Intel Xeon W-2135

The Intel Xeon W-2135 is a 6-core, 12-thread Server/Workstation processor released on 2017-08-28, built on Intel's 14 nm process with the Skylake-W architecture. Its base clock is 3.70, boost clock is 4.50, and TDP is 140 W. The launch MSRP is $835. In the benchmark database, its average score is 3543, placing it at the 57th percentile of all CPUs.

Benchmark Performance

The Cinebench results form a compact but informative profile. In Cinebench R15, the processor scores 1234 in multi-core and 174 in single-core. In Cinebench R20, those numbers become 5144 multi-core and 726 single-core. In Cinebench R23, the multi-core result is 12248 and the single-core result is 1729. The aggregate benchmark score is 3543.

The 57th percentile placement is the key context. It means the Xeon W-2135 sits above a majority of CPUs in the database, but not near the top. A 6-core/12-thread part achieving a high 4.50 boost clock explains the shape of the results: single-thread scores are healthy, while multi-thread scores are competitive without being elite.

The R23 multi-core score of 12248 is a useful reference for threaded workloads. The R23 single-core score of 1729 is the strongest single-thread number in the set. Together, they suggest a CPU that favors responsiveness in lightly threaded tasks while still offering meaningful multi-thread throughput. The R15 and R20 results follow the same pattern. This consistency across three Cinebench versions indicates the processor's behavior is stable across different iterations of the workload.

In aggregate, the data places the Xeon W-2135 in a very tight performance neighborhood. Its four nearest rivals all post average scores between 3547 and 3556, making the differences between them almost negligible in terms of the average benchmark score.

How It Compares

The nearestRivals list contains four comparison points. The Intel Core i9-9980HK has an average score of 3547 with a deltaPct of -0.1%. The Xeon W-2135's average score is 3543, so the two chips are effectively tied in aggregate benchmark performance. This is a close race at the very top of the rival group.

The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 7530U appears with an average score of 3556 and a deltaPct of -0.4%. That is a slightly higher average score than the Xeon's 3543, but the difference is still very small.

The Intel Core i3-12300T also has an average score of 3556 with a deltaPct of -0.4%. The Xeon W-2135 lands in the same performance band as this processor despite the different market positioning implied by the Xeon name and the Server/Workstation segment label.

The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5675U closes out the rival list with the same pattern: average score 3556, deltaPct -0.4%. The fact that three separate rivals all land at exactly 3556 with the same -0.4% delta shows how crowded this performance area is. The Xeon W-2135 is not an outlier; it is one of several CPUs clustered around the same aggregate score.

Power and Thermals

The TDP is 140 W. That is the only thermal figure in the data, and it defines the cooling class. A 140 W TDP implies a cooling solution built for sustained load rather than a low-power compact design. The market segment is Server/Workstation, which reinforces the idea that this processor was intended to live in a system with serious cooling provisions.

The 14 nm process and 484 mm² die size are relevant physical facts. The die area is large, and the 140 W envelope must be moved through whatever cooler is attached. The data does not specify a cooler, but the thermal class is clear: this is not a chip for a barely ventilated small chassis. The 3.70 base clock is the sustained all-core reference point, while the 4.50 boost clock represents the single-thread upper limit. Both operate inside the same 140 W thermal envelope.

For someone building a system around this processor, the data suggests planning for a capable cooler and a case with adequate airflow. The power draw is not hidden; it is a fixed 140 W TDP, and the cooling solution should match that.

Who Should Consider It

Creation workloads that use multiple threads should look at the Cinebench multi-core results. The R23 multi-core score of 12248 and R20 multi-core score of 5144 show that the processor can handle threaded rendering and encoding workloads, though the 57th percentile aggregate score indicates it is not a top-tier throughput part. It is a solid mid-pack performer in the database.

Office and everyday productivity workloads depend more on single-thread speed. The R23 single-core score of 1729 and the 4.50 boost clock point to responsive behavior in applications that rely on one primary thread. The 12 threads are still available for background tasks, but the single-thread side of the profile is the stronger selling point.

Gaming considerations are more specific. The integrated graphics field is null, so the processor itself does not provide display output. A separate graphics device is required. The single-core Cinebench scores are the more relevant benchmarks for gaming, since many workloads in that space depend on one or two strongly performing threads. The aggregate 57th percentile is not an extreme gaming result, but the single-thread data is respectable.

The Server/Workstation market segment means this CPU is also a candidate for memory-sensitive workstation tasks. ECC memory support is listed as true, and the quad-channel DDR4 interface provides 85.3 GB/s of memory bandwidth. That combination matters for stability and data-heavy professional workloads.

FAQ

Q: What is the TDP of the Intel Xeon W-2135?

A: The TDP is 140 W.

Q: Does the Intel Xeon W-2135 support ECC memory?

A: Yes. ECC memory support is listed as true, with DDR4 quad-channel memory support and 85.3 GB/s of memory bandwidth.

Q: What socket does the Intel Xeon W-2135 use?

A: It uses Intel Socket 2066.

Q: How close are the nearest rivals in average benchmark score?

A: The Xeon W-2135 has an average score of 3543. The Intel Core i9-9980HK is at 3547 with a deltaPct of -0.1%. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 7530U, AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5675U, and Intel Core i3-12300T are each at 3556 with a deltaPct of -0.4%.

Q: Is the multiplier unlocked?

A: No. The multiplierUnlocked field is false.

Q: What is the production status?

A: The production status is end-of-life. The release date is 2017-08-28.

Single-Thread vs Multi-Thread Behavior

The single-thread and multi-thread scores separate cleanly. In Cinebench R15, the processor makes 174 single-core points and 1234 multi-core points. In R20, it makes 726 single-core points and 5144 multi-core points. In R23, it makes 1729 single-core points and 12248 multi-core points.

The multi-core scores are much larger than the single-core scores in every test, as expected from a 12-thread processor. But the increase is not 12 times the single-core score. The data implies imperfect scaling when all 12 threads are active. That is not a flaw; it is typical behavior. Some workloads cannot use every thread, and those workloads will live on the single-thread side of the profile.

The 4.50 boost clock is the single-thread reference point, while the 3.70 base clock is the sustained multi-thread reference. The shared 8.25 MB L3 cache is the path through which threads exchange data, and each core has 64 KB of L1 cache and 1 MB of L2 cache. For interactive or latency-sensitive applications, the single-core scores matter more. For batch rendering or fully threaded production work, the multi-core scores matter more.

Platform and Compatibility

The Intel Xeon W-2135 is built for Intel Socket 2066. The architecture is Skylake, with the Skylake-W codename and the generation field listed as Xeon W (Skylake-W). It is manufactured on Intel's 14 nm process, and the die size is 484 mm².

Memory support is DDR4 running through a quad-channel interface. The memory bandwidth is 85.3 GB/s, and ECC memory support is enabled. PCIe support is Gen 3 with 48 CPU-attached lanes. The integrated graphics field is null, so the processor does not include an integrated GPU.

The multiplier is locked, and the part number is SR3LN. Production status is end-of-life, and the release date is 2017-08-28. Because the processor is end-of-life, the upgrade path is limited to the existing Intel Socket 2066 platform rather than an active future roadmap. The 48 PCIe Gen 3 lanes and quad-channel DDR4 memory support are the expansion resources available to a system built around this CPU.