 MB (total) on the Core i5-661.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2403 | Core i5-661 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 1.8 GHz | 3.6 GHz+100% |
| Base Clock | 1.8 GHz | 3.33 GHz+85% |
| L3 Cache | 10240 kB (total)+150% | 4 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge-EN (2012) | Clarkdale (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 2,367 | 2,387 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5-2403 uses the LGA1356 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i5-661 uses LGA1156 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2403 | Core i5-661 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1356 | LGA1156 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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