Xeon W5580 vs Xeon E5-1603
Xeon W5580
Xeon E5-1603
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 W5580 is positioned at rank 657 and the Xeon E5-1603 is on rank 655, so the Xeon E5-1603 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon W5580
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-1603
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon W5580 | Xeon E5-1603 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Gainestown (2009−2010) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Legacy / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon W5580 | Xeon E5-1603 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 W5580 and Xeon E5-1603
Xeon W5580
The Xeon W5580 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 March 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Gainestown (2009−2010) 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: 3,459 points. Launch price was $102.
Xeon E5-1603
The Xeon E5-1603 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency: 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 10 MB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-800, DDR3-1066. Passmark benchmark score: 3,482 points. Launch price was $800.
Processing Power
The Xeon W5580 packs 4 cores / 8 threads, matching the Xeon E5-1603's 4 cores. The Xeon W5580 is built on the Gainestown (2009−2010) architecture. In PassMark, the Xeon W5580 scores 3,459 against the Xeon E5-1603's 3,482 — a 0.7% lead for the Xeon E5-1603. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Xeon W5580 vs 10 MB on the Xeon E5-1603.
| Feature | Xeon W5580 | Xeon E5-1603 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.46 GHz | — |
| Base Clock | 3.2 GHz+14% | 2.8 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total) | 10 MB+25% |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | — |
| Process | 45 nm | 32 nm-29% |
| Architecture | Gainestown (2009−2010) | — |
| PassMark | 3,459 | 3,482 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon W5580 uses the LGA1366 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon E5-1603 uses LGA2011 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon W5580 | Xeon E5-1603 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1366 | LGA2011 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
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