Xeon E5-2680 vs Core i3-10300
Xeon E5-2680
Core i3-10300
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. The Xeon E5-2680 is positioned at rank #1014 in our cost-efficiency ranking, representing a Lower cost-benefit for your build. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-2680
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-10300
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5-2680 | Core i3-10300 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($40) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($140.49) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) / 32 nm) | ✨ Modern (Comet Lake (2020−2025) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5-2680 | Core i3-10300 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+251%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($40) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($140.49) |
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 E5-2680 and Core i3-10300
Xeon E5-2680
The Xeon E5-2680 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 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 20 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 9,289 points. Launch price was $1,723.
Core i3-10300
The Core i3-10300 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 April 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Comet Lake (2020−2025) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1200. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2666. Passmark benchmark score: 9,290 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Xeon E5-2680 packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Core i3-10300 offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Xeon E5-2680 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the Xeon E5-2680 versus 4.4 GHz on the Core i3-10300 — a 22.8% clock advantage for the Core i3-10300 (base: 2.7 GHz vs 3.7 GHz). The Xeon E5-2680 uses the Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Core i3-10300 uses Comet Lake (2020−2025) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-2680 scores 9,289 against the Core i3-10300's 9,290 — a 0% lead for the Core i3-10300. L3 cache: 20 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-2680 vs 8 MB (total) on the Core i3-10300.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2680 | Core i3-10300 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 16+100% | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 3.5 GHz | 4.4 GHz+26% |
| Base Clock | 2.7 GHz | 3.7 GHz+37% |
| L3 Cache | 20 MB (total)+150% | 8 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 14 nm-56% |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) | Comet Lake (2020−2025) |
| PassMark | 9,289 | 9,290 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5-2680 uses the LGA2011 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i3-10300 uses LGA1200 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2680 | Core i3-10300 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2011 | LGA1200 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1600 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 384 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 4 | — |
| ECC Support | ✅ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 40 | — |
Value Analysis
At current prices ($40 vs $140.49), the Xeon E5-2680 is $100 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon E5-2680 delivers 232.2 pts/$ vs 66.1 pts/$ for the Core i3-10300 — making the Xeon E5-2680 the 111.3% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2680 | Core i3-10300 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $3226 | — |
| Avg Price (30d) | $40-72% | $140.49 |
| Performance per Dollar | 232.2+251% | 66.1 |
| Release Date | 2012 | 2020 |
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