Intel Core i5-5200U vs Intel Xeon W3520 Comparison

# Intel Core i5-5200U vs Intel Xeon W3520: A Detailed Specification and Benchmark Comparison

The Intel Core i5-5200U and Intel Xeon W3520 occupy different corners of the processor market. The i5-5200U is a Broadwell-U mobile chip designed for thin-and-light laptops, while the W3520 is a Bloomfield-class Xeon aimed at entry-level servers and workstations. The data shows a clear split: the mobile part leads in single-threaded efficiency, while the server chip dominates heavily in multi-threaded and multi-core workloads. This analysis compares their architecture, benchmark results, and ideal use cases.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Xeon W3520 has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Intel Core i5-5200U has 2 cores and 4 threads.

Q: What is the base clock speed of each?

A: The Core i5-5200U has a base clock of 2.20 GHz and a boost clock of 2.70 GHz. The Xeon W3520 has a base clock of 2.67 GHz and a boost clock of 2.93 GHz.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The Xeon W3520 supports ECC memory, while the Core i5-5200U does not.

Q: What are the cache configurations?

A: The Core i5-5200U has 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core, plus a shared 3 MB L3 cache. The Xeon W3520 has 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core, plus a larger shared 8 MB L3 cache.

Q: What is the manufacturing process size?

A: The Core i5-5200U is built on a 14 nm process with 1,300 million transistors on an 82 mm² die. The Xeon W3520 uses a larger 45 nm process with 731 million transistors on a 263 mm² die.

Q: Which platform is each designed for?

A: The Core i5-5200U is a mobile processor with integrated Intel HD 5500 graphics. The Xeon W3520 is a server/workstation part without integrated graphics.

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from different architectural families. The Core i5-5200U uses the Broadwell architecture and the Broadwell-U codename, built on a 14nm process. It is a dual-core part with Hyper-Threading, allowing 4 threads. The chip includes Intel HD 5500 integrated graphics, a feature absent on the server chip.

The Xeon W3520 is based on the older Nehalem architecture, codename Bloomfield, manufactured on a 45nm process. It is a quad-core, 8-thread part. It supports DDR3 memory on a triple-channel memory bus and includes ECC memory support. The Xeon lacks integrated graphics, as it is intended for systems with discrete GPUs.

The cache hierarchy is similar, but the Xeon has a larger shared L3 cache. Both parts have an unlocked multiplier, but the i5 has a part number SR23Y.

Where Each One Wins

Looking at the benchmark data, the win pattern is straightforward: the Xeon W3520 wins in every multi-core workload, while the i5-5200U wins in the single-core tests. The Xeon's quad-core and 8-thread design gives it a major advantage in all multi-threaded tests. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Xeon scores 252 vs 214 for the i5, a 15.1% advantage. The gap widens to 15.2% in Cinebench R20 multi-core (1052 vs 892) and remains nearly identical in Cinebench R23 multi-core (2505 vs 2125, a 15.2% edge).

The trend reverses in single-threaded tests, where the mobile i5 takes the lead. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the i5 scores 148 vs 126, 14.9% higher. Cinebench R23 single-core shows a similar 15% lead (353 vs 300). These results show the i5's higher clock speed for a 2-core part, and its Broadwell efficiency, can deliver stronger single-thread performance than the older quad-core Xeon.

The Xeon does not have competition in multi-core tests. In the only Geekbench multi-core result, the Xeon scores 1464 vs 742, a 49.3% advantage. The Xeon's 4 physical cores and 8 threads allow it to crush the i5's 2 cores and 4 threads. The i5 does win the Geekbench single-core test: 742 vs 353 (the Xeon scores 353 in this test), but the gap in the multi-core test is so large that the Xeon is the better part for any workload with more than a few threads.

The Core i5-5200U also has an integrated GPU, which is an advantage for systems without a discrete GPU. The Xeon W352 has no such feature, so a dedicated graphics card is required.

Specification Differences

| Field | Intel Core i5-5200U | Intel Xeon W3520 |

|---|---|---|

| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 8 |

| Base / Boost Clock | 2.20 / 2.70 GHz | 2.67 / 2.93 GHz |

| Cache (L1 / L2 / L3) | 64 KB / 256 KB / 3 MB | 64 KB / 256 KB / 8 MB |

| TDP | 15 W | 130 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1168 | Intel Socket 1366 |

| Architecture / Node | Broadwell / 14 nm | Nehalem / 45 nm |

| Memory Support | DDR3, dual-channel | DDR3, triple-channel, ECC |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 5500 | None |

| PCIe | Gen 2, 12 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 2 |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Server / Workstation |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

Cinebench R15 Multi-core: The Xeon W3520 wins 252 to 214, a 15.1% lead. This is the first of five consecutive wins for the Xeon in multi-threaded tasks.

Cinebench R20 Multi-core: Another strong Xeon win, 1052 vs 892, 15.2% ahead. The multi-core advantage is consistent at approximately 15% in the Cinebench suite.

Cinebench R20 Single-core: The i5-5200U takes the lead with a score of 148 vs 126, a 14.9% advantage. The mobile chip's higher clocks and modern core design win the day here.

Cinebench R23 Multi-core: Xeon wins again: 2505 vs 2125, a 15.2% gap. The 8-thread chip consistently beats the 4-thread chip by 15% in every multi-core test.

Cinebench R23 Single-core: The Core i5-5200U scores 300 vs 353, a 15% win for the mobile part. This is the second single-threaded test in a row that the i5 wins.

Geekbench Multi-core: The Xeon W3520 dominates: 1464 vs 742, a 49.3% difference. This is the largest delta in the entire dataset, reflecting the core count difference of 4 vs 2 physical cores.

Geekbench Single-core: The Core i5-5200U takes its second single-threaded victory: 742 vs 353, a 15% edge. The single-core tests show the mobile chip's strength in lightly-threaded work.

The data is clear: the Core i5-5200U wins in every single-core benchmark, while the Xeon W3520 wins every multi-core benchmark. The Xeon's lead in multi-core tests ranges from 15.1% to 15.2% in the Cinebench suite, but in Geekbench multi-core the lead explodes to 49.3%, because of the 4-core/8-thread vs 2-core/4-thread gap.

Where Each Processor Fits

The benchmark data shows that these processors have different strengths. The Core i5-5200U is the better choice for single-threaded, lightly threaded workloads. With its higher two-core clock boost (2.70 GHz vs 2.93 GHz) and its newer architecture, it dominates in Cinebench R20 and R23 single-core and Geekbench single-core tests. The integrated graphics also gives it an edge in compact systems without a discrete GPU. This makes it suitable for a mobile, thin-and-light laptop, or any system with a workload dominated by short bursts of a single thread.

The Xeon W3520 is the better option for multi-threaded workloads. Its 4 cores and 8 threads provide a 49.3% lead in the Geekbench multi-core test, and a 15.1% lead in the Cinebench multi-core works. It supports ECC memory and triple-channel DDR3, which are key features for server or workstation reliability. For rendering, video encoding, database workloads, virtualization, or compile jobs that can use all cores, the Xeon is the better match.

In summary, the Core i5-5200U is a modern, power-sipping mobile chip that wins the single-threaded race, and the Xeon W3520 is an older, high-core-count server chip that wins every multi-threaded test. The data does not show a single winner, it shows a choice based on the workload: choose the Core i5 for interactive and single-threaded mobile work, choose the Xeon for multi-core server workloads.