Intel Xeon D-1557 vs Intel Xeon E-2234 Comparison

The Verdict

The recorded data is unusually one-sided. Across every Cinebench iteration in the database, the Intel Xeon E-2234 posts the higher score, winning all six head-to-head comparisons. The margins are consistent, ranging from 3.6% to 4.1%. The E-2234 leads by 4% in Cinebench R15 multi-core (827 versus 795), by 4% in R20 multi-core (3448 versus 3314), and by 4% in R23 multi-core (8210 versus 7892). The single-core results follow the same pattern: 3.6% ahead in R15 single-core (116 versus 112), 4.1% ahead in R20 single-core (486 versus 467), and 4% ahead in R23 single-core (1159 versus 1114).

The Xeon D-1557 does not win a single benchmark in this comparison. That said, the E-2234 is not a dominant performer in absolute terms. Its 48th percentile ranking among all CPUs is only one point higher than the D-1557's 47th. The average benchmark score for the E-2234 is 2374, versus 2282 for the D-1557, a gap of roughly 4%. The system should be chosen by users who need the higher per-core throughput, because the E-2234's advantage shows up in both single-core and multi-core tests.

The Xeon D-1557 is the better pick for workloads where the platform matters more than raw Cinebench scores. It is an active, 12-core, 24-thread part on a BGA 1667 socket with 24 PCIe Gen 3 lanes, compared to the E-2234's 4 cores, 8 threads, 16 lanes, and end-of-life status. The D-1557 also carries a 45 W TDP against the E-2234's 71 W. For a low-power, high-core-count embedded or network appliance, the D-1557 is the logical choice. For a general-purpose server or workstation CPU where single-thread responsiveness and slightly higher multi-thread scores are priorities, the E-2234 is the one to select.

Neither processor is a standout in the broader CPU landscape. The E-2234's nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon E-2226GE (average score 2365, delta 0.4%), the Intel Core i5-8600T (2383, delta -0.4%), the AMD Ryzen 5 2500X (2361, delta 0.6%), and the Intel Core i5-9600 (2354, delta 0.8%). The D-1557 sits near the Intel Xeon E5-2629 v3 (2283, delta 0%), the Intel Core i3-10305 (2264, delta 0.8%), the Intel Core i5-10400H (2303, delta -0.9%), and the Intel Core i7-1068NG7 (2259, delta 1%). Both chips are mid-pack parts, and the choice between them should be driven by platform and power requirements, not by expectation of a major performance leap.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has the higher multi-core Cinebench score?

A: The Intel Xeon E-2234 wins all three multi-core tests. It scores 827 in Cinebench R15 multi-core versus 795 for the D-1557, 3448 versus 3314 in R20 multi-core, and 8210 versus 7892 in R23 multi-core. Each win is a 4% margin.

Q: Is the single-core performance difference the same as the multi-core difference?

A: The single-core margins are close but slightly varied. The E-2234 leads by 3.6% in R15 single-core (116 versus 112), by 4.1% in R20 single-core (486 versus 467), and by 4% in R23 single-core (1159 versus 1114). The multi-core margins are consistently 4% across all three tests.

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Xeon D-1557 has 12 cores and 24 threads. The Intel Xeon E-2234 has 4 cores and 8 threads. Despite having three times the core count, the D-1557 still loses every multi-core benchmark to the E-2234.

Q: What are the power consumption figures for each CPU?

A: The Xeon D-1557 has a TDP of 45 W. The Xeon E-2234 has a TDP of 71 W. The D-1557 draws less power while offering more cores, but at the cost of benchmark performance.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes. Both the Intel Xeon E-2234 and the Intel Xeon D-1557 support ECC memory. The E-2234 supports DDR4 in a dual-channel configuration with 42.7 GB/s of memory bandwidth. The D-1557 supports both DDR3 and DDR4 in a dual-channel configuration, but the database does not list a memory bandwidth figure for it.

Q: What is the production status of each chip?

A: The Intel Xeon E-2234 is marked as end-of-life. The Intel Xeon D-1557 is marked as active. This matters for long-term platform planning, as the E-2234 is no longer in production.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations. The Intel Xeon E-2234 is built on Coffee Lake, specifically the Coffee Lake-S WS variant, and belongs to the Xeon E-2200 series. The Intel Xeon D-1557 is built on Broadwell, specifically the Broadwell-DE variant, and belongs to the Xeon D line. Both use a 14 nm process node from Intel, so the underlying transistor geometry is the same, but the design goals diverge sharply.

The E-2234 is a high-clock, low-core-count design. It has 4 cores and 8 threads, with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.80 GHz. The D-1557 is the opposite: 12 cores and 24 threads, with a base clock of 1500.00 MHz (1.50 GHz) and a boost clock of 2.10 GHz. The clock-speed advantage of the E-2234 is enormous, and that explains why it wins every single-core benchmark despite the D-1557's core-count advantage.

The cache layouts also differ. The E-2234 has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3. The D-1557 has the same 64 KB L1 per core and 256 KB L2 per core, but its L3 is 1.5 MB per core rather than a shared pool. The die size reflects the core-count difference: the E-2234 is 126 mm², while the D-1557 is 246 mm². The D-1557 also has a listed transistor count of 3,200 million, while the E-2234 does not have a transistor count in the database.

Memory support differs as well. The E-2234 supports DDR4 only, with a dual-channel bus and a listed memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s. The D-1557 supports both DDR3 and DDR4, also on a dual-channel bus, but no bandwidth figure is recorded. The PCIe configurations are different: the E-2234 provides Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the D-1557 provides Gen 3 with 24 lanes (CPU only). The E-2234 includes integrated graphics in the form of UHD Graphics P630; the D-1557 has no integrated graphics listed.

The sockets are not interchangeable. The E-2234 uses Intel Socket 1151, a socketed design. The D-1557 uses Intel BGA 1667, a ball-grid-array package that is soldered to the board. This is a fundamental platform decision: the E-2234 can be replaced or upgraded in a compatible motherboard, while the D-1557 is a system-on-board design.

Specification Differences

The two CPUs differ in nearly every major specification field. The E-2234 has 4 cores and 8 threads; the D-1557 has 12 cores and 24 threads. The E-2234 runs at a base clock of 3.60 GHz and boosts to 4.80 GHz. The D-1557 runs at a base clock of 1500.00 MHz and boosts to 2.10 GHz. The E-2234 has a TDP of 71 W; the D-1557 has a TDP of 45 W.

The socket is different: Intel Socket 1151 for the E-2234 versus Intel BGA 1667 for the D-1557. The architecture differs: Coffee Lake for the E-2234, Broadwell for the D-1557. The process node is the same (14 nm), but the die size is not: 126 mm² for the E-2234, 246 mm² for the D-1557. The D-1557 lists 3,200 million transistors; the E-2234 has no transistor count in the database.

Cache configurations differ in L3 only. Both have 64 KB L1 per core and 256 KB L2 per core. The E-2234 has 8 MB of shared L3. The D-1557 has 1.5 MB of L3 per core. Memory support: the E-2234 is DDR4 only with 42.7 GB/s bandwidth; the D-1557 is DDR3 and DDR4 with no bandwidth listed. PCIe: 16 lanes for the E-2234, 24 lanes for the D-1557, both Gen 3.

The E-2234 has integrated graphics (UHD Graphics P630); the D-1557 has none. The E-2234 is end-of-life; the D-1557 is active. The release dates are far apart: the E-2234 was released on 2019-05-28, while the D-1557 was released on 2016-02-23. The launch MSRP is $250 for the E-2234 and $694 for the D-1557. The part numbers are SRFAX for the E-2234 and SR2M4 for the D-1557. Neither has an unlocked multiplier.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench suite in the database covers three versions, each with multi-core and single-core tests. The E-2234 wins all six. The smallest margin is 3.6% in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the E-2234 scores 116 against the D-1557's 112. That is the only sub-4% result in the comparison. The largest margin is 4.1% in Cinebench R20 single-core, where the E-2234 scores 486 against 467.

The multi-core results are perfectly uniform at 4%. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the E-2234 scores 827 and the D-1557 scores 795. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the E-2234 scores 3448 and the D-1557 scores 3314. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the E-2234 scores 8210 and the D-1557 scores 7892. The D-1557 has 12 cores and 24 threads, yet it cannot convert that core advantage into a win. The E-2234's 4.80 GHz boost clock and 3.60 GHz base clock overcome the core-count deficit.

The single-core results tell the same story. Cinebench R15 single-core: 116 to 112, a 3.6% lead for the E-2234. Cinebench R20 single-core: 486 to 467, a 4.1% lead. Cinebench R23 single-core: 1159 to 1114, a 4% lead. The consistency of these margins across three generations of the Cinebench benchmark suggests a stable performance relationship between the two chips, not a workload-specific fluke.

The average benchmark score in the database reinforces the head-to-head results. The E-2234 has an average score of 2374 against the D-1557's 2282, a difference of about 92 points. The percentile rankings are close: 48th for the E-2234, 47th for the D-1557. For context, the E-2234's nearest rival, the Intel Core i5-8600T, scores 2383, which is 0.4% above the E-2234. The D-1557's nearest rival, the Intel Xeon E5-2629 v3, scores 2283, essentially identical to the D-1557's 2282.

The data does not show a scenario where the D-1557 wins. In every recorded benchmark, the E-2234 is ahead. The margin is narrow, never exceeding 4.1%, but it is also never reversed. A buyer choosing between these two should understand that the E-2234 offers a small but consistent performance edge in Cinebench workloads, while the D-1557 offers more cores, lower power consumption, and an active production status. The benchmark data alone favors the E-2234; the platform and power data favor the D-1557.