Xeon E5-1603 vs i7-2600

Aggregate performance score

Core i7-2600
2011
4 cores / 8 threads, 95 Watt
3.36
+54.1%
Xeon E5-1603
2012
4 cores / 4 threads, 130 Watt
2.18

Core i7-2600 outperforms Xeon E5-1603 by an impressive 54% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i7-2600 and Xeon E5-1603 processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking15601837
Place by popularity59not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation0.48no data
Market segmentDesktop processorServer
Power efficiency3.351.59
Architecture codenameSandy Bridge (2011−2013)no data
Release date9 January 2011 (13 years ago)1 January 2012 (12 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$247no data

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

no data

Detailed specifications

Core i7-2600 and Xeon E5-1603 basic parameters such as number of cores, number of threads, base frequency and turbo boost clock, lithography, cache size and multiplier lock state. These parameters indirectly say of CPU speed, though for more precise assessment you have to consider their test results.

Physical cores4 (Quad-Core)4 (Quad-Core)
Threads84
Base clock speed3.4 GHz2.8 GHz
Boost clock speed3.8 GHzno data
Bus rate5 GT/s0 GT/s
L1 cache64 KB (per core)no data
L2 cache256 KB (per core)no data
L3 cache8192 KB (shared)10 MB
Chip lithography32 nm32 nm
Die size216 mm2no data
Maximum core temperature73 °C64 °C
Number of transistors1,160 millionno data
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility--
VID voltage rangeno data0.6V - 1.35V

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-2600 and Xeon E5-1603 compatibility with other computer components: motherboard (look for socket type), power supply unit (look for power consumption) etc. Useful when planning a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. Note that power consumption of some processors can well exceed their nominal TDP, even without overclocking. Some can even double their declared thermals given that the motherboard allows to tune the CPU power parameters.

Number of CPUs in a configuration11
SocketLGA1155FCLGA2011
Power consumption (TDP)95 Watt130 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-2600 and Xeon E5-1603. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVXIntel® AVX
AES-NI++
AVX+-
vProno data+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
Turbo Boost Technology2.0-
Hyper-Threading Technology+-
Idle States++
Thermal Monitoring++
Flex Memory Access++
Demand Based Switchingno data+
FDI+no data
Fast Memory Access+no data

Security technologies

Core i7-2600 and Xeon E5-1603 technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT++
EDB++
Identity Protection+-

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i7-2600 and Xeon E5-1603 are enumerated here.

VT-d++
VT-x++
EPT++

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i7-2600 and Xeon E5-1603. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR3DDR3-800, DDR3-1066
Maximum memory size32 GB375 GB
Max memory channels24
Maximum memory bandwidth21 GB/s31.4 GB/s
ECC memory support-+

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardIntel HD Graphics 2000no data
Quick Sync Video+-
Clear Video HD+no data
Graphics max frequency1.35 GHzno data
InTru 3D+no data

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i7-2600 and Xeon E5-1603 integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported2no data

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i7-2600 and Xeon E5-1603.

PCIe version2.03.0
PCI Express lanes1640

Synthetic benchmark performance

Various benchmark results of the processors in comparison. Overall score is measured in points in 0-100 range, higher is better.


Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark performance rating. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

i7-2600 3.36
+54.1%
Xeon E5-1603 2.18

Passmark

Passmark CPU Mark is a widespread benchmark, consisting of 8 different types of workload, including integer and floating point math, extended instructions, compression, encryption and physics calculation. There is also one separate single-threaded scenario measuring single-core performance.

i7-2600 5343
+54.3%
Xeon E5-1603 3463

GeekBench 5 Single-Core

GeekBench 5 Single-Core is a cross-platform application developed in the form of CPU tests that independently recreate certain real-world tasks with which to accurately measure performance. This version uses only a single CPU core.

i7-2600 612
+31.3%
Xeon E5-1603 466

GeekBench 5 Multi-Core

GeekBench 5 Multi-Core is a cross-platform application developed in the form of CPU tests that independently recreate certain real-world tasks with which to accurately measure performance. This version uses all available CPU cores.

i7-2600 2051
+38.8%
Xeon E5-1603 1478

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 3.36 2.18
Recency 9 January 2011 1 January 2012
Threads 8 4
Power consumption (TDP) 95 Watt 130 Watt

i7-2600 has a 54.1% higher aggregate performance score, 100% more threads, and 36.8% lower power consumption.

Xeon E5-1603, on the other hand, has an age advantage of 11 months.

The Core i7-2600 is our recommended choice as it beats the Xeon E5-1603 in performance tests.

Note that Core i7-2600 is a desktop processor while Xeon E5-1603 is a server/workstation one.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-2600 and Xeon E5-1603, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

Vote for your favorite

Do you think we are right or mistaken in our choice? Vote by clicking "Like" button near your favorite CPU.


Intel Core i7-2600
Core i7-2600
Intel Xeon E5-1603
Xeon E5-1603

Similar processor comparisons

We picked several similar comparisons of processors in the same market segment and performance relatively close to those reviewed on this page.

Community ratings

Here you can see how users rate the processors, as well as rate them yourself.


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Questions & comments

Here you can ask a question about Core i7-2600 or Xeon E5-1603, agree or disagree with our judgements, or report an error or mismatch.