Intel Core i7-5930K vs Intel Xeon D-1577 Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data is unusually one-sided here. Across every recorded test, the Intel Xeon D-1577 wins outright. That includes all six head-to-head comparisons in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, in both single-core and multi-core workloads. The Core i7-5930K does not take a single recorded win.

That does not mean the i7-5930K is a bad processor, but in this specific matchup, its strengths do not translate into benchmark victories. The Xeon D-1577 leads by a consistent margin of roughly 6 percent in every test. That consistency is notable: it is not a case of one chip winning in one workload and the other in another. The Xeon simply scores higher everywhere the database recorded a result.

For a desktop user focused on raw single-thread responsiveness, the Xeon still comes out ahead in the recorded data, albeit by a modest 6 percent. For multi-threaded rendering, the Xeon extends that lead to about 6.4 percent in Cinebench R20 and R23 multicore tests. The Core i7 does have an unlocked multiplier, which suggests overclocking potential, but the database does not include any overclocked results, so we can only compare stock figures.

The practical takeaway: if you are choosing between these two strictly on measured performance, the Xeon D-1577 wins every category recorded. The i7-5930K does not offer a single benchmark where it pulls ahead. That makes the decision easy for performance-first buyers, though other factors like platform features and memory channels may still matter for specific use cases.

Architecture Differences

These two Intel processors come from different architectures, process nodes, and market segments. The Core i7-5930K is a Haswell-E desktop part, built on Intel's 22 nm process with 2,600 million transistors on a 356 mm² die. The Xeon D-1577 is a Broadwell-DE server or workstation chip, fabricated on a 14 nm node with 3,200 million transistors on a smaller 246 mm² die.

The core counts differ dramatically. The i7-5930K has 6 cores and 12 threads. The Xeon D-1577 has 16 cores and 32 threads. That is more than double the thread count, which explains why the Xeon wins multicore tests despite its much lower clock speeds.

Clock speeds tell an interesting story. The i7-5930K runs at a base clock of 3.50 GHz and boosts to 3.70 GHz. The Xeon D-1577 has a base clock of only 1300 MHz, which should be read as 1.30 GHz, and boosts to 2.10 GHz. Despite this massive clock disadvantage, the Xeon still outperforms the i7 in every test, thanks entirely to its core and thread advantage.

Cache configurations also differ. Both have 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core. The L3 cache is the major split: the i7-5930K has 15 MB shared across all cores, while the Xeon D-1577 has 1.5 MB per core. With 16 cores, that gives the Xeon a total of 24 MB of L3, though the per-core allocation is smaller than the i7's shared pool.

Memory support diverges as well. The i7-5930K supports DDR4 in a quad-channel configuration with a measured memory bandwidth of 68.3 GB/s. The Xeon D-1577 supports both DDR3 and DDR4 but only in a dual-channel setup, and the database lists no memory bandwidth figure for it. The i7 also does not support ECC memory, while the Xeon does. PCIe lane counts differ too: the i7 provides 40 Gen 3 lanes from the CPU, the Xeon provides 24 Gen 3 lanes.

The socket situation is entirely different. The i7-5930K uses Intel Socket 2011-3, a desktop LGA platform. The Xeon D-1577 uses Intel BGA 1667, which means it is soldered to the board, not upgradeable. The i7 has an unlocked multiplier; the Xeon is locked. Production status also differs: the i7 is end-of-life, while the Xeon remains active.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are remarkably uniform. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Xeon D-1577 scores 946 against the i7-5930K's 886, a 6.3 percent advantage. In R15 single-core, the Xeon scores 133 versus 125, a 6 percent lead.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the pattern holds. Multicore shows the Xeon at 3943 and the i7 at 3692, a 6.4 percent difference. Single-core shows 556 against 521, again a 6.3 percent margin. Cinebench R23 repeats the same story: multicore 9389 for the Xeon versus 8791 for the i7, a 6.4 percent gap, and single-core 1325 versus 1241, a 6.3 percent gap.

The Geekbench results are not included in the head-to-head table, but the individual benchmark lists show the i7-5930K scoring 5715 in Geekbench multicore and 1225 in single-core. The Xeon D-1577 does not have Geekbench scores recorded in the database, so no direct comparison is possible there.

What stands out is the narrow but consistent margin. The Xeon does not crush the i7; it beats it by a steady 6 percent across every Cinebench iteration. That consistency suggests the advantage comes from the core count, not from any architectural superiority per clock. The i7's higher clock speeds nearly compensate for its fewer cores, but not quite.

In practical terms, a 6 percent difference is small enough that most users would not notice it in everyday tasks. But in long rendering jobs or sustained multi-threaded workloads, that margin compounds over time. The Xeon is the clear winner in every recorded benchmark, though not by a dramatic amount.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in single-core performance?

A: The Intel Xeon D-1577 wins every recorded single-core test. In Cinebench R15 single-core it scores 133 versus 125 for the i7-5930K, a 6 percent lead. In R20 single-core it scores 556 versus 521, and in R23 single-core it scores 1325 versus 1241, both 6.3 percent ahead.

Q: How much faster is the Xeon in multi-core workloads?

A: The Xeon D-1577 leads by 6.3 percent in Cinebench R15 multicore (946 versus 886) and by 6.4 percent in both R20 multicore (3943 versus 3692) and R23 multicore (9389 versus 8791).

Q: Why does the Xeon win despite having a much lower clock speed?

A: The Xeon D-1577 has 16 cores and 32 threads, compared to 6 cores and 12 threads on the i7-5930K. Even with a base clock of 1.30 GHz and boost of 2.10 GHz, the core count advantage is enough to overcome the i7's 3.50 GHz base and 3.70 GHz boost clocks.

Q: Does the i7-5930K have any advantage in the recorded data?

A: No. The head-to-head results show the i7-5930K with zero wins across all six recorded tests. The only potential advantage is its unlocked multiplier, but the database contains no overclocked benchmark results.

Q: What about memory bandwidth and ECC support?

A: The i7-5930K supports quad-channel DDR4 with 68.3 GB/s of bandwidth and no ECC. The Xeon D-1577 supports dual-channel DDR3 or DDR4 with no listed bandwidth figure, but it does support ECC memory.

Q: Are these processors still in production?

A: The i7-5930K is end-of-life. The Xeon D-1577 is listed as active in production.

The Verdict

Based strictly on the recorded data, the Intel Xeon D-1577 is the faster processor in every benchmark where both were tested. It wins all six head-to-head Cinebench comparisons, with margins ranging from 6.0 to 6.4 percent. If your priority is measured performance, the Xeon is the pick.

However, the i7-5930K is not without a role. It offers an unlocked multiplier, which means the owner can attempt to overclock it, something the locked Xeon cannot do. The database does not include any overclocked results, so the potential gain is unquantified here. The i7 also provides quad-channel DDR4 memory with a recorded 68.3 GB/s of bandwidth, which may matter for memory-sensitive workloads that are not captured in Cinebench.

The Xeon D-1577 brings ECC memory support, which is critical for error-sensitive server or workstation environments. It also has more PCIe lanes? No, actually the i7 has 40 Gen 3 lanes versus 24 on the Xeon. The Xeon's advantages are its active production status, ECC support, and higher core count.

For a desktop enthusiast building a new system, the i7-5930K is end-of-life and loses every recorded benchmark, so it is hard to recommend unless you specifically need quad-channel memory and plan to overclock. For a server or workstation workload where ECC is required and multi-threaded throughput matters, the Xeon D-1577 is the clear choice from the data. The 16-core Xeon simply does more work in less time across every Cinebench test, and it is still in production.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i7-5930K | Intel Xeon D-1577 |

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

| Cores | 6 | 16 |

| Threads | 12 | 32 |

| Base Clock | 3.50 GHz | 1300 MHz (1.30 GHz) |

| Boost Clock | 3.70 GHz | 2.10 GHz |

| TDP | 140 W | 45 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 2011-3 | Intel BGA 1667 |

| Architecture | Haswell | Broadwell |

| Process Node | 22 nm | 14 nm |

| Transistors | 2,600 million | 3,200 million |

| Die Size | 356 mm² | 246 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 64 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 256 KB (per core) | 256 KB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 15 MB (shared) | 1.5 MB (per core) |

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR3, DDR4 |

| Memory Bus | Quad-channel | Dual-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 68.3 GB/s | Not listed |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 40 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 3, 24 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Server/Workstation |

| Production Status | End-of-life | Active |

| Release Date | 2014-08-31 | 2016-02-23 |

| Launch MSRP | Not listed | 1379 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | Yes | No |

| Part Number | SR20R | SR2M2 |

The TDP difference is stark: 140 W for the i7 versus 45 W for the Xeon. That makes the Xeon far more power-efficient per core and per unit of performance, though the i7's higher clocks and unlocked multiplier offer overclocking headroom that the Xeon lacks. The process node advantage (14 nm versus 22 nm) and smaller die size for the Xeon contribute to its efficiency. The i7 has more PCIe lanes and higher memory bandwidth, but the Xeon counters with ECC support and double the cores.