Xeon E5-2630 vs Core i3-8100
Xeon E5-2630
Core i3-8100
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 E5-2630 is positioned at rank 702 and the Core i3-8100 is on rank 410, so the Core i3-8100 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-2630
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-8100
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5-2630 | Core i3-8100 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($395) | ✅ More affordable ($45) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) / 32 nm) | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake (2017−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5-2630 | Core i3-8100 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+777%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($395) | ✅ More affordable ($45) |
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 E5-2630 and Core i3-8100
Xeon E5-2630
The Xeon E5-2630 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 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 15360 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: 6,077 points. Launch price was $74.
Core i3-8100
The Core i3-8100 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 5 October 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake (2017−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 6,073 points. Launch price was $117.
Processing Power
The Xeon E5-2630 packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Core i3-8100 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Xeon E5-2630 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.8 GHz on the Xeon E5-2630 versus 3.6 GHz on the Core i3-8100 — a 25% clock advantage for the Core i3-8100 (base: 2.3 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Xeon E5-2630 uses the Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Core i3-8100 uses Coffee Lake (2017−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-2630 scores 6,077 against the Core i3-8100's 6,073 — a 0.1% lead for the Xeon E5-2630. L3 cache: 15360 kB (total) on the Xeon E5-2630 vs 6 MB (total) on the Core i3-8100.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2630 | Core i3-8100 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12+50% | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.8 GHz | 3.6 GHz+29% |
| Base Clock | 2.3 GHz | 3.6 GHz+57% |
| L3 Cache | 15360 kB (total)+150% | 6 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 14 nm-56% |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) | Coffee Lake (2017−2019) |
| PassMark | 6,077 | 6,073 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 1,200 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 3,600 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5-2630 uses the LGA2011 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Core i3-8100 uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2630 | Core i3-8100 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2011 | LGA1151 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0+33% | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR4-2400 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 64 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Xeon E5-2630) / VT-x, VT-d (Core i3-8100). The Core i3-8100 includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics 630), while the Xeon E5-2630 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-8100 targets Budget Desktop.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2630 | Core i3-8100 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Intel UHD Graphics 630 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | — | Budget Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Xeon E5-2630 launched at $395 MSRP, while the Core i3-8100 debuted at $117. At current prices ($395 vs $45), the Core i3-8100 is $350 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon E5-2630 delivers 15.4 pts/$ vs 135.0 pts/$ for the Core i3-8100 — making the Core i3-8100 the 159.1% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2630 | Core i3-8100 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $395 | $117-70% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $395 | $45-89% |
| Performance per Dollar | 15.4 | 135.0+777% |
| Release Date | 2012 | 2017 |
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