Xeon E5-2603 v2 vs Xeon L3426
Xeon E5-2603 v2
Xeon L3426
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 Xeon L3426 is on rank 753, so the Xeon L3426 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 Xeon L3426
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5-2603 v2 | Xeon L3426 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior 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) | 🛑 Legacy (Legacy / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5-2603 v2 | Xeon L3426 |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Path of Exile 2
League of Legends
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Xeon E5-2603 v2 and Xeon L3426
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.
Xeon L3426
The Xeon L3426 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 1.86 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB Intel® Smart Cache. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1156. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-800, DDR3-1066, DDR3-1333. Passmark benchmark score: 2,742 points. Launch price was $800.
Processing Power
The Xeon E5-2603 v2 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, matching the Xeon L3426's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 1.8 GHz on the Xeon E5-2603 v2 versus 3.2 GHz on the Xeon L3426 — a 56% clock advantage for the Xeon L3426 (base: 1.8 GHz vs 1.86 GHz). 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 Xeon L3426's 2,742 — a 0.3% lead for the Xeon L3426. L3 cache: 10 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-2603 v2 vs 8 MB Intel® Smart Cache on the Xeon L3426.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2603 v2 | Xeon L3426 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 1.8 GHz | 3.2 GHz+78% |
| Base Clock | 1.8 GHz | 1.86 GHz+3% |
| L3 Cache | 10 MB (total)+25% | 8 MB Intel® Smart Cache |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | — |
| Process | 22 nm-51% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Ivy Bridge-EP (2013) | — |
| PassMark | 2,735 | 2,742 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5-2603 v2 uses the LGA2011 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon L3426 uses LGA1156 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2603 v2 | Xeon L3426 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2011 | LGA1156 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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