Xeon W3680 vs Core i3-9300
Xeon W3680
Core i3-9300
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. The Xeon W3680 is positioned at rank #817 in our cost-efficiency ranking, representing a Lower cost-benefit for your build. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon W3680
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-9300
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon W3680 | Core i3-9300 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($26) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($75) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Gulftown (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake (2017−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon W3680 | Core i3-9300 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+185%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($26) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($75) |
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 W3680 and Core i3-9300
Xeon W3680
The Xeon W3680 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 16 March 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Gulftown (2010−2011) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.33 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1366. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 7,025 points. Launch price was $350.
Core i3-9300
The Core i3-9300 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 23 April 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake (2017−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.3 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 62 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 7,105 points. Launch price was $143.
Processing Power
The Xeon W3680 packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Core i3-9300 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Xeon W3680 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.6 GHz on the Xeon W3680 versus 4.3 GHz on the Core i3-9300 — a 17.7% clock advantage for the Core i3-9300 (base: 3.33 GHz vs 3.7 GHz). The Xeon W3680 uses the Gulftown (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the Core i3-9300 uses Coffee Lake (2017−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon W3680 scores 7,025 against the Core i3-9300's 7,105 — a 1.1% lead for the Core i3-9300. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Xeon W3680 vs 6 MB (total) on the Core i3-9300.
| Feature | Xeon W3680 | Core i3-9300 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12+50% | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.6 GHz | 4.3 GHz+19% |
| Base Clock | 3.33 GHz | 3.7 GHz+11% |
| L3 Cache | 12 MB (total)+100% | 6 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 14 nm-56% |
| Architecture | Gulftown (2010−2011) | Coffee Lake (2017−2019) |
| PassMark | 7,025 | 7,105+1% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 1,498 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 4,025 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon W3680 uses the LGA1366 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i3-9300 uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon W3680 | Core i3-9300 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1366 | LGA1151 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR4-2400 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 64 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Xeon W3680) / VT-x, VT-d (Core i3-9300). The Core i3-9300 includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 630), while the Xeon W3680 requires a dedicated GPU.
| Feature | Xeon W3680 | Core i3-9300 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | UHD Graphics 630 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d |
Value Analysis
The Xeon W3680 launched at $594 MSRP, while the Core i3-9300 debuted at $143. At current prices ($26 vs $75), the Xeon W3680 is $49 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon W3680 delivers 270.2 pts/$ vs 94.7 pts/$ for the Core i3-9300 — making the Xeon W3680 the 96.2% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon W3680 | Core i3-9300 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $594 | $143-76% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $26-65% | $75 |
| Performance per Dollar | 270.2+185% | 94.7 |
| Release Date | 2010 | 2019 |
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