Xeon E5-4603 vs Core i7-960
Xeon E5-4603
Core i7-960
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 i7-960 is on rank 979, 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 i7-960
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5-4603 | Core i7-960 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($80) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($110) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Bloomfield (2008−2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5-4603 | Core i7-960 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+37%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($80) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($110) |
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 i7-960
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 i7-960
The Core i7-960 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 20 October 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Bloomfield (2008−2010) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.46 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1366. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,400 points. Launch price was $316.
Processing Power
Both the Xeon E5-4603 and Core i7-960 share an identical 4-core/8-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2 GHz on the Xeon E5-4603 versus 3.46 GHz on the Core i7-960 — a 53.5% clock advantage for the Core i7-960 (base: 2 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The Xeon E5-4603 uses the Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Core i7-960 uses Bloomfield (2008−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-4603 scores 3,391 against the Core i7-960's 3,400 — a 0.3% lead for the Core i7-960. L3 cache: 10240 kB (total) on the Xeon E5-4603 vs 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-960.
| Feature | Xeon E5-4603 | Core i7-960 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 2 GHz | 3.46 GHz+73% |
| Base Clock | 2 GHz | 3.2 GHz+60% |
| L3 Cache | 10240 kB (total)+25% | 8 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm-29% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) | Bloomfield (2008−2010) |
| PassMark | 3,391 | 3,400 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5-4603 uses the LGA2011 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i7-960 uses LGA1366 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E5-4603 | Core i7-960 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2011 | LGA1366 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
Value Analysis
The Xeon E5-4603 launched at $202 MSRP, while the Core i7-960 debuted at $309. At current prices ($80 vs $110), the Xeon E5-4603 is $30 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon E5-4603 delivers 42.4 pts/$ vs 30.9 pts/$ for the Core i7-960 — making the Xeon E5-4603 the 31.3% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon E5-4603 | Core i7-960 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $202-35% | $309 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $80-27% | $110 |
| Performance per Dollar | 42.4+37% | 30.9 |
| Release Date | 2012 | 2009 |
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