Xeon E5-2603 v3 vs FX-6120
Xeon E5-2603 v3
FX-6120
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 FX-6120 is on rank 787, 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 FX-6120
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5-2603 v3 | FX-6120 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($54) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell-EP (2014−2015) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Zambezi (2011−2012) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5-2603 v3 | FX-6120 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($54) |
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 FX-6120
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.
FX-6120
The FX-6120 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 23 October 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Zambezi (2011−2012) architecture. It features 6 cores and 6 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 6 MB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: AM3+. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,853 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
Both the Xeon E5-2603 v3 and FX-6120 share an identical 6-core/6-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 1.6 GHz on the Xeon E5-2603 v3 versus 4.2 GHz on the FX-6120 — a 89.7% clock advantage for the FX-6120 (base: 1.6 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Xeon E5-2603 v3 uses the Haswell-EP (2014−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the FX-6120 uses Zambezi (2011−2012) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-2603 v3 scores 3,825 against the FX-6120's 3,853 — a 0.7% lead for the FX-6120. L3 cache: 15 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-2603 v3 vs 8 MB (total) on the FX-6120.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2603 v3 | FX-6120 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 6 | 6 / 6 |
| Boost Clock | 1.6 GHz | 4.2 GHz+163% |
| Base Clock | 1.6 GHz | 3.6 GHz+125% |
| L3 Cache | 15 MB (total)+88% | 8 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 6 MB+2300% |
| Process | 22 nm-31% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Haswell-EP (2014−2015) | Zambezi (2011−2012) |
| PassMark | 3,825 | 3,853 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5-2603 v3 uses the LGA2011 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the FX-6120 uses AM3+ (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2603 v3 | FX-6120 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2011 | AM3+ |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
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