Intel Xeon D-1528 vs Intel Xeon E3-1265L v4 Comparison
Intel Xeon D-1528
Xeon E3-1265L v4
PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKS
Analysis: Intel Xeon D-1528 vs Intel Xeon E3-1265L v4
The Verdict
The benchmark database places both processors in the 40th percentile of all CPUs, indicating they occupy a similar performance tier. However, the data consistently favors the Intel Xeon E3-1265L v4 across every recorded test. It wins all six head-to-head comparisons, with margins ranging from 1.9% to 2.4%. The Xeon E3-1265L v4 delivers a 2.4% lead in Cinebench R15 single-core, a 2% advantage in R20 single-core, and a 2% edge in R23 single-core. Multi-core results show a 1.9% lead in R15, R20, and R23 respectively.
The Intel Xeon D-1528, despite having two additional cores and four additional threads, cannot translate that hardware advantage into superior benchmark scores. The recorded data shows the E3-1265L v4 averaging 1709 points across all benchmarks, while the D-1528 averages 1677 points. This 32-point gap, roughly 1.9%, places the E3-1265L v4 ahead of the D-1528 in the database rankings.
For buyers choosing between these two, the Xeon E3-1265L v4 is the stronger performer in every measured workload. It offers higher clock speeds, a smaller die, and integrated graphics, all within the same 35 W thermal envelope. The D-1528 counters with more cores, more PCIe lanes, dual memory type support, and an active production status, but the performance data does not reward those specifications with higher scores.
The E3-1265L v4 is the correct pick for anyone prioritizing raw benchmark results, single-threaded responsiveness, or a socketed platform. The D-1528 makes sense for embedded or compact deployments where the BGA socket, additional PCIe lanes, or DDR4 support matter more than absolute Cinebench scores. Neither chip unlocks multipliers, so overclocking is not a differentiating factor.
Architecture Differences
Both processors share the Broadwell architecture and a 14 nm process node from Intel. The E3-1265L v4 uses the Broadwell-DT design with a die size of 182 mm², while the D-1528 uses the Broadwell-DE design with a larger 246 mm² die and 3,200 million transistors. The smaller die of the E3-1265L v4 does not include a transistor count in the database, but its physical footprint is 64 mm² smaller than the D-1528.
Cache configurations differ significantly. The E3-1265L v4 provides 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The D-1528 matches the per-core L1 and L2 sizes but allocates 1.5 MB of L3 per core, which totals 9 MB across six cores. The E3-1265L v4 has a unified shared pool, while the D-1528 distributes cache on a per-core basis.
Memory support separates the two clearly. The E3-1265L v4 supports only DDR3 in a dual-channel configuration, with a recorded memory bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s. The D-1528 supports both DDR3 and DDR4 in dual-channel mode, though the database does not list a bandwidth figure for it. Both processors support ECC memory, making them suitable for server and workstation duties.
PCIe connectivity also differs. The E3-1265L v4 provides 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes, while the D-1528 provides 24 PCIe Gen 3 lanes. The extra lanes on the D-1528 enable more expansion devices or storage controllers. Integrated graphics appear only on the E3-1265L v4, which includes Intel Iris Pro P6300; the D-1528 has no integrated graphics listed.
Sockets and physical mounting diverge as well. The E3-1265L v4 uses Intel Socket 1150, a socketed platform that allows processor replacement. The D-1528 uses Intel BGA 1667, a ball-grid array soldered directly to the motherboard. The E3-1265L v4 launched in June 2015 with a launch MSRP of $417, while the D-1528 launched in October 2015 with a launch MSRP of $320. The E3-1265L v4 is marked end-of-life, while the D-1528 remains active in production.
FAQ
Q: Which processor has more cores?
A: The Intel Xeon D-1528 has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Xeon E3-1265L v4 has 4 cores and 8 threads.
Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?
A: Yes, both the E3-1265L v4 and the D-1528 support ECC memory, making them appropriate for error-correcting server workloads.
Q: Which chip offers integrated graphics?
A: Only the Intel Xeon E3-1265L v4 includes integrated graphics, specifically the Intel Iris Pro P6300. The D-1528 has no integrated graphics listed in the database.
Q: What is the performance difference in multi-core tests?
A: The E3-1265L v4 leads by 1.9% in Cinebench R15 multi-core (595 vs 584), R20 multi-core (2482 vs 2435), and R23 multi-core (5910 vs 5799).
Q: Which processor supports DDR4 memory?
A: The Intel Xeon D-1528 supports both DDR3 and DDR4. The E3-1265L v4 only supports DDR3.
Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?
A: The E3-1265L v4 averages 1709 points, while the D-1528 averages 1677 points, a difference of 32 points in favor of the E3-1265L v4.
Specification Differences
The two processors diverge on several key specifications. Core count differs: the E3-1265L v4 has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the D-1528 has 6 cores and 12 threads. Clock speeds also differ. The E3-1265L v4 runs at 2.30 GHz base and 3.30 GHz boost, compared to the D-1528's 1900.00 MHz base and 2.50 GHz boost. The E3-1265L v4 offers substantially higher operating frequencies.
Socket types are incompatible. The E3-1265L v4 uses Intel Socket 1150, a PGA socket, while the D-1528 uses Intel BGA 1667, a soldered ball-grid array. Die size and transistor count diverge as well: the E3-1265L v4 measures 182 mm² with no transistor count listed, while the D-1528 measures 246 mm² with 3,200 million transistors.
Cache organization differs. The E3-1265L v4 has 6 MB of shared L3 cache, while the D-1528 has 1.5 MB per core, totaling 9 MB across six cores. Memory support separates them further: the E3-1265L v4 supports DDR3 only with 29.9 GB/s bandwidth, while the D-1528 supports both DDR3 and DDR4, with no bandwidth figure recorded in the database.
PCIe lane counts vary. The E3-1265L v4 offers 16 Gen 3 lanes, while the D-1528 offers 24 Gen 3 lanes. Integrated graphics are exclusive to the E3-1265L v4, which includes Intel Iris Pro P6300. The D-1528 lists no integrated graphics. Production status also differs: the E3-1265L v4 is end-of-life, while the D-1528 is active. Launch dates place the E3-1265L v4 in June 2015 and the D-1528 in October 2015. The launch MSRP for the E3-1265L v4 was $417, and for the D-1528 it was $320. Both processors are multiplier-locked.
Head-to-Head Benchmarks
The recorded head-to-head data shows a clean sweep for the E3-1265L v4 across all six Cinebench tests. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the E3-1265L v4 scores 595 against the D-1528's 584, a 1.9% lead. The single-core R15 test shows a wider margin: 84 versus 82, a 2.4% advantage. This single-core gap reflects the E3-1265L v4's higher boost clock of 3.30 GHz compared to 2.50 GHz on the D-1528.
Cinebench R20 replicates the multi-core pattern. The E3-1265L v4 scores 2482, while the D-1528 scores 2435, again a 1.9% difference. In single-core R20, the E3-1265L v4 posts 350 against 343, a 2% edge. The consistency of these margins across different Cinebench versions suggests a stable performance advantage rather than a workload-specific artifact.
Cinebench R23 confirms the trend. Multi-core results show 5910 for the E3-1265L v4 and 5799 for the D-1528, a 1.9% lead. Single-core results show 834 versus 818, a 2% advantage for the E3-1265L v4. Across all six tests, the E3-1265L v4 wins with margins between 1.9% and 2.4%, never exceeding 3% but never losing a single test.
The D-1528's six cores and twelve threads should theoretically benefit multi-threaded workloads, yet the data shows no such benefit. The E3-1265L v4's higher clocks and shared 6 MB L3 cache appear to compensate for its fewer cores. The D-1528's per-core L3 allocation of 1.5 MB does not translate into a benchmark win.
Average benchmark scores reinforce the head-to-head results. The E3-1265L v4 averages 1709 points and sits level with the Intel Xeon E5-1620 v3, which also scores 1709. The D-1528 averages 1677 points, placing it near the Intel Core i5-4690K at 1682, a 0.3% difference in the rival's favor. The D-1528 also trails the Intel Core i7-5850HQ and Intel Core i7-3770K, both at 1688, by 0.6%. It leads the Intel Core i7-6700TE at 1666 by 0.6%.
The nearest rivals for the E3-1265L v4 show a tight cluster. The Intel Core i7-990X scores 1713, 0.2% higher, while the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 2700U and Intel Core i7-4910MQ both score 1715 and 1716, 0.4% higher. These margins are minimal, placing the E3-1265L v4 in a dense competitive field despite its end-of-life status. The D-1528, by contrast, sits slightly below its nearest rivals, with only the Intel Core i7-6700TE below it.
For users focused on Cinebench-style rendering workloads, the E3-1265L v4 is the clear winner in this comparison. The D-1528 offers more cores and more PCIe lanes, but the benchmark data shows no performance payoff for those features. The E3-1265L v4 wins every recorded test, and its average score places it ahead of the D-1528's average by roughly 1.9%.