Why are Xeons so cheap and how do they hold up to an I5?

[TrenZelor on PC]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/141660245819?lpid=82&chn=ps ..... I mean 14$ for a quad core cpu? How does it hold up to this I5 https://www.google.com/shopping/product/11942613591237573540?q=intel+quad+core+cpu+i5&biw=1866&bih=1054&bav=on.2,or.r_cp.&bvm=bv.93990622,d.b2w&ion=1&espv=2&tch=1&ech=1&psi=OrVkVefvBYvQsAXv1IDABA.1432663359956.19&ved=0CBsQpis&ei=C7ZkVZ_YH8LmsAWIgIH4Cw ........ I'm trying to build a budget pc (around 450) for gaming.. why are the Xeons so cheap, and are they any good for gaming? I know they're different socket types I'm just using a cheaper I5 as an example

 

[IntelTurtleFan]

DO NOT GET THE ONE ON EBAY!
It is used and likely defective. You should not consider ether one when building they both are not good.
Both are old and unsupported.
Pentium G3258 is the best CPU for your build.
The xeon is nearly 10 years old and the i5 is old as well. You are better off getting the G3258.

 

[spentshells]

different tech, that one is at least 9 years old, the i5 however 5 years old. Both are pretty outdated by todays standards but sadly would both play games around the same level.... which is not very well compared to an i3 from the last 3 core I series sandy ivy and haswell

 

[TrenZelor on PC]

DO NOT GET THE ONE ON EBAY!
It is used and likely defective. You should not consider ether one when building they both are not good.
Both are old and unsupported.
Pentium G3258 is the best CPU for your build.
The xeon is nearly 10 years old and the i5 is old as well. You are better off getting the G3258.

The G3258 is a dual core, do you have any suggestions for a quad core cpu?

 

[IntelTurtleFan]

Not in your budget and that dual core out preforms some i5s when overclocked. Quad core does not mean good. Nor does the clock speed
The overclocked G3258 will out preform both the xeon and i5 combined.

 

[timeconsumer]

Let's not jump to conclusions that it's automatically defective because it's on Ebay. There are many excellent things available on eBay for good prices, but there is always a risk. Moving on...

The reason it's so cheap is because it's old technology. That processor was released in 2006. A modern dual-core is much more powerful than that. The Core i5 you're looking at is from 2010, and similarly can be outperformed by a cheap modern processor.

The above poster is right that a G3258 build would fit the bill. Like this:
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Pentium G3258 3.2GHz Dual-Core Processor ($64.88 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: MSI H81M-P33 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($42.99 @ Directron)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Hitachi Deskstar 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($46.00 @ Amazon)
Video Card: PowerColor Radeon R9 270 2GB TurboDuo Video Card ($132.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Thermaltake VL80001W2Z ATX Mid Tower Case ($22.99 @ Micro Center)
Power Supply: Antec 450W ATX Power Supply ($27.50 @ Newegg)
Total: $387.33
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-05-26 14:18 EDT-0400

 

[TrenZelor on PC]

Not in your budget and that dual core out preforms some i5s when overclocked. Quad core does not mean good. Nor does the clock speed

He'll also be doing alot of rendering and multitasking so I figured a quad core would be good, I am looking to splurge a little on the cpu .

 

[IntelTurtleFan]

If you are doing rendering I would recommend AMD.

 

[Dunlop0078]

DO NOT GET THE ONE ON EBAY!
It is used and likely defective. You should not consider ether one when building they both are not good.
Both are old and unsupported.
Pentium G3258 is the best CPU for your build.
The xeon is nearly 10 years old and the i5 is old as well. You are better off getting the G3258.

The G3258 is a dual core, do you have any suggestions for a quad core cpu?

That duel core will blow away that quad core xeon and that i5 you posted. If you want a good modern quad core you have to spend a little money. Or comprimise, you can get an i3 it is a duel core but hyperthreaded so it kind of acts like a quad core.

i3: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819117447&cm_re=i3-_-19-117-447-_-Product

Quad core i5: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819117302&cm_re=i5-_-19-117-302-_-Product

 

[IntelTurtleFan]

For 500 you can get this quad core. Not very fast in games but faster than the Dual core in renders.
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD FX-4350 4.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($83.00 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($26.98 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: ASRock 990FX Extreme3 ATX AM3+/AM3 Motherboard ($91.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2133 Memory ($52.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($71.88 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: Zotac GeForce GT 730 1GB Video Card ($64.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Cooler Master HAF 912 ATX Mid Tower Case ($52.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: SeaSonic S12II 430W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($56.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $501.79
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-05-26 14:22 EDT-0400

 

[synphul]

Comparing apples to apples, same speed, architecture, generation etc, xeons are not cheap. They're more costly than i7's since they're business/enterprise class components and come with a premium. When you find a xeon that's cheaper than an i7 (equal current counterparts), it's because it lacks features. Either lacking igpu, lacking core speed etc. It's possible to find a xeon cheaper than an i7, such as the 1231v3 vs the 4790k. It has a locked multiplier, is far slower and no igpu. Just like a lower end locked core i5 4th gen is quite a bit cheaper than the 4690k, purely because it's slower and has a locked multiplier. Even at that the lowest end 4th gen i5 still has an igpu so if there were one without the igpu as is the case with a 1231v3 vs 4790k, it would be even cheaper yet.

Many old 'workstation' dual socket motherboards with old outdated 2x xeons for cheap and would struggle with a current 'mainstream' i5 system due to age. Your current budget will only take you so far as others have pointed out. It's just not possible to comfortably take on high end tasks on a low end budget or everyone would be doing it. Pc gaming is more expensive than console gaming. A pc can produce better results but not without costing for that performance. Even if you found a similar performance pc build in the cost range of an xbox one or ps4, chances are there would be quirks such as frame drops and other things that wouldn't happen on the console.

Pc games aren't nearly as consistent as they are on a predictable assembly line console where the developers can plan for one static build and know their game will play the same way each time. An upper end to high end gaming pc can easily cost the same as a console for just the graphics card much less everything else. Just things to consider when weighing out which way to go. Likewise, if you have a higher budget you can't buy a ps4 that plays better than another ps4 even if you wanted to throw the cash at it. With a pc you can.