Xeon E5-4603 vs Core i5-2405S
Xeon E5-4603
Core i5-2405S
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 i5-2405S is on rank 981, 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 i5-2405S
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5-4603 | Core i5-2405S |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($80) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($120) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5-4603 | Core i5-2405S |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+50%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($80) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($120) |
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 i5-2405S
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 i5-2405S
The Core i5-2405S is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 22 May 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.3 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,397 points. Launch price was $472.
Processing Power
The Xeon E5-4603 packs 4 cores / 8 threads, matching the Core i5-2405S's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 2 GHz on the Xeon E5-4603 versus 3.3 GHz on the Core i5-2405S — a 49.1% clock advantage for the Core i5-2405S (base: 2 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The Xeon E5-4603 uses the Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Core i5-2405S uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-4603 scores 3,391 against the Core i5-2405S's 3,397 — a 0.2% lead for the Core i5-2405S. L3 cache: 10240 kB (total) on the Xeon E5-4603 vs 6 MB (total) on the Core i5-2405S.
| Feature | Xeon E5-4603 | Core i5-2405S |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2 GHz | 3.3 GHz+65% |
| Base Clock | 2 GHz | 2.5 GHz+25% |
| L3 Cache | 10240 kB (total)+67% | 6 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) |
| PassMark | 3,391 | 3,397 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 557 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 1,480 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5-4603 uses the LGA2011 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i5-2405S uses LGA1155 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E5-4603 | Core i5-2405S |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2011 | LGA1155 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1333 |
| 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 i5-2405S). The Core i5-2405S includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 3000), while the Xeon E5-4603 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-2405S targets Budget.
| Feature | Xeon E5-4603 | Core i5-2405S |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Intel HD Graphics 3000 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x / EPT |
| Target Use | — | Budget |
Value Analysis
The Xeon E5-4603 launched at $202 MSRP, while the Core i5-2405S debuted at $309. At current prices ($80 vs $120), the Xeon E5-4603 is $40 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon E5-4603 delivers 42.4 pts/$ vs 28.3 pts/$ for the Core i5-2405S — making the Xeon E5-4603 the 39.8% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon E5-4603 | Core i5-2405S |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $202-35% | $309 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $80-33% | $120 |
| Performance per Dollar | 42.4+50% | 28.3 |
| Release Date | 2012 | 2011 |
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