Xeon E5603 vs Core 2 Quad Q8300
Xeon E5603
Core 2 Quad Q8300
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 E5603 is positioned at rank 863 and the Core 2 Quad Q8300 is on rank 985, so the Xeon E5603 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5603
Performance Per Dollar Core 2 Quad Q8300
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5603 | Core 2 Quad Q8300 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($188) | ✅ More affordable ($10) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Westmere-EP (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Yorkfield (2007−2009) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5603 | Core 2 Quad Q8300 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+1763%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($188) | ✅ More affordable ($10) |
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 E5603 and Core 2 Quad Q8300
Xeon E5603
The Xeon E5603 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 February 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Westmere-EP (2010−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.6 GHz, with boost up to 1.6 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1366. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,935 points. Launch price was $286.
Core 2 Quad Q8300
The Core 2 Quad Q8300 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2008-01-01. It is based on the Yorkfield (2007−2009) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 2.5 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 4 MB (total). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,917 points. Launch price was $249.
Processing Power
Both the Xeon E5603 and Core 2 Quad Q8300 share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 1.6 GHz on the Xeon E5603 versus 2.5 GHz on the Core 2 Quad Q8300 — a 43.9% clock advantage for the Core 2 Quad Q8300 (base: 1.6 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The Xeon E5603 uses the Westmere-EP (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the Core 2 Quad Q8300 uses Yorkfield (2007−2009) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5603 scores 1,935 against the Core 2 Quad Q8300's 1,917 — a 0.9% lead for the Xeon E5603. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Xeon E5603 vs 0 kB on the Core 2 Quad Q8300.
| Feature | Xeon E5603 | Core 2 Quad Q8300 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 1.6 GHz | 2.5 GHz+56% |
| Base Clock | 1.6 GHz | 2.5 GHz+56% |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 4 MB (total)+1500% |
| Process | 32 nm-29% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Westmere-EP (2010−2011) | Yorkfield (2007−2009) |
| PassMark | 1,935 | 1,917 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5603 uses the LGA1366 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core 2 Quad Q8300 uses LGA775 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E5603 | Core 2 Quad Q8300 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1366 | LGA775 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0+82% | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1066 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 288 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 3 | — |
| ECC Support | ✅ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 32 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Xeon E5603) / not specified (Core 2 Quad Q8300). Primary use case: Xeon E5603 targets Server.
| Feature | Xeon E5603 | Core 2 Quad Q8300 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | — |
| Target Use | Server | — |
Value Analysis
The Xeon E5603 launched at $188 MSRP, while the Core 2 Quad Q8300 debuted at $179.
| Feature | Xeon E5603 | Core 2 Quad Q8300 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $188 | $179-5% |
| Avg Price (30d) | — | $10 |
| Release Date | 2011 | 2008 |
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