Intel Xeon D-1521 vs Intel Xeon W-2104 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data delivers a remarkably consistent picture: the Intel Xeon D-1521 wins every single Cinebench comparison, though by margins that are almost uniformly narrow. Across six head-to-head tests, the D-1521 takes all six wins, with the Xeon W-2104 never once finishing ahead. The largest gap appears in both Cinebench R15 single-core and R20 single-core, where the D-1521 leads by 1.5% and 1.4% respectively. In multi-core workloads, the D-1521's advantage narrows slightly to 1.3% in both R15 and R20, then settles at 1.2% in R23 multi-core and R23 single-core.

Looking at the raw scores, the D-1521 posts 476 versus 470 in Cinebench R15 multi-core, a difference of just six points. The single-core R15 result is even tighter: 67 against 66. Moving to Cinebench R20, the D-1521 scores 1985 multi-core and 280 single-core, while the W-2104 manages 1960 and 276. In the newest R23 test, the D-1521 reaches 4728 multi-core and 667 single-core, compared to 4669 and 659 for the W-2104. These are sub-2% margins across the board — statistically meaningful in aggregate but individually small.

The average benchmark scores reinforce this near-parity. The W-2104 averages 1350 across all tests, while the D-1521 averages 1367, a gap of roughly 1.3%. Both processors sit at the 36th percentile among all CPUs, meaning they occupy essentially the same performance tier. The W-2104's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-7400T at 1348 (0.1% behind), the Intel Core i5-4670 at 1347 (0.2% behind), and the Intel Xeon E3-1226 v3 at 1357 (0.5% ahead). The D-1521's closest competition includes the Intel Core i7-3820QM at 1366 (0.1% behind) and the Intel Xeon E5-1410 v2 at 1368 (0.1% ahead). Notably, neither chip breaks away from its peer group — both are bracketed by rivals within a single percentage point.

The consistency of the D-1521's victories is the story here. It wins by 1.3% in R15 multi-core, 1.5% in R15 single-core, 1.3% in R20 multi-core, 1.4% in R20 single-core, 1.2% in R23 multi-core, and 1.2% in R23 single-core. There is no workload category where the W-2104 shows a compensating strength. The data suggests a systematic, if modest, advantage for the D-1521 across rendering workloads of varying thread counts and instruction sets.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmark comparisons?

A: The Intel Xeon D-1521 wins all six head-to-head comparisons against the Intel Xeon W-2104, covering Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 in both single-core and multi-core tests.

Q: How large is the performance gap between the two chips?

A: The D-1521 leads by margins ranging from 1.2% to 1.5% depending on the test. The smallest gaps are 1.2% in Cinebench R23 multi-core and single-core; the largest is 1.5% in Cinebench R15 single-core.

Q: What are the average benchmark scores for each processor?

A: The W-2104 has an average benchmark score of 1350, while the D-1521 averages 1367. Both processors sit at the 36th percentile among all CPUs.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the Intel Xeon W-2104 and the Intel Xeon D-1521 support ECC memory, making both suitable for server and workstation memory configurations.

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

A: The W-2104 is within 0.5% of its nearest rivals, including the Intel Xeon E3-1226 v3 (0.5% ahead) and the Intel Core i5-7400T (0.1% behind). The D-1521 is similarly close to its peers, with the Intel Core i7-3820QM 0.1% behind and the Intel Xeon E5-1410 v2 0.1% ahead.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Xeon D-1521 has a boost clock of 2.70 GHz, while the Intel Xeon W-2104 has no boost clock listed in the data.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations within Intel's 14 nm process node. The Xeon W-2104 is built on the Skylake architecture, specifically the Skylake-W codename, while the Xeon D-1521 uses the Broadwell architecture under the Broadwell-DE codename. Both are fabricated on a 14 nm process at Intel's foundry, but the similarities largely end there.

The die sizes differ substantially. The W-2104 has a die size of 484 mm², while the D-1521 is considerably smaller at 246 mm². The D-1521 also lists a transistor count of 3,200 million, whereas the W-2104 has no transistor count specified in the data. This size difference reflects different design priorities: the W-2104 targets a larger, more complex Skylake-W die, while the D-1521 uses a more compact Broadwell-DE layout.

Cache hierarchies diverge significantly between the two. Both share the same L1 cache at 64 KB per core, but the L2 cache differs: the W-2104 offers 1 MB per core, while the D-1521 provides 256 KB per core. The L3 cache configuration is also distinct — the W-2104 has 8.25 MB shared across all cores, whereas the D-1521 allocates 1.5 MB per core. This structural difference means the W-2104 pools its L3 cache, while the D-1521 partitions it per core.

Memory support shows another architectural split. The W-2104 supports DDR4 memory exclusively, running on a quad-channel memory bus with a memory bandwidth of 85.3 GB/s. The D-1521 supports both DDR3 and DDR4, but uses a dual-channel memory bus, with no memory bandwidth figure listed in the data. For PCIe, the W-2104 provides Gen 3 with 48 lanes (CPU only), while the D-1521 offers Gen 3 with 24 lanes (CPU only) — a 2x difference in available lanes.

The socket and form factor also differ. The W-2104 uses Intel Socket 2066, a socketed LGA design, while the D-1521 uses Intel BGA 1667, a ball-grid array that is typically soldered to the motherboard. The W-2104 has a base clock of 3.20 GHz with no boost clock, while the D-1521 has a base clock of 2.40 GHz and a boost clock of 2.70 GHz.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across several key specification fields. The core and thread counts are the most obvious: both have 4 cores, but the W-2104 has 4 threads, while the D-1521 has 8 threads thanks to Hyper-Threading. The base clock differs as well — the W-2104 runs at 3.20 GHz, while the D-1521 runs at 2.40 GHz, with the D-1521 additionally offering a 2.70 GHz boost clock that the W-2104 lacks entirely.

Thermal design power presents a stark contrast. The W-2104 has a TDP of 120 watts, while the D-1521 draws only 45 watts — a 75-watt difference that makes the D-1521 far more power-efficient on paper. The socket types are incompatible: the W-2104 uses Intel Socket 2066, while the D-1521 uses Intel BGA 1667.

Memory specifications differ in several respects. The W-2104 supports only DDR4, while the D-1521 supports both DDR3 and DDR4. The memory bus is quad-channel on the W-2104 versus dual-channel on the D-1521, and the W-2104 lists a memory bandwidth of 85.3 GB/s, while the D-1521 has no bandwidth figure provided. PCIe lane counts also differ, with the W-2104 offering 48 Gen 3 lanes versus 24 Gen 3 lanes on the D-1521.

The L2 and L3 cache configurations differ as noted above: 1 MB per core L2 on the W-2104 versus 256 KB per core on the D-1521, and 8.25 MB shared L3 on the W-2104 versus 1.5 MB per core on the D-1521. The release dates are also different: the W-2104 launched in August 2017, while the D-1521 launched in October 2015. Production status differs too — the W-2104 is marked as end-of-life, while the D-1521 remains active.

The Verdict

The benchmark data points to a clear, if narrow, winner in raw performance: the Intel Xeon D-1521. It wins all six head-to-head Cinebench comparisons, with advantages ranging from 1.2% to 1.5%. The D-1521 also posts a higher average benchmark score (1367 versus 1350) and matches the W-2104 at the 36th percentile among all CPUs. If the only question is which chip renders faster, the answer is the D-1521.

But the data also tells a more nuanced story about trade-offs. The W-2104 offers a significantly higher base clock (3.20 GHz versus 2.40 GHz), a larger shared L3 cache (8.25 MB versus 1.5 MB per core), double the L2 cache per core (1 MB versus 256 KB), quad-channel memory support versus dual-channel, 48 PCIe lanes versus 24, and a higher memory bandwidth (85.3 GB/s versus none listed). These are substantial platform-level advantages that the D-1521 cannot match, even though they do not translate into Cinebench wins.

The choice between these two depends on the workload. For pure CPU rendering performance in Cinebench-style tests, the D-1521 is the better pick — it wins every test and does so while consuming 45 watts versus 120 watts. For systems that need broader memory bandwidth, more PCIe lanes, or a socketed LGA form factor, the W-2104 offers infrastructure advantages despite its performance deficit. The W-2104's 484 mm² die and quad-channel memory bus suggest a design aimed at memory-intensive workstation tasks, while the D-1521's compact 246 mm² die and BGA socket target dense, power-constrained server deployments.

Buyers should also note the production status: the W-2104 is end-of-life, while the D-1521 remains in active production. That, combined with the D-1521's benchmark sweep and lower TDP, makes the D-1521 the more forward-looking choice. The W-2104's higher clock speed and richer I/O remain relevant for specific workstation builds, but the data consistently favors the D-1521 in the workloads measured here. When the margin is this consistent — six wins out of six tests — the verdict writes itself.