Xeon E5603 vs Pentium G3240
Xeon E5603
Pentium G3240
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 Pentium G3240 is on rank 757, so the Pentium G3240 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 Pentium G3240
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5603 | Pentium G3240 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($188) | ✅ More affordable ($126) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Westmere-EP (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Legacy / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5603 | Pentium G3240 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+49%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($188) | ✅ More affordable ($126) |
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 Pentium G3240
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.
Pentium G3240
The Pentium G3240 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency: 3.1 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB Intel® Smart Cache. Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 53 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1333, DDR3L-1333. Passmark benchmark score: 1,930 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
The Xeon E5603 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Pentium G3240 offers 2 cores / 2 threads — the Xeon E5603 has 2 more cores. The Xeon E5603 is built on the Westmere-EP (2010−2011) architecture. In PassMark, the Xeon E5603 scores 1,935 against the Pentium G3240's 1,930 — a 0.3% lead for the Xeon E5603. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Xeon E5603 vs 3 MB Intel® Smart Cache on the Pentium G3240.
| Feature | Xeon E5603 | Pentium G3240 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 1.6 GHz | — |
| Base Clock | 1.6 GHz | 3.1 GHz+94% |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total)+33% | 3 MB Intel® Smart Cache |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | — |
| Process | 32 nm | 22 nm-31% |
| Architecture | Westmere-EP (2010−2011) | — |
| PassMark | 1,935 | 1,930 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5603 uses the LGA1366 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Pentium G3240 uses LGA1150 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E5603 | Pentium G3240 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1366 | LGA1150 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| 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 (Pentium G3240). Primary use case: Xeon E5603 targets Server.
| Feature | Xeon E5603 | Pentium G3240 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Pentium G3240 debuted at $89.
| Feature | Xeon E5603 | Pentium G3240 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $188 | $89-53% |
| Avg Price (30d) | — | $126 |
| Release Date | 2011 | 2014 |
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