
Xeon E5-2603 v2 vs Celeron G5905

Xeon E5-2603 v2

Celeron G5905
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 | Celeron G5905 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge-EP (2013) / 22 nm) | ✨ Modern (Legacy / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5-2603 v2 | Celeron G5905 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Celeron G5905

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.

Celeron G5905
The Celeron G5905 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency: 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB Intel® Smart Cache. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1200. Thermal design power (TDP): 58 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2666. Passmark benchmark score: 2,760 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
The Xeon E5-2603 v2 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Celeron G5905 offers 2 cores / 2 threads — the Xeon E5-2603 v2 has 2 more cores. The Xeon E5-2603 v2 is built on the Ivy Bridge-EP (2013) architecture. In PassMark, the Xeon E5-2603 v2 scores 2,735 against the Celeron G5905's 2,760 — a 0.9% lead for the Celeron G5905. L3 cache: 10 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-2603 v2 vs 4 MB Intel® Smart Cache on the Celeron G5905.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2603 v2 | Celeron G5905 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 1.8 GHz | — |
| Base Clock | 1.8 GHz | 3.5 GHz+94% |
| L3 Cache | 10 MB (total)+150% | 4 MB Intel® Smart Cache |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | — |
| Process | 22 nm | 14 nm-36% |
| Architecture | Ivy Bridge-EP (2013) | — |
| PassMark | 2,735 | 2,760 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 724 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 1,242 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5-2603 v2 uses the LGA2011 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Celeron G5905 uses LGA1200 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2603 v2 | Celeron G5905 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2011 | LGA1200 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR4-2666 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 128 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Xeon E5-2603 v2) / VT-x (Celeron G5905). The Celeron G5905 includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 610), while the Xeon E5-2603 v2 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Celeron G5905 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Celeron G5905 rivals Pentium Gold G6405.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2603 v2 | Celeron G5905 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | UHD Graphics 610 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x |
| Target Use | — | Budget |
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