Intel Core i7-8559U vs Intel Xeon D-1557 Comparison

The Verdict

The Intel Xeon D-1557 and Intel Core i7-8559U occupy completely different corners of the processor market, and the benchmark data makes that split clear. The Xeon D-1557 wins every single head-to-head Cinebench test in the database, with margins ranging from 12.8% to 13.1%. It is the faster chip in absolute compute performance, but that is only half the story.

The Xeon D-1557 is a 12-core, 24-thread server processor built for sustained workloads in a BGA 1667 package. It posts a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 7892, nearly 13% ahead of the Core i7-8559U's 6984. The single-core gap is similar: 1114 versus 986, a 13% advantage. The Xeon also holds a higher average benchmark score of 2282 against 2225 for the Core i7, and both sit at the 47th percentile among all CPUs in the database.

The Core i7-8559U is a mobile part, a 4-core, 8-thread Kaby Lake-R chip with a 28 W TDP and integrated Iris Pro Plus graphics. It is not competitive with the Xeon on raw multi-threaded throughput, and the data shows zero benchmark wins for the Core i7 across the six recorded Cinebench tests. However, its own nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon D-1548 and Intel Xeon D-1715TER, showing that it trades blows with older Xeons in average score, even if it loses to this specific Xeon D-1557.

Who should pick which, strictly from the data: if the workload is multi-threaded, server-class, or requires ECC memory, the Xeon D-1557 is the only choice. If the design calls for a low-power mobile chip with integrated graphics, the Core i7-8559U is the only option that exists in this comparison. There is no overlap in socket, TDP, or memory support. The Xeon D-1557 is for embedded and server builds, while the Core i7-8559U is for laptops and compact mobile systems.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are separated by more than two years of release dates and entirely different design goals. The Xeon D-1557 launched in February 2016 on the Broadwell architecture, specifically the Broadwell-DE generation. It uses a 14 nm process from Intel with 3,200 million transistors on a 246 mm² die. It has 12 cores and 24 threads, with a base clock of 1.50 GHz and a boost clock of 2.10 GHz. Its TDP is 45 W, and it supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration. ECC memory is supported, which is a critical feature for server and workstation reliability.

The Core i7-8559U launched in April 2018 on the Kaby Lake architecture, specifically Kaby Lake-U Refresh. It also uses a 14 nm process, but the die is much smaller at 123 mm². It has 4 cores and 8 threads, with a base clock of 2.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz. The TDP is 28 W, significantly lower than the Xeon. It supports DDR4 memory only, with no ECC support. The Core i7 includes integrated Iris Pro Plus graphics, while the Xeon D-1557 has no integrated graphics at all.

Cache layouts differ substantially. Both chips have 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core. The Xeon D-1557 has 1.5 MB of L3 cache per core, which works out to 18 MB total across 12 cores, though the database does not list a total L3 figure. The Core i7-8559U has 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The Xeon's per-core L3 allocation is designed for many concurrent threads, while the Core i7's shared pool serves fewer cores at much higher clocks.

The Xeon D-1557 supports PCIe Gen 3 with 24 lanes, CPU only. The Core i7-8559U has no PCIe information recorded in the database. The Xeon uses an Intel BGA 1667 socket, while the Core i7 uses Intel BGA 1356. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier. The Xeon D-1557 carries a launch MSRP of $694, while the Core i7-8559U has no recorded launch MSRP.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are consistent across every Cinebench version recorded. The Xeon D-1557 wins all six tests, with every delta between 12.8% and 13.1%. This uniformity suggests the performance gap is structural rather than workload-specific.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Xeon scores 795 against 703 for the Core i7, a 13.1% advantage. The single-core R15 test shows the same 13.1% delta, with scores of 112 and 99. That is notable: single-core performance is usually where a high-clock mobile chip like the Core i7 would excel, but the Xeon's 2.10 GHz boost still beats the Core i7's 4.50 GHz boost in this test. The Core i7's higher clock does not translate to a win in the recorded data.

Cinebench R20 multi-core shows 3314 for the Xeon versus 2933 for the Core i7, a 13% delta. Single-core R20 is 467 against 414, a 12.8% delta. The pattern continues in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the Xeon scores 7892 and the Core i7 scores 6984, again a 13% delta. Single-core R23 is 1114 versus 986, also 13%.

The Core i7-8559U has one additional benchmark in the database that the Xeon lacks: Geekbench multi-core and single-core scores of 4293 and 1384, respectively. The Xeon D-1557 has no Geekbench results recorded, so no direct comparison is possible for that test. Across the six comparable Cinebench tests, the Xeon D-1557 is ahead by a consistent 13% margin, indicating a clear and repeatable performance advantage.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Xeon D-1557 wins every multi-core Cinebench test. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 7892 versus 6984 for the Core i7-8559U, a 13% advantage. R15 multi-core is 795 versus 703, also 13.1% ahead.

Q: Does the Core i7-8559U win in any benchmark?

A: No. Across the six recorded head-to-head Cinebench tests, the Core i7-8559U has zero wins. The Xeon D-1557 wins all six, with deltas ranging from 12.8% to 13.1%.

Q: Which chip has more cores and threads?

A: The Xeon D-1557 has 12 cores and 24 threads. The Core i7-8559U has 4 cores and 8 threads. The Xeon also has a higher TDP at 45 W versus 28 W.

Q: Can the Core i7-8559U use ECC memory?

A: No. The Core i7-8559U supports DDR4 memory only and does not support ECC. The Xeon D-1557 supports both DDR3 and DDR4 in a dual-channel configuration and does support ECC memory.

Q: What about integrated graphics?

A: The Core i7-8559U includes Iris Pro Plus integrated graphics. The Xeon D-1557 has no integrated graphics, which is typical for a server processor.

Q: How do these chips compare to their nearest rivals?

A: The Xeon D-1557 has an average benchmark score of 2282, with its closest rival being the Intel Xeon E5-2629 v3 at 2283, a 0% delta. The Core i7-8559U averages 2225, with its closest rival being the Intel Core i7-5775C at 2224, also a 0% delta.

Where Each One Wins

The Xeon D-1557 wins in every measured compute benchmark, so the use-case analysis is less about performance and more about platform capabilities. The Xeon is the clear choice for server and workstation deployments that need many cores, ECC memory support, and PCIe Gen 3 with 24 lanes. Its 12-core, 24-thread configuration is built for multi-threaded throughput, and the data confirms it delivers a consistent 13% advantage over the Core i7 across all Cinebench versions. The 45 W TDP and BGA 1667 socket target embedded and compact server boards, not laptops.

The Xeon also wins on memory flexibility. It supports both DDR3 and DDR4, whereas the Core i7 supports only DDR4. ECC support is exclusive to the Xeon, which matters for reliability-sensitive workloads. The Core i7 has no ECC option and no recorded PCIe lane information.

The Core i7-8559U wins on power efficiency and integrated graphics. Its 28 W TDP is significantly lower than the Xeon's 45 W, making it suitable for thin-and-light mobile designs. The Iris Pro Plus integrated graphics eliminate the need for a discrete GPU in basic display tasks, something the Xeon cannot offer. The Core i7 also has a much higher boost clock at 4.50 GHz versus 2.10 GHz, although the recorded benchmarks show the Xeon still wins single-core tests. The Core i7's smaller die size of 123 mm² versus 246 mm² reflects its more modest transistor count and lower production cost, though pricing data is not recorded for this chip.

For a mobile workstation or a compact laptop, the Core i7-8559U is the only viable option in this pairing. For a rack server, a network appliance, or a storage controller with ECC requirements, the Xeon D-1557 is the clear winner. The data does not support any scenario where the Core i7 outperforms the Xeon in raw compute; its advantages are limited to power, graphics, and form factor.