Intel Xeon E3-1245 v5 vs Intel Xeon E3-1535M v5 Comparison

Intel Xeon E3-1245 v5 and Intel Xeon E3-1535M v5 are both Skylake-based server/workstation processors with identical core and thread counts, but they serve different physical formats. The E3-1245 v5 is a socketed desktop-style chip for Intel Socket 1151, while the E3-1535M v5 is a mobile BGA 1440 package designed for laptops. The recorded benchmark data shows a consistent, though narrow, performance edge for the E3-1245 v5 across all Cinebench tests, despite the E3-1535M v5 carrying a significantly higher launch MSRP.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are remarkably uniform. The Intel Xeon E3-1245 v5 wins all six recorded benchmarks, with deltas ranging from 1.1% to 1.5%. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the E3-1245 v5 scores 687 against 677 for the E3-1535M v5, a 1.5% advantage. The single-core R15 result is closer: 96 versus 95, a 1.1% edge. This pattern repeats in Cinebench R20, where the E3-1245 v5 posts 2865 multi-core and 404 single-core, versus 2824 and 398 for the E3-1535M v5. Both deltas sit at 1.5%.

Cinebench R23 tells the same story. The E3-1245 v5 reaches 6822 multi-core and 963 single-core, while the E3-1535M v5 manages 6726 and 949 respectively. The multi-core delta is 1.4%, and the single-core delta is 1.5%. The largest absolute gap appears in R23 multi-core, where the E3-1245 v5 leads by 96 points. The smallest absolute gap is in R15 single-core, just one point.

The average benchmark scores reinforce this picture. The E3-1245 v5 averages 1973 points, while the E3-1535M v5 averages 1945, a difference of 28 points or roughly 1.4%. Both processors sit at the 44th percentile of all CPUs in the database, meaning they occupy the same overall performance tier. The nearest rivals for the E3-1245 v5 include the Intel Core i7-10810U (1971, delta 0.1%), Intel Core i5-7600K (1976, delta -0.2%), AMD Ryzen 3 2300X (1968, delta 0.2%), and Intel Core i3-N305 (1979, delta -0.3%). For the E3-1535M v5, the closest competitors are the Intel Xeon E3-1230 v5 (1947, delta -0.1%), Intel Core i5-1035G7 (1948, delta -0.2%), Intel Core i7-9850HL (1941, delta 0.2%), and Intel Core i7-8709G (1950, delta -0.3%). These rival lists show both Xeons trading places with a handful of mainstream and mobile chips within a very tight 0.3% band.

Where Each One Wins

The data is unambiguous: the E3-1245 v5 wins every single benchmark category, so there is no workload in the recorded suite where the E3-1535M v5 comes out ahead. The E3-1245 v5's advantage is slightly more pronounced in multi-core tests than in single-core tests. In R15 and R20 multi-core, the delta is 1.5%, while in R23 multi-core it is 1.4%. Single-core deltas are 1.1% (R15), 1.5% (R20), and 1.5% (R23). The E3-1245 v5 also holds a 28-point lead in average benchmark score.

For use-case planning, the E3-1245 v5 is the better pick for any application that relies on sustained multi-threaded rendering, as indicated by its higher Cinebench multi-core scores across all three versions of the benchmark. The E3-1535M v5, despite its mobile design, does not offer any compensating performance benefit in these tests. Its only potential advantage lies in its lower TDP (45 versus 80), which could matter in thermally constrained systems, but that is not a benchmark win. The E3-1245 v5 is also the stronger choice for single-threaded workloads, though the margin is thinner in R15. Neither processor is unlocked, so overclocking is not a differentiator.

Architecture Differences

Both CPUs share the same Skylake architecture and are built on Intel's 14 nm process node at the same foundry. The die size is identical at 122 mm². However, the transistor counts differ: the E3-1245 v5 has 1,750 million transistors, while the E3-1535M v5 has 2,300 million. This is a notable discrepancy given the same die size, suggesting the mobile chip integrates additional logic despite the same core layout. The codenames differ as well: Skylake-DT for the E3-1245 v5 and Skylake-H for the E3-1535M v5, reflecting their desktop and mobile design targets.

Core and cache configurations are identical. Both have 4 cores, 8 threads, 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. Memory support is the same: DDR3 and DDR4 over a dual-channel bus with 34.1 GB/s bandwidth, and both support ECC memory. PCIe connectivity is also identical: Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. Integrated graphics are the same HD Graphics P530 on both parts.

The key architectural difference is the socket and package. The E3-1245 v5 uses Intel Socket 1151, a standard desktop socket that allows for motherboard replacement and cooling upgrades. The E3-1535M v5 uses Intel BGA 1440, a soldered mobile package that is not upgradeable. This dictates their market segments: both are listed as Server/Workstation, but the E3-1535M v5 is clearly intended for mobile workstations where soldered chips are standard. The E3-1245 v5 has a base clock of 3.50 GHz and boost clock of 3.90 GHz, while the E3-1535M v5 runs at 2.90 GHz base and 3.70 GHz boost. The higher clocks on the E3-1245 v5 explain its benchmark wins, while the E3-1535M v5's lower clocks and 45 W TDP (versus 80 W) indicate a power-optimized design. Both are end-of-life products, released in October 2015 just eight days apart.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Xeon E3-1245 v5 averages 1973 points, while the Intel Xeon E3-1535M v5 averages 1945 points, giving the E3-1245 v5 a 28-point lead.

Q: Are these CPUs comparable in performance to recent mainstream chips?

A: The recorded data places both at the 44th percentile of all CPUs. The E3-1245 v5 sits within 0.3% of the Intel Core i7-10810U, Core i5-7600K, AMD Ryzen 3 2300X, and Core i3-N305. The E3-1535M v5 is similarly close to the Xeon E3-1230 v5, Core i5-1035G7, Core i7-9850HL, and Core i7-8709G.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the E3-1245 v5 and the E3-1535M v5 support ECC memory, along with dual-channel DDR3 and DDR4.

Q: What is the biggest performance gap between them?

A: The largest delta is 1.5% in R15 multi-core, R20 multi-core, R20 single-core, and R23 single-core. The smallest delta is 1.1% in R15 single-core.

Q: Can either processor be overclocked?

A: No, both have their multiplier locked, so neither supports overclocking.

Q: Which processor has more transistors?

A: The E3-1535M v5 has 2,300 million transistors, compared to 1,750 million for the E3-1245 v5, despite both having a 122 mm² die size.

Q: Are the integrated graphics different?

A: No, both use the HD Graphics P530.

The Verdict

The data points to a single conclusion: the Intel Xeon E3-1245 v5 is the faster processor in every recorded benchmark. It wins all six Cinebench tests, holds a higher average score, and achieves this with a higher base and boost clock. The E3-1535M v5 does not win a single test, so for any workload represented by Cinebench, the E3-1245 v5 is the better choice.

However, the E3-1535M v5 is not without rationale. Its 45 W TDP is nearly half the E3-1245 v5's 80 W, which makes it suitable for compact or mobile systems where thermal and power budgets are tight. The BGA 1440 socket means it is soldered directly to the motherboard, so it is not a user-upgradeable part, but it also enables thinner laptop designs. The E3-1245 v5, by contrast, requires a Socket 1151 motherboard and a larger cooling solution, but it offers a 1.4% to 1.5% performance advantage across multi-core and single-core tests.

For a builder assembling a workstation with a standard desktop motherboard, the E3-1245 v5 is the obvious pick. For an OEM designing a mobile workstation where the CPU must be soldered and power consumption is critical, the E3-1535M v5 justifies its existence despite the lower scores. The launch MSRP tells a different story: the E3-1535M v5 was listed at $623, more than double the E3-1245 v5's $294, yet it delivers less performance. That makes the E3-1245 v5 the rational choice on raw benchmark data, while the E3-1535M v5 is a niche part for specialized mobile platforms.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key fields. The E3-1245 v5 has a base clock of 3.50 GHz and boost clock of 3.90 GHz, while the E3-1535M v5 runs at 2.90 GHz and 3.70 GHz. The TDP is 80 W for the E3-1245 v5 versus 45 W for the E3-1535M v5. The socket differs: Intel Socket 1151 versus Intel BGA 1440. The codenames are Skylake-DT and Skylake-H, respectively. Transistor counts differ at 1,750 million versus 2,300 million. The launch MSRP is $294 for the E3-1245 v5 and $623 for the E3-1535M v5. The part numbers are SR2LL and SR2FM. Release dates are 2015-10-18 and 2015-10-26. All other fields, including cores, threads, cache, memory support, PCIe lanes, integrated graphics, process node, and die size, are identical.