Intel Core i7-5600U vs Intel Xeon W3565 Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark record for this pairing is one-sided. The Intel Xeon W3565 wins every single head-to-head test in the database, taking all five recorded comparisons. The Intel Core i7-5600U does not claim a single victory across any of the shared workloads, whether single-core or multi-core.

Looking at the use-case split, the Xeon W3565 establishes its advantage in both rendering and general processing tasks. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Xeon scores 290 against the i7-5600U's 255, a 12.1% lead. That gap carries through to Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the Xeon posts 1212 versus 1065, again 12.1% ahead. The multi-core margin remains nearly identical in Cinebench R23, with the Xeon at 2888 and the i7-5600U at 2537, a 12.2% difference.

Single-core performance tells the same story, though with a slightly narrower margin. The Xeon W3565 leads by 11.8% in Cinebench R20 single-core (170 versus 150) and by 12% in Cinebench R23 single-core (407 versus 358). There is no workload category in the recorded data where the i7-5600U takes the lead.

The average benchmark scores reflect this overall picture. The i7-5600U averages 1005 across its benchmark set, while the Xeon W3565 averages 993. Both processors sit at the 27th percentile among all CPUs in the database. The i7-5600U's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-2630QM at an identical average score of 1005, the AMD FX-9830P at 1006 (0.1% higher), and the Intel Core i7-880 at 1006. The Xeon W3565's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-965 at 993, the AMD Phenom II X6 1065T at 993, and the Intel Core i3-8130U at 994.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different eras and design philosophies. The Intel Core i7-5600U is built on the Broadwell architecture, specifically the Broadwell-U codename, using a 14 nm process node. It is a mobile-oriented part with 2 cores and 4 threads. The Intel Xeon W3565 uses the older Nehalem architecture with the Bloomfield codename, built on a 45 nm process node. It is a server and workstation part with 4 cores and 8 threads.

The transistor counts differ substantially due to the process generation gap. The i7-5600U packs 1,300 million transistors into an 82 mm² die, while the Xeon W3565 contains 731 million transistors across a much larger 263 mm² die. The newer manufacturing process allows the i7-5600U to fit nearly twice the transistor count into less than a third of the die area.

Cache configurations also diverge. Both processors share the same per-core L1 and L2 cache sizes: 64 KB per core for L1 and 256 KB per core for L2. The L3 cache, however, favors the Xeon: the i7-5600U has 4 MB shared L3, while the Xeon W3565 has 8 MB shared. The Xeon's additional cores and doubled L3 cache contribute to its consistent benchmark advantage.

Feature support marks another clear separation. The i7-5600U includes integrated graphics in the form of Intel HD 5500, while the Xeon W3565 has no integrated graphics at all. The i7-5600U supports ECC memory? No, it does not. The Xeon W3565 supports ECC memory, which aligns with its server and workstation positioning.

Memory channels also differ. The i7-5600U uses dual-channel memory with a recorded bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s. The Xeon W3565 uses triple-channel memory, though the database does not record a specific bandwidth figure for it. Both support DDR3 memory.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are consistent across all five recorded tests. The Xeon W3565 wins every comparison, and the margins are remarkably uniform.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Xeon scores 290 against the i7-5600U's 255. The delta is 12.1% in favor of the Xeon. This test is the oldest in the set and shows the baseline performance gap.

Cinebench R20 multi-core shows a nearly identical pattern. The Xeon posts 1212, the i7-5600U posts 1065, and the delta remains 12.1%. The consistency between R15 and R20 suggests the performance relationship is stable across different versions of the same rendering workload.

The single-core results narrow the gap slightly but do not change the outcome. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the Xeon scores 170 and the i7-5600U scores 150, a delta of 11.8%. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Xeon scores 407 and the i7-5600U scores 358, a delta of 12%.

The largest margin appears in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the Xeon leads by 12.2% with a score of 2888 against 2537. This is the most demanding multi-core test in the set and shows the Xeon's advantage holding up under heavier load.

Across all five tests, the Xeon's lead ranges from 11.8% to 12.2%. This tight clustering indicates that the performance difference is consistent and not workload-dependent within the tested applications. The i7-5600U's higher base clock? No, the Xeon actually has a higher base clock of 3.20 GHz versus 2.60 GHz, and a higher boost clock of 3.47 GHz versus 3.20 GHz. The Xeon's combination of more cores, more threads, higher clocks, and larger L3 cache produces a uniform advantage.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification category. The i7-5600U has 2 cores and 4 threads, while the Xeon W3565 has 4 cores and 8 threads. The Xeon offers twice the core count and twice the thread count.

Clock speeds favor the Xeon as well. The i7-5600U runs at a 2.60 GHz base clock and boosts to 3.20 GHz. The Xeon W3565 runs at a 3.20 GHz base clock and boosts to 3.47 GHz.

Thermal design power differs dramatically. The i7-5600U has a TDP of 15 watts, reflecting its mobile design goals. The Xeon W3565 has a TDP of 130 watts, nearly nine times higher, reflecting its workstation and server orientation.

The process node separates them by two generations. The i7-5600U uses 14 nm technology, while the Xeon W3565 uses 45 nm. Transistor count also differs: 1,300 million for the i7-5600U versus 731 million for the Xeon. Die size favors the i7-5600U at 82 mm² versus 263 mm² for the Xeon.

Sockets are incompatible. The i7-5600U uses Intel BGA 1168, a soldered mobile socket. The Xeon W3565 uses Intel Socket 1366, a desktop and workstation socket.

Integrated graphics appear only on the i7-5600U, which includes Intel HD 5500. The Xeon W3565 has no integrated graphics. ECC memory support appears only on the Xeon W3565; the i7-5600U does not support ECC.

Memory configuration differs as well. The i7-5600U uses dual-channel memory with 25.6 GB/s bandwidth. The Xeon W3565 uses triple-channel memory with no recorded bandwidth figure.

PCIe support differs in specification. The i7-5600U supports PCIe Gen 2 with 12 lanes from the CPU. The Xeon W3565 supports PCIe Gen 2 without a recorded lane count.

The release dates are separated by roughly five and a half years. The Xeon W3565 was released in late 2009. The i7-5600U was released in early 2015. Both are end-of-life products.

The i7-5600U has a recorded launch MSRP of $393. The Xeon W3565 has no recorded launch MSRP in the database.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core workloads?

A: The Intel Xeon W3565 wins all multi-core tests. It leads by 12.1% in Cinebench R15 and R20 multi-core, and by 12.2% in Cinebench R23 multi-core.

Q: Does the Intel Core i7-5600U win any benchmark?

A: No. The Xeon W3565 wins all five head-to-head tests. The i7-5600U records zero wins in the database.

Q: How does the single-core performance compare?

A: The Xeon W3565 leads in single-core as well. It scores 170 versus 150 in Cinebench R20 single-core (11.8% lead) and 407 versus 358 in Cinebench R23 single-core (12% lead).

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Xeon W3565 has 4 cores and 8 threads. The i7-5600U has 2 cores and 4 threads.

Q: Do these processors support the same memory configuration?

A: No. The i7-5600U uses dual-channel memory with 25.6 GB/s bandwidth. The Xeon W3565 uses triple-channel memory with no recorded bandwidth figure.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Xeon W3565 supports ECC memory. The i7-5600U does not support ECC memory.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The i7-5600U includes Intel HD 5500 integrated graphics. The Xeon W3565 has no integrated graphics.

The Verdict

The benchmark data points to the Intel Xeon W3565 as the stronger performer in every recorded test. Its consistent 12% lead across both single-core and multi-core workloads leaves no ambiguity about raw performance. The Xeon's 4 cores, 8 threads, higher clock speeds, and larger 8 MB L3 cache combine to produce a uniform advantage over the i7-5600U's 2 cores, 4 threads, and 4 MB L3 cache.

The i7-5600U is not without its own strengths, but those strengths do not appear in the benchmark scores. Its 15 watt TDP, 14 nm process, and integrated graphics make it suitable for mobile and low-power applications. The Xeon's 130 watt TDP and lack of integrated graphics position it for server and workstation workloads where power efficiency and onboard display output are not priorities.

Users who need ECC memory support must choose the Xeon W3565, as the i7-5600U does not support it. Users who need integrated graphics must choose the i7-5600U, as the Xeon has none. Users who need to maximize rendering performance in the Cinebench suite should choose the Xeon W3565, which wins every test in this category.

Both processors sit at the 27th percentile among all CPUs in the database, and their average benchmark scores are close: 1005 for the i7-5600U and 993 for the Xeon W3565. The Xeon's head-to-head wins are consistent, but the overall average scores reflect that both are mid-range performers by modern standards.

The choice between these two depends entirely on the use case. For mobile computing with integrated graphics and minimal power draw, the i7-5600U is the only option that fits. For server and workstation tasks requiring ECC memory, the Xeon W3565 is the only option that fits. For raw compute performance in the tested workloads, the Xeon W3565 wins outright.