CPU Comparison

# The Verdict

The benchmark data presents an unusually close contest between these two server processors. The Intel Xeon D-1548 wins all six head-to-head Cinebench comparisons, but by margins so narrow they verge on statistical noise: 0.1% to 0.2% in every test. The Xeon D-1548 edges the Xeon E5-4648 v3 in Cinebench R15 multicore (777 vs 776), R20 multicore (3239 vs 3234), R23 multicore (7713 vs 7701), and each corresponding single-core test (109 vs 109 in R15, 457 vs 456 in R20, 1089 vs 1087 in R23). For practical purposes, these two deliver identical compute performance in Cinebench workloads.

The choice between them therefore rests entirely on platform characteristics, not raw speed. The Xeon D-1548 is an active, 45-watt TDP, BGA-1667 part from the Broadwell generation, designed for dense, low-power deployments. The Xeon E5-4648 v3 is a 105-watt, Socket 2011-3, Haswell-EP part that is end-of-life, with quad-channel DDR4 memory and 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes. If the workload fits within the D-1548's dual-channel memory and 24-lane PCIe envelope, the data favors it: it matches the E5's performance at less than half the TDP, in a smaller form factor, and remains an active product. If the workload needs quad-channel bandwidth (59.7 GB/s on the E5) or more PCIe lanes, the E5-4648 v3 is the only one of the two that can provide it. The E5 also carries a much higher launch MSRP of $2405 versus $555 for the D-1548, but both are now older server parts where platform cost dominates.

# Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel architectures and manufacturing nodes. The Xeon D-1548 is built on the 14 nm process as part of the Broadwell-DE family, with a die size of 246 mm² and 3,200 million transistors. It uses the Broadwell microarchitecture and is mounted on Intel BGA 1667, a soldered, non-upgradeable socket. The Xeon E5-4648 v3 is a 22 nm Haswell-EP part, with a larger die at 356 mm² but fewer transistors at 2,600 million. It uses Socket 2011-3, a standard LGA socket that allows processor replacement.

Cache organization differs fundamentally. The D-1548 provides 1.5 MB of L3 cache per core (totaling 12 MB across 8 cores), while the E5-4648 v3 offers 30 MB of shared L3 cache across its 12 cores. Both share the same 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per-core configuration. The per-core L3 design on the D-1548 gives each core dedicated fast access, whereas the E5's shared pool can be dynamically allocated but may introduce latency under contention.

Memory support diverges significantly. The D-1548 supports both DDR3 and DDR4 with a dual-channel memory bus, while the E5-4648 v3 supports only DDR4 but with a quad-channel bus, yielding a listed memory bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s. The E5 also offers more PCIe connectivity: Gen 3 with 40 lanes (CPU only) versus the D-1548's 24 lanes. Both support ECC memory, which is expected for server platforms.

The D-1548 is from the Xeon D generation (Broadwell-DE), released on 2015-10-31, and remains in active production. The E5-4648 v3 is from the Xeon E5 generation (Haswell-EP), released earlier on 2015-05-31, and is now end-of-life. The D-1548's 45 W TDP stands in sharp contrast to the E5's 105 W TDP, reflecting the former's design for power-constrained environments.

# Head-to-Head Benchmarks

Across six Cinebench tests, the Xeon D-1548 wins every round, but the margins require careful interpretation. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the D-1548 scores 777 against 776 for the E5-4648 v3, a 0.1% difference. The single-core R15 test is a dead tie at 109 points each. Moving to R20, the D-1548 leads 3239 to 3234 in multicore (0.2%) and 457 to 456 in single-core (0.2%). In R23, the D-1548 posts 7713 versus 7701 in multicore (0.2%) and 1089 versus 1087 in single-core (0.2%).

What does this mean? The D-1548 achieves these scores with 8 cores and 16 threads at 2.00 GHz base and 2.60 GHz boost. The E5-4648 v3 has 12 cores and 24 threads, but runs at 1.70 GHz base and 2.20 GHz boost. The D-1548's higher clock speeds compensate for its 33% fewer cores, resulting in near-identical throughput. In single-core tests, the D-1548's clock advantage (2.60 GHz boost versus 2.20 GHz) yields a consistent but tiny 0.2% lead.

The average benchmark scores confirm the overall parity: the D-1548 averages 2231 across all benchmarks, and the E5-4648 v3 averages 2227, a 0.2% difference. Both CPUs sit at the 47th percentile among all CPUs, meaning they outperform roughly half of all processors tracked. In the nearest-rival comparisons, the D-1548's closest competitors include the E5-4648 v3 (0.2% ahead), the Xeon D-1715TER (0.3% behind), and two Core i7 parts (0.3% ahead each). The E5-4648 v3's rivals list the same set, with the D-1548 sitting 0.2% behind and the D-1715TER 0.5% behind.

# Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every specification category:

• Cores/Threads: The D-1548 has 8 cores/16 threads; the E5-4648 v3 has 12 cores/24 threads.
• Clock speeds: D-1548 runs at 2.00 GHz base and 2.60 GHz boost; E5-4648 v3 runs at 1.70 GHz base and 2.20 GHz boost.
• TDP: D-1548 draws 45 W; E5-4648 v3 draws 105 W.
• Socket: D-1548 uses Intel BGA 1667 (soldered); E5-4648 v3 uses Intel Socket 2011-3 (LGA).
• Process node: D-1548 is 14 nm; E5-4648 v3 is 22 nm.
• Transistors: D-1548 has 3,200 million; E5-4648 v3 has 2,600 million.
• Die size: D-1548 is 246 mm²; E5-4648 v3 is 356 mm².
• L3 cache: D-1548 has 1.5 MB per core; E5-4648 v3 has 30 MB shared.
• Memory support: D-1548 supports DDR3 and DDR4; E5-4648 v3 supports only DDR4.
• Memory bus: D-1548 is dual-channel; E5-4648 v3 is quad-channel.
• Memory bandwidth: D-1548 has no listed figure; E5-4648 v3 has 59.7 GB/s.
• PCIe lanes: D-1548 has 24 Gen 3 lanes; E5-4648 v3 has 40 Gen 3 lanes.
• Production status: D-1548 is active; E5-4648 v3 is end-of-life.
• Release date: D-1548 released 2015-10-31; E5-4648 v3 released 2015-05-31.
• Launch MSRP: D-1548 was $555; E5-4648 v3 was $2405.
• Part number: D-1548 is SR2DJ; E5-4648 v3 is SR26R.

Both are Intel server/workstation parts with ECC support, no integrated graphics, and locked multipliers.

# FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The Intel Xeon D-1548 scores 7713 versus 7701 for the Xeon E5-4648 v3, a 0.2% advantage. In practice, they are equivalent.

Q: Does the Xeon E5-4648 v3 offer more memory bandwidth?

A: Yes. The E5-4648 v3 has a quad-channel DDR4 memory bus with a listed bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s. The D-1548 has a dual-channel bus supporting both DDR3 and DDR4, with no bandwidth figure listed.

Q: Can the Xeon D-1548 be upgraded to a different processor?

A: No. The D-1548 uses Intel BGA 1667, a soldered socket. The E5-4648 v3 uses Socket 2011-3, which allows processor replacement.

Q: Which processor has more PCIe lanes?

A: The E5-4648 v3 provides 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes (CPU only), while the D-1548 provides 24 lanes.

Q: Are these processors still in production?

A: The D-1548 is listed as active. The E5-4648 v3 is end-of-life.

Q: How close are their average benchmark scores?

A: The D-1548 averages 2231 and the E5-4648 v3 averages 2227, a 0.2% difference. Both rank at the 47th percentile among all CPUs.

# Where Each One Wins

The Xeon D-1548 wins on power efficiency by a wide margin: 45 W TDP versus 105 W for the E5-4648 v3. For deployments where thermal budget, power cost, or dense chassis space are limiting factors, the D-1548 delivers the same Cinebench performance at less than half the power envelope. Its BGA socket also eliminates socket-related failure points, and its active production status means ongoing availability. The D-1548's support for both DDR3 and DDR4 gives flexibility in memory sourcing, which can matter when repurposing existing DDR3 inventory.

The Xeon E5-4648 v3 wins on platform capability. Its quad-channel memory bus with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth provides substantially more memory throughput than the D-1548's dual-channel design, which matters for memory-bandwidth-sensitive workloads like large in-memory databases or high-frequency trading. Its 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes versus 24 allow more expansion cards, storage controllers, or network interfaces to be attached directly to the CPU. The 30 MB shared L3 cache, more than double the D-1548's 12 MB total, can benefit workloads with large working sets that exhibit temporal locality. The Socket 2011-3 platform also allows future processor upgrades without replacing the motherboard.

In benchmark terms, the D-1548 wins all six head-to-head tests, but the largest margin is 0.2%. The E5-4648 v3's 12 cores and 24 threads provide more raw parallelism, yet its lower clock speeds erase that advantage in Cinebench's scaling. For workloads that scale better than Cinebench across many cores, such as heavily threaded rendering or scientific computing, the E5's additional 4 cores could prove more valuable than the benchmark deltas suggest. Conversely, for lightly threaded workloads or latency-sensitive single-thread tasks, the D-1548's higher boost clock (2.60 GHz versus 2.20 GHz) gives it a theoretical edge, though the measured single-core differences are negligible.

The data ultimately shows two processors that perform identically in synthetic benchmarks but serve different platform strategies. The D-1548 is the choice for new, power-optimized, space-constrained deployments. The E5-4648 v3 is the choice for existing Socket 2011-3 infrastructure needing maximum memory bandwidth and PCIe expansion, accepting higher power draw and end-of-life status.