Intel Core i7-5557U vs Intel Xeon E5-2603 v3 Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which CPU wins the most benchmark comparisons in this matchup?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-2603 v3 wins all five head-to-head benchmark tests, with a clean 5-0 sweep. The Core i7-5557U does not win a single comparison in the provided data.

Q: How large is the Xeon E5-2603 v3's performance advantage in multi-core workloads?

A: In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Xeon scores 3207 versus the Core i7's 2682, a delta of -16.4% from the Core i7's perspective. The Cinebench R20 multi-core test shows a similar gap: 1346 for the Xeon versus 1126 for the Core i7, also -16.4%.

Q: Does the Core i7-5557U have any advantage in single-core performance?

A: No. The Xeon E5-2603 v3 leads in single-core tests too. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Xeon scores 452 versus 378 for the Core i7 (-16.4%). In Cinebench R20 single-core, the Xeon scores 189 versus 158 (-16.4%).

Q: How do these two processors rank against all other CPUs?

A: Both sit at the 31st percentile among all CPUs. The Core i7-5557U has an average benchmark score of 1110, while the Xeon E5-2603 v3 has an average score of 1103, making them statistically close in overall standing.

Q: What are the closest rivals for each CPU according to average benchmark scores?

A: The Core i7-5557U's nearest rival is the Intel Xeon E5630 with an identical average score of 1110 (0% delta). The Xeon E5-2603 v3's nearest rival is the Intel Pentium Gold G6605 at 1103 (0% delta).

Q: Do these CPUs support the same memory types?

A: No. The Core i7-5557U supports DDR3 memory on a dual-channel bus with 29.9 GB/s bandwidth, while the Xeon E5-2603 v3 supports DDR4 on a quad-channel bus with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth. The Xeon also supports ECC memory; the Core i7 does not.

Architecture Differences

The Core i7-5557U and Xeon E5-2603 v3 come from entirely different design philosophies. The Core i7 is a Broadwell-U part built on Intel's 14 nm process, packing 1,900 million transistors into a 133 mm² die. The Xeon E5-2603 v3 is a Haswell-EP chip on the older 22 nm node, with 2,600 million transistors spread across a much larger 356 mm² die. That process gap explains why the mobile chip can achieve higher clock speeds at far lower power draw.

Core configuration diverges sharply. The Core i7-5557U offers 2 cores and 4 threads with Hyper-Threading, while the Xeon E5-2603 v3 provides 6 physical cores and 6 threads — no Hyper-Threading. The Xeon's extra physical cores are its primary weapon in multi-threaded workloads, even though each core runs at a much lower clock. The Core i7 counters with a 3.10 GHz base clock and 3.40 GHz boost, while the Xeon is locked to a 1600.00 MHz base with no boost capability at all.

Cache hierarchies reflect their different roles. Both allocate 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, but the shared L3 cache tells the story: the Xeon has 15 MB shared across all cores, versus just 4 MB on the Core i7. That 11 MB difference is substantial for server workloads with large working sets.

Platform support separates them further. The Core i7-5557U uses Intel BGA 1168, a soldered mobile socket, with PCIe Gen 2 limited to 12 CPU lanes. The Xeon E5-2603 v3 uses Intel Socket 2011-3, a server platform with PCIe Gen 3 and 40 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics are present on the Core i7 (Intel Iris 6100) but entirely absent on the Xeon, which expects a discrete GPU.

Memory architecture is another fundamental split. The Core i7 runs dual-channel DDR3 at 29.9 GB/s bandwidth with no ECC support. The Xeon runs quad-channel DDR4 at 51.2 GB/s — 71% more bandwidth — and supports ECC memory, a requirement for reliable server operation. The Xeon's TDP of 85 W dwarfs the Core i7's 28 W, reflecting the server chip's higher power ceiling and the mobile chip's efficiency focus.

Both are end-of-life products, but their release dates differ: the Core i7 launched February 28, 2015, while the Xeon arrived earlier on September 7, 2014. The Core i7's launch MSRP was $426; the Xeon's launch MSRP was $213.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data paints a remarkably consistent picture. Across five Cinebench tests, the Xeon E5-2603 v3 wins every single one by a nearly identical margin. The deltaPct hovers at -16.4% in four of five tests, with Cinebench R20 multi-core slightly tighter at -16.3%. This uniformity suggests the performance gap is structural — driven by core count and cache — rather than workload-specific.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Xeon scores 323 against the Core i7's 270. That -16.4% margin translates to a 53-point advantage. The gap widens in absolute terms as the workload scales: Cinebench R20 multi-core shows 1346 versus 1126 (220 points), and Cinebench R23 multi-core shows 3207 versus 2682 (525 points). The more demanding the render, the more the Xeon's six cores pull ahead.

Single-core tests are more surprising. The Xeon's 1600 MHz base clock — less than half the Core i7's 3.10 GHz base — still manages to win. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the Xeon scores 189 versus 158. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 452 versus 378. The Xeon's older Haswell architecture apparently delivers more instructions per clock at this frequency, or the benchmark favors its larger cache footprint. Either way, the Core i7 cannot claim even a single-core victory.

Geekbench results exist only for the Core i7, not the Xeon, so no direct comparison is possible there. The Core i7 scores 2099 multi-core and 1060 single-core on Geekbench, placing it alongside rivals like the Intel Xeon E5630 (matching 1110 average) and Intel Xeon E5-2609 v3 (1109, 0.1% delta). The Xeon's rivals include the Pentium Gold G6605 (1103, 0% delta) and AMD PRO A12-9800 (1104, -0.1% delta).

Notably, both CPUs land at the 31st percentile overall, despite the Xeon's clean sweep in head-to-head tests. Their average benchmark scores — 1110 for the Core i7 and 1103 for the Xeon — are nearly identical. This indicates that the Cinebench suite favors the Xeon, while the broader benchmark landscape treats these two as comparable performers.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Xeon E5-2603 v3 outperforms the Core i7-5557U in every benchmark test recorded. Five wins, zero losses, with margins consistently around 16%. If raw compute performance is the sole criterion, the Xeon is the clear choice.

For multi-threaded rendering workloads, the Xeon's six physical cores provide a decisive edge. Cinebench R23 multi-core shows a 525-point lead, and that advantage compounds across longer render jobs. The 15 MB L3 cache and quad-channel DDR4 memory bandwidth (51.2 GB/s) further support sustained throughput that the Core i7's 4 MB cache and 29.9 GB/s dual-channel DDR3 cannot match.

The Core i7-5557U's case rests on different strengths. Its 28 W TDP makes it suitable for mobile platforms where power efficiency matters. Its integrated Iris 6100 graphics eliminate the need for a discrete GPU. Its 3.40 GHz boost clock offers responsiveness in lightly threaded tasks, even if the benchmarks show the Xeon still wins those tests. And its BGA 1168 socket targets compact laptops rather than server racks.

However, the benchmark data offers no scenario where the Core i7 wins. The Xeon even dominates single-core Cinebench tests despite running at less than half the clock speed. The Core i7's only unopposed data points are Geekbench scores, where the Xeon has no recorded results — but absence of evidence is not evidence of superiority.

The practical verdict: choose the Xeon E5-2603 v3 for any workload where processing power is paramount — rendering, server tasks, or heavy multi-threaded computation. Choose the Core i7-5557U only if the mobile form factor, integrated graphics, or low power draw are non-negotiable requirements, accepting that it will trail the Xeon by roughly 16% in compute benchmarks.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i7-5557U | Intel Xeon E5-2603 v3 |

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

| Cores | 2 | 6 |

| Threads | 4 | 6 |

| Base clock | 3.10 GHz | 1600.00 MHz |

| Boost clock | 3.40 GHz | None |

| TDP | 28 W | 85 W |

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

| Architecture | Broadwell | Haswell |

| Process node | 14 nm | 22 nm |

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

| Die size | 133 mm² | 356 mm² |

| L3 cache | 4 MB (shared) | 15 MB (shared) |

| Memory support | DDR3 | DDR4 |

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

| Memory bandwidth | 29.9 GB/s | 51.2 GB/s |

| ECC memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe | Gen 2, 12 Lanes | Gen 3, 40 Lanes |

| Integrated graphics | Intel Iris 6100 | None |

| Market segment | Mobile | Server/Workstation |

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

| Launch MSRP | $426 | $213 |