CPU Comparison

The Intel Core i7-5557U and the Intel Xeon E5630 are two end-of-life processors that, despite their different origins and physical designs, land at the exact same average benchmark score of 1110. Both sit at the 31st percentile of all CPUs, making them direct competitors in overall performance. However, this statistical tie in aggregate scores masks a complete sweep in individual workloads, as the data shows the older Xeon E5630 winning every single head-to-head benchmark. The comparison is not about which is faster, it is about why the Xeon consistently outperforms the newer mobile chip and what that means for different use cases.

Where Each One Wins

Based strictly on the head-to-head benchmark data, the Intel Xeon E5630 wins everywhere. It takes all five recorded tests, which cover Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 in both multi-core and single-core variants. The Core i7-5557U has zero wins in this comparison. The Xeon’s advantage is consistent across every workload type, ranging from a 16.7% lead in Cinebench R15 multi-core to a 17.3% lead in Cinebench R20 single-core. This uniform margin indicates the Xeon does not merely excel in one specific area; it is faster in both highly threaded rendering tasks and lightly threaded single-core operations.

For a user prioritizing raw compute throughput, the Xeon E5630 is the only logical choice from this data. Its 4 cores and 8 threads give it a structural advantage in multi-threaded workloads, but the single-core results reveal that its older architecture still delivers higher per-thread performance in these specific tests. The i7-5557U, by contrast, offers no benchmark wins to point to. Its strengths lie outside the measured metrics: it is a mobile processor with integrated Intel Iris 6100 graphics, a feature the Xeon completely lacks. For a system requiring a built-in GPU, the i7-5557U wins by default, but that is not a performance win in the benchmark suite.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: Both processors have an identical average benchmark score of 1110, and both sit at exactly the 31st percentile of all CPUs.

Q: Does the Core i7-5557U win any of the head-to-head benchmarks?

A: No. The i7-5557U records zero wins in the head-to-head comparisons, while the Xeon E5630 wins all five tests.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two in the benchmark data?

A: The largest gap is in Cinebench R20 single-core, where the Xeon E5630 leads by 17.3%. The smallest gap is in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where the Xeon leads by 16.7%.

Q: Are these processors comparable in terms of market segment?

A: No. The i7-5557U is a mobile processor from the Broadwell-U generation, while the Xeon E5630 is a server/workstation processor from the Westmere-EP generation.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Xeon E5630 supports ECC memory, while the i7-5557U does not.

Q: How do the core counts differ between the two?

A: The i7-5557U has 2 cores and 4 threads, while the Xeon E5630 has 4 cores and 8 threads.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data is unambiguous. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Xeon E5630 scores 324 against the i7-5557U’s 270, a 16.7% advantage. This pattern repeats in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the Xeon scores 1354 versus 1126, a 16.8% lead. The multi-core results are expected given the Xeon’s double the core count and double the thread count, but the single-core tests tell a more nuanced story.

In Cinebench R20 single-core, the Xeon scores 191 while the i7-5557U scores 158, giving the Xeon a 17.3% lead. This is the largest delta in the entire comparison. The Cinebench R23 single-core test shows a similar picture: the Xeon scores 455 versus 378, a 16.9% advantage. The fact that the older, lower-clocked Xeon (2.53 GHz base, 2.80 GHz boost) beats the newer, higher-clocked i7-5557U (3.10 GHz base, 3.40 GHz boost) in single-core tests suggests that the benchmark suite favors the Xeon’s architecture or that the i7-5557U’s power constraints limit its sustained performance.

The final test, Cinebench R23 multi-core, shows the Xeon scoring 3226 against 2682, a 16.9% lead. Across all five tests, the Xeon’s advantage hovers tightly between 16.7% and 17.3%. This narrow range indicates a consistent, systematic performance edge rather than a workload-specific anomaly. The i7-5557U’s higher clock speeds do not translate into any benchmark victories, and the data suggests that the Xeon’s additional cores and threads provide a decisive advantage that the i7’s architecture cannot overcome.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in almost every fundamental specification. The i7-5557U has 2 cores and 4 threads, while the Xeon E5630 has 4 cores and 8 threads. Clock speeds also favor the i7-5557U, with a base clock of 3.10 GHz and boost clock of 3.40 GHz, compared to the Xeon’s 2.53 GHz base and 2.80 GHz boost. The thermal design power (TDP) is a stark contrast: the i7-5557U is rated at 28 watts, while the Xeon E5630 is rated at 80 watts.

The sockets are incompatible. The i7-5557U uses Intel BGA 1168, a soldered mobile socket, while the Xeon E5630 uses Intel Socket 1366, a desktop/server socket. Memory support also differs: both support DDR3, but the i7-5557U uses a dual-channel memory bus with a bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s, while the Xeon E5630 uses a triple-channel memory bus with no bandwidth figure listed. ECC memory is supported only on the Xeon. The PCIe configuration also varies, with the i7-5557U offering Gen 2 with 12 lanes (CPU only) and the Xeon offering Gen 2 without a specified lane count.

The i7-5557U includes integrated Intel Iris 6100 graphics; the Xeon has no integrated graphics. This is a critical functional difference, as the i7 can operate in a system without a discrete GPU, while the Xeon requires one. The launch MSRP of the i7-5557U is $426; the Xeon has no launch MSRP listed in the data.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two processors is significant. The i7-5557U is built on Broadwell, specifically the Broadwell-U codename, and belongs to the Core i7 (Broadwell-U) generation. It uses a 14 nm process node with 1,900 million transistors on a 133 mm² die. The Xeon E5630, in contrast, is built on Westmere, specifically the Westmere-EP codename, and belongs to the Xeon (Westmere-EP) generation. It uses a 32 nm process node with 1,170 million transistors on a 239 mm² die. The i7-5557U is therefore a much newer, denser design, yet the Xeon’s larger die and older node still deliver higher benchmark scores.

Cache configurations also differ. Both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core. The L3 cache, however, is vastly different: the i7-5557U has 4 MB shared, while the Xeon E5630 has 12 MB shared. This threefold difference in L3 cache likely contributes to the Xeon’s consistent single-core advantage, despite its lower clock speeds. The i7-5557U’s smaller cache and lower TDP suggest a design optimized for power efficiency in mobile devices, while the Xeon’s larger cache and higher TDP indicate a design focused on server workloads where power is less constrained.

The market segments reflect these design goals. The i7-5557U targets the mobile market, while the Xeon E5630 targets the server/workstation market. The i7-5557U was released on 2015-02-28, while the Xeon E5630 was released on 2010-03-15, making the Xeon nearly five years older. Despite this age gap, the Xeon’s server-grade architecture, with triple-channel memory and ECC support, gives it a performance edge in the measured benchmarks that the newer mobile chip cannot match.

The Verdict

The data is clear: the Intel Xeon E5630 is the faster processor in every measured benchmark. It wins all five head-to-head tests with margins between 16.7% and 17.3%, and it does so despite having lower clock speeds and belonging to an older generation. The Xeon’s 4 cores, 8 threads, and 12 MB of L3 cache provide a structural advantage that the i7-5557U’s 2 cores, 4 threads, and 4 MB of L3 cache cannot overcome. For any workload measured in this benchmark suite, whether multi-threaded rendering or single-threaded tasks, the Xeon is the superior choice.

However, the i7-5557U is not without its own merits. It is a mobile processor with a 28-watt TDP, a 14 nm process node, and integrated Intel Iris 6100 graphics. These features make it suitable for compact, power-efficient systems where a discrete GPU is not required. The Xeon, with its 80-watt TDP and no integrated graphics, demands a more substantial cooling solution and a dedicated graphics card. The i7-5557U also supports newer memory bandwidth at 29.9 GB/s, though the Xeon’s triple-channel configuration may offer higher total bandwidth in practice.

Who should pick which? A user building a low-power mobile or compact system with integrated graphics needs the i7-5557U, as the Xeon cannot function without a separate GPU. A user building a server or workstation where raw compute performance and ECC memory support are priorities should choose the Xeon E5630, as it wins every benchmark and offers error-correcting memory. The identical average score of 1110 and 31st percentile ranking suggest that in aggregate, these processors are equally matched in the broader CPU landscape, but the head-to-head data shows that the Xeon is the definitive winner in direct competition. The i7-5557U’s only victory is in feature set, not performance.