Intel Xeon D-1527 vs Intel Xeon E3-1235L v5 Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data splits cleanly between these two server processors, though the margin is not what the thread counts might suggest. The Intel Xeon E3-1235L v5 wins all six recorded head-to-head comparisons, but every victory is narrow, ranging from 1.7% to 2.1%. The Intel Xeon D-1527, despite having twice the threads (8 versus 4), never takes a single test.

Looking at the use-case split, the E3-1235L v5 is the stronger choice for both single-threaded and multi-threaded workloads, but the advantage is consistent rather than dramatic. In single-core tests, the E3-1235L v5 leads by 1.7% in Cinebench R15 (60 versus 59), by 2% in R20 (252 versus 247), and by 2% in R23 (601 versus 589). These are small margins, but they appear in every generation of the Cinebench suite, suggesting a real architectural edge in per-thread performance.

For multi-threaded work, the E3-1235L v5 again takes all three tests: R15 multicore shows 429 versus 420 (2.1% ahead), R20 multicore shows 1789 versus 1753 (2.1% ahead), and R23 multicore shows 4261 versus 4176 (2% ahead). This is notable because the D-1527 has double the threads, yet still loses. The E3-1235L v5's higher boost clock of 3.00 GHz versus 2.70 GHz, combined with a larger shared L3 cache of 8 MB versus 1.5 MB per core, appears to compensate for the thread deficit.

The D-1527's strengths are not visible in raw benchmark scores, but its specification sheet tells a different story. It offers 24 PCIe Gen 3 lanes versus 16 on the E3-1235L v5, a larger die at 246 mm² versus 122 mm², and more transistors at 3,200 million versus 1,750 million. These features point toward I/O expansion and integrated networking scenarios, not raw compute throughput. The D-1527 also remains in active production, while the E3-1235L v5 is end-of-life.

The Verdict

The recorded data favors the Intel Xeon E3-1235L v5 in every benchmark category. If the decision rests purely on Cinebench scores, the E3-1235L v5 is the faster processor, period. Its wins are small but universal, and it holds a 2% to 2.1% advantage across both single-core and multi-core tests. The average benchmark score reinforces this: 1232 for the E3-1235L v5 versus 1207 for the D-1527, a difference of roughly 2%.

However, the D-1527 is not without its reasons to exist. It draws 35 W TDP versus 25 W for the E3-1235L v5, but it brings more PCIe lanes (24 versus 16), a newer production status (active versus end-of-life), and a lower launch MSRP of $213 versus $250. The D-1527 also uses a BGA 1667 socket, which is a soldered, embedded-style platform, while the E3-1235L v5 uses Socket 1151, a replaceable socket. For systems where the CPU is meant to be a permanent part of a compact network appliance or embedded server, the D-1527's active status and I/O capabilities carry weight.

The E3-1235L v5 should be picked by users optimizing for compute performance in a standard socketed motherboard, especially where single-thread responsiveness matters. The D-1527 should be picked by those building fixed, dense platforms that need more PCIe connectivity and do not require the absolute highest Cinebench scores. Both processors sit at the 34th percentile among all CPUs, meaning neither is a performance leader in the broader market, but within this pairing, the E3-1235L v5 is the benchmark winner.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest margin of victory for the Intel Xeon E3-1235L v5 is 2.1%, achieved in two multi-core tests. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the E3-1235L v5 scores 429 against 420 for the D-1527. In Cinebench R20 multicore, the same 2.1% gap appears with 1789 versus 1753. These are the biggest wins in the entire comparison, and they are telling: despite having half the threads, the E3-1235L v5 outpaces the D-1527 in multi-threaded rendering workloads. The boost clock difference of 3.00 GHz versus 2.70 GHz likely drives this, as does the 8 MB shared L3 cache versus the D-1527's 1.5 MB per core arrangement.

The next tier of wins is at exactly 2% in three tests. Cinebench R20 singlecore shows 252 versus 247, Cinebench R23 multicore shows 4261 versus 4176, and Cinebench R23 singlecore shows 601 versus 589. These margins are consistent, indicating a stable per-clock advantage for the Skylake architecture over Broadwell in this configuration. The smallest win is 1.7% in Cinebench R15 singlecore, with 60 versus 59. Even here, the E3-1235L v5 comes out ahead.

The D-1527's best performance relative to the E3-1235L v5 is in the R15 singlecore test, where it trails by only 1.7%. Its worst relative showing is in the two multi-core R15 and R20 tests, where it trails by 2.1%. Across all six benchmarks, the D-1527 never closes the gap below 1.7%. The data shows no scenario where the D-1527's additional threads translate into a win, which suggests that the E3-1235L v5's higher clock speed and cache configuration are more impactful than raw thread count in these workloads.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more threads?

A: The Intel Xeon D-1527 has 8 threads, while the Intel Xeon E3-1235L v5 has 4 threads. Both have 4 cores.

Q: Does the thread advantage of the D-1527 show up in benchmarks?

A: No. The D-1527 loses all six Cinebench tests despite having twice the threads. The E3-1235L v5 wins every multi-core test by 2% to 2.1%.

Q: What is the largest benchmark margin in this comparison?

A: The largest margin is 2.1%, achieved by the E3-1235L v5 in Cinebench R15 multicore (429 versus 420) and Cinebench R20 multicore (1789 versus 1753).

Q: Are these processors still in production?

A: The Intel Xeon E3-1235L v5 is end-of-life, while the Intel Xeon D-1527 is listed as active in production.

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

A: The E3-1235L v5 sits within 1% of the Intel Core i5-2500 and within 1% of the Intel Core i7-3610QM, with an average score of 1232. The D-1527 is within 0.3% of the Intel Xeon E5645 and Intel Core i3-7300T, with an average score of 1207.

Q: Which processor has more PCIe lanes?

A: The Intel Xeon D-1527 has 24 PCIe Gen 3 lanes, while the Intel Xeon E3-1235L v5 has 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations. The Intel Xeon E3-1235L v5 uses the Skylake architecture with the Skylake-DT codename, built on a 14 nm process. The Intel Xeon D-1527 uses the Broadwell architecture with the Broadwell-DE codename, also on a 14 nm process. Both are manufactured by Intel, but the transistor counts differ substantially: the E3-1235L v5 has 1,750 million transistors on a 122 mm² die, while the D-1527 has 3,200 million transistors on a 246 mm² die.

Cache configurations also diverge. The E3-1235L v5 has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The D-1527 has the same L1 and L2 sizes per core, but its L3 cache is organized as 1.5 MB per core, which for a 4-core chip totals 6 MB, smaller than the E3-1235L v5's 8 MB shared pool. This larger shared cache likely contributes to the E3-1235L v5's consistent benchmark wins.

The D-1527 compensates with more PCIe connectivity: 24 Gen 3 lanes versus 16 Gen 3 lanes on the E3-1235L v5. The E3-1235L v5 includes integrated graphics in the form of HD Graphics P530, while the D-1527 has no integrated graphics. Both support DDR3 and DDR4 memory in dual-channel mode, and both support ECC memory. The memory bandwidth is listed as 34.1 GB/s for the E3-1235L v5, while the D-1527's bandwidth is not recorded in the database.

Specification Differences

The two chips differ in several key specifications. The E3-1235L v5 has a base clock of 2.00 GHz and a boost clock of 3.00 GHz, while the D-1527 has a base clock of 2.20 GHz and a boost clock of 2.70 GHz. The E3-1235L v5 starts lower but boosts higher, which aligns with its single-core benchmark wins. The D-1527 has a higher base clock but a lower boost ceiling.

Thermal design power differs by 10 W: the E3-1235L v5 is rated at 25 W TDP, the D-1527 at 35 W TDP. The socket types are entirely different: the E3-1235L v5 uses Intel Socket 1151, a replaceable socket, while the D-1527 uses Intel BGA 1667, a ball-grid array that is soldered. The E3-1235L v5 has 4 cores and 4 threads, the D-1527 has 4 cores and 8 threads.

Production status separates them further: the E3-1235L v5 is end-of-life, the D-1527 is active. The launch MSRP values differ as well, with the E3-1235L v5 at $250 and the D-1527 at $213. The part numbers are SR2LM for the E3-1235L v5 and SR2DK for the D-1527. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier. The release dates are close, with the E3-1235L v5 released in October 2015 and the D-1527 later that same month.