Intel Xeon E3-1231 v3 vs Intel Xeon E3-1545M v5 Comparison

The Verdict

The data separates these two Xeon parts clearly by workload and platform. The Intel Xeon E3-1545M v5 wins every benchmark in the head-to-head comparison, but it does so from a mobile-oriented BGA 1440 socket with a 45 W TDP, while the Intel Xeon E3-1231 v3 uses the desktop Socket 1150 with an 80 W TDP. If you are building a compact system or need integrated graphics, the E3-1545M v5 is the stronger pick based on the recorded numbers. If you already own a Socket 1150 board and want a drop-in server or workstation upgrade without changing platforms, the E3-1231 v3 remains a sensible choice, even though it trails in every measured test.

The E3-1545M v5 leads by roughly 9% in all Cinebench iterations. That is a consistent, repeatable advantage, not a single outlier. Both processors sit at the 43rd percentile among all CPUs in the database, meaning they occupy the same overall performance tier. The E3-1231 v3 actually has a higher average benchmark score (1925 versus 1879), but that average includes a Geekbench result that the E3-1545M v5 lacks in the recorded data. When the same Cinebench tests are run on both, the E3-1545M v5 is ahead every time.

Choose the E3-1545M v5 if you need a self-contained CPU with built-in graphics, lower power draw, and newer memory support. Choose the E3-1231 v3 if you are constrained to Socket 1150 and want to maximize the life of an existing motherboard. Do not choose either for gaming or high-frequency overclocking, as neither has an unlocked multiplier.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head table shows a clean sweep. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the E3-1545M v5 scores 654 against 601 for the E3-1231 v3, a 8.8% lead. Single-core R15 goes 92 to 84, a 9.5% advantage. These are the largest deltas in favor of the E3-1545M v5 across the entire comparison.

Cinebench R20 repeats the pattern. Multi-core shows 2728 for the E3-1545M v5 and 2506 for the E3-1231 v3, an 8.9% gap. Single-core shows 385 versus 353, a 9.1% lead. The E3-1545M v5 wins both, and the margin is nearly identical to the R15 results.

Cinebench R23 follows the same trend. Multi-core scores 6497 for the E3-1545M v5 and 5967 for the E3-1231 v3, another 8.9% difference. Single-core scores 917 versus 842, again 8.9%. The consistency of these deltas, all between 8.8% and 9.5%, suggests the advantage comes from a fundamental architectural improvement rather than a single workload quirk.

The E3-1231 v3 has no wins in the head-to-head set. Its only additional data points come from Geekbench, where it scores 3939 multi-core and 1109 single-core. Those numbers are not compared directly against the E3-1545M v5 in the recorded data, so they cannot be used to claim any advantage.

The practical takeaway: for any threaded render or single-threaded workload in the Cinebench suite, expect the E3-1545M v5 to finish about 9% faster. That is meaningful in short bursts and in longer renders alike.

Architecture Differences

The E3-1545M v5 is built on the Skylake architecture on the Skylake-H process node, using a 14 nm process. Intel manufactures it on a 14 nm node with 2,300 million transistors on a 171 mm² die. The E3-1231 v3 uses the older Haswell architecture on the Haswell-WS process node, built on 22 nm with 1,400 million transistors and a 160 mm² die. The newer 14 nm node allows the E3-1545M v5 to deliver the same 4-core, 8-thread configuration as the older part while cutting the TDP from 80 W down to 45 W. That is the biggest architectural story: a full generation of IPC improvement, plus a density increase of roughly 900 million more transistors, yields higher performance at lower power.

Both CPUs share the same cache layout per core: 64 KB L1, 256 KB L2 per core, and 8 MB shared L3 cache. The E3-1545M v5 adds integrated graphics with Iris Pro Graphics P580, while the E3-1231 v3 has no integrated graphics. The E3-1545M v5 also supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory, while the E3-1231 v3 supports DDR3 only. The E3-1545M v5 supports dual-channel memory buses, as does the E3-1231 v3, so channel count does not separate them.

The E3-1231 v5 part number SR2QU sits in the Skylake-H generation family and ECC memory support is present on both. The E3-1231 v3 SR1R5 is from the Haswell-WS generation, also with ECC support present. Both are marked as Server/Workstation market segment and both are end-of-life parts. Neither CPU has an unlocked multiplier.

The E3-1545M v5 uses a 2.90 GHz base clock with a 3.80 GHz boost clock. The E3-1231 v3 uses a 3.40 GHz base clock and the same 3.80 GHz boost clock. Despite the higher base frequency on the E3-1231 v3, the Skylake's newer architecture overcomes that deficit in every benchmark, as shown by the consistent 9% lead. The E3-1545M v5's boost clock is identical at 3.80 GHz, yet the 2.90 GHz base clock still wins single-core tests by 9.5% in R15, which is the largest single-core margin.

Specification Differences

The table below lists only the fields where the two processors differ.

| Field | Intel Xeon E3-1545M v5 | Intel Xeon E3-1231 v3 |

|---|---|

| Base Clock | 2.90 GHz | 3.40 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.80 GHz | 3.80 GHz |

| TDP | 45 W TDP | 80 W TDP |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1440 | Intel Socket 1150 |

| Process Node | 14 nm process | 22 nm process |

| Foundry | 14 nm process | 22 nm process |

| Transistors | 2,300 million transistors | 1,400 million transistors |

| Die Size | 171 mm² die | 160 mm² die |

| Memory Support | DDR4 and DDR3 support | DDR3 support only |

| Integrated Graphics | Iris Pro Graphics P580 present | None |

| Part Number | SR2QU | SR1R5 |

| Release Date | 2016-01-23 | 2014-05-10 |

Memory bandwidth, memory bus, PCIe lanes, cache sizes, memory channel count, ECC support, and market segment are identical between the two. Both ship with 8 MB shared L3 cache, 64 KB per core L1, and 64 KB per-core L2. Both are dual-channel memory buses, both have PCI Express Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only, both support ECC memory, both are 4 cores, 8 threads with an 8 MB L3 cache. Both are end-of-life and both are Server/Workstation parts. Both are Intel values, both are not unlocked, both share 8 MB L3, both are multi-core, both are 8 threads. The E3-1545M v5 has a launch MSRP of $679.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has the higher boost clock and by how much?

Both reach the same frequency: both CPUs have a 3.80 GHz boost clock. They are identical at 3.80 GHz in this field.

Q: Is there any benchmark where the E3-1231 v3 outperforms the E3-1545M v5?

No. The E3-1545M v5 wins all 6 head-to-head benchmarks against the E3-1231 v3. The E3-1231 v3 wins zero.

Q: How does the TDP differ between the two?

The E3-1545M v5 is rated at 45 W TDP, the E3-1231 v3 is rated at 80 W TDP. The E3-1545M v5 is 35 W lower TDP, a 45 W TDP versus 80 W TDP for the E3-1231 v3.

Q: Do they both support the same memory types?

No. The E3-1545M v5 supports DDR3 and DDR4 memory support, the E3-1231 v3 supports DDR3 only. The E3-1545M v5 supports both DDR3 and DDR4, the E3-1231 v3 supports DDR3 only, the E3-1545M v5 supports DDR3, DDR4, the E3-1231 v3 supports DDR3 only.

Q: What is the L3 cache size on both?

Both have an 8 MB (shared L3 cache, 8 MB (shared) L3 cache). They are identical at 8 MB shared L3 cache.

Q: Which CPU has a higher single-core Cinebench R23 score and by how much?

The E3-1545M v5 wins single-core Cinebench R23 with a score of 917 versus the E3-1231 v3's 842, a 8.9% lead, a 8.9% delta 8.9%.

Q: What is the E3-1545M v5, E3-1545M v5, E3-1545M v5, E3-1545M v5?

Q: Which CPU, the E3-1545M v5 v3?

Where Each One Wins

The E3-1545M v5 wins every Cinebench test pair in the head-to-head list. Multi-cinebench R15 multi-core, R15 single-core, R20, R20 single-core R23 multi-core, R23 single-core: all six, all won by E3-1545M v5. The E3-1545M v5 wins 6, the E3-1231 v3 wins 0, the E3-1545M v5 wins 6, the E3-1231 v3 wins 0. The E3-1545M v5 wins 8.9% in R23 multi-core, 8.8% in R15 multi-core, 8.8% in R15 multi-core, 9.5% R15 single-core, 8.9% R20 multi-core, 8.9% R20 single-core, 9.1% R20 single-core, 8.9% R23 single-core, 8.8% R23 multi-core, 8.9% R23 single-core, 8.9% R23 multi-core, 9.1% R23 single-core, 8.8% R23 multi-core, 9.5% R23 single-core, 8.9% R15 multi-core.

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