Intel Xeon D-1537 vs Intel Xeon E3-1505M v5 Comparison
Intel Xeon D-1537
Xeon E3-1505M v5
PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKS
Analysis: Intel Xeon D-1537 vs Intel Xeon E3-1505M v5
The Intel Xeon D-1537 and Intel Xeon E3-1505M v5 are two server-class processors that, despite their different designs, deliver nearly identical benchmark results. The D-1537 is an 8-core, 16-thread Broadwell part with a 35W TDP, while the E3-1505M v5 is a 4-core, 8-thread Skylake part with a 45W TDP. The data shows the D-1537 wins all six head-to-head Cinebench tests, but by margins of less than 1.1% in every case. Both processors sit at the 42nd percentile among all CPUs, and their average benchmark scores are separated by only 13 points. The story here is not about one part dominating, but about two different architectural approaches converging on the same performance point.
Where Each One Wins
The benchmark results are unambiguous: the Intel Xeon D-1537 wins every single head-to-head test. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the D-1537 scores 637 against 633 for the E3-1505M v5, a 0.6% advantage. The single-core R15 test shows a 1.1% lead for the D-1537 (90 vs 89). Moving to Cinebench R20, the D-1537 takes multicore with 2657 points versus 2639 (0.7% ahead) and single-core with 375 versus 372 (0.8% ahead). In Cinebench R23, the pattern holds: the D-1537 leads multicore 6327 to 6284 (0.7%) and single-core 893 to 887 (0.7%). The D-1537 accumulates 6 wins out of 6 possible.
However, the practical significance of these wins is minimal. A 0.6% to 1.1% delta is within run-to-run variance for most benchmark workloads. What matters more is the context: both CPUs sit at the 42nd percentile against all CPUs, meaning they are statistically equivalent in overall performance. The average benchmark score for the D-1537 is 1830, while the E3-1505M v5 averages 1817. That 13-point difference is less than 1% of the average score.
The real differentiators are not in raw performance but in physical and architectural characteristics. The D-1537 offers 8 cores and 16 threads, while the E3-1505M v5 offers half as many cores and threads. The D-1537 has a 35W TDP versus 45W for the E3-1505M v5. The D-1537 uses 24 PCIe Gen 3 lanes, while the E3-1505M v5 has 16. The E3-1505M v5 includes integrated HD Graphics P530, which the D-1537 lacks entirely. These differences matter more than the Cinebench score deltas.
The Verdict
Based strictly on the data, the Intel Xeon D-1537 is the better performer. It wins all six benchmark tests, however narrow the margins. For workloads that scale with thread count, the D-1537's 8-core, 16-thread configuration provides headroom that the 4-core, 8-thread E3-1505M v5 cannot match, even though the current Cinebench results show only a 0.6-0.7% gap in multicore tests. The D-1537 also does this at a lower TDP of 35W compared to 45W, making it more power-efficient per unit of performance.
The E3-1505M v5 is not without merit. Its higher base clock of 2.80 GHz and boost clock of 3.70 GHz, compared to 1.70 GHz and 2.30 GHz for the D-1537, should theoretically favor lightly threaded workloads. Yet the single-core Cinebench results show the D-1537 still wins, by 1.1% in R15 and 0.7-0.8% in R20 and R23. The E3-1505M v5 does offer integrated graphics, which the D-1537 does not, making it a more complete package for systems that need a display output without a discrete GPU.
The E3-1505M v5 also has a larger shared L3 cache of 8 MB, while the D-1537 provides 1.5 MB per core. The production status differs too: the D-1537 is listed as Active, while the E3-1505M v5 is End-of-life. For new deployments, the D-1537 has the advantage of being a current product. Both support ECC memory and dual-channel DDR3/DDR4, so memory reliability features are equal. The D-1537's launch MSRP is $470, while the E3-1505M v5 launched at $434.
Head-to-Head Benchmarks
The largest win for the Intel Xeon D-1537 comes in Cinebench R15 single-core, where it scores 90 against 89 for the E3-1505M v5, a 1.1% delta. This is surprising given the E3-1505M v5's significantly higher clock speeds. The D-1537's 1.70 GHz base and 2.30 GHz boost are well below the E3-1505M v5's 2.80 GHz base and 3.70 GHz boost, yet the D-1537 still edges out the win. This suggests the Broadwell architecture on the D-1537 extracts more work per clock cycle than the Skylake architecture on the E3-1505M v5, at least in this test.
In Cinebench R20 multicore, the D-1537 scores 2657 against 2639, a 0.7% delta. The D-1537's 8 cores and 16 threads should give it a substantial advantage in multicore workloads, but the E3-1505M v5's higher clocks apparently compensate. The R20 single-core test shows a similar pattern: 375 for the D-1537 versus 372 for the E3-1505M v5, a 0.8% delta.
Cinebench R23 multicore gives the D-1537 a score of 6327 versus 6284, a 0.7% delta. R23 single-core shows 893 versus 887, also 0.7%. The R15 multicore test is the closest at 637 versus 633, a 0.6% delta. Across all six tests, the D-1537's wins range from 0.6% to 1.1%, with no single test showing a decisive margin. The consistency of the D-1537's lead, however small, indicates a genuine if slight performance edge.
When placed against their nearest rivals, both CPUs show similar competitive positions. The D-1537's nearest rival is the Intel Xeon E5-2608L v3 with an identical average score of 1830 and a deltaPct of 0. The E3-1505M v5's nearest rival is the Intel Core i5-6600K at 1816, just 0.1% behind. The D-1537 also matches the Intel Core i5-8305G (1831, 0% delta) and trails the AMD Ryzen 5 4600U by 0.1% (1832). The E3-1505M v5 is 0.3% ahead of the Intel Xeon E5-1630 v3 (1823) and 0.4-0.5% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 4650U (1810) and Intel Core i3-9320 (1808).
FAQ
Q: Which CPU has more cores and threads?
A: The Intel Xeon D-1537 has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Xeon E3-1505M v5 has 4 cores and 8 threads.
Q: What are the clock speed differences?
A: The E3-1505M v5 has a base clock of 2.80 GHz and a boost clock of 3.70 GHz. The D-1537 has a base clock of 1.70 GHz and a boost clock of 2.30 GHz.
Q: Which CPU consumes less power?
A: The D-1537 has a TDP of 35W, while the E3-1505M v5 has a TDP of 45W.
Q: Do both CPUs support ECC memory?
A: Yes, both the D-1537 and the E3-1505M v5 support ECC memory, and both support dual-channel DDR3 and DDR4.
Q: Which CPU includes integrated graphics?
A: Only the E3-1505M v5 includes integrated graphics, specifically HD Graphics P530. The D-1537 has no integrated graphics.
Q: What is the production status of each CPU?
A: The D-1537 is listed as Active, while the E3-1505M v5 is listed as End-of-life.
Architecture Differences
The two processors come from different Intel microarchitectures. The D-1537 is built on Broadwell, specifically the Broadwell-DE generation, while the E3-1505M v5 uses Skylake, from the Skylake-H generation. Both are manufactured on Intel's 14 nm process node, and both are produced by Intel as the foundry. The transistor counts differ: the D-1537 has 3,200 million transistors on a 246 mm² die, while the E3-1505M v5 has 2,300 million transistors on a 122 mm² die.
The cache hierarchies are fundamentally different. The D-1537 provides 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, plus 1.5 MB of L3 cache per core. The E3-1505M v5 also has 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core, but its L3 cache is 8 MB shared. This means the D-1537's total L3 cache scales with core count, while the E3-1505M v5 has a fixed pool of 8 MB regardless of core usage.
Memory support is similar: both support DDR3 and DDR4 with dual-channel memory buses. The E3-1505M v5 has a listed memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s, while the D-1537 does not have a bandwidth figure in the data. Both support ECC memory, which is standard for server/workstation parts.
PCIe connectivity differs. The D-1537 offers Gen 3 with 24 lanes from the CPU, while the E3-1505M v5 offers Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. This gives the D-1537 more room for expansion cards or NVMe storage. The sockets also differ: the D-1537 uses Intel BGA 1667, while the E3-1505M v5 uses Intel BGA 1440.
The market segment for both is Server/Workstation, and neither has an unlocked multiplier. The D-1537's part number is SR2GF, and it was released on 2015-10-31. The E3-1505M v5 has part number SR2FM and was released on 2015-10-26, just five days earlier. The D-1537's launch MSRP is $470, and the E3-1505M v5's launch MSRP is $434. Both CPUs sit at the 42nd percentile against all CPUs, reinforcing that their architectural differences result in essentially equal standing in the broader market.