AMD Ryzen 5 7235HS vs Intel Core i7-1260U Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The head-to-head results are decisively lopsided. The Intel Core i7-1260U wins 15 of 17 benchmark comparisons, with the AMD Ryzen 5 7235HS taking only 2 wins. The Intel chip's dominance spans nearly every workload category, from single-threaded tasks to multithreaded rendering and mathematical operations.

The Intel part's largest margins come in specialized compute tasks. In PassMark find prime numbers, the i7-1260U scores 67 against 31 for the Ryzen 5 7235HS, a 116.1% advantage. That is the single biggest delta in the entire comparison. Physics simulation shows a similarly wide gap: 1046 versus 574, a 82.2% lead for Intel. Floating point math also favors Intel heavily, with 31456 against 23091, a 36.2% edge.

Single-core performance is another clear Intel stronghold. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the i7-1260U scores 219.5 against 148, a 48.3% lead. The R20 single-core test shows 668 versus 617, an 8.3% advantage, and R23 single-core shows 1601 versus 1470, an 8.9% edge. PassMark single-thread also goes Intel's way at 3153 versus 2873, a 9.7% margin.

Multithreaded results are more mixed. The Intel chip wins Cinebench R15 multi-core by 14.6% (1203 versus 1050) and R20 multi-core by 8.3% (4736 versus 4375). PassMark multithread also favors Intel at 14011 versus 12243, a 14.4% lead. However, the AMD Ryzen 5 7235HS strikes back decisively in Cinebench R23 multi-core, scoring 10418 against 7912.5, a 24% win for AMD. That is the largest multi-core margin in either direction.

The AMD chip also wins PassMark extended instructions, scoring 10887 against 8280, a 23.9% advantage. This suggests AMD's implementation handles certain instruction sets more efficiently, even though Intel dominates the other PassMark sub-tests.

The average benchmark scores reinforce the overall picture. The Intel i7-1260U averages 16320, while the Ryzen 5 7235HS averages 16902, meaning the AMD part holds a slight overall edge despite losing most individual tests. This apparent contradiction is explained by the magnitude of AMD's Cinebench R23 multi-core win, which is large enough to lift its average.

Both parts sit at the 70th percentile among all CPUs, placing them in the same performance tier overall. The Intel chip's nearest rivals by average score include the AMD Ryzen 5 4600H (16341, delta -0.1%), AMD EPYC 7543P (16395, delta -0.5%), Intel Core i5-10600KF (16228, delta 0.6%), and Intel Core i7-10850H (16204, delta 0.7%). The AMD chip's nearest rivals include the AMD EPYC 7702 (16932, delta -0.2%), Intel Core i3-12100E (16853, delta 0.3%), Intel Core i5-1240U (16957, delta -0.3%), and AMD Ryzen 3 7335U (16827, delta 0.4%). These rival comparisons show both chips trading places within a very narrow band around their respective average scores.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Core i7-1260U uses Alder Lake architecture on a 10 nm process, built by Intel. It packs 10 cores and 12 threads, a combination that leverages Intel's hybrid approach of performance and efficiency cores. The AMD Ryzen 5 7235HS uses Zen 3+ architecture on a 6 nm process, fabricated by TSMC. It has 4 cores and 8 threads, a traditional homogeneous core design.

Clock speeds tell a story of different priorities. The Intel chip has a base clock of 1100 MHz and a boost clock of 4700 MHz. The lower base clock suggests power efficiency as a primary design goal. The AMD chip runs a base clock of 3200 MHz with a boost of 4200 MHz. The higher base clock means AMD maintains higher sustained performance at idle or light loads, while Intel relies more heavily on boosting to reach its performance peak.

Cache configurations differ substantially. Intel provides 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3. AMD provides 64 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 8 MB shared L3. Intel's larger per-core L2 allocation is notable, though AMD's total cache hierarchy is smaller across the board.

The power envelope is a major differentiator. The Intel i7-1260U has a TDP of 9 watts, while the AMD Ryzen 5 7235HS has a TDP of 45 watts. This fivefold difference in power budget explains much of the performance behavior. Intel achieves competitive or superior results in most tests while drawing a fraction of the power, while AMD spends its larger power budget to win the Cinebench R23 multi-core test and the extended instructions test.

Memory support shows another split. Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5 in dual-channel mode. AMD supports only DDR5 in dual-channel mode, with a memory bandwidth rating of 76.8 GB/s. AMD also supports ECC memory, which Intel does not. The Intel chip's broader memory compatibility could matter for system flexibility.

Integrated graphics differ as well. Intel includes Iris Xe with 96 execution units, while AMD includes Radeon 660M. Both are integrated solutions intended for mobile systems, though the database records no direct graphics benchmarks for comparison.

The AMD chip has a published die size of 210 mm², while Intel's die size is not recorded. AMD's socket is AMD Socket FP7, while Intel uses Intel BGA 1781. Both are mobile sockets, but they are not interchangeable.

PCIe support is Gen 4 for both, though AMD specifies 20 lanes (CPU only) while Intel does not list a lane count. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking is not an option on either platform.

The release timeline differs. Intel's chip has a recorded release date of February 22, 2022. AMD's release date is not recorded in the database. Both are listed as Active production status. The AMD part carries the part number 100-000001507.

The Verdict

The data points to clear use-case separation. For most workloads, the Intel Core i7-1260U is the stronger choice. It wins 15 of 17 head-to-head comparisons, including all single-threaded tests, most multithreaded tests, and the majority of PassMark sub-tests. Its 9 watt TDP makes it dramatically more power-efficient than the AMD part, which draws 45 watts. Systems built around the Intel chip would run cooler and quieter while delivering equal or better performance in most scenarios.

The AMD Ryzen 5 7235HS justifies its higher power draw in two specific areas. First, Cinebench R23 multi-core shows a 24% advantage for AMD, suggesting sustained long-duration rendering workloads favor the AMD architecture. Second, PassMark extended instructions shows a 23.9% AMD lead, indicating that workloads leveraging specific instruction sets perform better on the Zen 3+ design.

Users who prioritize battery life, portability, and general responsiveness should choose the Intel i7-1260U. Its single-core dominance and lower power draw make it suitable for thin-and-light laptops where thermal constraints matter. The Intel chip's 10 cores and 12 threads also provide a thread-count advantage for lightly parallel workloads.

Users who run sustained multi-core workloads, particularly long rendering jobs or compute-heavy tasks, should consider the AMD Ryzen 5 7235HS despite its higher power consumption. The Cinebench R23 multi-core result is the strongest argument for AMD, as it represents a modern rendering benchmark that rewards sustained multi-core throughput.

The average benchmark scores complicate the verdict slightly. AMD's overall average of 16902 exceeds Intel's 16320, meaning the AMD chip produces a higher composite score across all recorded benchmarks. However, this average is heavily influenced by the large Cinebench R23 multi-core margin, while Intel wins more individual tests. The 70th percentile ranking for both chips confirms they occupy the same overall tier, with the choice coming down to workload profile rather than raw capability.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-1260U has 10 cores and 12 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 7235HS has 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: Which processor wins in single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i7-1260U wins all recorded single-core tests. It leads by 48.3% in Cinebench R15 single-core, 8.3% in R20 single-core, 8.9% in R23 single-core, and 9.7% in PassMark single-thread.

Q: Does the AMD Ryzen 5 7235HS win any benchmarks?

A: Yes, the AMD chip wins 2 of 17 head-to-head comparisons: Cinebench R23 multi-core by 24% and PassMark extended instructions by 23.9%.

Q: What is the power consumption difference?

A: The Intel Core i7-1260U has a TDP of 9 watts, while the AMD Ryzen 5 7235HS has a TDP of 45 watts.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7235HS supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core i7-1260U does not.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7235HS has an average benchmark score of 16902, while the Intel Core i7-1260U averages 16320. Both rank at the 70th percentile among all CPUs.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result is Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the AMD Ryzen 5 7235HS scores 10418 against 7912.5 for the Intel chip, a 24% advantage. This is the largest win for either side in any test. It stands in contrast to the older Cinebench R15 multi-core test, where Intel wins 1203 versus 1050, a 14.6% margin. The R20 multi-core test shows Intel ahead at 4736 versus 4375, an 8.3% lead. The progression from R15 to R23 suggests AMD's advantage grows with longer or more demanding multi-core workloads.

PassMark extended instructions gives AMD its other win, 10887 versus 8280, a 23.9% margin. This test likely exercises instruction sets that AMD implements more efficiently. The Intel chip wins PassMark data encryption by a narrower 4.7% (9480 versus 9051), while data compression is essentially tied at 152217 versus 152168, a 0% delta.

The largest Intel wins come in specialized math and physics tests. PassMark find prime numbers shows 67 versus 31, a 116.1% advantage. PassMark physics shows 1046 versus 574, an 82.2% lead. PassMark floating point math shows 31456 versus 23091, a 36.2% margin. These results indicate Intel's architecture handles certain computational patterns with significantly greater efficiency.

Integer math also favors Intel, 45887 versus 40174, a 14.2% lead. PassMark multithread goes Intel's way at 14011 versus 12243, a 14.4% margin. PassMark random string sorting shows Intel ahead at 16726 versus 15294, a 9.4% difference.

Single-core results consistently favor Intel across all three Cinebench versions. The R15 single-core gap is the largest at 48.3% (219.5 versus 148), while R20 and R23 show closer margins of 8.3% and 8.9% respectively. PassMark single-thread confirms the trend at 3153 versus 2873, a 9.7% edge.

The win count is 15 for Intel and 2 for AMD. However, the margin analysis shows that AMD's two wins are substantial (24% and 23.9%), while several of Intel's wins are narrow. The data compression tie, the 4.7% encryption win, and the 8.3% R20 multi-core win are all close calls. The overall picture is one of Intel dominance in breadth, with AMD holding specific strengths in extended instructions and the newest multi-core rendering test.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i7-1260U | AMD Ryzen 5 7235HS |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 10 | 4 |

| Threads | 12 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 1100 MHz | 3200 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 4700 MHz | 4200 MHz |

| TDP | 9 W | 45 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1781 | AMD Socket FP7 |

| Architecture | Alder Lake | Zen 3+ |

| Codename | Alder Lake-U | Rembrandt-R |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 6 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Die Size | Not recorded | 210 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 80 KB per core | 64 KB per core |

| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB per core | 512 KB per core |

| L3 Cache | 12 MB shared | 8 MB shared |

| Memory Support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR5 |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not recorded | 76.8 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe | Gen 4 | Gen 4, 20 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Iris Xe 96EU | Radeon 660M |

| Release Date | 2022-02-22 | Not recorded |

| Part Number | Not recorded | 100-000001507 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | No |

The specification table highlights the fundamental design split. Intel offers more cores, more threads, larger caches, and a lower power envelope. AMD offers a smaller process node, higher base clock, ECC support, and a published memory bandwidth figure. The 6 nm TSMC process gives AMD a manufacturing advantage, but Intel's 10 nm design achieves competitive or better performance in most recorded tests. The 45 watt TDP for AMD versus 9 watts for Intel is the largest single specification gap, and it explains why AMD can sustain higher base clocks despite having fewer cores. Intel's larger L3 cache (12 MB versus 8 MB) and larger per-core L2 cache likely contribute to its single-core advantages. AMD's memory bandwidth rating of 76.8 GB/s is recorded while Intel's is not, but both support dual-channel memory configurations.