Xeon X5260 vs Core i3-2350M
Xeon X5260
Core i3-2350M
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 X5260 is positioned at rank 956 and the Core i3-2350M is on rank 634, so the Core i3-2350M offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon X5260
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-2350M
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon X5260 | Core i3-2350M |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Legacy / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon X5260 | Core i3-2350M |
|---|---|---|
| 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 X5260 and Core i3-2350M
Xeon X5260
The Xeon X5260 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. Base frequency: 3.33 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB L2 Cache. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA771. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,278 points. Launch price was $800.
Core i3-2350M
The Core i3-2350M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 October 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 2.3 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,276 points. Launch price was $225.
Processing Power
The Core i3-2350M is built on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. In PassMark, the Xeon X5260 scores 1,278 against the Core i3-2350M's 1,276 — a 0.2% lead for the Xeon X5260. L3 cache: 6 MB L2 Cache on the Xeon X5260 vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-2350M.
| Feature | Xeon X5260 | Core i3-2350M |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | — | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | — | 2.3 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.33 GHz+45% | 2.3 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB L2 Cache+100% | 3 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | — | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 32 nm-29% |
| Architecture | — | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) |
| PassMark | 1,278 | 1,276 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 390 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 806 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon X5260 uses the LGA771 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i3-2350M uses PGA988 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon X5260 | Core i3-2350M |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA771 | PGA988 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 16 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Xeon X5260) / VT-x (Core i3-2350M). The Core i3-2350M includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 3000), while the Xeon X5260 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-2350M targets Laptop.
| Feature | Xeon X5260 | Core i3-2350M |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Intel HD Graphics 3000 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x |
| Target Use | — | Laptop |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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