Intel Core i5-3550S vs Intel Xeon D-1518 Comparison

The Intel Xeon D-1518 and Intel Core i5-3550S are close competitors in the average benchmark score database, with the Xeon D-1518 averaging 1121 points and the Core i5-3550S averaging 1118 points. This places the Xeon D-1518 in the 32nd percentile of all CPUs, while the Core i5-3550S sits just behind in the 31st percentile. The data shows a remarkably tight race, with the Xeon D-1518 edging out its rival by a 0.3% margin in average score. Both processors share the same 4-core physical layout, but the Xeon D-1518 adds Hyper-Threading for 8 threads versus the Core i5-3550S’s 4 threads, a divergence that becomes central to interpreting the benchmark results. The head-to-head tests reveal a consistent, if narrow, pattern of wins for the Xeon D-1518 across all six Cinebench tests.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Xeon D-1518 wins all six head-to-head Cinebench comparisons, but the margins are consistently slim. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Xeon D-1518 scores 390 against the Core i5-3550S’s 383, a 1.8% advantage. Single-core performance in the same test is a dead heat: both score exactly 54, with a 0% delta. The multicore gap reappears in Cinebench R20, where the Xeon D-1518 posts 1628 versus 1599, again a 1.8% lead. The single-core R20 result shows the Xeon D-1518 ahead by 1.8% as well, scoring 229 to 225.

Moving to the more demanding Cinebench R23, the pattern holds. The Xeon D-1518 scores 3877 in multicore against 3808 for the Core i5-3550S, a 1.8% difference. Single-core R23 shows the largest relative gap of any test: the Xeon D-1518 scores 547, while the Core i5-3550S scores 537, giving the Xeon D-1518 a 1.9% edge. The consistency of these results is striking — across every test, the Xeon D-1518 leads by either 0%, 1.8%, or 1.9%. There is no test where the Core i5-3550S takes a win. The data suggests the Xeon D-1518’s extra threads provide a small but steady advantage in both multi-threaded and single-threaded workloads, despite the Core i5-3550S having a higher base clock of 3.00 GHz versus 2.20 GHz and a boost clock of 3.70 GHz that the Xeon D-1518 lacks entirely.

The average benchmark scores reinforce this picture. The Xeon D-1518’s average of 1121 places it exactly level with the AMD Athlon 240GE, which also scores 1121, and just 0.1% ahead of the Intel Core i7-2860QM at 1120. The Core i5-3550S, with an average of 1118, trails the same group, sitting 0.1% behind the Intel Core i3-4150 (1119) and 0.2% behind the AMD Athlon 240GE. The head-to-head deltas may be small, but they are consistent across every benchmark metric available.

The Verdict

The benchmark data points clearly toward the Intel Xeon D-1518 as the superior performer, but the margin is so thin that the verdict requires nuance. The Xeon D-1518 wins all six head-to-head tests, with deltas ranging from 0% to 1.9%. In practical terms, this means the Xeon D-1518 is roughly 2% faster in Cinebench R23 multicore (3877 vs 3808) and 2% faster in single-core (547 vs 537). That is a measurable, repeatable advantage, but not a transformative one. For users who prioritize raw benchmark scores, the data says the Xeon D-1518 is the pick.

However, the Core i5-3550S is not a distant second — it is a near-equal in every test. The largest gap is 1.9%, which is within the noise of many real-world applications. The Core i5-3550S does offer a higher base clock (3.00 GHz vs 2.20 GHz) and a boost clock (3.70 GHz) that the Xeon D-1518 does not have, yet the benchmarks show the Xeon D-1518 still wins single-core tests. This suggests the architectural advantages of the Xeon D-1518 — its 14 nm process node versus 22 nm, and its 3,200 million transistors versus 1,400 million — more than compensate for the clock speed deficit. From the data, the Xeon D-1518 is the winner, but the Core i5-3550S remains a viable alternative for those who do not need the Xeon D-1518’s server-oriented features.

Where Each One Wins

The Xeon D-1518 wins every benchmark in the head-to-head comparison, so the use-case split comes down to features beyond raw scores. The Xeon D-1518 is a server/workstation processor with ECC memory support, DDR3 and DDR4 memory support, and 24 PCIe Gen 3 lanes. The Core i5-3550S is a desktop chip with no ECC support, DDR3-only memory, 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes, and integrated Intel HD 2500 graphics. The Xeon D-1518’s 8 threads versus 4 threads give it a theoretical edge in heavily threaded workloads, though the benchmark deltas are modest. The Core i5-3550S’s integrated graphics mean it can run a display without a discrete GPU, which the Xeon D-1518 cannot do. The Xeon D-1518’s 35W TDP is nearly half the Core i5-3550S’s 65W, making it more efficient for dense server deployments. The Core i5-3550S’s higher clock speeds and boost capability suggest it might feel snappier in lightly threaded tasks, but the benchmarks do not show that — the Xeon D-1518 wins single-core tests by 1.8% to 1.9%.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Xeon D-1518 has an average benchmark score of 1121, while the Intel Core i5-3550S has an average score of 1118, a 0.3% difference.

Q: How many threads does each processor support?

A: The Intel Xeon D-1518 supports 8 threads with 4 cores, while the Intel Core i5-3550S supports 4 threads with 4 cores.

Q: What is the largest performance gap in the head-to-head tests?

A: The largest gap is in Cinebench R23 single-core, where the Intel Xeon D-1518 scores 547 versus the Intel Core i5-3550S’s 537, a 1.9% difference.

Q: Does the Intel Core i5-3550S win any head-to-head benchmark?

A: No, the Intel Xeon D-1518 wins all six head-to-head Cinebench tests, with the Core i5-3550S tying only in Cinebench R15 single-core at 54 points each.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Xeon D-1518 supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core i5-3550S does not.

Q: What are the TDP differences between the two?

A: The Intel Xeon D-1518 has a TDP of 35W, while the Intel Core i5-3550S has a TDP of 65W.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations. The Intel Xeon D-1518 uses the Broadwell architecture on a 14 nm process node, with 3,200 million transistors on a 246 mm² die. The Intel Core i5-3550S uses the Ivy Bridge architecture on a 22 nm process node, with 1,400 million transistors on a 160 mm² die. The Xeon D-1518’s cache layout is per-core: 64 KB L1, 256 KB L2, and 1.5 MB L3 per core. The Core i5-3550S also has 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core, but its L3 is 6 MB shared across all cores. The Xeon D-1518 supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory, while the Core i5-3550S supports only DDR3. The Xeon D-1518 offers ECC memory support, which the Core i5-3550S lacks. The Xeon D-1518 has 24 PCIe Gen 3 lanes, compared to 16 on the Core i5-3550S. The Core i5-3550S includes integrated Intel HD 2500 graphics, while the Xeon D-1518 has no integrated graphics. The Xeon D-1518 uses the Intel BGA 1667 socket, and the Core i5-3550S uses Intel Socket 1155.

Specification Differences

The Intel Xeon D-1518 has 8 threads versus 4 threads on the Intel Core i5-3550S. The base clock differs: 2.20 GHz for the Xeon D-1518 versus 3.00 GHz for the Core i5-3550S. The Core i5-3550S has a boost clock of 3.70 GHz, while the Xeon D-1518 has no boost clock listed. TDP is 35W for the Xeon D-1518 and 65W for the Core i5-3550S. The Xeon D-1518 supports DDR3 and DDR4 memory, but the Core i5-3550S supports only DDR3. ECC memory support is present on the Xeon D-1518 but absent on the Core i5-3550S. PCIe lanes are 24 on the Xeon D-1518 and 16 on the Core i5-3550S. The Xeon D-1518 has no integrated graphics, while the Core i5-3550S has Intel HD 2500. The release dates differ: the Xeon D-1518 was released on 2015-03-08, and the Core i5-3550S was released on 2012-04-28. The Xeon D-1518 has a launch MSRP of $193, while the Core i5-3550S has no launch MSRP listed. The Xeon D-1518 is marked as Active in production status, while the Core i5-3550S has no production status listed. The Xeon D-1518’s part number is SR2DN, and the Core i5-3550S’s part number is SR0P3.