Intel Xeon E3-1505L v5 vs Intel Xeon E3-1515M v5 Comparison

Both processors are members of Intel's Skylake-H Xeon E3 family, share a 4-core/8-thread configuration, and are aimed at the same mobile workstation segment. The benchmark data shows that the Intel Xeon E3-1515M v5 wins all six head-to-head comparisons, yet the margins are remarkably narrow, with every deltaPct under 1%. The Intel Xeon E3-1505L v5, despite a dramatically lower power envelope, trails by only fractions of a percent in every test. This makes the choice less about raw performance and more about the specific constraints of the target chassis and workload.

Where Each One Wins

Based on the head-to-head benchmark data, the Intel Xeon E3-1515M v5 is the clear performance winner, taking all six Cinebench tests. Its largest advantage comes in the Cinebench R23 single-core test, where it leads by 0.9%, scoring 711 against the E3-1505L v5's 705. In the multi-core tests, the E3-1515M v5 consistently holds a lead of 0.7% to 0.8%, with its most substantial multi-core win being 0.8% in both Cinebench R15 and R20. While these margins are statistically small, the pattern is uniform—the E3-1515M v5 never loses a single benchmark.

The Intel Xeon E3-1505L v5 does not win any of the six head-to-head benchmarks. However, its value proposition lies elsewhere. With a TDP of 25 watts compared to the E3-1515M v5's 45 watts, the E3-1505L v5 consumes significantly less power while delivering nearly identical application performance. In the Cinebench R15 multi-core test, the E3-1505L v5 scores 503 against the E3-1515M v5's 507—a difference of only 4 points. This suggests that in thermally constrained or battery-powered systems, the E3-1505L v5 can deliver the vast majority of the E3-1515M v5's performance at nearly half the power draw.

Architecture Differences

Both CPUs are built on the same Skylake architecture, specifically the Skylake-H codename, and use the same 14 nm process node from Intel. They share identical core counts (4 cores, 8 threads), cache hierarchies (64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, 8 MB shared L3), and memory support (DDR3 and DDR4 in dual-channel configuration with 34.1 GB/s bandwidth). Both support ECC memory and use the same Intel BGA 1440 socket.

The most significant architectural divergence is in the integrated graphics. The Intel Xeon E3-1515M v5 features Iris Pro Graphics P580, while the Intel Xeon E3-1505L v5 ships with the more modest HD Graphics P530. This difference does not appear in the CPU benchmark scores but represents a substantial capability gap for any workload that leverages the iGPU, such as video encoding or lightweight GPU compute tasks.

Clock speeds and power delivery further differentiate the two. The E3-1515M v5 has a base clock of 2.80 GHz and a boost clock of 3.70 GHz, while the E3-1505L v5 runs at a 2000.00 MHz base and 2.80 GHz boost. The E3-1515M v5's higher clocks are enabled by its 45-watt TDP, versus the E3-1505L v5's 25-watt TDP. Interestingly, the die size differs: the E3-1515M v5 measures 171 mm², while the E3-1505L v5 is smaller at 122 mm², despite both having 2,300 million transistors. The release dates also differ, with the E3-1505L v5 launching on 2015-10-26 and the E3-1515M v5 following on 2016-01-23.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench results reveal a consistent, though narrow, performance hierarchy. In the Cinebench R15 multi-core test, the E3-1515M v5 scores 507 against the E3-1505L v5's 503, a 0.8% advantage. The single-core R15 scores are identical at 71 points each, resulting in a 0% delta. Moving to Cinebench R20, the E3-1515M v5 maintains its multi-core lead with a score of 2115 versus 2099 (0.8% delta), and edges ahead in single-core with 298 against 296 (0.7% delta).

The Cinebench R23 results show the same pattern. In multi-core, the E3-1515M v5 scores 5036 against 4999, a 0.7% advantage. The single-core test yields the largest relative gap of the entire comparison: the E3-1515M v5 scores 711 versus 705, a 0.9% delta. Across all six benchmarks, the average benchmark score for the E3-1515M v5 is 1456, while the E3-1505L v5 averages 1446—a difference of 10 points, or roughly 0.7%.

In the context of their nearest rivals, both CPUs sit in the same performance tier. The E3-1515M v5's closest competitor is the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 2200GE with an average score of 1461 (a -0.3% delta), followed by the Intel Core i3-7350K at 1462 (-0.4%). The E3-1505L v5's nearest rival is the AMD Opteron 6378 at 1447 (-0.1% delta), with the AMD Ryzen 3 2200GE at 1444 (0.1% delta). Both processors share the 38th percentile versus all CPUs, indicating they belong to the same performance class.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Xeon E3-1515M v5 wins all three multi-core Cinebench tests. It leads by 0.8% in R15 (507 vs 503), 0.8% in R20 (2115 vs 2099), and 0.7% in R23 (5036 vs 4999).

Q: Do the two processors differ in single-core performance?

A: The E3-1515M v5 wins all three single-core tests, but by very small margins. In R15 they tie at 71 points, while in R20 the E3-1515M v5 leads 298 to 296 (0.7%), and in R23 it leads 711 to 705 (0.9%).

Q: What is the power consumption difference?

A: The Intel Xeon E3-1505L v5 has a TDP of 25 watts, while the Intel Xeon E3-1515M v5 has a TDP of 45 watts. The E3-1505L v5 uses 20 watts less power while delivering nearly identical benchmark scores.

Q: Do they support the same memory types?

A: Yes, both support DDR3 and DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration with 34.1 GB/s bandwidth, and both support ECC memory.

Q: Are there differences in integrated graphics?

A: Yes, the E3-1515M v5 includes Iris Pro Graphics P580, while the E3-1505L v5 has HD Graphics P530. This is not reflected in the CPU benchmark scores but affects GPU-accelerated workloads.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The E3-1515M v5 has a boost clock of 3.70 GHz, compared to the E3-1505L v5's 2.80 GHz boost clock.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specifications. The base clock is the most obvious: the E3-1515M v5 runs at 2.80 GHz, while the E3-1505L v5 has a base clock of 2000.00 MHz. Boost clocks follow the same trend, with the E3-1515M v5 reaching 3.70 GHz versus the E3-1505L v5's 2.80 GHz. The TDP difference is substantial: 45 watts for the E3-1515M v5 versus 25 watts for the E3-1505L v5.

The integrated graphics differ, with the E3-1515M v5 featuring Iris Pro Graphics P580 and the E3-1505L v5 using HD Graphics P530. The die size also varies: the E3-1515M v5 measures 171 mm², while the E3-1505L v5 is smaller at 122 mm². The release dates differ as well, with the E3-1505L v5 launching on 2015-10-26 and the E3-1515M v5 on 2016-01-23. The part numbers are different (SR2QT for the E3-1515M v5, SR2E0 for the E3-1505L v5), and the launch MSRP differs, with the E3-1515M v5 priced at $489 and the E3-1505L v5 at $433. All other specifications—cores, threads, cache, memory support, PCIe lanes, socket, architecture, process node, foundry, and transistor count—are identical.

The Verdict

The benchmark data presents a clear but nuanced picture. The Intel Xeon E3-1515M v5 wins every single head-to-head comparison, yet the margins are so small—never exceeding 0.9%—that the performance difference is almost negligible in real-world use. For users who prioritize maximum throughput in Cinebench workloads, the E3-1515M v5 is the correct choice, as it holds a consistent, if slender, lead across all multi-core and single-core tests.

The Intel Xeon E3-1505L v5, however, offers a compelling alternative for systems where power efficiency is paramount. With a TDP of 25 watts versus 45 watts, it consumes 44% less power while delivering benchmark scores within 0.8% of the E3-1515M v5 in the worst case. For a mobile workstation that runs on battery or operates in a thermally constrained chassis, this trade-off is likely worth the minor performance penalty.

The E3-1505L v5 also has a lower launch MSRP of $433 compared to $489 for the E3-1515M v5, though this should not be the primary deciding factor. The choice ultimately hinges on whether the 0.7% to 0.9% performance advantage of the E3-1515M v5 justifies its higher power draw and larger die size. For most workloads, the E3-1505L v5's efficiency makes it the more balanced option, but for users who must extract every last point of Cinebench score, the E3-1515M v5 is the definitive winner.