Intel Xeon E5-2623 V3

The Intel Xeon E5-2623 V3 packs 4 cores and 8 threads. It drops into the LGA2011-3 socket with a 105W TDP — about 26.3W per core. 16MB of L3 cache helps in cache-sensitive games and workloads. Clocks span 3GHz base to 3.5GHz boost. Board socket comes first when pairing parts — after that, make sure your cooler's rating covers the chip.

Its $229.95 price tag places it squarely in mid-range territory. PlanMyPC's builder flags compatibility problems automatically and tracks the latest processor deals from multiple stores. Support and warranty service run through Intel, with terms that vary by region. Every published spec is tabulated below, and compatibility against your current part list is checked automatically.