Intel Core i7-5850HQ vs Intel Xeon D-1528 Comparison

The Intel Core i7-5850HQ and Intel Xeon D-1528 are both 14nm Broadwell parts, but they target opposite ends of the computing spectrum. The i7-5850HQ is a mobile-oriented, high-clock quad-core with Iris Pro graphics, while the Xeon D-1528 is a lower-power, six-core server chip with ECC memory support. Benchmark data shows the two are remarkably close in raw compute performance, with the i7-5850HQ winning every single head-to-head test, albeit by margins that are almost negligible. The average benchmark score for the i7-5850HQ is 1688, placing it at the 40th percentile of all CPUs, while the Xeon D-1528 scores 1677, also at the 40th percentile. The data suggests that the choice between these two is dictated far more by platform requirements than by performance deltas.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results paint a picture of near-identical performance. In the Cinebench R15 multi-core test, the i7-5850HQ scores 588 against the Xeon D-1528’s 584, a delta of just 0.7%. This pattern holds across the entire suite. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the i7-5850HQ again leads with 2451 versus 2435, another 0.7% advantage. The single-core results are even closer. The R15 single-core test shows a dead heat at 82 points for both chips, with a delta of 0%. The i7-5850HQ takes a slim 0.6% lead in R20 single-core (345 vs 343) and repeats that exact 0.6% margin in R23 single-core (823 vs 818) and R23 multi-core (5836 vs 5799).

This consistency is telling. The i7-5850HQ wins all six head-to-head tests, but the largest margin is a mere 0.7%. The Xeon D-1528, despite having two additional physical cores (6 vs 4) and four additional threads (12 vs 8), cannot translate its core count into a multi-core victory. The i7-5850HQ’s higher base clock of 2.70 GHz and boost clock of 3.60 GHz, compared to the Xeon’s 1900.00 MHz base (1.90 GHz) and 2.50 GHz boost, appear to compensate fully for the core deficit in these Cinebench workloads.

To contextualize these scores, the i7-5850HQ sits exactly level with the Intel Core i7-3770K, both averaging 1688. It is also within 0.3% of the Intel Core i5-4690K (1682) and 0.1% of the AMD Ryzen 7 3750H (1690). The Xeon D-1528, meanwhile, trails the i7-5850HQ by 0.6%, is 0.3% behind the Core i5-4690K, and matches the i7-3770K’s standing with a -0.6% delta. The data indicates that both chips sit in a tight performance cluster around the 1680-1690 average score mark, making them functionally equivalent in terms of aggregate throughput.

The Verdict

From a pure performance standpoint, the Intel Core i7-5850HQ is the winner. It claims victory in every benchmark test, regardless of core count or thread count. The data shows a 0.7% lead in multi-core tests and a 0.6% lead in most single-core tests, with one test being a tie. For any workload that is purely CPU-bound and scales with Cinebench scores, the i7-5850HQ is, on paper, slightly faster.

However, the verdict is not one-sided. The Xeon D-1528 offers features that the i7-5850HQ cannot. The Xeon supports ECC memory and both DDR3 and DDR4, whereas the i7-5850HQ is limited to non-ECC DDR3. The Xeon D-1528 also provides 24 PCIe Gen 3 lanes versus the i7-5850HQ’s 16, and it does so at a lower TDP of 35 watts compared to 47 watts. The Xeon D-1528 is also an active production part with a launch MSRP of $320, while the i7-5850HQ is end-of-life and was launched at $434.

The choice is therefore clear. The i7-5850HQ is the pick for users who need the maximum available per-core performance and do not require server-grade reliability features. The Xeon D-1528 is the pick for those who need ECC memory support, more PCIe lanes, or lower power consumption, and who are willing to trade a fractional amount of performance for those capabilities.

Where Each One Wins

The i7-5850HQ wins in scenarios where single-threaded performance and high clock speeds are paramount. Its 3.60 GHz boost clock gives it a distinct advantage in lightly-threaded applications, as evidenced by its consistent, if small, lead in every single-core benchmark. It is also the better choice for systems where integrated graphics are needed, as the i7-5850HQ features Iris Pro Graphics 6200 while the Xeon D-1528 has no integrated graphics at all. For a desktop system (its declared market segment) that will handle general productivity, light gaming, or media tasks without a discrete GPU, the i7-5850HQ is the functional winner.

The Xeon D-1528 wins in server and workstation contexts, which is its declared market segment. The 6-core, 12-thread configuration provides headroom for highly parallel server workloads, even if Cinebench does not show a win. Its support for ECC memory is a critical, non-negotiable feature for data integrity in server environments. The lower 35-watt TDP makes it suitable for dense, low-power deployments. The additional 8 PCIe lanes (24 total vs 16) allow for more expansion cards, storage controllers, or network interfaces. The Xeon D-1528 is also the more forward-looking platform, supporting DDR4 memory and remaining in active production.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has a higher multi-core performance in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core i7-5850HQ scores 5836, which is 0.6% higher than the Xeon D-1528’s 5799.

Q: Is the Xeon D-1528 more power-efficient?

A: Yes, the Xeon D-1528 has a 35-watt TDP, which is lower than the 47-watt TDP of the Intel Core i7-5850HQ.

Q: Does the Intel Core i7-5850HQ support ECC memory?

A: No, the i7-5850HQ does not support ECC memory. The Xeon D-1528 does support ECC memory.

Q: Which chip has more processing cores?

A: The Xeon D-1528 has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Core i7-5850HQ has 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: How do these chips compare to the Intel Core i7-3770K?

A: The i7-5850HQ has an identical average benchmark score of 1688, while the Xeon D-1528 is 0.6% behind, with a score of 1677.

Q: What is the single-core score difference in Cinebench R15?

A: There is no difference; both the i7-5850HQ and the Xeon D-1528 score 82 points, resulting in a 0% delta.

Architecture Differences

The two processors share the same fundamental Broadwell architecture and 14nm process node from Intel, but the implementation differs significantly. The i7-5850HQ uses the Broadwell-H codename and features a 182 mm² die size. Its cache layout includes 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, with a shared 6 MB L3 cache. It supports dual-channel DDR3 memory with a bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s and does not support ECC. The CPU provides 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes and includes integrated Iris Pro Graphics 6200. It is built for the Intel BGA 1364 socket.

The Xeon D-1528 uses the Broadwell-DE codename and is a notably larger chip at 246 mm², containing 3,200 million transistors. Its cache hierarchy differs in the L3 amount: instead of a shared pool, it offers 1.5 MB of L3 per core. It supports both dual-channel DDR3 and DDR4 memory and includes ECC support. The Xeon provides 24 PCIe Gen 3 lanes but has no integrated graphics. It uses the Intel BGA 1667 socket. The Xeon D-1528 has a lower base clock of 1900.00 MHz and a boost clock of 2.50 GHz, compared to the i7-5850HQ’s 2.70 GHz base and 3.60 GHz boost. Both processors are locked (multiplier unlocked is false for both), and both are manufactured by Intel.