CPU
GPU
Xeon X5680
Core i3-8350K
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 X5680 is positioned at rank 704 and the Core i3-8350K is on rank 629, so the Core i3-8350K offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon X5680
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-8350K
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon X5680 | Core i3-8350K |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($13) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($250) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Westmere-EP (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake (2017−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon X5680 | Core i3-8350K |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+1823%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($13) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($250) |
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 X5680 and Core i3-8350K
Xeon X5680
The Xeon X5680 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 February 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Westmere-EP (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: 6,910 points. Launch price was $172.
Core i3-8350K
The Core i3-8350K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 5 October 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake (2017−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 4 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 91 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 6,911 points. Launch price was $168.
Processing Power
The Xeon X5680 packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Core i3-8350K offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Xeon X5680 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.6 GHz on the Xeon X5680 versus 4 GHz on the Core i3-8350K — a 10.5% clock advantage for the Core i3-8350K (base: 3.33 GHz vs 4 GHz). The Xeon X5680 uses the Westmere-EP (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the Core i3-8350K uses Coffee Lake (2017−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon X5680 scores 6,910 against the Core i3-8350K's 6,911 — a 0% lead for the Core i3-8350K. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Xeon X5680 vs 8 MB (total) on the Core i3-8350K.
| Feature | Xeon X5680 | Core i3-8350K |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12+50% | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.6 GHz | 4 GHz+11% |
| Base Clock | 3.33 GHz | 4 GHz+20% |
| L3 Cache | 12 MB (total)+50% | 8 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 14 nm-56% |
| Architecture | Westmere-EP (2010−2011) | Coffee Lake (2017−2019) |
| PassMark | 6,910 | 6,911 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon X5680 uses the LGA1366 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i3-8350K uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon X5680 | Core i3-8350K |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1366 | LGA1151 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | — |
| RAM Channels | 3 | — |
| ECC Support | ✅ | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Xeon X5680) / not specified (Core i3-8350K). Primary use case: Xeon X5680 targets Workstation. Direct competitor: Xeon X5680 rivals Core i7-980X.
| Feature | Xeon X5680 | Core i3-8350K |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | — |
| Target Use | Workstation | — |
Value Analysis
The Xeon X5680 launched at $450 MSRP, while the Core i3-8350K debuted at $250. At current prices ($13 vs $250), the Xeon X5680 is $237 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon X5680 delivers 531.5 pts/$ vs 27.6 pts/$ for the Core i3-8350K — making the Xeon X5680 the 180.2% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon X5680 | Core i3-8350K |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $450 | $250-44% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $13-95% | $250 |
| Performance per Dollar | 531.5+1826% | 27.6 |
| Release Date | 2010 | 2017 |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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