Xeon E5-2609 v2 vs Xeon E5-4603
Xeon E5-2609 v2
Xeon E5-4603
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 E5-2609 v2 is positioned at rank 667 and the Xeon E5-4603 is on rank 670, so the Xeon E5-2609 v2 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-2609 v2
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-4603
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5-2609 v2 | Xeon E5-4603 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($80) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge-EP (2013) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5-2609 v2 | Xeon E5-4603 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($80) |
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 E5-2609 v2 and Xeon E5-4603
Xeon E5-2609 v2
The Xeon E5-2609 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 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 2.5 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: 3,369 points. Launch price was $396.
Xeon E5-4603
The Xeon E5-4603 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 May 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 2 GHz. L3 cache: 10240 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,391 points. Launch price was $712.
Processing Power
The Xeon E5-2609 v2 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, matching the Xeon E5-4603's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.5 GHz on the Xeon E5-2609 v2 versus 2 GHz on the Xeon E5-4603 — a 22.2% clock advantage for the Xeon E5-2609 v2 (base: 2.5 GHz vs 2 GHz). The Xeon E5-2609 v2 uses the Ivy Bridge-EP (2013) architecture (22 nm), while the Xeon E5-4603 uses Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-2609 v2 scores 3,369 against the Xeon E5-4603's 3,391 — a 0.7% lead for the Xeon E5-4603. L3 cache: 10 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-2609 v2 vs 10240 kB (total) on the Xeon E5-4603.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2609 v2 | Xeon E5-4603 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 2.5 GHz+25% | 2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.5 GHz+25% | 2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 10 MB (total) | 10240 kB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 22 nm-31% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Ivy Bridge-EP (2013) | Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) |
| PassMark | 3,369 | 3,391 |
Memory & Platform
Both processors use the LGA2011 socket with PCIe 3.0.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2609 v2 | Xeon E5-4603 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2011 | LGA2011 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
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