CPU Comparison
Intel Core i7-5775C
Xeon D-1548
PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKS
Analysis: Intel Core i7-5775C vs Intel Xeon D-1548
The Intel Xeon D-1548 and Intel Core i7-5775C are both Broadwell-based Intel processors, but they target entirely different market segments. The Xeon D-1548 is a server/workstation part with 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Core i7-5775C is a desktop processor with 4 cores and 8 threads. Benchmark data shows a consistent pattern: the Xeon D-1548 wins every single head-to-head test, although the margins are surprisingly narrow given the core count disparity.
Head-to-Head Benchmarks
The head-to-head benchmark results are unambiguous. The Intel Xeon D-1548 wins all six comparisons, but the victory margins are remarkably uniform. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Xeon D-1548 scores 777 against the Core i7-5775C's 660, a 17.7% advantage. The single-core R15 test tells a similar story: 109 versus 93, a 17.2% lead for the Xeon. This pattern holds across the entire Cinebench suite. In R20 multicore, the Xeon D-1548 posts 3239 versus 2750, a 17.8% edge. The R20 single-core result is 457 against 388, again 17.8% ahead. R23 multicore shows 7713 versus 6549, and R23 single-core shows 1089 versus 924, with deltas of 17.8% and 17.9% respectively.
What stands out here is the consistency of the margin. The Xeon D-1548's advantage hovers between 17.2% and 17.9% across every test, regardless of whether the workload is single-threaded or multi-threaded. This suggests the performance gap stems from architectural efficiency rather than raw core count scaling. The Xeon D-1548 has double the cores and double the threads, yet it only achieves roughly 18% higher scores. A perfectly scaling multi-core workload would theoretically show a much larger gap. The fact that the margin is nearly identical in single-core tests — where the Core i7-5775C should benefit from its higher clocks — indicates the Xeon D-1548's per-core performance is substantially better.
Looking at the average benchmark scores, the two processors are nearly identical in overall rating. The Xeon D-1548 averages 2231, while the Core i7-5775C averages 2224, a difference of just 0.3%. Both processors sit at the 47th percentile of all CPUs. The nearest rivals list confirms this close grouping: the Xeon E5-4648 v3 scores 2227, the Xeon D-1715TER scores 2238, and the Core i7-8559U scores 2225. The Xeon D-1548 and Core i7-5775C are effectively tied in aggregate performance, despite the Xeon's dominance in each individual Cinebench test. This is because the Core i7-5775C has additional Geekbench results — 4989 multicore and 1441 single-core — that are not present in the Xeon D-1548's benchmark suite, which pulls its average up.
Architecture Differences
Both processors share the Broadwell architecture and are built on Intel's 14 nm process node. The Xeon D-1548's codename is Broadwell, specifically the Broadwell-DE generation, while the Core i7-5775C is also Broadwell, in its Core i7 form. The foundry is Intel for both, with the Xeon D-1548 featuring 3,200 million transistors on a 246 mm² die. The Core i7-5775C has no transistor count listed, but its die size is 182 mm².
The core configurations differ significantly. The Xeon D-1548 provides 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Core i7-5775C provides 4 cores and 8 threads. Base clocks favor the desktop part: 3.30 GHz versus 2.00 GHz. Boost clocks also favor the Core i7-5775C at 3.70 GHz versus 2.60 GHz. Thermal design power tells the opposite story, with the Xeon D-1548 rated at 45 watts and the Core i7-5775C at 65 watts. The Xeon achieves lower power consumption despite having more cores, a hallmark of its server-oriented design.
Cache layouts differ substantially. Both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core. The L3 cache is where they diverge: the Xeon D-1548 has 1.5 MB per core, while the Core i7-5775C has 6 MB shared across all four cores. This means the Xeon D-1548 has a total of 12 MB of L3 cache (8 cores × 1.5 MB), while the Core i7-5775C has 6 MB total. The per-core allocation is much higher on the Xeon, which helps explain its superior single-core performance despite lower clocks.
Memory support is another major differentiator. The Xeon D-1548 supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory on a dual-channel bus, and it has ECC memory support. The Core i7-5775C supports only DDR3 on a dual-channel bus, with no ECC capability. The Core i7-5775C does list a memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s, while the Xeon D-1548 has no bandwidth figure in the data. PCIe connectivity also differs: the Xeon D-1548 provides Gen 3 with 24 lanes, while the Core i7-5775C provides Gen 3 with 16 lanes. The socket types are incompatible — the Xeon uses Intel BGA 1667, and the Core i7 uses Intel Socket 1150.
Integrated graphics are present only on the Core i7-5775C, which features Iris Pro Graphics 6200. The Xeon D-1548 has no integrated graphics listed. The Core i7-5775C also has an unlocked multiplier, while the Xeon D-1548 does not. Release dates are close: the Core i7-5775C launched on May 14, 2015, and the Xeon D-1548 launched on October 31, 2015. Both processors remain in active production.
FAQ
Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?
A: The Intel Xeon D-1548 has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core i7-5775C has 4 cores and 8 threads.
Q: What is the performance difference in Cinebench R23 multicore?
A: The Xeon D-1548 scores 7713, and the Core i7-5775C scores 6549, giving the Xeon a 17.8% advantage.
Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?
A: No. The Xeon D-1548 supports both DDR3 and DDR4 with ECC capability, while the Core i7-5775C supports only DDR3 without ECC.
Q: Can the Core i7-5775C's higher clock speed overcome the Xeon's core advantage?
A: No. Despite having a higher base clock (3.30 GHz vs 2.00 GHz) and boost clock (3.70 GHz vs 2.60 GHz), the Core i7-5775C loses every single-core benchmark. In R23 single-core, the Xeon D-1548 scores 1089 versus 924, a 17.9% lead.
Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?
A: The Xeon D-1548 averages 2231, and the Core i7-5775C averages 2224, a difference of 0.3% in favor of the Xeon.
Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?
A: Only the Core i7-5775C has integrated graphics, specifically Iris Pro Graphics 6200. The Xeon D-1548 has no integrated graphics listed.
Specification Differences
The two processors differ in nearly every major specification category. Core count is 8 versus 4, and thread count is 16 versus 8. Base clocks are 2.00 GHz versus 3.30 GHz, and boost clocks are 2.60 GHz versus 3.70 GHz. The Xeon D-1548 has a TDP of 45 watts, while the Core i7-5775C is rated at 65 watts. Sockets are incompatible: Intel BGA 1667 for the Xeon, Intel Socket 1150 for the Core i7.
Cache organization differs markedly. The Xeon D-1548 uses 1.5 MB of L3 per core, while the Core i7-5775C uses 6 MB shared. Die size is 246 mm² for the Xeon and 182 mm² for the Core i7, with the Xeon having 3,200 million transistors and the Core i7 having no listed count. Memory support is DDR3/DDR4 with ECC for the Xeon versus DDR3-only without ECC for the Core i7. Memory bandwidth is listed at 25.6 GB/s for the Core i7, with no figure for the Xeon. PCIe lanes are 24 for the Xeon versus 16 for the Core i7.
Integrated graphics exist only on the Core i7-5775C. The multiplier is unlocked on the Core i7 but locked on the Xeon. Market segments are Server/Workstation for the Xeon and Desktop for the Core i7. Launch MSRP differs: the Xeon D-1548 launched at $555, and the Core i7-5775C launched at $366. Part numbers are SR2DJ for the Xeon and SR2AG for the Core i7. Release dates differ by roughly five months, with the Core i7 launching first.
Where Each One Wins
The Xeon D-1548 wins every single benchmark test in the head-to-head comparison. It leads by 17.7% in Cinebench R15 multicore, 17.2% in R15 single-core, 17.8% in R20 multicore, 17.8% in R20 single-core, 17.8% in R23 multicore, and 17.9% in R23 single-core. This makes it the clear choice for any workload measured by Cinebench, whether single-threaded or multi-threaded. Its advantages extend to memory flexibility with DDR3 and DDR4 support, ECC capability, and a lower TDP of 45 watts despite having more cores. The 24 PCIe lanes provide more connectivity than the Core i7's 16 lanes. For server or workstation deployments, the Xeon D-1548's feature set is strictly superior on paper.
The Core i7-5775C does not win any benchmark tests, but it has qualitative advantages that matter in specific contexts. It includes Iris Pro Graphics 6200, which means it can drive a display without a discrete graphics card. The unlocked multiplier allows for overclocking, which the Xeon does not permit. It supports only DDR3, but it has a listed memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s, which provides a concrete throughput figure. Its higher base and boost clocks — 3.30 GHz and 3.70 GHz — make it more responsive in lightly threaded scenarios, even though benchmark results do not reflect this advantage. The desktop socket (Intel Socket 1150) is a standard platform for consumer builds, and the 65-watt TDP, while higher than the Xeon's, is still manageable for desktop cooling. The Core i7-5775C also has a lower launch MSRP at $366 versus the Xeon's $555.
The Verdict
The data paints a straightforward picture. The Intel Xeon D-1548 outperforms the Intel Core i7-5775C in every measured benchmark, with consistent margins around 17-18%. This performance advantage is achieved at a lower TDP (45 watts versus 65 watts), with more cores, more threads, more PCIe lanes, broader memory support, and ECC capability. The Xeon D-1548 is the superior processor for anyone who needs maximum compute throughput in a server or workstation context.
The Core i7-5775C's case rests entirely on its integrated graphics, unlocked multiplier, and lower launch price. For a desktop user who wants a single processor that can handle both compute and display output, the Iris Pro Graphics 6200 is a meaningful feature that the Xeon completely lacks. The overclocking headroom from the unlocked multiplier could also narrow the performance gap in practice, though the benchmark data does not capture this possibility. But for raw performance as measured by the Cinebench suite, the Xeon D-1548 is the definitive winner. The 0.3% difference in average benchmark scores — 2231 versus 2224 — reflects the Core i7's additional Geekbench results, but the head-to-head Cinebench data is unambiguous: the Xeon D-1548 wins all six tests, and that is the comparison that matters. Anyone choosing between these two should select the Xeon D-1548 for performance and the Core i7-5775C for its desktop-specific features.