Intel Core i5-11500T vs Intel Xeon D-1587 Comparison

The Intel Xeon D-1587 and Intel Core i5-11500T are two very different Intel processors, one a 16-core server part from 2016 and the other a 6-core desktop chip from 2021. Across the six shared Cinebench benchmarks, the Xeon D-1587 wins every single test, but by a surprisingly narrow margin given its massive core-count advantage. The data shows a consistent performance gap of roughly 6.5% to 6.8% in favor of the Xeon, which suggests that the newer architecture of the Core i5-11500T is doing a great deal of heavy lifting to close the gap against a chip with nearly three times as many cores.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Xeon D-1587 wins all six head-to-head Cinebench comparisons, but the victory is consistent rather than overwhelming. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Xeon scores 1167 against the Core i5-11500T's 1093, a 6.8% advantage. The single-core R15 result is similar: 164 points for the Xeon versus 154 for the Core i5, a 6.5% margin. This pattern repeats in Cinebench R20, where the Xeon leads with 4865 multi-core and 686 single-core points, while the Core i5-11500T posts 4558 and 643 respectively, each representing a 6.7% delta.

The gap holds steady in Cinebench R23, the most demanding of the three. The Xeon D-1587 scores 11585 in multi-core and 1635 in single-core, while the Core i5-11500T manages 10854 and 1532. That works out to exactly a 6.7% difference in both tests. The fact that the margin is nearly identical across R15, R20, and R23, and between single and multi-core tests, indicates that the Xeon's advantage is not workload-specific — it is a consistent, across-the-board lead.

What makes this interesting is the context. The Xeon D-1587 has 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Core i5-11500T has just 6 cores and 12 threads. A 6.7% multi-core win for a 16-core chip over a 6-core chip is far from a dominant result. The Core i5-11500T's Rocket Lake architecture is clearly far more efficient per core, and its higher boost clock of 3.90 GHz versus the Xeon's 2.30 GHz likely explains why the single-core results are so close. The average benchmark scores confirm this: the Xeon D-1587 averages 3350 points, while the Core i5-11500T averages 3288, a difference of less than 2%.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon D-1587 wins in every benchmark category where the two are directly compared. In multi-threaded workloads, its 16 cores and 32 threads provide a structural advantage that the Core i5-11500T cannot overcome, even with its newer architecture. The data shows the Xeon leading by 6.7% in Cinebench R20 multi-core and R23 multi-core, and by 6.8% in R15 multi-core. This makes it the better choice for heavily parallel workloads like rendering, scientific computing, or virtualized server environments, where the extra threads can be fully utilized.

The Intel Core i5-11500T, despite losing every head-to-head test, has its own strengths that the head-to-head numbers do not capture. It is the only one of the two with integrated graphics, featuring UHD Graphics 750, which makes it suitable for systems without a discrete GPU. It also supports PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes, while the Xeon D-1587 is limited to PCIe Gen 3 with 24 lanes. The Core i5-11500T's 35W TDP is nearly half the Xeon's 65W TDP, indicating it will produce less heat and require less cooling. Additionally, the Core i5-11500T's memory bandwidth is rated at 51.2 GB/s, a figure that the Xeon D-1587 does not list, suggesting a potential advantage in memory-intensive tasks.

The Core i5-11500T also has a much higher boost clock at 3.90 GHz versus the Xeon's 2.30 GHz. While this did not translate into a single-core win in the Cinebench tests, it likely helps in lightly-threaded tasks that are not captured by these specific benchmarks. The Xeon D-1587, meanwhile, supports ECC memory, a feature that the Core i5-11500T lacks, making it the data-reliability-focused choice.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two processors is wide, reflecting their five-year release gap. The Intel Xeon D-1587 is built on the Broadwell architecture, specifically the Broadwell-DE generation, while the Core i5-11500T uses Rocket Lake. Both are manufactured on a 14 nm process node at Intel's foundry, so the process is identical, but the design philosophies diverge sharply.

The Xeon D-1587 packs 16 cores and 32 threads with a base clock of 1.70 GHz and a boost clock of 2.30 GHz. It has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 1.5 MB of L3 cache per core. Its die size is 246 mm² and it contains 3,200 million transistors. It is a server/workstation part with a 65W TDP and uses the Intel BGA 1667 socket, which is soldered directly to the board.

The Core i5-11500T, in contrast, has 6 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 1.50 GHz and a boost clock of 3.90 GHz. It features 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 511 KB of L2 cache per core, and a shared 12 MB L3 cache. Its die is larger at 276 mm², but it has no listed transistor count. It uses the Intel Socket 1200 and is a desktop part with a 35W TDP. The Core i5-11500T is the only one of the two with integrated graphics, featuring UHD Graphics 750, and it supports PCIe Gen 4, whereas the Xeon D-1587 is limited to PCIe Gen 3. The Core i5-11500T also has a listed memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, while the Xeon D-1587 does not provide one.

The Xeon D-1587 supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory, giving it flexibility, while the Core i5-11500T supports only DDR4. ECC memory is supported by the Xeon D-1587 but not by the Core i5-11500T. The Xeon D-1587's release date is February 2016, while the Core i5-11500T arrived in March 2021.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Xeon D-1587 has 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Intel Core i5-11500T has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: Which processor wins in multi-core Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Xeon D-1587 scores 11585 versus the Core i5-11500T's 10854, a 6.7% advantage for the Xeon.

Q: Does the Core i5-11500T have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, the Core i5-11500T includes UHD Graphics 750, while the Xeon D-1587 has no integrated graphics.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Xeon D-1587 supports ECC memory, but the Intel Core i5-11500T does not.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The Xeon D-1587 has a 65W TDP, while the Core i5-11500T has a 35W TDP.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Core i5-11500T has a boost clock of 3.90 GHz, significantly higher than the Xeon D-1587's 2.30 GHz.

Specification Differences

The key specification differences are as follows. The Intel Xeon D-1587 has 16 cores and 32 threads, versus 6 cores and 12 threads for the Core i5-11500T. The base clock is 1.70 GHz on the Xeon versus 1.50 GHz on the Core i5, but the boost clock reverses this: 2.30 GHz on the Xeon versus 3.90 GHz on the Core i5. The Xeon has a 65W TDP, while the Core i5-11500T has a 35W TDP. The socket differs: Intel BGA 1667 for the Xeon, Intel Socket 1200 for the Core i5. The Xeon is Broadwell architecture, while the Core i5 is Rocket Lake. The Xeon's L1 cache is 64 KB per core, while the Core i5 has 80 KB per core; L2 is 256 KB per core on the Xeon versus 511 KB per core on the Core i5. The L3 cache is 1.5 MB per core on the Xeon, but 12 MB shared on the Core i5. The Xeon supports DDR3 and DDR4, while the Core i5 supports only DDR4. The Xeon has ECC support, the Core i5 does not. PCIe is Gen 3 with 24 lanes on the Xeon, versus Gen 4 with 20 lanes on the Core i5. The Xeon has no integrated graphics, while the Core i5 has UHD Graphics 750. The Xeon is a server/workstation part, while the Core i5 is a desktop part. The Xeon's die is 246 mm², the Core i5's is 276 mm². The Xeon's launch MSRP is $1549, while the Core i5-11500T's launch MSRP is $192. The Xeon is still active in production, while the Core i5 is end-of-life.

The Verdict

The data makes the choice clear based on use case. The Intel Xeon D-1587 is the winner for multi-threaded, server-class workloads. Its 16 cores and 32 threads deliver a 6.7% to 6.8% advantage across all Cinebench tests, and it supports ECC memory, which is critical for data integrity in professional environments. It is also the only one of the two that is still in active production, despite being older. Its higher TDP of 65W and lack of integrated graphics are acceptable trade-offs for a server part.

The Intel Core i5-11500T is the better choice for desktop and light-duty applications. While it loses every head-to-head benchmark, the margins are small, and it offers features the Xeon cannot match: integrated graphics, PCIe Gen 4 support, and a significantly lower 35W TDP. Its much higher boost clock of 3.90 GHz suggests better responsiveness in single-threaded tasks, even if the Cinebench data does not show a win. The Core i5-11500T is also end-of-life, which may be a concern for long-term availability.

For raw multi-core performance, the Xeon D-1587 is the clear pick. For a balanced, low-power desktop processor with modern I/O, the Core i5-11500T is the better fit. The benchmark data shows a narrow but consistent victory for the Xeon, making it the performance leader, while the Core i5-11500T wins on efficiency and features.