Intel Xeon D-1540 vs Intel Xeon E5-4640 v3 Comparison
Intel Xeon D-1540
Xeon E5-4640 v3
PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKS
Analysis: Intel Xeon D-1540 vs Intel Xeon E5-4640 v3
FAQ
Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?
A: The Intel Xeon E5-4640 v3 has 12 cores and 24 threads, while the Intel Xeon D-1540 has 8 cores and 16 threads. The E5-4640 v3 offers 50% more cores and threads than the D-1540.
Q: How do the two processors compare in single-core performance?
A: The Intel Xeon E5-4640 v3 wins all three single-core Cinebench tests. It scores 125 in R15 single-core, 522 in R20 single-core, and 1244 in R23 single-core. The Xeon D-1540 scores 121, 505, and 1204 respectively, putting the E5-4640 v3 ahead by 3.3% to 3.4% in each case.
Q: What are the TDP ratings for these two Xeon processors?
A: The Intel Xeon E5-4640 v3 has a TDP of 105 watts, while the Intel Xeon D-1540 has a TDP of 45 watts. The D-1540 consumes less than half the power of the E5-4640 v3.
Q: Which processor supports more PCIe lanes?
A: The Intel Xeon E5-4640 v3 provides 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel Xeon D-1540 provides 24 PCIe Gen 3 lanes (CPU only). The E5-4640 v3 offers 16 additional lanes for expansion.
Q: What is the memory channel configuration for each processor?
A: The Intel Xeon E5-4640 v3 uses quad-channel DDR4 memory with a bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s. The Intel Xeon D-1540 uses dual-channel memory supporting both DDR3 and DDR4, with no recorded bandwidth figure in the database.
Q: What is the production status and release date for each chip?
A: The Intel Xeon E5-4640 v3 is end-of-life and was released on May 31, 2015. The Intel Xeon D-1540 is active and was released earlier, on March 8, 2015. The E5-4640 v3 has a launch MSRP of $2859.
Where Each One Wins
The head-to-head benchmark data shows a clean sweep: the Intel Xeon E5-4640 v3 wins all six recorded Cinebench tests, with zero wins for the Intel Xeon D-1540. However, the margins are consistently narrow, ranging from 3.3% to 3.4% across every workload. This means the E5-4640 v3 is the faster chip in purely computational terms, but the D-1540 is not far behind.
The E5-4640 v3 wins in every multi-core test because of its 12 cores and 24 threads versus 8 cores and 16 threads. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the E5-4640 v3 scores 8816 versus 8531 for the D-1540. The advantage is 3.3%, which is surprisingly small given the core count difference. The D-1540's higher base clock of 2.00 GHz versus 1.90 GHz helps close the gap.
The E5-4640 v3 also wins every single-core test, though by the same narrow margins. Both chips boost to 2.60 GHz, so the single-core advantage comes down to architectural efficiency and cache configuration rather than clock speed.
The D-1540 wins in power efficiency by a wide margin. Its 45 watt TDP is far lower than the E5-4640 v3's 105 watt TDP, making it the clear choice for power-constrained deployments. The D-1540 also supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory, offering flexibility for existing infrastructure. The E5-4640 v3 supports only DDR4.
Architecture Differences
The Intel Xeon E5-4640 v3 is built on the Haswell architecture, specifically the Haswell-EP microarchitecture, using a 22 nm process node. It contains 2,600 million transistors on a die size of 356 mm². The Intel Xeon D-1540 uses the Broadwell architecture, specifically Broadwell-DE, on a more advanced 14 nm process node. It packs 3,200 million transistors into a smaller 246 mm² die.
The E5-4640 v3 has a shared 30 MB L3 cache. The D-1540 has 1.5 MB of L3 cache per core, which totals 12 MB across its 8 cores. Both chips have 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, but the E5-4640 v3's larger shared L3 cache gives it an advantage for multi-threaded workloads that access common data.
The E5-4640 v3 is a socketed processor for Intel Socket 2011-3, while the D-1540 is a BGA 1667 soldered chip. This makes the E5-4640 v3 replaceable and upgradeable, while the D-1540 is permanently attached to its board.
Both processors support ECC memory. The E5-4640 v3 uses quad-channel DDR4 with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth. The D-1540 uses dual-channel memory and supports both DDR3 and DDR4, but has no recorded memory bandwidth figure. The E5-4640 v3 has 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes versus 24 lanes for the D-1540, giving the E5-4640 v3 more expansion headroom for GPUs, NVMe drives, and other add-in cards.
Specification Differences
The two processors differ in several key specifications. The E5-4640 v3 has 12 cores and 24 threads, while the D-1540 has 8 cores and 16 threads. The E5-4640 v3 has a base clock of 1.90 GHz, while the D-1540 starts at 2.00 GHz. Both share the same 2.60 GHz boost clock.
The E5-4640 v3 has a TDP of 105 watts, while the D-1540 has a TDP of 45 watts. The E5-4640 v3 uses a 22 nm process, while the D-1540 uses 14 nm. The E5-4640 v3 has 2,600 million transistors on a 356 mm² die, while the D-1540 has 3,200 million transistors on a 246 mm² die.
Cache configurations differ substantially. The E5-4640 v3 has 30 MB of shared L3 cache, while the D-1540 has 1.5 MB per core. The E5-4640 v3 uses quad-channel DDR4 memory with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth; the D-1540 uses dual-channel DDR3 or DDR4 with no recorded bandwidth.
The E5-4640 v3 is socketed for Intel Socket 2011-3, while the D-1540 uses Intel BGA 1667. The E5-4640 v3 provides 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes, the D-1540 provides 24. The E5-4640 v3 was released on May 31, 2015 and is end-of-life; the D-1540 was released March 8, 2015 and is active. The E5-4640 v3 has a launch MSRP of $2859.
Head-to-Head Benchmarks
The recorded data shows a consistent pattern across all six Cinebench tests. The Intel Xeon E5-4640 v3 wins every test with a delta of 3.3% or 3.4%, and there is no test where the D-1540 comes out ahead.
In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the E5-4640 v3 scores 888 versus 859 for the D-1540, a 3.4% advantage. In R15 single-core, the E5-4640 v3 scores 125 versus 121, a 3.3% edge. The R20 multi-core test shows 3702 versus 3583, a 3.3% gap, and R20 single-core shows 522 versus 505, also 3.4%.
The R23 results follow the same pattern. Multi-core gives 8816 for the E5-4640 v3 and 8531 for the D-1540, a 3.3% difference. Single-core gives 1244 versus 1204, again 3.3%.
The average benchmark scores echo this. The E5-4640 v3 has an average benchmark score of 2550, while the D-1540 has 2467. The E5-4640 v3 sits at the 49th percentile among all CPUs, while the D-1540 sits at the 48th percentile. Both chips are essentially mid-pack performers.
Looking at nearest rivals, the E5-4640 v3 is 0.2% ahead of the Intel Xeon E5-1650 v3, 0.3% behind the AMD Ryzen 7 4800HS, 0.8% ahead of the Intel Core i3-10325, and 0.9% ahead of the Intel Xeon E-2244G. The D-1540 is 0.3% behind the Intel Core i3-12100TE, 0.5% ahead of the Intel Core i5-8600, 0.7% ahead of the Intel Core i3-1125G4, and 0.8% ahead of the Intel Xeon D-1541.
The Verdict
The data points to a clear but narrow winner: the Intel Xeon E5-4640 v3 outperforms the Intel Xeon D-1540 in every recorded benchmark. The 12-core, 24-thread Haswell-EP chip holds a 3.3% to 3.4% lead across all Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 tests, both single-core and multi-core.
For workloads that depend heavily on multi-threaded rendering or computation, the E5-4640 v3 is the stronger choice. Its 30 MB shared L3 cache, quad-channel memory with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth, and 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes make it better suited for a fully loaded server or workstation. The 12 cores and 24 threads provide more parallel throughput, and the socketed design allows for future replacement or upgrades.
However, the D-1540 remains a compelling option for specific deployments. Its 45 watt TDP is less than half that of the E5-4640 v3, making it far better suited for power-sensitive environments such as dense microservers or edge computing. The 14 nm process is newer, and the dual-channel memory support for both DDR3 and DDR4 gives it flexibility for installations with existing DDR3 infrastructure. Its BGA package is soldered, which means a smaller footprint and lower board complexity.
The choice comes down to priorities. If absolute performance is the goal, the E5-4640 v3 wins every test. If power efficiency and memory flexibility matter more than a 3.3% performance delta, the D-1540 is the practical pick. The E5-4640 v3 is end-of-life, while the D-1540 is active, which may influence long-term availability and support decisions. Buyers who need maximum compute density should choose the E5-4640 v3; buyers who need low power consumption and compact designs should choose the D-1540.