Intel Core i7-2670QM vs Intel Xeon E5-2603 v3 Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The recorded benchmark data shows a clear, if narrow, sweep for the Intel Xeon E5-2603 v3. Across the five Cinebench tests where both processors were measured, the Xeon wins all five. The margins are small in every case, ranging from 0.5% to 0.9% depending on the test, but the direction of the results is consistent. The Xeon E5-2603 v3 takes the multicore tests in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, and it also edges out the Core i7-2670QM in both single-core tests in R20 and R23.

The Core i7-2670QM does not win any of the head-to-head benchmark comparisons. However, the database includes two Geekbench results for the Core i7-2670QM that have no corresponding entry for the Xeon. Those scores, 1646 in Geekbench multicore and 556 in Geekbench singlecore, are part of the average benchmark score calculation for the mobile chip. The Xeon E5-2603 v3 has no Geekbench entries in the database, so the data indicates the Core i7-2670QM has broader benchmark coverage, but the directly comparable Cinebench results all favor the Xeon.

The average benchmark score tells a similar story. The Xeon E5-2603 v3 posts an average of 1103, while the Core i7-2670QM averages 1096. That is a difference of roughly 0.6% in the Xeon's favor, which aligns with the individual Cinebench deltas. Both parts sit at the 31st percentile among all CPUs, meaning they occupy the same performance tier in the database's overall rankings, despite the Xeon winning every shared test.

The meaningful split between these two is not about raw score dominance, it is about context. The Xeon E5-2603 v3 is a server and workstation part with six physical cores and no hyper-threading. The Core i7-2670QM is a mobile part with four physical cores and eight threads via hyper-threading. The Xeon wins on multicore throughput in the recorded Cinebench runs, but the Core i7-2670QM brings integrated graphics and a much lower thermal envelope, which matters for laptops. The data does not show a scenario where the Core i7-2670QM wins a benchmark, so the use-case split rests on platform features rather than measured performance advantages.

The Verdict

Pick the Intel Xeon E5-2603 v3 if you are building a workstation or server system on the Intel Socket 2011-3 platform. The benchmark data shows it ahead of the Core i7-2670QM in every directly comparable test: 323 versus 320 in Cinebench R15 multicore, 1346 versus 1334 in R20 multicore, 3207 versus 3177 in R23 multicore, and similar single-core edges in R20 and R23. The Xeon also supports ECC memory, which the Core i7-2670QM does not, and it runs on a quad-channel DDR4 memory bus with a recorded bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. That combination of ECC support, higher memory bandwidth, and consistent benchmark wins makes it the better choice for error-tolerant, memory-heavy server workloads.

Pick the Intel Core i7-2670QM if you need a mobile processor with integrated graphics. The Core i7-2670QM includes Intel HD 3000, while the Xeon has no integrated graphics at all. The mobile chip also has a lower TDP of 45 watts versus 85 watts for the Xeon, which is a significant difference for laptop cooling and battery life. The Core i7-2670QM has a higher base clock of 2.20 GHz and a boost clock of 3.10 GHz, whereas the Xeon is locked at 1.60 GHz with no boost capability recorded. If you need a functioning laptop or a small-form-factor system without a discrete GPU, the Core i7-2670QM is the only one of these two that the data supports for that role.

Neither processor is a performance winner in absolute terms. Both sit at the 31st percentile among all CPUs, and their average benchmark scores differ by only 7 points out of roughly 1100. The Xeon wins the head-to-head count 5 to 0, but those wins are all under 1%. The verdict is simple: the Xeon is the faster part in the shared benchmarks and offers server-class memory features, while the Core i7-2670QM is the only viable choice for portable or integrated-graphics systems.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest measured advantage for the Intel Xeon E5-2603 v3 comes in the multicore Cinebench tests, where it consistently leads by 0.9%. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Xeon scores 323 against 320 for the Core i7-2670QM. The same 0.9% delta appears in Cinebench R20 multicore, with scores of 1346 and 1334, and again in Cinebench R23 multicore, with 3207 and 3177. These are tight margins, but the pattern is uniform across three different Cinebench versions, which suggests the Xeon's six physical cores deliver slightly more sustained multicore throughput than the Core i7-2670QM's four cores with eight threads.

The single-core results follow the same trend but with a smaller gap. In Cinebench R20 singlecore, the Xeon scores 189 versus 188 for the Core i7-2670QM, a 0.5% lead. In Cinebench R23 singlecore, the Xeon scores 452 versus 448, a 0.9% lead. This is notable because the Core i7-2670QM has a much higher base clock of 2.20 GHz and a boost clock of 3.10 GHz, while the Xeon runs at a fixed 1.60 GHz with no boost. Despite the clock disadvantage, the Xeon still edges out the mobile chip in single-threaded work. The newer Haswell architecture and larger 15 MB shared L3 cache likely account for that.

The Geekbench results for the Core i7-2670QM, 1646 multicore and 556 singlecore, have no Xeon counterpart in the database, so they cannot be compared directly. They do contribute to the Core i7-2670QM's average benchmark score of 1096, which trails the Xeon's 1103. The average score calculation includes different test sets for each processor, but the final numbers land within 0.6% of each other. The head-to-head record is decisive on paper, 5 wins for the Xeon and 0 for the Core i7-2670QM, but the practical difference between these two in the recorded benchmarks is minimal.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-2603 v3 has 6 cores and 6 threads. The Intel Core i7-2670QM has 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: Does the Core i7-2670QM support ECC memory?

A: No. The database lists ECC memory support as true for the Intel Xeon E5-2603 v3 and false for the Intel Core i7-2670QM.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: Only the Intel Core i7-2670QM has integrated graphics, listed as Intel HD 3000. The Intel Xeon E5-2603 v3 has no integrated graphics.

Q: What is the biggest benchmark win for the Xeon?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-2603 v3 wins by 0.9% in Cinebench R15 multicore, Cinebench R20 multicore, Cinebench R23 multicore, and Cinebench R23 singlecore. It also wins Cinebench R20 singlecore by 0.5%.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-2603 v3 has an average benchmark score of 1103, while the Intel Core i7-2670QM has an average of 1096. Both processors sit at the 31st percentile among all CPUs.

Q: Which processor has a higher base clock?

A: The Intel Core i7-2670QM has a base clock of 2.20 GHz and a boost clock of 3.10 GHz. The Intel Xeon E5-2603 v3 has a base clock of 1.60 GHz and no recorded boost clock.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Xeon E5-2603 v3 is built on the Haswell architecture, specifically the Haswell-EP codename, and uses a 22 nm process node. It contains 2,600 million transistors on a 356 mm² die. The Core i7-2670QM uses the older Sandy Bridge architecture on a 32 nm process, with 1,160 million transistors on a 216 mm² die. The Xeon has nearly twice the transistor count and a die that is roughly 65% larger, reflecting its additional cores and larger cache array.

Cache configurations differ substantially. The Xeon E5-2603 v3 has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 15 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core i7-2670QM has the same per-core L1 and L2 sizes, but only 6 MB of shared L3 cache. That 9 MB difference in L3 capacity is significant for workloads that benefit from large shared cache pools, and it helps explain why the Xeon wins the single-core tests despite its lower clock speed.

The Xeon E5-2603 v3 supports DDR4 memory on a quad-channel bus with a measured bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. The Core i7-2670QM supports dual-channel memory, and the database does not list a memory bandwidth figure or a specific memory type for it. The Xeon also supports ECC memory, while the Core i7-2670QM does not. The Xeon uses the Intel Socket 2011-3, while the Core i7-2670QM uses the Intel Socket G2 (988B), which are not interchangeable.

The Xeon has a PCIe implementation of Gen 3 with 40 lanes, while the database lists no PCIe information for the Core i7-2670QM. The Xeon is a server and workstation part, and the Core i7-2670QM is a mobile part. Both are end-of-life in production status, with the Xeon released in 2014 and the Core i7-2670QM released in 2011. The Xeon has a launch MSRP of $213, while the Core i7-2670QM has no recorded launch MSRP.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every specification field in the database. The Xeon E5-2603 v3 has 6 cores and 6 threads, while the Core i7-2670QM has 4 cores and 8 threads. The Xeon's base clock is 1.60 GHz with no boost clock recorded, while the Core i7-2670QM has a base clock of 2.20 GHz and a boost clock of 3.10 GHz. Thermal design power differs by 40 watts: the Xeon is rated at 85 watts, the Core i7-2670QM at 45 watts.

Memory support is a major split. The Xeon supports DDR4 on a quad-channel bus with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth and ECC memory. The Core i7-2670QM uses a dual-channel bus, with no memory type, bandwidth, or ECC support listed. The Xeon has PCIe Gen 3 with 40 lanes, while the Core i7-2670QM has no PCIe information in the database. The Xeon has no integrated graphics, while the Core i7-2670QM includes Intel HD 3000.

The process node differs by 10 nm: 22 nm for the Xeon versus 32 nm for the Core i7-2670QM. Transistor counts are 2,600 million versus 1,160 million, and die sizes are 356 mm² versus 216 mm². The Xeon has 15 MB of shared L3 cache versus 6 MB for the Core i7-2670QM, while L1 and L2 cache sizes are identical at 64 KB and 256 KB per core, respectively.

Market segments are distinct: the Xeon is a server and workstation processor, and the Core i7-2670QM is a mobile processor. Sockets differ, with the Xeon on Intel Socket 2011-3 and the Core i7-2670QM on Intel Socket G2 (988B). Release dates are separated by roughly three years: the Xeon launched in 2014, the Core i7-2670QM in 2011. The Xeon has a recorded launch MSRP of $213, while the Core i7-2670QM has none. Both are end-of-life, neither has an unlocked multiplier, and both are manufactured by Intel.