Intel Xeon D-1531 vs Intel Xeon E3-1231 v3 Comparison
Intel Xeon D-1531
Xeon E3-1231 v3
PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKS
Analysis: Intel Xeon D-1531 vs Intel Xeon E3-1231 v3
The Intel Xeon D-1531 and Intel Xeon E3-1231 v3 are both server-class Intel processors, but they come from different design eras and target different deployment scenarios. The D-1531, a Broadwell-DE part built on a 14 nm process, wins all six recorded head-to-head Cinebench comparisons against the E3-1231 v3, a Haswell-WS part on 22 nm. Yet the E3-1231 v3 holds a higher average benchmark score in the database, 1925 versus 1885, because it has additional Geekbench results that are not recorded for the D-1531. The recorded data shows a clear performance leader in direct comparisons, while the aggregate scores reflect a difference in test coverage rather than a reversal of the head-to-head outcome.
Head-to-Head Benchmarks
The D-1531 wins every head-to-head test in the database. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 656 against the E3's 601, a 9.2% advantage. The single-core R15 result is 92 versus 84, a 9.5% lead. Moving to Cinebench R20, the D-1531 posts 2737 multi-core against 2506, again 9.2% ahead, and 386 single-core against 353, a 9.3% margin. In Cinebench R23, the D-1531 scores 6517 multi-core versus 5967, a 9.2% lead, and 920 single-core versus 842, a 9.3% margin.
The consistency of these margins is striking. Every single comparison falls between 9.2% and 9.5%, regardless of the Cinebench version or whether the test is single-core or multi-core. This uniformity suggests the D-1531's advantage is structural, rooted in its core count and architecture, rather than being workload-dependent. The E3-1231 v3 never closes the gap in any recorded test.
The E3-1231 v3 does have Geekbench results in the database: 3939 multi-core and 1109 single-core. These scores are not available for the D-1531, so they cannot be compared directly. However, they do contribute to the E3's average benchmark score of 1925, which is higher than the D-1531's 1885. This is a case where the aggregate metric rewards a CPU for having more recorded tests, not necessarily for being faster in head-to-head competition. Both processors sit at the 43rd percentile among all CPUs in the database, which places them in the same performance tier despite the D-1531's clean sweep of the direct comparisons.
In the nearest-rival rankings, the D-1531 sits 0.1% behind the Intel Core i7-4940MX (1886) and 0.1% ahead of the Intel Xeon E3-1270L v4 (1883). The E3-1231 v3 sits 0.2% ahead of the Intel Core i3-10305T (1922) and 0.2% behind the Intel Core i7-1180G7 (1930). These positions confirm that both CPUs occupy a similar performance band in the broader database, even though the D-1531 dominates the direct comparison.
Architecture Differences
The two processors diverge significantly at the architectural level. The D-1531 uses a 14 nm process with 3,200 million transistors on a 246 mm² die. The E3-1231 v3 uses a 22 nm process with 1,400 million transistors on a 160 mm² die. The D-1531's newer process node allows it to pack more than twice the transistor count into a larger die while consuming far less power.
Core counts differ as well. The D-1531 has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the E3-1231 v3 has 4 cores and 8 threads. This two-core, four-thread advantage is the primary driver of the D-1531's multi-core wins. The E3 counters with higher clock speeds: 3.40 GHz base and 3.80 GHz boost, compared to the D-1531's 2.20 GHz base and 2.70 GHz boost. Despite this clock disadvantage, the D-1531 still wins every single-core test, which indicates that its per-core efficiency on the 14 nm node more than compensates for the lower clocks.
Power consumption is a major differentiator. The D-1531 has a TDP of 35 watts, while the E3-1231 v3 draws 80 watts. The D-1531 delivers more performance across the board while consuming less than half the power budget. This is a direct result of the process node advantage and the Broadwell architecture's efficiency improvements.
Cache hierarchies also differ. The D-1531 provides 1.5 MB of L3 cache per core, while the E3-1231 v3 has 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The D-1531's per-core allocation scales with its 6 cores, while the E3's shared pool is fixed. Both have 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core.
Memory support is another split. The D-1531 supports both DDR3 and DDR4 in a dual-channel configuration, while the E3-1231 v3 supports only DDR3, also dual-channel, with a recorded memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s. The D-1531's DDR4 support gives it a path to newer memory platforms. The E3's memory bandwidth figure is the only bandwidth number recorded in the database.
PCIe connectivity differs as well. The D-1531 provides 24 PCIe Gen 3 lanes, while the E3-1231 v3 provides 16. The D-1531 also uses a BGA 1667 socket, which is a soldered, embedded-style package, while the E3 uses the socketed Intel Socket 1150. This reflects their different market positions: the D-1531 is designed for compact, low-power server and networking applications, while the E3 targets traditional socketed server motherboards.
Production status separates them further. The D-1531 is listed as Active, while the E3-1231 v3 is End-of-life. The D-1531 was released on 2015-10-31, while the E3 came out on 2014-05-10. The D-1531's part number is SR2DG, and the E3's is SR1R5. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.
FAQ
Q: Which CPU wins in multi-core performance?
A: The Intel Xeon D-1531 wins all three multi-core Cinebench tests (R15, R20, R23) by 9.2% each. It scores 656, 2737, and 6517 respectively, against the E3-1231 v3's 601, 2506, and 5967.
Q: Which CPU has better single-core performance?
A: The D-1531 also wins every single-core test. It leads by 9.5% in Cinebench R15 (92 vs 84), 9.3% in R20 (386 vs 353), and 9.3% in R23 (920 vs 842), despite having a lower base clock of 2.20 GHz versus the E3's 3.40 GHz.
Q: Why does the E3-1231 v3 have a higher average benchmark score?
A: The E3-1231 v3 has an average score of 1925, while the D-1531 sits at 1885. This is because the database includes Geekbench results for the E3 (3939 multi-core, 1109 single-core) that are not recorded for the D-1531. The E3's average is computed over 8 results, while the D-1531's is computed over 6 Cinebench results.
Q: Which CPU is more power-efficient?
A: The D-1531 has a TDP of 35 watts, compared to the E3-1231 v3's 80 watts. The D-1531 delivers higher performance in every recorded head-to-head test while drawing less than half the power.
Q: Which CPU supports more memory types?
A: The D-1531 supports both DDR3 and DDR4, while the E3-1231 v3 supports only DDR3. Both use a dual-channel memory bus, and the E3 has a recorded memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s.
Q: Which CPU is still in production?
A: The D-1531 is listed as Active in the database, while the E3-1231 v3 is End-of-life. The D-1531 was released on 2015-10-31, and the E3 on 2014-05-10.
The Verdict
The data is unambiguous: the Intel Xeon D-1531 wins all six head-to-head Cinebench comparisons, with margins between 9.2% and 9.5%. It achieves this with 6 cores and 12 threads against the E3's 4 cores and 8 threads, on a 14 nm process versus 22 nm, and with a 35 watt TDP versus 80 watts. The E3-1231 v3's higher average benchmark score of 1925 is a statistical artifact of having Geekbench results in the database that the D-1531 lacks. In every directly comparable test, the D-1531 is faster.
The E3-1231 v3 does have higher clock speeds (3.40 GHz base, 3.80 GHz boost) and a shared 8 MB L3 cache, but these advantages do not translate into any recorded benchmark win. The D-1531's per-core L3 cache of 1.5 MB, its DDR4 support, and its 24 PCIe lanes further cement its position as the more capable processor. Both CPUs sit at the 43rd percentile, but the D-1531 reaches that tier with a lower power envelope and a newer process node.
For anyone choosing between these two, the D-1531 is the recommended pick based on the recorded data. It is faster, more efficient, newer, and still in active production. The E3-1231 v3 is a legacy part that, while it has a higher aggregate score due to additional benchmark entries, loses every direct comparison.
Specification Differences
| Field | Intel Xeon D-1531 | Intel Xeon E3-1231 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores | 6 | 4 |
| Threads | 12 | 8 |
| Base clock | 2.20 GHz | 3.40 GHz |
| Boost clock | 2.70 GHz | 3.80 GHz |
| TDP | 35 W | 80 W |
| Socket | Intel BGA 1667 | Intel Socket 1150 |
| Architecture | Broadwell | Haswell |
| Process node | 14 nm | 22 nm |
| Transistors | 3,200 million | 1,400 million |
| Die size | 246 mm² | 160 mm² |
| L3 cache | 1.5 MB (per core) | 8 MB (shared) |
| Memory support | DDR3, DDR4 | DDR3 |
| Memory bandwidth | Not recorded | 25.6 GB/s |
| PCIe lanes | 24 | 16 |
| Production status | Active | End-of-life |
| Release date | 2015-10-31 | 2014-05-10 |
| Launch MSRP | $348 | $250 |
| Part number | SR2DG | SR1R5 |
Where Each One Wins
The D-1531 wins every recorded head-to-head benchmark. It takes all six Cinebench tests, spanning R15, R20, and R23, in both single-core and multi-core modes. Its wins range from 9.2% to 9.5%, and they are consistent across every test version. The D-1531 also wins on architectural merits: more cores, more threads, a smaller process node, lower TDP, DDR4 support, and more PCIe lanes. Its nearest-rival position, within 0.1% of the Intel Core i7-4940MX and 0.1% ahead of the Intel Xeon E3-1270L v4, places it in a tight cluster of comparable server parts.
The E3-1231 v3's only recorded wins are in the Geekbench tests, where it posts 3939 multi-core and 1109 single-core. These scores are not matched by the D-1531 in the database, so they cannot be compared head-to-head. The E3 also holds a higher average benchmark score of 1925 versus 1885, but this is driven by the inclusion of those Geekbench results in its average. The E3's higher clock speeds and shared 8 MB L3 cache are notable specifications, but they do not produce any head-to-head benchmark victories. Its nearest-rival position, 0.2% ahead of the Intel Core i3-10305T and 0.2% behind the Intel Core i7-1180G7, shows it competing in a similar performance band.
In practical terms, the D-1531 is the better choice for multi-threaded server workloads, low-power deployments, and any application that benefits from DDR4 memory. The E3-1231 v3 remains a functional legacy option with a higher aggregate score, but the recorded data shows it losing every direct comparison to the D-1531.