Intel Xeon D-2712T vs Intel Xeon E3-1245 v5 Comparison

The Intel Xeon E3-1245 v5 and the Intel Xeon D-2712T are both 4-core, 8-thread server processors, but they come from different eras of Intel’s lineup. The E3-1245 v5 is a Skylake-based part from 2015, while the D-2712T is an Ice Lake-D chip from 2022. Benchmark results show that the older E3-1245 v5 edges ahead in every single tested workload, though the margins are remarkably slim. Across the six Cinebench tests, the E3-1245 v5 wins all of them, with the D-2712T never managing a single victory. The largest performance gap is a 0.5% lead in Cinebench R20 multi-core, while the smallest is a dead tie in Cinebench R15 single-core.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking pattern in the head-to-head data is how consistently the E3-1245 v5 outperforms the D-2712T, even though the D-2712T is a newer design on a smaller manufacturing process. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the E3-1245 v5 scores 687 against the D-2712T’s 684, a delta of 0.4%. The single-core R15 test is an exact tie at 96 points each, with a delta of 0%. Moving to Cinebench R20, the E3-1245 v5 leads by 0.5% in multi-core (2865 vs 2852) and by 0.5% in single-core (404 vs 402). The pattern holds in Cinebench R23, where the E3-1245 v5 posts 6822 versus 6791 in multi-core (0.5% delta) and 963 versus 958 in single-core (0.5% delta).

What these numbers indicate is that, despite the D-2712T’s architectural advancements, the raw compute throughput is nearly identical. The E3-1245 v5’s higher clock speeds—3.50 GHz base and 3.90 GHz boost—clearly compensate for the D-2712T’s newer core design, which runs at a 1.90 GHz base and 3.00 GHz boost. The D-2712T never wins a single benchmark, but its losses are all within half a percentage point. This makes the two processors effectively interchangeable for compute-bound tasks, though the E3-1245 v5 holds a nominal advantage across the board.

The average benchmark scores further reinforce this parity. The E3-1245 v5 has an average benchmark score of 1973, while the D-2712T sits at 1964. Both CPUs rank in the 44th percentile among all CPUs, meaning they occupy the same tier of overall performance. The nearest rivals for the E3-1245 v5 include the Intel Core i7-10810U (0.1% higher average score), the Intel Core i5-7600K (0.2% lower), the AMD Ryzen 3 2300X (0.2% higher), and the Intel Core i3-N305 (0.3% lower). For the D-2712T, the nearest rivals are the AMD Ryzen 5 2600H (0.1% lower), the AMD Ryzen 3 2300X (0.2% lower), the Intel Core i7-3930K (0.2% higher), and the Intel Core i7-10810U (0.4% lower). These rivalries show that both Xeons cluster tightly with mid-range consumer and older high-end parts from the same era.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different architectures and manufacturing processes. The E3-1245 v5 uses the Skylake architecture (codename Skylake-DT) on a 14 nm process node, with a die size of 122 mm² and 1,750 million transistors. The D-2712T uses the Ice Lake architecture (codename Ice Lake-D) on a 10 nm process node, though its transistor count and die size are not listed. The process shrink from 14 nm to 10 nm is a significant generational leap, yet it does not translate into a performance advantage in the benchmark data.

Cache hierarchies also differ substantially. The E3-1245 v5 has 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, with 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The D-2712T, by contrast, has 80 KB of L1 cache per core and a much larger 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, plus 15 MB of shared L3 cache. The D-2712T’s larger caches—nearly double the L3 and five times the L2 per core—should theoretically help with data reuse, but the benchmarks show no tangible benefit in Cinebench’s rendering workloads.

Memory support is another major differentiator. The E3-1245 v5 supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration, with a memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s. The D-2712T supports only DDR4 but uses a quad-channel memory bus, delivering 85.3 GB/s of bandwidth—2.5 times the E3-1245 v5’s throughput. This bandwidth advantage could matter for memory-intensive server workloads, though it does not show up in the single-threaded or multi-threaded Cinebench scores. The D-2712T also supports PCIe Gen 4 with 32 lanes, while the E3-1245 v5 is limited to PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes. This gives the D-2712T a clear I/O advantage for modern expansion cards and NVMe storage.

The integrated graphics situation is also notably different. The E3-1245 v5 includes HD Graphics P530, while the D-2712T has no integrated graphics at all. This makes the E3-1245 v5 a viable option for a headless server that still needs basic display output, whereas the D-2712T requires a discrete GPU for any video output. Both processors support ECC memory, which is critical for server stability, and both are locked (multiplier unlocked is false for each).

Where Each One Wins

The E3-1245 v5 wins in every benchmark category tested, so in terms of raw compute, it is the clear—if slight—victor. Its wins are consistent across single-core and multi-core tests, with deltas of 0.4% to 0.5% in all but one case. This means for applications that are heavily dependent on CPU clock speed, such as lightly threaded tasks or workloads that cannot scale across many cores, the E3-1245 v5’s higher boost clock of 3.90 GHz gives it a measurable edge over the D-2712T’s 3.00 GHz boost. The E3-1245 v5 also has an advantage in being an LGA 1151 socket part, which allows for motherboard upgrades and potentially quieter or larger cooling solutions, though the D-2712T’s lower 65 W TDP versus 80 W for the E3-1245 v5 suggests it may be easier to cool in dense chassis.

The D-2712T, despite losing all benchmarks, has clear wins in other dimensions that are not captured by Cinebench. Its quad-channel memory bus with 85.3 GB/s bandwidth is a major advantage for memory-bound workloads like large database operations, virtualization hosts, or in-memory analytics. Its 32 PCIe Gen 4 lanes provide double the lanes and double the bandwidth per lane compared to the E3-1245 v5’s 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes, making it the better choice for systems with multiple high-speed NVMe drives, GPUs, or network cards. The D-2712T’s larger L2 and L3 caches could also benefit workloads with high cache locality, even if that does not show up in Cinebench’s rendering pipeline. Furthermore, the D-2712T is an active production part, while the E3-1245 v5 is end-of-life, which matters for long-term availability and support in new systems.

The Verdict

Strictly from the benchmark data, the Intel Xeon E3-1245 v5 is the better performer for CPU-bound tasks. It leads in all six Cinebench tests, with margins ranging from a tie to 0.5% ahead. Its higher clock speeds compensate for its older architecture and smaller cache, and it offers the added benefit of integrated graphics for basic display needs. Anyone building a system where single-threaded performance is paramount, or where the 80 W TDP is acceptable, should favor the E3-1245 v5 based on these numbers.

However, the D-2712T is not without merit. Its quad-channel memory bandwidth of 85.3 GB/s, 32 PCIe Gen 4 lanes, and larger caches make it the more future-proof option for I/O-heavy or memory-intensive server workloads. The data shows that for pure compute, the two are nearly identical, with the E3-1245 v5’s 1973 average score versus the D-2712T’s 1964. The 44th percentile ranking for both confirms they are peers in the broader CPU market. The choice ultimately comes down to whether the workload is compute-bound (favor the E3-1245 v5) or bandwidth/I/O-bound (favor the D-2712T), with the D-2712T also being the only one of the two still in active production.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core performance?

A: The Intel Xeon E3-1245 v5 is faster in all multi-core tests. It scores 687 versus 684 in Cinebench R15, 2865 versus 2852 in R20, and 6822 versus 6791 in R23, with deltas of 0.4% to 0.5%.

Q: Do these processors have the same memory bandwidth?

A: No. The E3-1245 v5 has a dual-channel memory bus with 34.1 GB/s bandwidth, while the D-2712T has a quad-channel bus with 85.3 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Is the D-2712T still being manufactured?

A: Yes, the D-2712T has an active production status. The E3-1245 v5 is end-of-life.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the E3-1245 v5 and the D-2712T support ECC memory.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: Only the E3-1245 v5 has integrated graphics, specifically HD Graphics P530. The D-2712T has no integrated graphics.

Q: What is the clock speed difference between them?

A: The E3-1245 v5 has a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 3.90 GHz. The D-2712T has a base clock of 1.90 GHz and a boost clock of 3.00 GHz.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Xeon E3-1245 v5 | Intel Xeon D-2712T |

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

| Architecture | Skylake | Ice Lake |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 10 nm |

| Base Clock | 3.50 GHz | 1.90 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.90 GHz | 3.00 GHz |

| TDP | 80 W | 65 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1151 | Intel BGA 2579 |

| L1 Cache (per core) | 64 KB | 80 KB |

| L2 Cache (per core) | 256 KB | 1.25 MB |

| L3 Cache (shared) | 8 MB | 15 MB |

| Memory Support | DDR3, DDR4 | DDR4 |

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

| Memory Bandwidth | 34.1 GB/s | 85.3 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 16 Lanes | Gen 4, 32 Lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | HD Graphics P530 | None |

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

| Release Date | 2015-10-18 | 2022-02-23 |

| Launch MSRP | $294 | $349 |

| Part Number | SR2LL | SRLCK |