Intel Xeon D-1732TE vs Intel Xeon W-2135 Comparison

The Intel Xeon W-2135 and Intel Xeon D-1732TE occupy different corners of the workstation and server market, yet their benchmark results are remarkably close. The data shows a clean sweep for the older Skylake-W part, but the margins are so thin that the comparison becomes a study in architectural trade-offs rather than raw performance dominance.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The W-2135 wins every single benchmark in the head-to-head comparison, but the victory margins are almost negligible. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the W-2135 scores 1230 against 1214 for the D-1732TE, a 1.3% advantage. That pattern repeats across the entire test suite: R15 single-core shows 173 versus 171 (1.2% delta), R20 multi-core shows 5126 versus 5061 (1.3% delta), and R20 single-core shows 723 versus 714 (1.3% delta).

The largest consistent lead appears in Cinebench R23, where the W-2135 posts 12205 multi-core and 1723 single-core, against 12052 and 1701 respectively for the D-1732TE. Again, the delta sits at 1.3% for both. What is striking is that the W-2135 achieves these wins with 6 cores and 12 threads, while the D-1732TE fields 8 cores and 16 threads. The newer Ice Lake part cannot translate its two extra cores into a multi-threaded victory, which suggests its significantly lower clock speeds are the limiting factor.

The average benchmark scores tell a similar story. The W-2135 averages 3530, placing it in the 55th percentile of all CPUs, while the D-1732TE averages 3486, landing in the 54th percentile. The nearest rivals for the W-2135 include the Intel Core i3-12300 at 3532 (0% delta) and the Intel Core i5-10600K at 3533 (-0.1% delta). The D-1732TE's closest competitors are the Intel Core i9-10900TE at 3484 (0.1% delta) and the Intel Xeon E-2246G at 3492 (-0.2% delta). These rival clusters confirm that both chips sit in a crowded performance band where a few points separate dozens of processors.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-core performance?

A: The Intel Xeon W-2135 wins all three single-core Cinebench tests. It scores 173 in R15, 723 in R20, and 1723 in R23, while the D-1732TE scores 171, 714, and 1701 respectively. The margins are 1.2% to 1.3% across the board.

Q: How does the core count difference affect multi-core results?

A: Despite having 8 cores and 16 threads versus 6 cores and 12 threads, the D-1732TE loses every multi-core test. In R23 multi-core, the W-2135 scores 12205 versus 12052, showing that clock speed outweighs the two-core deficit for this workload.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The W-2135 supports quad-channel DDR4 with 85.3 GB/s bandwidth, while the D-1732TE uses triple-channel DDR4 with 64.0 GB/s. Both support ECC memory, which is typical for their server/workstation segments.

Q: Which processor has a more recent architecture?

A: The D-1732TE uses the Ice Lake architecture on a 10 nm process, while the W-2135 uses Skylake on 14 nm. The D-1732TE was released in 2022-02-23 and is marked as Active, whereas the W-2135 launched 2017-08-28 and is End-of-life.

Q: Are there any benchmark categories where the D-1732TE wins?

A: No. The head-to-head data shows the W-2135 wins all six Cinebench tests. The D-1732TE has zero wins in the comparison.

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

A: The W-2135 sits within 0.2% of the Intel Core i3-12300, Core i5-10600K, and Xeon W-1290TE in average score. The D-1732TE is within 0.4% of the Core i9-10900TE, Xeon E-2246G, Xeon E5-1680 v4, and Core i9-9900T.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two processors is substantial. The W-2135 is built on the Skylake-W architecture using Intel's 14 nm process node, with a die size of 484 mm². The D-1732TE moves to Ice Lake-D on a 10 nm node, though its die size is not listed in the data. This process shrink explains why the D-1732TE can achieve significantly higher core density while consuming far less power.

Cache hierarchies differ notably. The W-2135 provides 64 KB of L1 cache and 1 MB of L2 cache per core, with 8.25 MB of shared L3 cache. The D-1732TE increases per-core caches to 80 KB L1 and 1.25 MB L2, while its shared L3 cache jumps to 15 MB. The larger L3 on the D-1732TE is nearly double that of the W-2135, which should help with data-heavy workloads, yet the benchmark data shows it cannot convert that advantage into Cinebench wins.

The PCIe capabilities also diverge. The W-2135 offers Gen 3 with 48 lanes from the CPU, while the D-1732TE provides Gen 4 with only 16 lanes. The newer standard on the D-1732TE doubles per-lane bandwidth, but the W-2135's vastly higher lane count supports more expansion devices. Both processors lack integrated graphics, so neither can drive a display without a discrete GPU.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts differ: 6 cores/12 threads for the W-2135 versus 8 cores/16 threads for the D-1732TE. Clock speeds show a wider gap, with the W-2135 running at 3.70 GHz base and 4.50 GHz boost, while the D-1732TE operates at 1900.00 MHz base and 3.00 GHz boost. The W-2135's boost clock is 50% higher than the D-1732TE's, which explains its consistent benchmark wins.

Power consumption is dramatically different. The W-2135 has a 140 W TDP, while the D-1732TE draws only 52 W — less than half. This efficiency gap stems from the newer 10 nm process and lower clocks. The sockets are incompatible: the W-2135 uses Intel Socket 2066, while the D-1732TE uses Intel BGA 2227, meaning they are not drop-in replacements for each other.

Memory channels differ (quad-channel versus triple-channel), resulting in different bandwidth figures of 85.3 GB/s and 64.0 GB/s. The launch MSRP for the W-2135 is $835, while the D-1732TE lists at $730. Production status also separates them: the W-2135 is end-of-life, while the D-1732TE remains active. The part numbers are SR3LN for the W-2135 and SRLBW for the D-1732TE.

The Verdict

The benchmark data presents a clear if narrow winner. The Intel Xeon W-2135 wins all six head-to-head Cinebench tests, with margins between 1.2% and 1.3%. Its average benchmark score of 3530 edges out the D-1732TE's 3486, and it ranks one percentile higher (55th versus 54th). For applications that rely on Cinebench-style rendering workloads, the W-2135 is the superior choice despite being older and less power-efficient.

However, the D-1732TE counters with architectural advantages that the benchmarks do not capture. Its 15 MB of L3 cache, 10 nm process, and 52 W TDP make it a compelling option for dense server deployments where power and thermal constraints matter more than raw render speed. The D-1732TE's Gen 4 PCIe support also future-proofs storage and networking connectivity, even with fewer lanes available.

For buyers prioritizing raw compute performance in a workstation, the W-2135 is the data-backed pick, but only by a hair. For those building power-sensitive servers or requiring the latest PCIe standard, the D-1732TE's lower TDP and newer architecture may justify sacrificing the small performance delta. The end-of-life status of the W-2135 is a practical consideration, as availability may decline, while the D-1732TE remains actively produced.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon W-2135 wins every measured benchmark category, so its case is straightforward: any workload that Cinebench represents — multi-threaded rendering, 3D modeling, video encoding — will see a slight but consistent edge with the W-2135. Its higher base and boost clocks (3.70 GHz and 4.50 GHz) give it a clear latency advantage in single-threaded tasks, reflected in its 1723 R23 single-core score versus 1701 for the D-1732TE. The quad-channel memory bus with 85.3 GB/s bandwidth also supports memory-intensive workstation applications.

The Intel Xeon D-1732TE wins where the benchmarks are silent. Its 52 W TDP versus 140 W means it can be deployed in environments with strict power budgets or passive cooling constraints. The 15 MB shared L3 cache provides a larger working set for data-center workloads that exhibit cache locality. The Gen 4 PCIe interface, despite only 16 lanes, offers double the per-lane throughput of the W-2135's Gen 3, which matters for high-speed NVMe storage or single high-bandwidth accelerators. The triple-channel memory configuration with 64.0 GB/s still provides ample bandwidth for most server tasks. For edge computing, network appliances, or dense virtualization hosts where the 8-core/16-thread configuration fits better, the D-1732TE is the practical choice, accepting a 1.3% performance hit in exchange for dramatically lower power draw and a newer, actively supported platform.