Intel Xeon D-1581 vs Intel Xeon E-2136 Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The recorded benchmark data splits cleanly, but not in the way the core counts might suggest. The Intel Xeon D-1581, with 16 cores and 32 threads, wins every single head-to-head test in the Cinebench suite. That is all six recorded comparisons, across R15, R20, and R23, in both single-core and multi-core runs. The margins are narrow, mostly around 1.4%, but they are consistent.

The Intel Xeon E-2136, with 6 cores and 12 threads, does not win a single recorded benchmark. Its highest clock speed is 4.50 GHz versus 2.40 GHz for the D-1581, yet the data shows it trails in every test. This is a curious outcome. The E-2136 should theoretically excel in single-threaded work given its massive clock advantage, but the measured single-core scores tell a different story. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the D-1581 scores 159 against 156 for the E-2136. In R23 single-core, the D-1581 scores 1580 against 1558.

The multi-core results are closer than expected as well. The D-1581 has 16 cores, but they run at a modest 1.80 GHz base. The E-2136 has only 6 cores, but they boost to 4.50 GHz. The result is a near tie. In R15 multi-core, the D-1581 scores 1128 versus 1112 for the E-2136. In R23 multi-core, the gap is 157 points, 11197 versus 11040. The D-1581 wins, but the margin is only 1.4% despite having 10 additional cores and 20 additional threads.

What does this imply? The D-1581 is a Broadwell-DE part designed for dense, low-power server deployments. The E-2136 is a Coffee Lake workstation chip with a much higher thermal envelope of 80 watts versus 65 watts for the D-1581. The data suggests that for workloads that scale across many threads, the D-1581 barely edges ahead. For workloads that depend on raw single-thread speed, the D-1581 also wins, which is surprising given the clock disparity. The practical takeaway is that neither chip dominates in a meaningful way; they trade blows within a few percent in every category.

The Verdict

Who should pick which? Strictly from the recorded data, the Intel Xeon D-1581 is the safer choice for anyone who needs every possible point of performance. It wins all six benchmarks. The margins are slim, but they are uniform. There is no test in the database where the E-2136 pulls ahead.

The E-2136 makes sense only through its other characteristics, not its benchmark scores. It is a Socket 1151 part with a shared 12 MB L3 cache, integrated UHD Graphics P630, and a 42.7 GB/s memory bandwidth rating. The D-1581 has no integrated graphics, a per-core L3 cache arrangement totaling 1.5 MB per core, and no listed memory bandwidth figure. The E-2136 also has a launch MSRP of $289, which can be stated once.

For a system builder prioritizing raw Cinebench numbers, the D-1581 is the pick. It holds a 1.4% lead in multi-core and a 1.4% to 1.9% lead in single-core across the board. The E-2136 is end-of-life in production status, while the D-1581 is active. That alone may steer procurement decisions. The E-2136 also draws more power, 80 watts versus 65 watts, and offers fewer PCIe lanes, 16 versus 24 for the D-1581.

The data does not support a scenario where the E-2136 wins on performance. It loses every recorded comparison. If the workload is heavily multi-threaded, the D-1581's extra cores provide a marginal edge. If the workload is lightly threaded, the D-1581 still wins. The only reason to choose the E-2136 is if the platform requires Socket 1151, integrated graphics, or the specific memory bandwidth figure. Those are platform considerations, not performance ones.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest win for the D-1581 comes in Cinebench R15 single-core, where it scores 159 against 156, a delta of 1.9%. That is the only test with a margin above 1.4%. Every other test, both single-core and multi-core, lands at exactly 1.4% or 1.9%. The multi-core deltas are all 1.4%: R15 at 1128 versus 1112, R20 at 4702 versus 4636, and R23 at 11197 versus 11040.

The single-core results are peculiar. The D-1581 has a boost clock of 2.40 GHz, while the E-2136 boosts to 4.50 GHz. A 2.10 GHz advantage should translate into a substantial single-core lead, yet the D-1581 wins by 1.9% in R15 and 1.4% in R20 and R23. This suggests the E-2136's per-core performance is not translating into Cinebench scores as expected. The recorded data does not include frequency scaling details, so the cause is not directly observable, but the outcome is unambiguous.

Looking at the average benchmark scores, the D-1581 sits at 3238, while the E-2136 sits at 3193. That is a difference of 45 points, roughly 1.4%. Both chips have a percentile rank of 53 against all CPUs in the database. The nearest rivals for the D-1581 include the AMD Ryzen 5 1600X at 3249, a delta of -0.3%, and the AMD Ryzen 7 4800U at 3218, a delta of 0.6%. The E-2136's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-9700E at 3197, a delta of -0.1%, and the Intel Core i3-13100T at 3198, a delta of -0.2%.

In the head-to-head tests, the D-1581 wins all six. The E-2136 wins zero. The total wins tally is 6 to 0. The narrowest margin is the R15 multi-core, where 16 points separate the chips. The widest margin is the R23 multi-core, where 157 points separate them. In percentage terms, the widest is the R15 single-core at 1.9%.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins the most benchmarks in the head-to-head comparison?

A: The Intel Xeon D-1581 wins all six recorded benchmarks. The Intel Xeon E-2136 wins none. The D-1581 leads in every Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 test, both single-core and multi-core.

Q: How large is the performance gap between the two chips?

A: The deltas are small. In multi-core tests, the D-1581 leads by 1.4% in R15, R20, and R23. In single-core tests, the D-1581 leads by 1.9% in R15 and 1.4% in R20 and R23. The average benchmark scores are 3238 for the D-1581 and 3193 for the E-2136.

Q: Does the E-2136's higher clock speed help it in single-core tests?

A: No. The E-2136 has a boost clock of 4.50 GHz versus 2.40 GHz for the D-1581, but it still loses every single-core test. The D-1581 scores 159 versus 156 in R15 single-core, 663 versus 654 in R20, and 1580 versus 1558 in R23.

Q: What is the production status of each chip?

A: The Intel Xeon D-1581 is listed as Active. The Intel Xeon E-2136 is listed as End-of-life. This appears in the database production status field.

Q: Which chip has more cores and threads?

A: The D-1581 has 16 cores and 32 threads. The E-2136 has 6 cores and 12 threads. Despite having 10 more cores and 20 more threads, the D-1581 only leads by 1.4% in multi-core tests.

Q: How do these chips compare to their nearest rivals?

A: The D-1581's nearest rival is the AMD Ryzen 5 1600X with an average score of 3249, a delta of -0.3%. The E-2136's nearest rival is the Intel Core i7-9700E with an average score of 3197, a delta of -0.1%. Both chips sit at the 53rd percentile among all CPUs.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural families. The Intel Xeon D-1581 uses the Broadwell architecture, specifically the Broadwell-DE generation, fabricated on a 14 nm process. The Intel Xeon E-2136 uses the Coffee Lake architecture, specifically Coffee Lake-S WS, also on a 14 nm process. Both are built by Intel, but the transistor counts differ. The D-1581 has 3,200 million transistors on a 246 mm² die. The E-2136 has no listed transistor count and a smaller 154 mm² die.

The cache layouts are fundamentally different. The D-1581 has 64 KB of L1 per core and 256 KB of L2 per core, with L3 at 1.5 MB per core. The E-2136 also has 64 KB of L1 per core and 256 KB of L2 per core, but its L3 is 12 MB shared across all cores. This is a meaningful architectural split. The D-1581's per-core L3 means each core has private access to its slice, while the E-2136's shared pool allows any core to use the full 12 MB.

Memory support also differs. The D-1581 supports DDR3 and DDR4 memory, while the E-2136 supports only DDR4. Both use a dual-channel memory bus. The E-2136 has a listed memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s, while the D-1581 has no bandwidth figure in the database. Both support ECC memory, which is typical for server and workstation segments.

The PCIe configurations are not equal. The D-1581 provides Gen 3 with 24 lanes from the CPU. The E-2136 provides Gen 3 with 16 lanes. The D-1581 has no integrated graphics, while the E-2136 includes UHD Graphics P630. The sockets are completely different: the D-1581 uses Intel BGA 1667, a soldered embedded package, while the E-2136 uses Intel Socket 1151, a standard LGA socket.

The D-1581 has a base clock of 1.80 GHz and a boost clock of 2.40 GHz. The E-2136 has a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz. The D-1581 is a 16-core, 32-thread part with a 65 watt TDP. The E-2136 is a 6-core, 12-thread part with an 80 watt TDP. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier. The D-1581's part number is SR2LZ, and the E-2136's is SR3WW.

Specification Differences

The table below lists only the fields where the two processors differ, according to the database.

| Specification | Intel Xeon D-1581 | Intel Xeon E-2136 |

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

| Series | None listed | Xeon E-2100 series |

| Cores | 16 | 6 |

| Threads | 32 | 12 |

| Base Clock | 1.80 GHz | 3.30 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 2.40 GHz | 4.50 GHz |

| TDP | 65 watts | 80 watts |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1667 | Intel Socket 1151 |

| Architecture | Broadwell | Coffee Lake |

| Codename | Broadwell | Coffee Lake-S WS |

| Generation | Xeon D (Broadwell-DE) | Xeon E (Coffee Lake) |

| Transistors | 3,200 million | Not listed |

| Die Size | 246 mm² | 154 mm² |

| L3 Cache | 1.5 MB per core | 12 MB shared |

| Memory Support | DDR3, DDR4 | DDR4 only |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not listed | 42.7 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 24 lanes | Gen 3, 16 lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | None | UHD Graphics P630 |

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

| Release Date | 2016-02-23 | 2018-07-11 |

| Launch MSRP | Not listed | $289 |

| Part Number | SR2LZ | SR3WW |

The shared specifications include the 14 nm process, Intel as the foundry, 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, dual-channel memory bus, ECC memory support, and a locked multiplier. Both chips are classified as Server/Workstation market segments. Both have a 53rd percentile rank among all CPUs. The D-1581 has an average benchmark score of 3238, and the E-2136 has an average benchmark score of 3193.