Intel Xeon Gold 5515 Plus

Name: Intel Xeon Gold 5515 Plus
Brand: Intel
SKU: 44344

Manufacturer: Intel

The Intel Xeon Gold 5515 Plus is a server-grade processor designed for demanding enterprise workloads. Operating at a base clock of 8 x 3.2GHz with a turbo frequency reaching 4.1GHz, it balances sustained throughput with burst performance across its 8 cores and 16 threads. Built on a 10nm semiconductor process, it carries a thermal envelope of 165W and supports a maximum junction temperature of 98°C.

On the memory side, the Xeon Gold 5515 Plus supports DDR5 ECC memory across 8 channels at speeds up to 4800MHz, with a maximum addressable capacity of 4000GB and a bus transfer rate of 20GT/s — a configuration suited to memory-intensive server environments. The processor includes 22.5MB of L3 cache (roughly 2.81MB per core), connects via PCIe 5.0, and supports a broad instruction set including AVX2, AES, FMA3, and SSE 4.2. It does not feature an unlocked multiplier or integrated graphics. In PassMark benchmarks, it scores 26501 in multi-threaded testing and 2951 in the single-threaded result.

Pros

Eight-channel DDR5 ECC memory support with a maximum capacity of 4000GB makes it well-suited for memory-intensive server workloads
PCIe 5.0 connectivity enables high-bandwidth communication with compatible server components and accelerators
A broad instruction set including AVX2, AES, FMA3, and SSE 4.2 covers a wide range of computational and cryptographic workloads
Turbo Boost 2.0 allows the processor to scale individual core frequency up to 4.1GHz when workload conditions allow
NX bit support provides a hardware-level layer of protection against certain memory-based security exploits
22.5MB of L3 cache distributed across 8 cores helps reduce memory access latency for data-heavy tasks

Cons

A 165W TDP means substantial cooling infrastructure is required to maintain stable operation in server environments
No integrated graphics, requiring additional hardware for any display output or GPU-dependent tasks
The locked clock multiplier leaves no room for frequency tuning beyond the factory-defined specifications
The multi-threaded PassMark score of 26501 alongside a single-threaded score of 2951 suggests limited per-core throughput for tasks that cannot be parallelized

Who is this for?

This processor is well-matched for enterprise server and data center environments that demand substantial memory bandwidth and capacity, given its eight-channel DDR5 support and ability to address up to 4000GB of ECC RAM. Workloads that benefit from wide parallelism — such as virtualization hosts, in-memory databases, and multi-threaded application servers — can take advantage of its 16 threads and broad instruction set coverage including AVX2 and AES acceleration. Organizations that also require robust platform connectivity will find the PCIe 5.0 interface useful for pairing with high-speed storage or network adapters in demanding rack-mounted deployments.

Who is this NOT for?

This processor is a poor fit for any use case requiring integrated graphics or display output, as it carries no onboard GPU whatsoever. Its locked clock multiplier and relatively modest single-threaded PassMark score of 2951 also make it unsuitable for workloads that depend heavily on single-core performance, such as certain latency-sensitive applications or legacy software that cannot distribute tasks across multiple threads. Additionally, its 165W TDP means it is impractical for deployments where power and thermal constraints are tight, ruling it out for compact or thermally limited server configurations.

General info:

Thermal Design Power (TDP)	165W
semiconductor size	10 nm
PCI Express (PCIe) version	5
Supports 64-bit	✓
CPU temperature	98 °C
Has integrated graphics	✕

The Intel Xeon Gold 5515 Plus carries a Thermal Design Power (TDP) of 165W and is manufactured on a 10nm semiconductor process, reflecting its positioning as a full-featured server processor. It operates with a maximum CPU temperature of 98°C and fully supports 64-bit computing. Connectivity is handled through PCIe 5.0, enabling high-bandwidth communication with compatible peripherals and accelerators. The processor does not include integrated graphics, which is consistent with its enterprise server role where discrete or no GPU is the norm.

Performance:

CPU speed	8 x 3.2 GHz
CPU threads	16 threads
turbo clock speed	4.1GHz
L3 cache	22.5 MB
clock multiplier	32
Has an unlocked multiplier	✕
L3 core	2.81 MB/core
Turbo Boost version	2

The processor runs 8 cores at a base speed of 3.2GHz, with Turbo Boost 2.0 capable of pushing individual cores up to 4.1GHz under suitable conditions. It exposes 16 threads in total, doubling the core count through multithreading support. The clock multiplier is set at 32 and is locked, meaning the frequency cannot be adjusted beyond its defined parameters. Caching is handled by 22.5MB of L3 cache, distributed at 2.81MB per core, which helps reduce memory latency for data-intensive server tasks.

Memory:

Supports ECC memory	✓
DDR memory version	5
RAM speed (max)	4800 MHz
maximum memory amount	4000GB
memory channels	8
bus transfer rate	20 GT/s

This processor supports DDR5 ECC memory, providing both the speed advantages of the fifth-generation DDR standard and the data integrity protection that error-correcting code memory offers in server environments. Memory can run at speeds up to 4800MHz across 8 channels, with a bus transfer rate of 20GT/s ensuring substantial bandwidth for throughput-heavy workloads. The maximum supported memory capacity reaches 4000GB, giving server builders considerable headroom for memory-intensive deployments.

Features:

uses multithreading	✓
instruction sets	MMX, F16C, FMA3, AES, AVX, AVX2, SSE 4.1, SSE 4.2
Has NX bit	✓

The processor supports multithreading, allowing each physical core to handle two threads simultaneously for more efficient parallel workload execution. Its instruction set support spans MMX, F16C, FMA3, AES, AVX, AVX2, SSE 4.1, and SSE 4.2, covering a broad range of computational tasks from cryptographic operations to floating-point and vector processing. Additionally, the processor includes the NX bit, a hardware-level security feature that helps prevent certain classes of malicious code from executing in memory regions designated as non-executable.

Benchmarks:

PassMark result	26501
PassMark result (single)	2951

In PassMark testing, the processor achieves a multi-threaded score of 26501, reflecting its capacity to distribute workloads across all available cores and threads. The single-threaded PassMark result of 2951 indicates the per-core computational throughput available for tasks that rely on sequential execution rather than parallelism.

Final Verdict

The Intel Xeon Gold 5515 Plus is a purpose-built enterprise processor that delivers where it counts for server and data center deployments. Its combination of eight-channel DDR5 ECC memory support with a 4000GB capacity ceiling and PCIe 5.0 connectivity positions it firmly as a platform for memory-intensive, multi-threaded workloads rather than general-purpose computing. The locked multiplier and absence of integrated graphics reflect its single-minded server orientation, and its 165W thermal envelope demands proper infrastructure planning. For organizations building out virtualization platforms, high-throughput application servers, or data-intensive rack deployments, the Xeon Gold 5515 Plus represents a coherent and well-specified choice within its enterprise CPU category.