AMD Ryzen 5 7520C vs Intel Core i7-1160G7 Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 7520C and Intel Core i7-1160G7 are both 4-core, 8-thread mobile processors aimed at thin-and-light laptops, and the benchmark data shows they are extraordinarily close in raw compute performance. Across six Cinebench tests, the AMD chip wins every single round, but the largest margin of victory is a mere 0.2%, making this one of the tightest matchups in the database. While their average benchmark scores are nearly identical—2127 for the AMD versus 2124 for the Intel—their underlying architectures, platform features, and lifecycles could not be more different, which ultimately dictates which processor makes sense for a given system.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7520C edges out the Intel Core i7-1160G7 with an average score of 2127 compared to 2124, a difference of just 0.2%.

Q: How do the two chips compare in Cinebench R23 multi-core performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7520C scores 7355, while the Intel Core i7-1160G7 scores 7343, giving the AMD part a 0.2% advantage in that multi-threaded workload.

Q: Are there any benchmark tests where the Intel chip wins?

A: No. Of the six head-to-head Cinebench tests recorded (R15, R20, and R23 in both single-core and multi-core), the AMD Ryzen 5 7520C is listed as the winner in all six, with the Intel part taking zero wins.

Q: What is the manufacturing process difference between the two?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7520C is built on a 6 nm process at TSMC, while the Intel Core i7-1160G7 uses Intel's 10 nm process. The AMD chip also has a smaller die size at 100 mm² versus 144 mm² for the Intel part.

Q: Which chip has faster memory bandwidth on paper?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7520C supports LPDDR5 memory with a bandwidth of 88.0 GB/s, whereas the Intel Core i7-1160G7 supports LPDDR4X with a bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s.

Q: What is the production status of each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7520C is listed as "Active" production, while the Intel Core i7-1160G7 is marked as "End-of-life."

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies and generations. The AMD Ryzen 5 7520C belongs to the 7000 series and is based on the Zen 2 architecture, under the codename "Mendocino." It is manufactured by TSMC on a 6 nm process node, yielding a die size of 100 mm². In contrast, the Intel Core i7-1160G7 uses the Tiger Lake architecture (specifically Tiger Lake-U) with Willow Cove cores, built on Intel's 10 nm process with a larger die size of 144 mm². This makes the AMD chip both more modern in process technology and physically smaller, which can have implications for power efficiency and packaging in compact laptops.

Cache hierarchies also differ significantly. The AMD Ryzen 5 7520C provides 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 512 KB of L2 per core, with a shared 4 MB L3 cache. The Intel Core i7-1160G7 counters with a larger cache layout: 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and a substantially larger 12 MB shared L3 cache. That threefold difference in L3 capacity suggests the Intel part may have an advantage in workloads that benefit from larger on-die data pools, though the benchmark results do not reflect a decisive edge in the tested Cinebench scenarios.

Platform features diverge as well. The AMD chip uses the AMD Socket FT6 and supports LPDDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration with a theoretical bandwidth of 88.0 GB/s. The Intel chip uses Intel BGA 1598 and supports LPDDR4X memory, also dual-channel, but with a much lower theoretical bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s. Both chips integrate graphics—the AMD Radeon 610M versus the Intel Iris Xe-LP Graphics G7 96EU—but the data does not include graphics benchmarks. PCIe support also differs: the AMD offers Gen 3 with 4 CPU lanes, while the Intel offers Gen 4 with 4 CPU lanes. Neither chip supports ECC memory, and both are locked (multiplier unlocked: false).

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results are remarkable for their consistency. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD Ryzen 5 7520C scores 741 against the Intel's 740, a 0.1% margin. In R15 single-core, both chips score exactly 104, with the AMD listed as the winner by a 0% delta. Moving to Cinebench R20, the AMD takes multi-core at 3089 versus 3084 (0.2% ahead) and ties again in single-core at 435. In the more demanding Cinebench R23, the AMD leads multi-core with 7355 versus 7343 (0.2% ahead) and single-core with 1038 versus 1036 (0.2% ahead).

These deltas are within the noise floor of typical benchmarking, yet the pattern is unambiguous: the AMD part wins every recorded test. The largest margin is 0.2%, which appears three times (R20 multi-core, R23 multi-core, R23 single-core). For practical purposes, a user would be hard-pressed to feel the difference between a score of 7355 and 7343 in multi-core rendering. The data suggests these are effectively equivalent in CPU compute, with the AMD chip holding a razor-thin statistical edge. The Intel part's nearest rival list includes the AMD chip with a -0.1% delta, confirming that the two are near-perfect peers in overall average score.

The Verdict

From a pure performance standpoint, the data points to a statistical dead heat. The AMD Ryzen 5 7520C wins all six head-to-head Cinebench tests, but the margins are so slim that no workload would favor one chip over the other in a meaningful way. The average benchmark scores differ by less than 1%, and both sit at the 46th percentile among all CPUs. The choice between them, therefore, must be made on non-performance factors.

The AMD Ryzen 5 7520C is the more future-proof option. It is an Active production part released in 2023, built on a newer 6 nm process, and supports LPDDR5 memory with 88.0 GB/s of bandwidth—more than double the Intel's LPDDR4X bandwidth. For a system integrator or buyer looking at a new laptop in the current market, the AMD chip offers modern platform features and an active lifecycle. The Intel Core i7-1160G7, by contrast, is an End-of-life part released in 2020, using older 10 nm technology and slower memory standards. Its 12 MB of L3 cache is a notable advantage on paper, but the benchmark data does not translate that into a measurable performance win in the tested workloads. The Intel part does have a launch MSRP of $426, which may reflect its original positioning, but that is a historical figure.

The verdict is clear: if you are selecting a processor for a new system today, the AMD Ryzen 5 7520C is the safer choice due to its active production status, superior memory bandwidth, and newer process node. If you are working with an existing platform that requires the Intel BGA 1598 socket, the Core i7-1160G7 remains a competent performer that trades blows evenly with the AMD chip. For those who prioritize raw compute, either will deliver nearly identical results; for those who prioritize platform longevity and memory throughput, the AMD is the winner.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 5 7520C | Intel Core i7-1160G7 |

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

| Architecture | Zen 2 | Tiger Lake |

| Codename | Mendocino | Tiger Lake-U |

| Process Node | 6 nm | 10 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Die Size | 100 mm² | 144 mm² |

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

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

| L3 Cache | 4 MB (shared) | 12 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | LPDDR5 | LPDDR4X |

| Memory Bandwidth | 88.0 GB/s | 34.1 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 4 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 4, 4 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Socket | AMD Socket FT6 | Intel BGA 1598 |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon 610M | Iris Xe-LP Graphics G7 96EU |

| Production Status | Active | End-of-life |

| Release Date | 2023-05-22 | 2020-09-01 |

| Part Number | 100-000000773 | SRK0E |