Intel Xeon E3-1231 v3 vs Intel Xeon E3-1575M v5 Comparison

The Intel Xeon E3-1231 v3 and Intel Xeon E3-1575M v5 are both end-of-life server/workstation processors with 4 cores and 8 threads, but they target very different physical environments. The E3-1231 v3 is a socketed Haswell part for the Intel Socket 1150 platform, while the E3-1575M v5 is a soldered Skylake-H chip on Intel BGA 1440, indicating a mobile or embedded design despite its server classification. Benchmark data shows the E3-1575M v5 wins all six head-to-head tests, with a consistent 9.6% to 9.7% advantage across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 in both single-core and multi-core workloads. However, the average benchmark scores tell a more nuanced story: the E3-1231 v3 averages 1925 points, while the E3-1575M v5 averages 1910 points, meaning the older chip actually holds a slight edge in aggregate performance when considering the broader benchmark suite that includes Geekbench results. The E3-1231 v3 sits at the 43rd percentile of all CPUs, and the E3-1575M v5 also sits at the 43rd percentile, placing them in the same overall performance tier despite the Cinebench deltas.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear split based on platform constraints rather than raw capability. For a user building or upgrading a desktop workstation on the Intel Socket 1150 platform, the Intel Xeon E3-1231 v3 is the appropriate choice, as it is the only one of the two that can be installed in that socket. Its 80 W TDP and socketed design make it feasible for standard desktop motherboards. Conversely, the Intel Xeon E3-1575M v5, with its Intel BGA 1440 socket, is soldered to the board, meaning it is only available in pre-built systems or embedded solutions; a user cannot purchase it as a standalone upgrade for an existing machine. If both were available in a comparable system, the E3-1575M v5 would be the faster option in every Cinebench test, with a 9.7% lead in multi-core R23 (6607 vs 5967) and a 9.7% lead in single-core R23 (932 vs 842). However, the E3-1231 v3 counters with a higher average benchmark score of 1925 versus 1910, driven by its Geekbench single-core score of 1109 and multi-core score of 3939, which are not available for the E3-157M v5 in the data. The E3-1231 v3 also carries a launch MSRP of $250, while the E3-1575M v5 has a launch MSRP of $1207, a substantial difference that reflects the mobile part's integrated graphics and specialized nature. In summary, pick the E3-1231 v3 for socketed desktop build, and the E3-1575M v5 for a pre-built mobile or embedded workstation where its higher clock speed and lower power draw are beneficial.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations and manufacturing processes. The Intel Xeon E3-1231 v3 is built on the Haswell architecture, specifically the Haswell-WS codename, using a 22 nm process node from Intel’s foundry. It contains 1,400 million transistors on a 160 mm² die. The Intel Xeon E3-1575M v5 is based on the Skylake architecture, with the Skylake-H codename, fabricated on a 14 nm process node. This newer node packs 2,300 million transistors into a 171 mm² die, showing a higher transistor density despite a slightly larger physical die area. Both processors feature 4 cores and 8 threads, with identical cache hierarchies: 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The memory controllers differ significantly: the E3-1231 v3 supports only DDR3 memory in a dual-channel configuration, delivering 25.6 GB/s of bandwidth, while the E3-1575M v5 supports both DDR3 and DDR4, also dual-channel, but with a higher 34.1 GB/s bandwidth. Both support ECC memory and offer PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The most notable feature difference is the integrated graphics: the E3-1231 v3 has no integrated graphics, while the E3-1575M v5 includes Iris Pro Graphics P580. This makes the E3-1575M v5 a more complete system-on-chip solution, suitable for compact designs without a discrete GPU, whereas the E3-1231 v3 requires a separate graphics card for any display output.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon E3-1231 v3 wins in the aggregate benchmark average, scoring 1925 points compared to the E3-1575M v5's 1910 points. This advantage is entirely attributable to the Geekbench results, where the E3-1231 v3 scores 1109 in single-core and 3939 in multi-core; the E3-1575M v5 has no Geekbench scores in the data set, so its average is drawn solely from Cinebench tests. In terms of platform flexibility, the E3-1231 v3 wins for desktop users because it uses the Intel Socket 1150, a widely available socket for motherboards, while the E3-1575M v5's BGA 1440 package is non-upgradeable. The E3-1231 v3 also has a lower launch MSRP of $250 versus $1207 for the E3-1575M v5, though pricing should not be the sole decision factor. The Intel Xeon E3-1575M v5 wins every Cinebench benchmark in the head-to-head comparison. Its multi-core scores are 665 in R15, 2774 in R20, and 6607 in R23, while its single-core scores are 93 in R15, 391 in R20, and 932 in R23. The E3-1575M v5 also wins on power efficiency, with a 45 W TDP versus the E3-1231 v3's 80 W TDP, making it more suitable for thermally constrained environments. Additionally, the E3-1575M v5’s integrated Iris Pro Graphics P580 provides a built-in display output capability that the E3-1231 v3 lacks entirely, giving it a win for systems requiring an all-in-one CPU solution.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock speed?

A: The Intel Xeon E3-1575M v5 has a higher boost clock of 3.90 GHz, compared to the Intel Xeon E3-1231 v3's boost clock of 3.80 GHz.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the Intel Xeon E3-1231 v3 and the Intel Xeon E3-1575M v5 support ECC memory, as listed in their specifications.

Q: What is the difference in their average benchmark scores?

A: The Intel Xeon E3-1231 v3 has an average benchmark score of 1925, while the Intel Xeon E3-1575M v5 has an average of 1910, giving the E3-1231 v3 a 15-point advantage.

Q: Which processor is better for single-core Cinebench R23 performance?

A: The Intel Xeon E3-1575M v5 is better, scoring 932 in Cinebench R23 single-core, which is 9.7% higher than the Intel Xeon E3-1231 v3's score of 842.

Q: Are both processors unlocked for overclocking?

A: No, neither processor has an unlocked multiplier; both the Intel Xeon E3-1231 v3 and the Intel Xeon E3-1575M v5 have multiplierUnlocked set to false.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference between the two?

A: The Intel Xeon E3-1575M v5 has a memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s, while the Intel Xeon E3-1231 v3 has a lower bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s, both using dual-channel memory.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Xeon E3-1575M v5 wins all six head-to-head benchmark comparisons, with a consistent delta of approximately 9.6% to 9.7% across the board. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the E3-1575M v5 scores 665 versus 601 for the E3-1231 v3, a 9.6% lead. The single-core R15 test shows a similar gap: 93 versus 84, a 9.7% difference. Moving to Cinebench R20, the multi-core results are 2774 for the E3-1575M v5 and 2506 for the E3-1231 v3, again a 9.7% margin. The R20 single-core test has the E3-1575M v5 at 391 and the E3-1231 v3 at 353, a 9.7% difference. In Cinebench R23, the largest absolute gap appears in multi-core: 6607 for the E3-1575M v5 versus 5967 for the E3-1231 v3, which is a 640-point difference but still 9.7% in relative terms. The R23 single-core test shows 932 versus 842, a 90-point gap and a 9.7% delta. These results indicate that the Skylake architecture of the E3-1575M v5 provides a uniform performance uplift over the Haswell E3-1231 v3 across all tested workloads, regardless of whether the test stresses a single core or all eight threads. The consistency of the delta—hovering at 9.7% for five of six tests—suggests that the performance advantage is architectural and clock-driven, rather than workload-specific. The E3-1575M v5’s higher boost clock of 3.90 GHz versus 3.80 GHz contributes to this, but the newer 14 nm process and Skylake core design likely enable better instructions-per-clock. Notably, the E3-1231 v3’s higher base clock of 3.40 GHz versus 3.00 GHz does not translate into a win in any Cinebench test, meaning the boost behavior and IPC differences favor the E3-1575M v5 decisively.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specification fields. The process node is a major difference: the Intel Xeon E3-1231 v3 uses a 22 nm process, while the Intel Xeon E3-1575M v5 uses a 14 nm process. Transistor counts reflect this: the E3-1231 v3 has 1,400 million transistors, and the E3-1575M v5 has 2,300 million. Die size also differs, with the E3-1231 v3 at 160 mm² and the E3-1575M v5 at 171 mm². The base clock speeds differ: 3.40 GHz for the E3-1231 v3 versus 3.00 GHz for the E3-1575M v5, while the boost clocks are 3.80 GHz and 3.90 GHz, respectively. The TDP is dramatically different: the E3-1231 v3 has an 80 W TDP, while the E3-1575M v5 has a 45 W TDP. The socket types are incompatible: the E3-1231 v3 uses Intel Socket 1150, and the E3-1575M v5 uses Intel BGA 1440. Memory support diverges, with the E3-1231 v3 supporting only DDR3 and the E3-1575M v5 supporting DDR3 and DDR4. Memory bandwidth follows suit, with 25.6 GB/s for the E3-1231 v3 and 34.1 GB/s for the E3-1575M v5. Integrated graphics are present only on the E3-1575M v5, which includes Iris Pro Graphics P580, while the E3-1231 v3 has none. The launch MSRP differs substantially: $250 for the E3-1231 v3 and $1207 for the E3-1575M v5. Release dates also differ, with the E3-1231 v3 released in 2014-05-10 and the E3-1575M v5 released in 2016-01-23. Both processors share the same core count (4), thread count (8), L1 cache (64 KB per core), L2 cache (256 KB per core), L3 cache (8 MB shared), dual-channel memory bus, ECC support, PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes, and locked multipliers. The part numbers are SR1R5 for the E3-1231 v3 and SR2QV for the E3-1575M v5. Both are classified as end-of-life products in the server/workstation market segment.