Intel Core i5-8259U vs Intel Xeon E3-1585 v5 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results are unambiguous: the Intel Xeon E3-1585 v5 wins every recorded head-to-head test. Across all six Cinebench comparisons, the Xeon leads by a consistent margin, with delta percentages hovering near 7%. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Xeon scores 720 against the Core i5-8259U's 667, a 7.4% advantage. The single-core R15 result follows the same pattern: 101 versus 94, a 6.9% lead. Those are not huge gaps, but they are uniform, which matters for sustained workloads.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the Xeon posts 3001 multicore and 423 single-core, while the Core i5-8259U manages 2781 and 392 respectively. Both deltas sit at 7.3%. The R23 run tells the same story: the Xeon reaches 7146 multicore and 1008 single-core, compared to 6622 and 934 for the i5, again a 7.3% difference in both tests. When a processor wins every benchmark in a suite by a nearly identical percentage, it suggests a stable clock or architectural advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk.

The average benchmark scores tell a slightly different story. The Core i5-8259U averages 2108 across its recorded tests, while the Xeon E3-1585 v5 averages 2067. That is a 41-point gap in favor of the i5, which is interesting because the head-to-head Cinebench results all favor the Xeon. The explanation lies in the benchmark sets: the i5 has Geekbench results in the database, with a multicore score of 4168 and a single-core score of 1207, and those pull up its average. The Xeon has no Geekbench entries recorded. So the per-test comparison favors the Xeon, but the broader average favors the i5, and a shopper should know which metric matters to them.

Both processors sit at the 46th percentile among all CPUs in the database. That puts them in the same performance tier, and their nearest rivals reflect that positioning. The i5's nearest rival is the Intel Core i5-8500T with an average score of 2110, just 0.1% higher. The Xeon's nearest rival is the Intel Xeon E5-2628 v3 at 2076, 0.4% higher. Neither chip is an outlier in its class; each sits squarely in the mid-range of the recorded data, with the Xeon slightly ahead in the Cinebench suite and the i5 slightly ahead in the overall average.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel generations and target different segments. The Core i5-8259U is a Coffee Lake part, specifically Coffee Lake-U, built for mobile systems on a 14 nm process. The Xeon E3-1585 v5 is Skylake, specifically Skylake-H, and is classified as a server or workstation part, also on 14 nm. Both are fabricated by Intel, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

Core and thread counts are identical: 4 cores and 8 threads on both. The cache hierarchy differs in the last level. The i5 carries 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3. The Xeon matches the L1 and L2 figures but offers 8 MB of shared L3. That extra 2 MB is a real difference for workloads that reuse data sets larger than 6 MB. The Xeon also has a notably larger die, at 171 mm², compared to the i5's 126 mm². The transistor count is only listed for the Xeon, at 2,300 million, a figure that reflects the larger physical design.

Clock speeds favor the Xeon in both base and boost operation. The Xeon runs at a 3.50 GHz base clock and boosts to 3.90 GHz. The i5 runs at 2.30 GHz base and 3.80 GHz boost. The base clock difference is substantial, 1.2 GHz, and that shows up in sustained all-core workloads where the i5 cannot hold its boost. The boost clocks are close, 3.90 versus 3.80, which explains why single-core deltas are small. The Xeon's TDP is much higher at 65 watts against the i5's 28 watts, which is expected given the base clock difference and the mobile versus workstation positioning.

Memory support differs. The i5 supports DDR4 only, in dual-channel configuration, with a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The Xeon supports both DDR3 and DDR4, also dual-channel, but with a lower listed bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s. The Xeon also supports ECC memory, while the i5 does not. That makes the Xeon the only one of the pair suitable for error-correcting memory setups, which is a hard requirement in some workstation and server environments.

Integrated graphics also differ. The i5 uses Iris Pro Plus 655, while the Xeon uses Iris Pro Graphics P580. Both are Intel integrated solutions, and neither is listed with a separate performance metric in the database, so any comparison must stop at the naming level. The sockets are different: the i5 uses Intel BGA 1526, the Xeon uses Intel BGA 1440. Both are BGA, meaning soldered rather than socketed, so neither is a drop-in upgrade for an existing board.

Release timing and price positioning are also distinct. The i5 was released in April 2018 with a launch MSRP of $320. The Xeon came earlier, in May 2016, with a launch MSRP of $556. Both are end-of-life parts now. The i5's part number is SRCKBSRCUU, while the Xeon's is SR2RB.

The Verdict

The data points to a simple conclusion for raw compute: the Intel Xeon E3-1585 v5 is the faster processor in every recorded Cinebench test. It leads by approximately 7% across R15, R20, and R23, in both single-core and multicore runs. That consistency is the strongest signal in the database. If the workload is Cinebench-style rendering or any multi-threaded task that scales with cores and clock, the Xeon is the pick.

The Core i5-8259U is not without its own case. Its average benchmark score is higher, 2108 versus 2067, because the database includes Geekbench results for the i5 that are not recorded for the Xeon. The i5 also draws far less power, 28 watts versus 65 watts, and supports a higher memory bandwidth figure, 38.4 GB/s against 34.1 GB/s. For a mobile system, those are meaningful advantages. The i5 is a mobile part, after all, and the Xeon is a server or workstation part.

Who should pick which? A builder assembling a compact, power-conscious mobile platform with DDR4 memory and integrated graphics should choose the Core i5-8259U. It delivers competitive average performance, a lower thermal envelope, and a more modern release date. A builder who needs ECC memory support, a higher base clock for sustained workloads, and the larger 8 MB L3 cache should choose the Xeon E3-1585 v5. The Xeon's 7% lead in the Cinebench suite is the kind of margin that matters in long renders or batch jobs. The 46th percentile ranking for both chips means neither is a top-tier part, but the Xeon is the stronger compute option in the recorded head-to-head tests.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The Intel Xeon E3-1585 v5 scores 7146, while the Intel Core i5-8259U scores 6622. That is a 7.3% lead for the Xeon.

Q: Do both processors have the same core and thread count?

A: Yes, both have 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Xeon E3-1585 v5 supports ECC memory. The Intel Core i5-8259U does not.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each processor?

A: The Intel Core i5-8259U has an average benchmark score of 2108. The Intel Xeon E3-1585 v5 has an average benchmark score of 2067.

Q: Which processor has the higher base clock?

A: The Intel Xeon E3-1585 v5 has a base clock of 3.50 GHz, compared to 2.30 GHz for the Intel Core i5-8259U.

Q: What are the TDP values for these two chips?

A: The Intel Core i5-8259U has a TDP of 28 watts. The Intel Xeon E3-1585 v5 has a TDP of 65 watts.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon E3-1585 v5 wins every head-to-head benchmark in the database. That is the complete list of Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 tests, both single-core and multicore. The margins are tight, between 6.9% and 7.4%, but they are universal. The Xeon also wins on base clock, 3.50 GHz versus 2.30 GHz, and on L3 cache size, 8 MB versus 6 MB. It supports ECC memory, which the i5 does not, and it supports both DDR3 and DDR4, giving it broader memory compatibility. The Xeon also has a larger die at 171 mm² and a transistor count of 2,300 million, figures that are not listed for the i5.

The Intel Core i5-8259U wins on average benchmark score, 2108 versus 2067, driven by its recorded Geekbench results. It wins on memory bandwidth, with 38.4 GB/s against the Xeon's 34.1 GB/s. It wins on power efficiency, with a 28 watt TDP against 65 watts. It also has a lower launch MSRP, $320 versus $556, and a more recent release date. The i5 uses the Iris Pro Plus 655 integrated graphics, while the Xeon uses Iris Pro Graphics P580, and the i5 supports DDR4 memory in dual-channel configuration. For a mobile system, the i5 is the more practical choice. For sustained compute and ECC-capable workstation builds, the Xeon is the stronger option.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-8259U | Intel Xeon E3-1585 v5 |

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

| Base clock | 2.30 GHz | 3.50 GHz |

| Boost clock | 3.80 GHz | 3.90 GHz |

| TDP | 28 W | 65 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1526 | Intel BGA 1440 |

| Architecture | Coffee Lake | Skylake |

| Codename | Coffee Lake-U | Skylake-H |

| Generation | Core i5 (Coffee Lake-U) | Xeon E3 (Skylake-H) |

| Process node | 14 nm | 14 nm |

| Die size | 126 mm² | 171 mm² |

| Transistors | Not listed | 2,300 million |

| L1 cache | 64 KB (per core) | 64 KB (per core) |

| L2 cache | 256 KB (per core) | 256 KB (per core) |

| L3 cache | 6 MB (shared) | 8 MB (shared) |

| Memory support | DDR4 | DDR3, DDR4 |

| Memory bus | Dual-channel | Dual-channel |

| Memory bandwidth | 38.4 GB/s | 34.1 GB/s |

| ECC memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated graphics | Iris Pro Plus 655 | Iris Pro Graphics P580 |

| Market segment | Mobile | Server/Workstation |

| Production status | End-of-life | End-of-life |

| Release date | 2018-04-04 | 2016-05-30 |

| Launch MSRP | $320 | $556 |

| Multiplier unlocked | No | No |

| Part number | SRCKBSRCUU | SR2RB |