Xeon E5-2603 v2 vs A6-9400
Xeon E5-2603 v2
A6-9400
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 E5-2603 v2 is positioned at rank #757 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 E5-2603 v2
Performance Per Dollar
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5-2603 v2 | A6-9400 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge-EP (2013) / 22 nm) | ✨ Modern (Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) / 28 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5-2603 v2 | A6-9400 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 E5-2603 v2 and A6-9400
Xeon E5-2603 v2
The Xeon E5-2603 v2 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge-EP (2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.8 GHz, with boost up to 1.8 GHz. L3 cache: 10 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,735 points. Launch price was $240.
A6-9400
The A6-9400 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2014-01-01. It is based on the Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L2 cache: 1 MB (total). Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 2,717 points. Launch price was $70.
Processing Power
The Xeon E5-2603 v2 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the A6-9400 offers 2 cores / 2 threads — the Xeon E5-2603 v2 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 1.8 GHz on the Xeon E5-2603 v2 versus 3.7 GHz on the A6-9400 — a 69.1% clock advantage for the A6-9400 (base: 1.8 GHz vs 3.4 GHz). The Xeon E5-2603 v2 uses the Ivy Bridge-EP (2013) architecture (22 nm), while the A6-9400 uses Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) (28 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-2603 v2 scores 2,735 against the A6-9400's 2,717 — a 0.7% lead for the Xeon E5-2603 v2.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2603 v2 | A6-9400 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 1.8 GHz | 3.7 GHz+106% |
| Base Clock | 1.8 GHz | 3.4 GHz+89% |
| L3 Cache | 10 MB (total) | — |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 1 MB (total)+300% |
| Process | 22 nm-21% | 28 nm |
| Architecture | Ivy Bridge-EP (2013) | Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) |
| PassMark | 2,735 | 2,717 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5-2603 v2 uses the LGA2011 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the A6-9400 uses AM4 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2603 v2 | A6-9400 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2011 | AM4 |
| 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 | — | 8 |
Advanced Features
The A6-9400 includes integrated graphics (AMD Radeon R5), while the Xeon E5-2603 v2 requires a dedicated GPU.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2603 v2 | A6-9400 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | AMD Radeon R5 |
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