Intel 5515+

The Intel Xeon Gold 5515+ is an 8-core server processor that stands out for its exceptional power efficiency and modern platform features like DDR5 and PCIe 5.0. It's a great fit for homelabs and small servers where power draw matters, but the core count limits heavy multi-threaded workloads. Shop carefully, because prices vary by hundreds of euros depending on the vendor.

PassMark puts this chip at 26,359 multi-thread and 3,013 single-thread. For context, that multi-thread score lands in the 83rd percentile for server chips in our database, which is well above average for an 8-core part. The single-thread score sits at the 81st percentile, which is strong, and it makes sense given the 4.1GHz boost clock. You're not going to confuse this with a desktop i9, but for a server chip with only 8 cores, it punches above its weight.

The efficiency story is the real headline here. This chip ranks in the 94th percentile for efficiency, which puts it among the best we've seen for power-conscious server builds. The 60W base TDP means you can run this in a quieter chassis without a jet-engine fan setup. The platform score is also excellent at the 90th percentile, thanks to DDR5 memory support, 80 PCIe 5.0 lanes, and 2S scalability. That's a lot of expansion headroom for a chip this efficient. The AI score at the 84th percentile is solid too, though you're not running massive model training on 8 cores. The feature set is the weak spot at the 55th percentile, which is about average. No integrated graphics, which is normal for Xeon, but worth knowing if you were hoping to skip a discrete GPU.

The Xeon Gold 5515+ doesn't have a ton of direct competition in its exact niche, but a few names come up. The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D is a desktop gaming chip that absolutely destroys this Xeon in gaming and single-threaded desktop tasks, but it's not a server part. If you're building a gaming rig, the Ryzen is the obvious choice and the Xeon isn't even in the conversation. The HP Xeon P67080-B21 is another server option, though it's typically positioned for different enterprise workloads. The CG CHIPS GATE EPYC part is an AMD EPYC-based option that competes on the server side, and AMD's EPYC lineup generally offers more cores per dollar if you need heavy multi-threading.

The real trade-off is cores versus efficiency. An EPYC chip in this price range will often give you more cores, but you'll pay for it in power draw and platform cost. The Xeon Gold 5515+ is for people who want a modern Intel server platform with DDR5 and PCIe 5.0 without a massive electricity bill. If you need to run a dozen VMs with heavy sustained loads, more cores will serve you better. If you're running a home lab, a NAS with some containers, or a light virtualization host, this chip's efficiency and platform features make a strong case.

Value is tricky here because the price varies so much by region. In the US, $1,169 to $1,217 puts it in a competitive spot for a Xeon Gold with DDR5 and PCIe 5.0. But in Europe, the spread is wild. You can pay EUR 1,357 at EET or EUR 1,805 elsewhere for the same chip. That's a EUR 448 difference for identical silicon, so shop around before you commit. If you're in Europe, EET is clearly the vendor to check first. The CAD listing at CAD 3,149 is less compelling once you factor in typical Canadian component pricing. For what this chip does, the low end of the US and EU ranges feels fair. The high end does not.

The Intel Xeon Gold 5515+ is a server chip aimed at small to mid-size deployments where power efficiency matters more than raw core count. It's an 8-core, 16-thread part built on Intel's newer Xeon platform with DDR5 support, PCIe 5.0, and a surprisingly modest 60W base TDP. That's not a typo. For a Xeon Gold, this thing sips power at idle and light loads, which is exactly what a lot of homelab folks and small business server admins are looking for.

Pricing is all over the map depending on where you shop. In the US you're looking at roughly $1,169 to $1,217. European listings swing wider, from EUR 1,357 up to EUR 1,805 across four vendors. If you're buying in Europe, EET has the best deal at the low end of that range. The chip ships as a tray unit, so you'll need to bring your own cooler and know your way around an LGA 4677 socket.

People searching for this chip usually want to know two things: is it good for a home server, and how does it handle mixed workloads? The short answer is yes on the first one, with caveats. It's not a gaming CPU, and it's not trying to be. But for virtualization, Docker hosts, file servers, and light database work, it's a genuinely interesting option.

Skip this chip if you need serious multi-threaded horsepower. Eight cores won't cut it for heavy virtualization, large database servers, or rendering farms. You'd be better off with a higher-core-count AMD EPYC or a beefier Xeon. Gamers and desktop users should also look elsewhere, since the gaming performance is poor and there's no integrated graphics. And if you're on a tight budget, the high-end European pricing makes this a questionable value. At EUR 1,805, you're paying a premium for efficiency that may not pay off if your workloads don't actually need it.

Should you buy the Intel Xeon Gold 5515+? If you're building a power-efficient server and you want modern platform features like DDR5 and PCIe 5.0, this is a genuinely good chip. The efficiency is best-in-class, the single-thread performance is strong for a server part, and the 80 PCIe lanes give you room to grow. It's a smart pick for homelabs, small business servers, and edge deployments where power and noise matter.

But it's not for everyone. Eight cores is a real limitation if you're running heavy multi-threaded workloads, and the feature set is nothing special. The price is also inconsistent across regions, so you need to shop carefully. If you can find it at the low end of the range, it's a solid buy. At the high end, you're paying too much for what you get.