Intel Xeon D-1541 vs Intel Xeon E-2226GE Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Xeon D-1541 has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Xeon E-2226GE has 6 cores and 6 threads. The D-1541 offers double the thread count due to Hyper-Threading support.

Q: What are the base and boost clock differences?

A: The Intel Xeon E-2226GE has a significantly higher base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. The Intel Xeon D-1541 operates at a 2.10 GHz base clock and a 2.70 GHz boost clock.

Q: Which processor has a lower thermal design power (TDP)?

A: The Intel Xeon D-1541 has a TDP of 45 W, while the Intel Xeon E-2226GE has a TDP of 80 W. The D-1541 is designed for lower power consumption.

Q: Which CPU supports integrated graphics?

A: Only the Intel Xeon E-2226GE features integrated graphics, specifically UHD Graphics P630. The Intel Xeon D-1541 has no integrated graphics.

Q: What is the L3 cache configuration on each chip?

A: The Intel Xeon D-1541 has 1.5 MB of L3 cache per core (totaling 12 MB across its 8 cores). The Intel Xeon E-2226GE has 12 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Xeon D-1541 has an average benchmark score of 2447, compared to 2365 for the Intel Xeon E-2226GE. Both CPUs sit at the 48th percentile of all CPUs in the database.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel architecture families. The Intel Xeon D-1541 is based on the Broadwell architecture, specifically the Broadwell-DE generation, while the Intel Xeon E-2226GE uses the Coffee Lake architecture, specifically Coffee Lake-S WS.

Both are built on a 14 nm process node at Intel's foundry. The D-1541 uses a larger die size of 246 mm² and integrates 3,200 million transistors. The E-2226GE has a smaller die size of 154 mm², with transistor count not recorded in the database.

The socket types differ completely. The D-1541 uses Intel BGA 1667, a ball-grid array package, while the E-2226GE uses Intel Socket 1151, a standard LGA socket. This means they are not interchangeable in any platform.

The core and cache layouts are notably different. The D-1541 has 8 physical cores with 16 threads, and its L3 cache is allocated per core at 1.5 MB. The E-2226GE has 6 physical cores with 6 threads (no Hyper-Threading), and its L3 cache is shared at 12 MB. Both have the same per-core L1 (64 KB) and L2 (256 KB) configurations.

Memory support also differs. The D-1541 supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory, while the E-2226GE supports only DDR4. Both use a dual-channel memory bus. The E-2226GE has a recorded memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s, while the D-1541 does not have a listed bandwidth figure.

PCIe connectivity varies as well. The D-1541 provides 24 PCIe Gen 3 lanes (CPU only), whereas the E-2226GE provides 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes (CPU only). The E-2226GE also includes integrated UHD Graphics P630, a feature absent from the D-1541.

The release timelines differ by about four years. The D-1541 was released on 2015-10-31, and the E-2226GE was released on 2019-06-10. The D-1541 is still marked as Active in production status, while the E-2226GE is listed as End-of-life.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a consistent pattern across all six Cinebench tests: the Intel Xeon D-1541 wins every single benchmark, albeit by a narrow margin. The delta percentages are remarkably uniform, ranging from 3.4% to 3.5%.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the D-1541 scores 852 against 824 for the E-2226GE, a 3.4% advantage. The single-core R15 test shows the same margin: 120 versus 116, again a 3.4% lead for the D-1541. This is notable because the E-2226GE has a much higher boost clock (4.60 GHz versus 2.70 GHz), yet the D-1541 still manages to win in single-threaded performance.

The Cinebench R20 results mirror this pattern. In multi-core, the D-1541 scores 3554 versus 3434 for the E-2226GE, a 3.5% difference. In single-core, the D-1541 scores 501 versus 484, also a 3.5% margin. The consistency of these margins suggests the D-1541's architectural efficiency compensates for its lower clock speeds.

Cinebench R23 shows the same story. The D-1541 achieves 8463 in multi-core, beating the E-2226GE's 8177 by 3.5%. In single-core, the D-1541 scores 1194, compared to 1154 for the E-2226GE, again a 3.5% lead.

The overall win tally is decisive: the D-1541 wins 6 benchmarks, and the E-2226GE wins 0. This is a clean sweep in the recorded head-to-head data. However, the margins are small, and the average benchmark scores reflect a similar picture: 2447 for the D-1541 versus 2365 for the E-2226GE, a gap of roughly 3.5%.

Specification Differences

The following specifications differ between the two processors:

• Cores: 8 (D-1541) versus 6 (E-2226GE)
• Threads: 16 (D-1541) versus 6 (E-2226GE)
• Base clock: 2.10 GHz (D-1541) versus 3.40 GHz (E-2226GE)
• Boost clock: 2.70 GHz (D-1541) versus 4.60 GHz (E-2226GE)
• TDP: 45 W (D-1541) versus 80 W (E-2226GE)
• Socket: Intel BGA 1667 (D-1541) versus Intel Socket 1151 (E-2226GE)
• Architecture: Broadwell (D-1541) versus Coffee Lake (E-2226GE)
• Die size: 246 mm² (D-1541) versus 154 mm² (E-2226GE)
• Transistors: 3,200 million (D-1541) versus not recorded (E-2226GE)
• L3 cache: 1.5 MB per core (D-1541) versus 12 MB shared (E-2226GE)
• Memory support: DDR3, DDR4 (D-1541) versus DDR4 only (E-2226GE)
• Memory bandwidth: not recorded (D-1541) versus 42.7 GB/s (E-2226GE)
• PCIe lanes: 24 Gen 3 (D-1541) versus 16 Gen 3 (E-2226GE)
• Integrated graphics: none (D-1541) versus UHD Graphics P630 (E-2226GE)
• Release date: 2015-10-31 (D-1541) versus 2019-06-10 (E-2226GE)
• Production status: Active (D-1541) versus End-of-life (E-2226GE)
• Launch MSRP: $581 (D-1541) versus $286 (E-2226GE)
• Part number: SR2DE (D-1541) versus SRGQW (E-2226GE)

The two CPUs share many specifications: both are Intel 14 nm parts, both use dual-channel memory, both support ECC memory, both are locked (multiplier not unlocked), and both target the server/workstation market segment.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon D-1541 wins in all recorded benchmark categories. Its 8-core, 16-thread design provides a clear advantage in multi-threaded workloads, as evidenced by the consistent 3.4% to 3.5% margins in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests. The D-1541 also wins single-core tests despite its much lower clock speeds, which indicates superior per-clock efficiency in the Broadwell architecture.

The D-1541 is also the lower-power option, with a 45 W TDP compared to the E-2226GE's 80 W. This makes it suitable for dense, power-constrained server environments where thermal headroom is limited. Its 24 PCIe Gen 3 lanes provide more expansion capability than the E-2226GE's 16 lanes.

The Intel Xeon E-2226GE, while losing every head-to-head benchmark, has attributes that may be preferable in specific scenarios. Its much higher clock speeds (3.40 GHz base, 4.60 GHz boost) suggest it could be better suited for lightly threaded tasks that are latency-sensitive, though the recorded data does not show a win in single-core tests. The integrated UHD Graphics P630 is a significant advantage for systems that require a display output without a discrete GPU, which the D-1541 cannot provide.

The E-2226GE also supports only DDR4 memory, which simplifies platform compatibility, and its smaller die size (154 mm² versus 246 mm²) may indicate lower manufacturing complexity. Its Socket 1151 form factor is more common in workstation-class motherboards, whereas the D-1541's BGA 1667 package suggests a soldered, system-on-chip style deployment.

For workloads that benefit from higher thread counts, lower power draw, and more PCIe lanes, the D-1541 is the clear choice based on the recorded benchmark data. For applications that require integrated graphics, newer memory standards, or a standard socket mount, the E-2226GE offers those features, though it trails in raw Cinebench performance.

The database's nearest-rival comparisons place the D-1541 alongside the Intel Core i5-10500 (0% delta), Intel Core i3-1125G4 (-0.2%), Intel Core i5-8600 (-0.3%), and Intel Xeon D-1540 (-0.8%). The E-2226GE sits near the AMD Ryzen 5 2500X (0.2%), Intel Xeon E-2234 (-0.4%), Intel Core i5-9600 (0.5%), and Intel Xeon E3-1285 v6 (0.7%). These groupings show both CPUs occupy a similar performance tier within the database's broader CPU landscape.