Intel Core i7-8559U vs Intel Xeon D-1548 Comparison

The Intel Xeon D-1548 and Intel Core i7-8559U occupy opposite ends of the Intel lineup, but their average benchmark scores are nearly identical. The Xeon D-1548 averages 2231, while the Core i7-8559U averages 2225, a difference of just 0.3% in favor of the server chip. Both sit at the 47th percentile of all CPUs, meaning they are statistically indistinguishable in aggregate performance. The story changes completely when you look at the individual benchmark results, where the Xeon D-1548 wins all six head-to-head tests, but the margins are not what you might expect from a server part versus a mobile part.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Xeon D-1548 wins every single benchmark in the comparison, but the margins are consistent and modest. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Xeon D-1548 scores 777 against the i7-8559U's 703, a 10.5% advantage. The single-core R15 result is similar: 109 for the Xeon versus 99 for the Core i7, a 10.1% edge. This pattern holds across every Cinebench iteration. In R20 multicore, the Xeon D-1548 posts 3239 versus 2933, a 10.4% lead, and in single-core R20 it scores 457 against 414, again a 10.4% margin. The R23 results continue the trend: 7713 versus 6984 in multicore and 1089 versus 986 in single-core, both showing the same 10.4% gap.

The i7-8559U has one advantage in the data: it appears in the Geekbench results with a multicore score of 4293 and a single-core score of 1384, but the Xeon D-1548 has no Geekbench entries in the fact pack. This means the i7-8559U has two additional benchmark data points, but it still loses every shared test. The fact that the i7-8559U's average score is so close to the Xeon's, despite losing all head-to-head tests, suggests that its Geekbench performance is strong enough to pull its average up. However, the data does not provide a direct comparison for Geekbench, so we cannot say which chip would win that specific test.

Looking at the nearest rivals for each chip provides context. The Xeon D-1548's closest competitor in average score is the Intel Xeon E5-4648 v3 at 2227, which is 0.2% behind, and the Intel Xeon D-1715TER at 2238, which is 0.3% ahead. The i7-8559U's nearest rival is the Intel Core i7-5775C at 2224, which is exactly 0.0% different, and the Xeon E5-4648 v3 at 2227, which is 0.1% ahead. Both chips are essentially in the same performance tier as their neighbors, but the Xeon D-1548 has a slight edge over the i7-8559U in their direct comparison.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Xeon D-1548 outperforms the Intel Core i7-8559U in every benchmark they share. If you are choosing between these two based purely on compute performance, the Xeon D-1548 is the correct pick. It delivers a 10.4% multicore advantage in Cinebench R20 and R23, and a 10.1% to 10.4% single-core advantage across all Cinebench versions. The i7-8559U never wins a single test. The Xeon D-1548 also has double the cores (8 versus 4) and double the threads (16 versus 8), which explains its multicore lead, but the single-core lead is more surprising given the i7-8559U's higher boost clock.

The i7-8559U does have a role, but it is not based on benchmark wins. It is a mobile chip with a 28 W TDP, while the Xeon D-1548 is a server/workstation chip with a 45 W TDP. The i7-8559U has integrated Iris Pro Plus graphics, while the Xeon D-1548 has none. If you need a CPU with integrated graphics for a compact mobile system, the i7-8559U is the only option here. But the data shows that for raw CPU performance, the Xeon D-1548 is the winner. The i7-8559U's average score of 2225 is 0.3% lower than the Xeon's 2231, confirming that the Xeon is the faster chip overall.

For anyone building a server or workstation, the Xeon D-1548 is the clear choice. It offers ECC memory support, which the i7-8559U lacks, and it supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory, whereas the i7-8559U only supports DDR4. The Xeon D-1548 also has 24 PCIe Gen 3 lanes, while the i7-8559U has no PCIe data listed. The i7-8559U is a viable option for a laptop or mini-PC where power efficiency and integrated graphics matter more than raw compute, but it cannot match the Xeon D-1548 in any benchmark.

Architecture Differences

The Xeon D-1548 is built on the Broadwell architecture, specifically the Broadwell-DE variant, while the i7-8559U uses the Kaby Lake architecture, specifically Kaby Lake-U Refresh. Both are manufactured on Intel's 14 nm process node, but the Xeon D-1548 has a larger die size of 246 mm² compared to the i7-8559U's 123 mm². The Xeon D-1548 contains 3,200 million transistors, while the i7-8559U has no transistor count listed in the fact pack. The larger die and transistor count reflect the Xeon's 8-core design versus the i7's 4-core design.

The cache structures are fundamentally different. The Xeon D-1548 has 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, with 1.5 MB of L3 cache per core, meaning its total L3 cache is 12 MB across 8 cores. The i7-8559U also has 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, but its L3 cache is 8 MB shared across all 4 cores. The per-core L3 allocation is higher on the Xeon (1.5 MB per core) than on the i7 (2 MB per core if you divide 8 MB by 4, but the fact pack lists the i7's cache as shared, not per-core). The Xeon's cache design is optimized for server workloads with many threads, while the i7's shared cache is typical for mobile parts.

The Xeon D-1548 supports ECC memory, a critical feature for servers, while the i7-8559U does not. The Xeon also supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory, while the i7 supports only DDR4. The Xeon has a PCIe Gen 3 interface with 24 lanes (CPU only), while the i7 has no PCIe data listed. The Xeon has no integrated graphics, while the i7 includes Iris Pro Plus. These architectural differences explain why the Xeon is classified as a Server/Workstation chip and the i7 as a Mobile chip.

Specification Differences

The two chips differ in nearly every specification field. The Xeon D-1548 has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the i7-8559U has 4 cores and 8 threads. The Xeon's base clock is 2.00 GHz and boost clock is 2.60 GHz, while the i7's base clock is 2.70 GHz and boost clock is 4.50 GHz. The i7 has significantly higher clock speeds, but the Xeon's extra cores compensate in multicore workloads. The TDP also differs: the Xeon is rated at 45 W, the i7 at 28 W, making the i7 more power-efficient.

The sockets are different: the Xeon uses Intel BGA 1667, while the i7 uses Intel BGA 1356. The Xeon's memory bus is dual-channel, while the i7 has no memory bus listed. The Xeon supports ECC memory, the i7 does not. The Xeon has a launch MSRP of $555, while the i7 has no launch MSRP listed. The release dates differ: the Xeon was released on 2015-10-31, while the i7 was released on 2018-04-04. The Xeon's part number is SR2DJ, while the i7 has no part number listed. Both chips have locked multipliers and are still in active production.

The Xeon D-1548 belongs to the Xeon D (Broadwell-DE) generation, while the i7-8559U belongs to the Core i7 (Kaby Lake-U Refresh) generation. The Xeon's market segment is Server/Workstation, and the i7's is Mobile. The Xeon has a die size of 246 mm², the i7 has a die size of 123 mm². The Xeon has 3,200 million transistors, the i7 has no transistor count. These specification differences highlight that the Xeon is designed for sustained multi-threaded loads, while the i7 is designed for bursty, power-constrained mobile use.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Xeon D-1548 has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core i7-8559U has 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: What is the performance difference in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The Xeon D-1548 scores 7713 in Cinebench R23 multicore, while the i7-8559U scores 6984, giving the Xeon a 10.4% advantage.

Q: Does the i7-8559U win any benchmark in the head-to-head comparison?

A: No, the i7-8559U wins 0 out of 6 head-to-head benchmarks. The Xeon D-1548 wins all 6.

Q: Which CPU supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Xeon D-1548 supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core i7-8559U does not.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two CPUs?

A: The Xeon D-1548 has a TDP of 45 W, while the i7-8559U has a TDP of 28 W.

Q: Which CPU has integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core i7-8559U has integrated Iris Pro Plus graphics, while the Intel Xeon D-1548 has no integrated graphics.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon D-1548 wins in every benchmark category where both chips have results. It is 10.5% faster in Cinebench R15 multicore, 10.1% faster in R15 single-core, 10.4% faster in R20 multicore and single-core, and 10.4% faster in R23 multicore and single-core. This means the Xeon D-1548 is the superior choice for any workload that relies on CPU compute, whether multi-threaded rendering or single-threaded tasks. It also supports ECC memory and has 24 PCIe Gen 3 lanes, making it suitable for servers and workstations that need data integrity and expansion capability.

The Intel Core i7-8559U has no benchmark wins, but it has strengths in other areas. It has a lower TDP of 28 W versus 45 W, making it more power-efficient for mobile devices. It includes Iris Pro Plus integrated graphics, which the Xeon lacks, so it can drive a display without a discrete GPU. It also has a higher boost clock of 4.50 GHz versus the Xeon's 2.60 GHz, which could be beneficial for short bursts of activity, though the benchmark data does not reflect this advantage. The i7-8559U is the only choice here if you need integrated graphics or a lower power draw.

For a server or workstation, the Xeon D-1548 is the clear winner based on performance, ECC support, and PCIe lanes. For a laptop or compact mobile system, the i7-8559U is the practical choice despite losing all benchmarks, because it offers integrated graphics and a lower TDP. The Xeon D-1548's launch MSRP is $555, while the i7-8559U has no listed MSRP, but the data shows the Xeon delivers more compute performance per dollar in its price range. The i7-8559U's Geekbench scores of 4293 multicore and 1384 single-core are present in the fact pack, but without a direct comparison, they cannot be used to claim a win. The verdict is straightforward: the Xeon D-1548 wins on performance, the i7-8559U wins on mobility features.