Xeon E5-4603 vs Core i3-4150
Xeon E5-4603
Core i3-4150
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 E5-4603 is positioned at rank 670 and the Core i3-4150 is on rank 960, so the Xeon E5-4603 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-4603
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-4150
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5-4603 | Core i3-4150 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($80) | ✅ More affordable ($70) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5-4603 | Core i3-4150 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+15%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($80) | ✅ More affordable ($70) |
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 E5-4603 and Core i3-4150
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.
Core i3-4150
The Core i3-4150 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 May 2014 (11 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 54 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1333/1600, DDR3L-1333/1600. Passmark benchmark score: 3,406 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
The Xeon E5-4603 packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Core i3-4150 offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Xeon E5-4603 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2 GHz on the Xeon E5-4603 versus 3.5 GHz on the Core i3-4150 — a 54.5% clock advantage for the Core i3-4150 (base: 2 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Xeon E5-4603 uses the Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Core i3-4150 uses Haswell (2013−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-4603 scores 3,391 against the Core i3-4150's 3,406 — a 0.4% lead for the Core i3-4150. L3 cache: 10240 kB (total) on the Xeon E5-4603 vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-4150.
| Feature | Xeon E5-4603 | Core i3-4150 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2 GHz | 3.5 GHz+75% |
| Base Clock | 2 GHz | 3.5 GHz+75% |
| L3 Cache | 10240 kB (total)+233% | 3 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 22 nm-31% |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) | Haswell (2013−2015) |
| PassMark | 3,391 | 3,406 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 1,071 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5-4603 uses the LGA2011 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i3-4150 uses LGA1150 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E5-4603 | Core i3-4150 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2011 | LGA1150 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Xeon E5-4603) / VT-x, EPT (Core i3-4150). The Core i3-4150 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 4400), while the Xeon E5-4603 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-4150 targets Budget Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i3-4150 rivals FX-6300.
| Feature | Xeon E5-4603 | Core i3-4150 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | HD Graphics 4400 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, EPT |
| Target Use | — | Budget Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Xeon E5-4603 launched at $202 MSRP, while the Core i3-4150 debuted at $281. At current prices ($80 vs $70), the Core i3-4150 is $10 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon E5-4603 delivers 42.4 pts/$ vs 48.7 pts/$ for the Core i3-4150 — making the Core i3-4150 the 13.8% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon E5-4603 | Core i3-4150 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $202-28% | $281 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $80 | $70-13% |
| Performance per Dollar | 42.4 | 48.7+15% |
| Release Date | 2012 | 2014 |
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