Xeon E5-2603 v3 vs Core i5-2400
Xeon E5-2603 v3
Core i5-2400
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 v3 is positioned at rank 635 and the Core i5-2400 is on rank 772, so the Xeon E5-2603 v3 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 v3
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-2400
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5-2603 v3 | Core i5-2400 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($25) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell-EP (2014−2015) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5-2603 v3 | Core i5-2400 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($25) |
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 v3 and Core i5-2400
Xeon E5-2603 v3
The Xeon E5-2603 v3 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Haswell-EP (2014−2015) architecture. It features 6 cores and 6 threads. Base frequency is 1.6 GHz, with boost up to 1.6 GHz. L3 cache: 15 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 85 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1600. Passmark benchmark score: 3,825 points. Launch price was $800.
Core i5-2400
The Core i5-2400 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 9 January 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 6144 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,870 points. Launch price was $60.
Processing Power
The Xeon E5-2603 v3 packs 6 cores / 6 threads, while the Core i5-2400 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Xeon E5-2603 v3 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 1.6 GHz on the Xeon E5-2603 v3 versus 3.4 GHz on the Core i5-2400 — a 72% clock advantage for the Core i5-2400 (base: 1.6 GHz vs 3.1 GHz). The Xeon E5-2603 v3 uses the Haswell-EP (2014−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the Core i5-2400 uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-2603 v3 scores 3,825 against the Core i5-2400's 3,870 — a 1.2% lead for the Core i5-2400. L3 cache: 15 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-2603 v3 vs 6144 kB (total) on the Core i5-2400.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2603 v3 | Core i5-2400 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 6+50% | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 1.6 GHz | 3.4 GHz+112% |
| Base Clock | 1.6 GHz | 3.1 GHz+94% |
| L3 Cache | 15 MB (total)+150% | 6144 kB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 22 nm-31% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Haswell-EP (2014−2015) | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) |
| PassMark | 3,825 | 3,870+1% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 595 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5-2603 v3 uses the LGA2011 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i5-2400 uses LGA1155 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2603 v3 | Core i5-2400 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2011 | LGA1155 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Xeon E5-2603 v3) / VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-2400). The Core i5-2400 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 2000), while the Xeon E5-2603 v3 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-2400 targets Legacy Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i5-2400 rivals Phenom II X4 975.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2603 v3 | Core i5-2400 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | HD Graphics 2000 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | — | Legacy Desktop |
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