Intel Core i7-5557U vs Intel Xeon E5-1603 v3 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data presents a clear picture: the Intel Xeon E5-1603 v3 wins every head-to-head benchmark in the database. Across five Cinebench tests, the Xeon holds a consistent advantage, with the Core i7-5557U trailing by roughly 29% in every workload. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Xeon scores 382 against 270 for the Core i7, a delta of -29.3%. The pattern repeats in Cinebench R20 multicore, where the Xeon posts 1595 versus 1126, again a -29.4% gap. Even in single-threaded tests, where the Core i7's higher base clock might suggest an edge, the Xeon leads: 225 to 158 in Cinebench R20 single-core (-29.8%) and 536 to 378 in Cinebench R23 single-core (-29.5%). The multicore Cinebench R23 result is 3798 for the Xeon against 2682 for the Core i7, a -29.4% difference.

The uniformity of these deltas is striking. Every single test lands between -29.3% and -29.8%, which indicates that the performance gap is not workload-dependent but rather a consistent structural difference between the two processors. The Xeon does not merely edge out the Core i7 in a niche test; it dominates across the entire Cinebench suite, both multi-threaded and single-threaded.

Where Each One Wins

Based on the benchmark data, the Intel Xeon E5-1603 v3 is the winner in every category measured. There are no recorded wins for the Core i7-5557U in any of the five head-to-head tests. The Xeon's advantage spans both multicore and single-core workloads, which means users who prioritize rendering, compilation, or any Cinebench-style compute task will see a substantial performance benefit from the Xeon.

The Core i7-5557U does have one theoretical advantage: its base clock is 3.10 GHz versus the Xeon's 2.80 GHz, and it also offers a boost clock of 3.40 GHz, while the Xeon has no boost clock listed. However, the measured benchmarks show that this clock advantage does not translate into actual performance wins. The Xeon's larger core count (four physical cores versus two) and its larger shared cache (10 MB versus 4 MB) evidently outweigh the Core i7's clock speed advantage. The Core i7's integrated Iris 6100 graphics provide a feature the Xeon lacks entirely, but the database contains no graphics benchmarks for either processor, so no performance comparison is possible in that domain.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel microarchitectures. The Core i7-5557U is built on Broadwell, specifically the Broadwell-U family, using a 14 nm process node. The Xeon E5-1603 v3 uses Haswell, specifically Haswell-EP, on a 22 nm process node. The die sizes differ dramatically: the Broadwell chip measures 133 mm² with 1,900 million transistors, while the Haswell-EP die measures 356 mm² with 2,600 million transistors. The Xeon's larger die and higher transistor count are consistent with a design built for server and workstation workloads rather than mobile efficiency.

Cache hierarchies also diverge. Both processors have 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 per core, but the shared L3 cache is 4 MB on the Core i7 and 10 MB on the Xeon. The Xeon's larger L3 is a meaningful advantage for workloads that repeatedly access a sizeable working set.

Memory architecture is another major split. The Core i7 supports DDR3 memory over a dual-channel bus, with a recorded memory bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s. The Xeon supports DDR4 over a quad-channel bus, with a recorded memory bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s. That is nearly double the bandwidth, which can matter for memory-bound applications. The Xeon also supports ECC memory, while the Core i7 does not. PCIe connectivity differs as well: the Core i7 provides Gen 2 with 12 lanes (CPU only), while the Xeon provides Gen 3 with 40 lanes (CPU only). The Xeon's platform is clearly aimed at expansion-heavy server or workstation builds, whereas the Core i7 is a mobile part with integrated graphics.

Integrated graphics further separate the two. The Core i7 includes Intel Iris 6100 graphics; the Xeon has no integrated graphics at all, requiring a discrete GPU for any display output. Market segments reflect this: the Core i7 is designated as a Mobile part, while the Xeon is a Server/Workstation part. Both are end-of-life and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

Specification Differences

The table below highlights only the fields where the two processors differ.

| Specification | Intel Core i7-5557U | Intel Xeon E5-1603 v3 |

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

| Cores | 2 | 4 |

| Threads | 4 | 4 |

| Base clock | 3.10 GHz | 2.80 GHz |

| Boost clock | 3.40 GHz | None |

| TDP | 28 W | 140 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1168 | Intel Socket 2011-3 |

| Architecture | Broadwell | Haswell |

| Codename | Broadwell-U | Haswell-EP |

| Generation | Core i7 (Broadwell-U) | Xeon E5 (Haswell-EP) |

| Process node | 14 nm | 22 nm |

| Transistors | 1,900 million | 2,600 million |

| Die size | 133 mm² | 356 mm² |

| L3 cache | 4 MB (shared) | 10 MB (shared) |

| Memory support | DDR3 | DDR4 |

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

| Memory bandwidth | 29.9 GB/s | 59.7 GB/s |

| ECC memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe | Gen 2, 12 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 3, 40 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated graphics | Intel Iris 6100 | None |

| Market segment | Mobile | Server/Workstation |

| Release date | 2015-02-28 | 2014-09-07 |

| Launch MSRP | $426 | None |

| Part number | SR26E | SR20K |

The Core i7 has a higher base clock and a boost clock, but the Xeon counters with double the core count, more than double the L3 cache, a wider memory bus, ECC support, and far more PCIe lanes. The TDP figures reflect the intended use cases: 28 W for the mobile part versus 140 W for the server/workstation part.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in single-core performance?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-1603 v3 wins in all recorded single-core tests. In Cinebench R20 single-core, it scores 225 against 158 for the Core i7-5557U (-29.8%). In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 536 versus 378 (-29.5%).

Q: Does the Core i7-5557U's higher base clock help it in any benchmark?

A: No. The Core i7 has a base clock of 3.10 GHz and a boost clock of 3.40 GHz, while the Xeon has a base clock of 2.80 GHz and no boost clock. Despite this, the Xeon wins all five recorded head-to-head benchmarks by roughly 29%.

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

A: The Core i7-5557U has an average benchmark score of 1110, and the Xeon E5-1603 v3 has an average benchmark score of 1098. Both sit at the 31st percentile among all CPUs in the database.

Q: Do these processors support the same memory types?

A: No. The Core i7-5557U supports DDR3 over a dual-channel bus with 29.9 GB/s bandwidth. The Xeon E5-1603 v3 supports DDR4 over a quad-channel bus with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth and also supports ECC memory, which the Core i7 does not.

Q: Does the Xeon E5-1603 v3 have integrated graphics?

A: No. The Xeon has no integrated graphics. The Core i7-5557U includes Intel Iris 6100 integrated graphics.

Q: What are the nearest rivals for each processor according to the database?

A: For the Core i7-5557U, the nearest rivals are the Intel Xeon E5630 (identical average score), the Intel Xeon E5-2609 v3 (0.1% ahead), the Intel Core i5-4570T (0.2% ahead), and the AMD PRO A12-8870 (0.2% ahead). For the Xeon E5-1603 v3, the nearest rivals are the AMD PRO A10-8850B (identical average score), the Intel Pentium 6805 (0.1% behind), the Intel Core i5-3450S (0.1% behind), and the Intel Core i7-2710QE (0.1% ahead).