Intel Xeon D-1577 vs Intel Xeon E5-2640 v3 Comparison

Architecture Differences

The Intel Xeon D-1577 and Intel Xeon E5-2640 v3 represent two distinct design philosophies within Intel's server lineup. The D-1577 is built on the Broadwell architecture (specifically Broadwell-DE) using a 14 nm process node, while the E5-2640 v3 uses the older Haswell architecture (Haswell-EP) on a 22 nm node. This process difference is significant — the D-1577 packs 3,200 million transistors into a 246 mm² die, whereas the E5-2640 v3 contains 2,600 million transistors spread across a larger 356 mm² die. The newer lithography allows the D-1577 to achieve higher transistor density despite its smaller physical footprint.

The core counts diverge sharply. The D-1577 features 16 cores and 32 threads, double the E5-2640 v3's 8 cores and 16 threads. However, the E5-2640 v3 compensates with substantially higher clock speeds: its base clock runs at 2.60 GHz versus 1.30 GHz on the D-1577, and boost reaches 3.40 GHz versus 2.10 GHz. This creates an interesting dynamic where the D-1577 relies on parallelism while the E5-2640 v3 depends on raw frequency.

Cache layouts also differ fundamentally. The D-1577 uses a per-core L3 design with 1.5 MB per core, while the E5-2640 v3 has a shared 20 MB L3 pool. Both share identical 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per-core allocations. The memory subsystems reflect their target markets: the D-1577 supports both DDR3 and DDR4 through a dual-channel bus, whereas the E5-2640 v3 supports only DDR4 but through a quad-channel interface with a rated 59.7 GB/s bandwidth. PCIe connectivity favors the E5-2640 v3 as well, offering 40 Gen 3 lanes versus 24 on the D-1577.

Power consumption tells a dramatic story. The D-1577 draws a 45 W TDP, while the E5-2640 v3 consumes 90 W — exactly double. This efficiency gap stems from both the process node advantage and the significantly lower clock speeds on the D-1577. The packaging also differs: the D-1577 uses Intel BGA 1667 (soldered), while the E5-2640 v3 uses Intel Socket 2011-3 (socketed). Both support ECC memory and lack integrated graphics. The D-1577 launched on 2016-02-23 with a launch MSRP of 1379, whereas the E5-2640 v3 launched earlier on 2014-09-07 with a launch MSRP of $939. The D-1577 remains in active production, while the E5-2640 v3 is end-of-life.

Where Each One Wins

Benchmark data shows a remarkably close competition, but the D-1577 wins every single head-to-head test — all six of them. The margins are narrow, ranging from 0.4% to 0.8%, yet they are consistent across both multi-core and single-core workloads. The D-1577's largest advantage appears in Cinebench R15 single-core, where it leads by 0.8% (133 versus 132). Multi-core tests show a uniform 0.4% delta across R15, R20, and R23.

The E5-2640 v3's higher clock speeds do not translate into benchmark victories. Despite boosting 62% higher than the D-1577 (3.40 GHz versus 2.10 GHz), the E5-2640 v3 trails in every test. This suggests that the D-1577's architectural efficiency and additional cores provide a slight edge even in single-threaded workloads, where clock speed traditionally dominates. The D-1577's 16 cores versus 8 on the E5-2640 v3 should theoretically create a larger multi-core gap, but the E5-2640 v3's much higher base clock (2.60 GHz versus 1.30 GHz) keeps the competition tight.

In practical terms, the D-1577 wins across the board for Cinebench rendering workloads. The E5-2640 v3 offers advantages in other domains not captured by these benchmarks: quad-channel memory bandwidth (59.7 GB/s versus unspecified on the D-1577) and 40 PCIe lanes versus 24. For memory-bandwidth-intensive or I/O-heavy server workloads, the E5-2640 v3's platform capabilities could prove more valuable than its slightly lower Cinebench scores. However, strictly from the benchmark data, the D-1577 is the victor in every measured category.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear but narrow victory for the Intel Xeon D-1577. It wins all six head-to-head Cinebench tests, with deltas between 0.4% and 0.8%. Its 50th percentile ranking among all CPUs matches the E5-2640 v3 exactly, and its average benchmark score of 2715 edges out the E5-2640 v3's 2703. The D-1577 achieves this with half the TDP (45 W versus 90 W), making it the more power-efficient choice for sustained compute workloads.

The E5-2640 v3, despite its end-of-life status, remains competitive. Its quad-channel memory bus and larger PCIe lane count (40 versus 24) make it a stronger platform choice for systems requiring high memory throughput or extensive I/O expansion. The socketed design also offers upgrade flexibility that the soldered BGA package of the D-1577 cannot match.

For users prioritizing raw Cinebench performance and power efficiency, the D-1577 is the data-backed pick. For those building systems that need maximum memory bandwidth or PCIe expansion, the E5-2640 v3's platform features — even without benchmark wins — may justify its selection. The launch MSRP difference (1379 for the D-1577 versus $939 for the E5-2640 v3) reflects the newer process and higher core count, though pricing considerations should not factor into performance decisions.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The closest contest occurs in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the D-1577 scores 133 against the E5-2640 v3's 132, a 0.8% margin that represents the largest delta of any test. This is notable because the E5-2640 v3's 3.40 GHz boost clock should theoretically give it a single-thread advantage over the D-1577's 2.10 GHz boost. The D-1577's Broadwell architecture evidently extracts more instructions per clock than Haswell, offsetting the clock deficit.

Multi-core results show remarkable consistency. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the D-1577 posts 946 versus 942 (0.4% ahead). Cinebench R20 multi-core shows 3943 versus 3926 (0.4% ahead). Cinebench R23 multi-core follows the same pattern at 9389 versus 9348 (0.4% ahead). This uniformity suggests the two processors scale almost identically with workload intensity, despite their architectural differences.

Single-core tests beyond R15 reinforce the D-1577's edge. Cinebench R20 single-core yields 556 versus 553 (0.5% ahead), and R23 single-core shows 1325 versus 1319 (0.5% ahead). The D-1577's wins are consistent but small — no test shows more than a 1% advantage. The average benchmark scores reflect this: 2715 for the D-1577 versus 2703 for the E5-2640 v3, a difference of just 12 points (0.4%).

The nearest rivals for each processor provide context. The D-1577's closest competitor is the Intel Core i7-11390H with an identical 2715 average score and 0% delta, followed by the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5650U at 2713 (0.1% behind). The E5-2640 v3's nearest rival is the Intel Core i7-1185G7E at 2703 (0% delta), with the Intel Core i7-8700T at 2701 (0.1% behind). Both processors sit at the 50th percentile of all CPUs, indicating mid-pack performance in the broader market.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Xeon D-1577 has 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Intel Xeon E5-2640 v3 has 8 cores and 16 threads — the D-1577 offers exactly double the core and thread count.

Q: What are the TDP differences?

A: The Intel Xeon D-1577 has a 45 W TDP, while the Intel Xeon E5-2640 v3 has a 90 W TDP. The D-1577 consumes exactly half the power of the E5-2640 v3.

Q: Which processor has higher clock speeds?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-2640 v3 has higher clocks: 2.60 GHz base and 3.40 GHz boost, compared to 1.30 GHz base and 2.10 GHz boost on the Intel Xeon D-1577.

Q: Did the E5-2640 v3 win any benchmark tests?

A: No. The Intel Xeon D-1577 won all six head-to-head Cinebench tests, with the E5-2640 v3 taking zero wins. The closest margin was 0.4% in multi-core tests, and the largest was 0.8% in R15 single-core.

Q: What memory configurations do they support?

A: The Intel Xeon D-1577 supports DDR3 and DDR4 through a dual-channel bus. The Intel Xeon E5-2640 v3 supports only DDR4 but through a quad-channel bus with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: What are the release dates and production statuses?

A: The Intel Xeon D-1577 launched on 2016-02-23 and remains in active production. The Intel Xeon E5-2640 v3 launched on 2014-09-07 and is now end-of-life.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Xeon D-1577 | Intel Xeon E5-2640 v3 |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 16 | 8 |

| Threads | 32 | 16 |

| Base Clock | 1.30 GHz | 2.60 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 2.10 GHz | 3.40 GHz |

| TDP | 45 W | 90 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1667 | Intel Socket 2011-3 |

| Architecture | Broadwell | Haswell |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 22 nm |

| Transistors | 3,200 million | 2,600 million |

| Die Size | 246 mm² | 356 mm² |

| L3 Cache | 1.5 MB (per core) | 20 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR3, DDR4 | DDR4 |

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Quad-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not specified | 59.7 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 24 Lanes | Gen 3, 40 Lanes |

| Production Status | Active | End-of-life |

| Release Date | 2016-02-23 | 2014-09-07 |

| Launch MSRP | 1379 | $939 |

| Part Number | SR2M2 | SR205 |