
Xeon D-1520 vs Xeon E5-1607 v3

Xeon D-1520

Xeon E5-1607 v3
Performance Spectrum - CPU
About PassMark
PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Xeon D-1520 is positioned at rank 565 and the Xeon E5-1607 v3 is on rank 561, so the Xeon E5-1607 v3 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon D-1520
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-1607 v3
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon D-1520 | Xeon E5-1607 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Broadwell (2015−2019) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell-EP (2014−2015) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon D-1520 | Xeon E5-1607 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Xeon D-1520 and Xeon E5-1607 v3

Xeon D-1520
The Xeon D-1520 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 9 March 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Broadwell (2015−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 2.6 GHz. L3 cache: 1.5 MB (per core). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1667. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 4,917 points. Launch price was $199.

Xeon E5-1607 v3
The Xeon E5-1607 v3 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Haswell-EP (2014−2015) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.1 GHz. L3 cache: 10 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011-3. Thermal design power (TDP): 140 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1333, DDR4-1600, DDR4-1866. Passmark benchmark score: 4,932 points. Launch price was $800.
Processing Power
The Xeon D-1520 packs 4 cores / 8 threads, matching the Xeon E5-1607 v3's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.6 GHz on the Xeon D-1520 versus 3.1 GHz on the Xeon E5-1607 v3 — a 17.5% clock advantage for the Xeon E5-1607 v3 (base: 2.2 GHz vs 3.1 GHz). The Xeon D-1520 uses the Broadwell (2015−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E5-1607 v3 uses Haswell-EP (2014−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon D-1520 scores 4,917 against the Xeon E5-1607 v3's 4,932 — a 0.3% lead for the Xeon E5-1607 v3. L3 cache: 1.5 MB (per core) on the Xeon D-1520 vs 10 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-1607 v3.
| Feature | Xeon D-1520 | Xeon E5-1607 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.6 GHz | 3.1 GHz+19% |
| Base Clock | 2.2 GHz | 3.1 GHz+41% |
| L3 Cache | 1.5 MB (per core) | 10 MB (total)+567% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm-36% | 22 nm |
| Architecture | Broadwell (2015−2019) | Haswell-EP (2014−2015) |
| PassMark | 4,917 | 4,932 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon D-1520 uses the FCBGA1667 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E5-1607 v3 uses LGA2011-3 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon D-1520 | Xeon E5-1607 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1667 | LGA2011-3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
















