i3-N305 vs Xeon E5-1603 v3

#ad 
Buy on Amazon
VS

Aggregate performance score

Xeon E5-1603 v3
2014
4 cores / 4 threads, 140 Watt
2.79
Core i3-N305
2023
8 cores / 8 threads, 15 Watt
6.28
+125%

Core i3-N305 outperforms Xeon E5-1603 v3 by a whopping 125% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Xeon E5-1603 v3 and Core i3-N305 processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking16891072
Place by popularitynot in top-10078
Market segmentServerLaptop
Power efficiency1.8839.41
Architecture codenameHaswell-EP (2014−2015)Alder Lake-N (2023)
Release date8 September 2014 (10 years ago)3 January 2023 (1 year ago)
Launch price (MSRP)no data$309

Detailed specifications

Xeon E5-1603 v3 and Core i3-N305 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)8 (Octa-Core)
Threads48
Base clock speed2.8 GHz0.1 GHz
Boost clock speed2.8 GHz3.8 GHz
Bus rate0 GT/sno data
L1 cache64K (per core)96 KB (per core)
L2 cache256K (per core)2 MB (per module)
L3 cache10 MB (shared)6 MB (shared)
Chip lithography22 nmIntel 7 nm
Die size356 mm2no data
Maximum core temperature67 °C105 °C
Number of transistors2,600 millionno data
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility-+
VID voltage range0.65–1.3Vno data

Compatibility

Information on Xeon E5-1603 v3 and Core i3-N305 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
SocketFCLGA2011-3FCBGA1264
Power consumption (TDP)140 Watt15 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Xeon E5-1603 v3 and Core i3-N305. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsIntel® AVX2Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
AES-NI++
FMA-+
AVX++
vPro+no data
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
Speed Shiftno data+
Turbo Boost Technology-no data
Hyper-Threading Technology--
Idle States+no data
Thermal Monitoring++
Flex Memory Access-no data
Demand Based Switching+no data
PAE46 Bitno data
GPIOno data+

Security technologies

Xeon E5-1603 v3 and Core i3-N305 technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT++
EDB+no data
Secure Key+no data
Identity Protection+-
OS Guard++

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Xeon E5-1603 v3 and Core i3-N305 are enumerated here.

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

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Xeon E5-1603 v3 and Core i3-N305. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR4-1333, DDR4-1600, DDR4-1866DDR4, DDR5
Maximum memory size768 GB16 GB
Max memory channels41
Maximum memory bandwidth59 GB/sno data
ECC memory support+-

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardno dataIntel UHD Graphics
Quick Sync Video-+
Graphics max frequencyno data1.25 GHz
Execution Unitsno data32

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Xeon E5-1603 v3 and Core i3-N305 integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supportedno data3

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Xeon E5-1603 v3 and Core i3-N305 integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

4K resolution supportno data+
Max resolution over HDMI 1.4no data4096 x 2160@60Hz
Max resolution over DisplayPortno data4096 x 2160@60Hz

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Xeon E5-1603 v3 and Core i3-N305 integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectXno data12.1
OpenGLno data4.6

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Xeon E5-1603 v3 and Core i3-N305.

PCIe version3.03.0
PCI Express lanes409
USB revisionno data2.0/3.2

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.

Xeon E5-1603 v3 2.79
i3-N305 6.28
+125%

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.

Xeon E5-1603 v3 4427
i3-N305 9971
+125%

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 2.79 6.28
Recency 8 September 2014 3 January 2023
Physical cores 4 8
Threads 4 8
Power consumption (TDP) 140 Watt 15 Watt

i3-N305 has a 125.1% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 8 years, 100% more physical cores and 100% more threads, and 833.3% lower power consumption.

The Core i3-N305 is our recommended choice as it beats the Xeon E5-1603 v3 in performance tests.

Be aware that Xeon E5-1603 v3 is a server/workstation processor while Core i3-N305 is a notebook one.


Should you still have questions on choice between Xeon E5-1603 v3 and Core i3-N305, 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 Xeon E5-1603 v3
Xeon E5-1603 v3
Intel Core i3-N305
Core i3-N305

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.


3.5 44 votes

Rate Xeon E5-1603 v3 on a scale of 1 to 5:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
3.7 648 votes

Rate Core i3-N305 on a scale of 1 to 5:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

Questions & comments

Here you can ask a question about Xeon E5-1603 v3 or Core i3-N305, agree or disagree with our judgements, or report an error or mismatch.