Xeon E5-2603 v2 vs Core i3-7100U
Xeon E5-2603 v2
Core i3-7100U
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 E5-2603 v2 is positioned at rank 757 and the Core i3-7100U is on rank 752, so the Core i3-7100U offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-2603 v2
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-7100U
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5-2603 v2 | Core i3-7100U |
|---|---|---|
| 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) | 🛑 Legacy (Kaby Lake (2016−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5-2603 v2 | Core i3-7100U |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Core i3-7100U
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.
Core i3-7100U
The Core i3-7100U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 August 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1356. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 2,721 points. Launch price was $281.
Processing Power
The Xeon E5-2603 v2 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i3-7100U offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Xeon E5-2603 v2 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 1.8 GHz on the Xeon E5-2603 v2 versus 2.4 GHz on the Core i3-7100U — a 28.6% clock advantage for the Core i3-7100U (base: 1.8 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Xeon E5-2603 v2 uses the Ivy Bridge-EP (2013) architecture (22 nm), while the Core i3-7100U uses Kaby Lake (2016−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-2603 v2 scores 2,735 against the Core i3-7100U's 2,721 — a 0.5% lead for the Xeon E5-2603 v2. L3 cache: 10 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-2603 v2 vs 3 MB on the Core i3-7100U.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2603 v2 | Core i3-7100U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 1.8 GHz | 2.4 GHz+33% |
| Base Clock | 1.8 GHz | 2.4 GHz+33% |
| L3 Cache | 10 MB (total)+233% | 3 MB |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 512 kB+100% |
| Process | 22 nm | 14 nm-36% |
| Architecture | Ivy Bridge-EP (2013) | Kaby Lake (2016−2019) |
| PassMark | 2,735 | 2,721 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 841 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5-2603 v2 uses the LGA2011 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i3-7100U uses BGA1356 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2603 v2 | Core i3-7100U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2011 | BGA1356 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR4-2133 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 12 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Xeon E5-2603 v2) / VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i3-7100U). The Core i3-7100U includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 620), while the Xeon E5-2603 v2 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-7100U targets Mainstream Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i3-7100U rivals Ryzen 3 3200U.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2603 v2 | Core i3-7100U |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | HD Graphics 620 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | — | Mainstream Laptop |
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