CPU Comparison

The Intel Core i7-1160G7 and Intel Atom C5125 are separated by nearly two years of release timing and vastly different design briefs, yet their benchmark results are remarkably close. The data shows a statistical tie across every Cinebench test, with the Core i7-1160G7 winning all six head-to-head comparisons but by margins of 0.1% to 0.2%, deltas so small they fall within typical run-to-run variance. The average benchmark scores are 2124 for the Core i7 and 2122 for the Atom, a difference of 0.1%. Both processors sit at the 46th percentile among all CPUs tracked. The Core i7-1160G7 is a 15-watt mobile part with integrated graphics, while the Atom C5125 is a 50-watt server/workstation chip with ECC memory support. Their architectures could not be more different: four Willow Cove cores with hyper-threading versus eight Tremont cores without it.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark sweep is almost perfectly flat. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Core i7-1160G7 scores 740 against the Atom’s 739, a 0.1% advantage. Single-core R15 is an exact tie at 104 points apiece, with a delta of 0%. Moving to Cinebench R20, the Core i7 posts 3084 multi-core and 435 single-core, versus 3081 and 434 for the Atom, again a 0.1% and 0.2% edge respectively. The R23 results continue the pattern: 7343 multi-core for the Core i7 against 7336 for the Atom (0.1%), and 1036 single-core against 1035 (0.1%). The largest margin of victory across all six tests is just 0.2% in R20 single-core.

This near-identical performance is striking given the hardware disparity. The Atom C5125 has double the core count, eight physical cores versus four, but no hyper-threading, yielding eight threads on both processors. The Core i7-1160G7 compensates for fewer cores with a boost clock of 4.40 GHz versus the Atom’s fixed 2.80 GHz base clock (the Atom has no boost clock listed). The result is a dead heat: the Core i7’s higher per-core frequency offsets the Atom’s core-count advantage in multi-threaded workloads, while single-thread performance is essentially identical.

The nearestRivals data confirms these two chips are inseparable. The Atom C5125’s average score of 2122 sits 0.1% below the Core i7-1160G7’s 2124. For context, the AMD Ryzen 5 7520C scores 2127 (0.1% above the Core i7), the Intel Xeon E-2224G scores 2117 (0.3% below), and the AMD Ryzen 3 5300U scores 2135 (0.5% below the Core i7). The Core i7-1160G7’s closest rival by delta is the Atom C5125 itself, and vice versa, these two processors are each other’s direct benchmark peers.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap is wide. The Core i7-1160G7 uses Tiger Lake-U silicon built on Intel’s 10 nm process, with a die size of 144 mm². Its generation is listed as Core i7 (Willow Cove-U), and it packs 12 MB of shared L3 cache. Cache distribution is per-core: 80 KB of L1 and 1.25 MB of L2 per core. The Atom C5125, by contrast, is codenamed Parker Ridge and belongs to the Atom (Tremont) generation. It also uses a 10 nm process from Intel, but its cache layout differs markedly: 64 KB of L1 per core and 4.5 MB of L2 per module, with no L3 cache listed. The Atom’s die size is not provided.

Memory support splits them further. The Core i7-1160G7 supports LPDDR4X over a dual-channel bus, delivering 34.1 GB/s of bandwidth. The Atom C5125 supports DDR4 over dual-channel, with higher bandwidth at 46.9 GB/s. ECC memory is supported by the Atom but not by the Core i7. PCIe connectivity also diverges: the Core i7 offers Gen 4 with 4 lanes (CPU only), while the Atom offers Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The Core i7 includes integrated Iris Xe-LP Graphics G7 with 96 execution units; the Atom has no integrated graphics at all.

Socket and packaging differ as well. The Core i7-1160G7 uses Intel BGA 1598, while the Atom C5125 uses Intel BGA 2106. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier. The production status also differs: the Core i7 is end-of-life, while the Atom remains active. Release dates are roughly 21 months apart, the Core i7 launched in September 2020, the Atom in June 2022. Both are fabricated by Intel on 10 nm, but the transistor counts are not listed for either part.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data shows no clear winner in raw compute, the Core i7-1160G7 wins all six head-to-head tests, but the margins are negligible. The genuine differentiators lie outside Cinebench scores. The Core i7-1160G7 is designed for mobile, with a 15-watt TDP that suits thin-and-light laptops. It brings integrated Iris Xe graphics with 96 execution units, making it a self-contained package for systems without a discrete GPU. Its LPDDR4X memory support and Gen 4 PCIe lanes point toward client workloads where latency and per-core performance matter. The single-core scores, 104 in R15, 435 in R20, 1036 in R23, are identical or within one point of the Atom across the board, so the Core i7 does not win on single-threaded speed either.

The Atom C5125 targets server and workstation deployments. Its 50-watt TDP and 16 lanes of Gen 3 PCIe, combined with DDR4 memory and ECC support, make it suitable for always-on infrastructure. The eight Tremont cores without hyper-threading deliver the same thread count as the Core i7 but at a lower per-core frequency, 2.80 GHz with no boost. The Atom’s higher memory bandwidth (46.9 GB/s versus 34.1 GB/s) could benefit memory-bound server tasks, but the Cinebench results do not reflect such an advantage. The Atom’s active production status and ECC capability are its practical wins; the Core i7 is end-of-life.

For users needing integrated graphics, the Core i7-1160G7 is the only option between the two. For users needing ECC memory, the Atom C5125 is the only option. In pure compute, the six head-to-head wins for the Core i7 are real but statistically meaningless, a 0.1% delta in R15 multi-core (740 versus 739) is a rounding error in real-world terms.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher multi-core score in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core i7-1160G7 scores 7343, while the Intel Atom C5125 scores 7336. The Core i7 leads by 0.1%.

Q: Do these CPUs have the same number of threads?

A: Yes, both have 8 threads. The Core i7-1160G7 has 4 cores with hyper-threading, while the Atom C5125 has 8 cores without hyper-threading.

Q: Which chip supports ECC memory?

A: Only the Intel Atom C5125 supports ECC memory. The Core i7-1160G7 does not list ECC support in its specifications.

Q: What is the single-core performance difference in Cinebench R20?

A: The Core i7-1160G7 scores 435, and the Atom C5125 scores 434. The Core i7 leads by 0.2%, the largest margin in any head-to-head test.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core i7-1160G7 includes Iris Xe-LP Graphics G7 with 96 execution units. The Intel Atom C5125 has no integrated graphics (listed as N/A).

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Core i7-1160G7 averages 2124, and the Atom C5125 averages 2122. The Core i7 leads by 0.1%, and both sit at the 46th percentile among all CPUs.

Specification Differences

| Field | Intel Core i7-1160G7 | Intel Atom C5125 |

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

| Cores | 4 | 8 |

| Threads | 8 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 1200.00 MHz | 2.80 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.40 GHz | None |

| TDP | 15 W | 50 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1598 | Intel BGA 2106 |

| Codename | Tiger Lake-U | Parker Ridge |

| Generation | Core i7 (Willow Cove-U) | Atom (Tremont) |

| Die Size | 144 mm² | Not listed |

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

| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core) | 4.5 MB (per module) |

| L3 Cache | 12 MB (shared) | None |

| Memory Support | LPDDR4X | DDR4 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 34.1 GB/s | 46.9 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 4 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Iris Xe-LP Graphics G7 96EU | N/A |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Server/Workstation |

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

| Release Date | 2020-09-01 | 2022-06-05 |

| Launch MSRP | $426 | $335 |

| Part Number | SRK0E | SRL40 |