CPU
GPU
Xeon E5-2603
Core m5-6Y57
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 is positioned at rank 825 and the Core m5-6Y57 is on rank 1123, so the Xeon E5-2603 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
Performance Per Dollar Core m5-6Y57
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5-2603 | Core m5-6Y57 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($281) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Skylake-Y (2015) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5-2603 | Core m5-6Y57 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($281) |
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
Counter-Strike 2
League of Legends
Valorant
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Xeon E5-2603 and Core m5-6Y57
Xeon E5-2603
The Xeon E5-2603 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 6 March 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.8 GHz, with boost up to 1.8 GHz. L3 cache: 10240 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,325 points. Launch price was $207.
Core m5-6Y57
The Core m5-6Y57 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Skylake-Y (2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.1 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1515. Thermal design power (TDP): 4.5 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,342 points. Launch price was $281.
Processing Power
The Xeon E5-2603 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core m5-6Y57 offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Xeon E5-2603 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 1.8 GHz on the Xeon E5-2603 versus 2.8 GHz on the Core m5-6Y57 — a 43.5% clock advantage for the Core m5-6Y57 (base: 1.8 GHz vs 1.1 GHz). The Xeon E5-2603 uses the Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Core m5-6Y57 uses Skylake-Y (2015) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-2603 scores 2,325 against the Core m5-6Y57's 2,342 — a 0.7% lead for the Core m5-6Y57. L3 cache: 10240 kB (total) on the Xeon E5-2603 vs 4 MB (total) on the Core m5-6Y57.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2603 | Core m5-6Y57 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 1.8 GHz | 2.8 GHz+56% |
| Base Clock | 1.8 GHz+64% | 1.1 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 10240 kB (total)+150% | 4 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 14 nm-56% |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) | Skylake-Y (2015) |
| PassMark | 2,325 | 2,342 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5-2603 uses the LGA2011 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core m5-6Y57 uses FCBGA1515 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2603 | Core m5-6Y57 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2011 | FCBGA1515 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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