Intel Xeon D-1587 vs Intel Xeon E5-1660 v4 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a consistent, if narrow, sweep for the Intel Xeon D-1587 across all six Cinebench comparisons. In the multicore tests, the D-1587 leads by margins between 2.6% and 2.7%. Specifically, in Cinebench R15 multicore, the D-1587 scores 1167 against 1137 for the E5-1660 v4, a 2.6% advantage. The gap widens slightly in Cinebench R20 multicore, where the D-1587 posts 4865 versus 4739, a 2.7% lead. The Cinebench R23 multicore result follows the same pattern: 11585 for the D-1587 against 11285 for the E5-1660 v4, again a 2.7% difference. These are not large margins, but they are uniform across every rendering workload recorded. The D-1587 wins all six head-to-head matchups, with the E5-1660 v4 failing to take a single test.

The single-core results tell a similar story, though the absolute scores are much lower given the nature of the workload. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the D-1587 records 164 versus 160 for the E5-1660 v4, a 2.5% edge. Cinebench R20 single-core shows 686 for the D-1587 and 669 for the E5-1660 v4, again a 2.5% difference. Cinebench R23 single-core rounds out the set with 1635 for the D-1587 and 1593 for the E5-1660 v4, a 2.6% lead. What stands out here is that the E5-1660 v4, despite its much higher base and boost clock, cannot overcome the architectural efficiency of the D-1587 in these single-threaded tests. The D-1587’s wins are small in percentage terms, but they are entirely consistent. No test in the database shows the E5-1660 v4 ahead, even by a fraction of a point.

Looking at the average benchmark scores, the D-1587 sits at 3350, while the E5-1660 v4 averages 3264. That is a 2.6% overall gap, mirroring the per-test deltas. The percentile ranks are close as well: the D-1587 falls in the 54th percentile among all CPUs, while the E5-1660 v4 lands in the 53rd percentile. These two processors are effectively adjacent in the overall performance distribution, but the D-1587 holds a measurable edge in every recorded workload. The data does not show any scenario where the E5-1660 v4’s higher clock speeds translate into a benchmark win. It is a clean sweep, albeit a narrow one, for the D-1587.

The Verdict

Based strictly on the recorded benchmark data, the Intel Xeon D-1587 is the faster processor in every tested workload. It wins all six Cinebench comparisons, covering both multicore and single-core scenarios, with deltas ranging from 2.5% to 2.7%. Its average benchmark score of 3350 also beats the E5-1660 v4’s 3264. The percentile ranks reinforce this: 54th for the D-1587 against 53rd for the E5-1660 v4. If the decision rests solely on raw performance as measured by Cinebench, the D-1587 is the clear choice.

However, the context matters. The E5-1660 v4 is a desktop-class Xeon with a much higher thermal envelope, 140 watts versus 65 watts for the D-1587. It also uses a different socket, Intel Socket 2011-3, compared to the D-1587’s Intel BGA 1667. The E5-1660 v4 is marked as end-of-life in the database, while the D-1587 is still active. The E5-1660 v4 offers a quad-channel memory bus with a recorded bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s, and 40 PCIe lanes, whereas the D-1587 has a dual-channel memory bus and 24 PCIe lanes. These are platform-level differences that go beyond raw CPU scores. The D-1587 wins the benchmark comparison, but the E5-1660 v4 may still be relevant for systems that need its memory bandwidth and PCIe connectivity. For pure compute, the D-1587 is ahead. For platform expansion, the E5-1660 v4 has the edge in the database’s specs.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on Intel’s 14 nm process and share the Broadwell architecture family, but they diverge in implementation details. The D-1587 is part of the Xeon D line, codenamed Broadwell-DE, while the E5-1660 v4 belongs to the Broadwell-EP generation. The D-1587 packs 16 cores and 32 threads, while the E5-1660 v4 has 8 cores and 16 threads. That is a 2x core count advantage for the D-1587, yet the benchmark scores show only a small overall lead. The explanation lies in clock speeds: the D-1587 runs at a 1700 MHz base and 2.30 GHz boost, while the E5-1660 v4 runs at 3.20 GHz base and 3.80 GHz boost. The E5-1660 v4’s much higher frequency compensates for half the core count, bringing the two processors to near parity in Cinebench.

Cache configurations also differ. The D-1587 has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 1.5 MB of L3 per core. The E5-1660 v4 also has 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, but its L3 is 20 MB shared across all cores. The total L3 for the D-1587 is not listed as a single figure, but per-core allocation suggests a different design philosophy: the D-1587 spreads cache across many cores, while the E5-1660 v4 pools it for fewer cores. Transistor counts are similar, 3,200 million for the D-1587 and 3,400 million for the E5-1660 v4, with the same die size of 246 mm² for both.

Memory support splits them further. The D-1587 supports both DDR3 and DDR4 on a dual-channel bus, while the E5-1660 v4 supports only DDR4 but on a quad-channel bus. The E5-1660 v4’s memory bandwidth is recorded at 76.8 GB/s, a figure not listed for the D-1587. PCIe connectivity also favors the E5-1660 v4: 40 lanes versus 24 lanes for the D-1587, both Gen 3. The D-1587 uses a BGA 1667 socket, making it a soldered, embedded-style part, while the E5-1660 v4 uses Socket 2011-3, a traditional LGA socket. Both support ECC memory. The D-1587 was released in February 2016, the E5-1660 v4 in June 2016. The D-1587 remains active in production, while the E5-1660 v4 is end-of-life.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Xeon D-1587 has 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Intel Xeon E5-1660 v4 has 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: How do their clock speeds compare?

A: The D-1587 runs at 1700 MHz base and 2.30 GHz boost. The E5-1660 v4 runs at 3.20 GHz base and 3.80 GHz boost.

Q: Which one wins in single-core performance?

A: The D-1587 wins all three single-core Cinebench tests. In R15, it scores 164 versus 160; in R20, 686 versus 669; in R23, 1635 versus 1593. The margins are 2.5% to 2.6%.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The E5-1660 v4 has a recorded memory bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s on a quad-channel DDR4 bus. The D-1587 uses a dual-channel bus supporting DDR3 and DDR4, but its bandwidth is not listed.

Q: Which processor has more PCIe lanes?

A: The E5-1660 v4 has 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes, while the D-1587 has 24 PCIe Gen 3 lanes.

Q: Are both processors still in production?

A: No. The D-1587 is marked as active, while the E5-1660 v4 is marked as end-of-life.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon D-1587 wins in every recorded benchmark. Its six victories cover both multicore and single-core Cinebench tests, with deltas of 2.5% to 2.7%. In multicore workloads, the D-1587’s 16 cores and 32 threads provide the foundation for its lead, even against the E5-1660 v4’s higher clock speeds. In single-core workloads, the D-1587 still edges ahead, which is notable given the E5-1660 v4’s 3.80 GHz boost clock versus the D-1587’s 2.30 GHz boost. The database shows no scenario where the E5-1660 v4 takes a win. For compute-intensive tasks like rendering, the D-1587 is the superior part.

The Intel Xeon E5-1660 v4 does not win any benchmarks, but it does win on platform specifications. It offers a quad-channel memory bus with 76.8 GB/s of bandwidth, which the D-1587 lacks a recorded figure for. It also provides 40 PCIe lanes, compared to the D-1587’s 24. For workloads that depend on memory throughput or high PCIe expansion, such as heavy I/O or multi-GPU setups, the E5-1660 v4’s platform advantages matter. Its 8 cores and 16 threads, combined with a 3.20 GHz base clock, keep it competitive in raw compute, only 2.6% behind the D-1587 on average. The E5-1660 v4 is also a desktop-socketed part with Socket 2011-3, which may offer more upgrade flexibility than the BGA 1667 soldered D-1587. The data does not put the E5-1660 v4 ahead in any test, but its memory and PCIe capabilities are clear differentiators for specific use cases.