Intel Core i3-1115G4 vs Intel Core i7-12700E Comparison

The Intel Core i3-1115G4 and Intel Core i7-12700E represent two very different design philosophies from Intel, separated by a generation and a wide gulf in intended use. The i3 is a low-power mobile part built for efficiency, while the i7 is a high-core-count desktop processor aimed at throughput. The benchmark data confirms this split, showing a decisive victory for the i7 across every single test, but the magnitude of that victory varies significantly depending on the workload.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i7-12700E wins all eight head-to-head benchmark comparisons. The most lopsided results appear in multi-core and single-core Cinebench tests, where the i7’s lead is consistently around 79%. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i7 scores 23879 against the i3’s 4933, a delta of -79.3%. The same pattern holds in Cinebench R20 multi-core (10029 vs 2071) and Cinebench R15 multi-core (2406 vs 497). Single-core Cinebench results show a similar margin, with the i7 leading by 79.4% in R15, R20, and R23 tests. This near-identical percentage across all Cinebench versions indicates the i7’s advantage is fundamental—it is simply faster at both lightly-threaded and heavily-threaded rendering tasks.

Geekbench results tell a slightly more nuanced story. In Geekbench multi-core, the i7 scores 10676 versus the i3’s 2465, a delta of -76.9%. However, in Geekbench single-core, the gap narrows dramatically to -36.5%, with scores of 2094 and 1330 respectively. This single-core delta is less than half the margin seen in Cinebench single-core tests, suggesting that the i7’s architectural advantage is less pronounced in the specific workloads Geekbench uses for its single-core metric. The i3’s high boost clock and efficient Willow Cove cores help it remain relatively competitive in this specific scenario, though it still trails by a substantial margin.

The overall benchmark averages reflect this dominance, albeit with a twist. The i7’s average benchmark score is 6776, which sits in the 62nd percentile of all CPUs. The i3’s average score is 6851, placing it in the 63rd percentile. This is a curious result—the i3 actually has a higher average score and percentile despite losing every head-to-head test. This occurs because the average score likely includes different test suites; the i3 has PassMark results (integer math, floating point math, encryption) that are not present in the i7’s benchmark list. The i3’s PassMark data shows a strong single-thread score of 2585 and a multithread score of 5915, which inflate its average. The head-to-head data, however, only includes Cinebench and Geekbench tests, where the i7 is the clear victor.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural eras. The i3-1115G4 is built on Tiger Lake-U, a 10 nm mobile design with a die size of 144 mm². The i7-12700E is Alder Lake-S, also on a 10 nm node, but with a larger 215 mm² die. Both use Intel’s 10 nm process, but the i7’s larger die accommodates significantly more hardware. The i3 has 2 cores and 4 threads, while the i7 has 12 cores and 20 threads. This core difference is the primary driver of the multi-core performance gap.

Cache configurations also differ substantially. Both parts have 80 KB of L1 cache and 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, but the total L3 cache is vastly different. The i3 has 6 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i7 has 25 MB of shared L3 cache. This larger cache pool is critical for the i7’s ability to handle large datasets and maintain high throughput in multi-threaded workloads. Clock speeds tell a similar story: the i3 has a base clock of 2.20 GHz and a boost of 4.10 GHz, while the i7 has a base of 2.10 GHz and a boost of 4.80 GHz. The i7’s higher boost clock contributes to its single-core advantages, while its core count drives multi-core wins.

Memory support and PCIe capabilities also differ. The i3 supports DDR4 and LPDDR4X memory, while the i7 supports DDR4 and DDR5. Both use a dual-channel memory bus. The i3 offers PCIe Gen 4 with 4 lanes (CPU only), whereas the i7 offers PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only). This gives the i7 significantly more bandwidth for expansion and high-speed storage. Integrated graphics differ as well: the i3 has Iris Xe-LP Graphics G4, while the i7 has UHD Graphics 770. Neither is designed for high-end gaming, but the i7’s desktop-class integration is suited for basic display output and media tasks.

The i3 is a mobile part (BGA 1449 socket) with a 15 W TDP, while the i7 is a desktop part (Socket 1700) with a 65 W TDP. This power envelope difference explains the i7’s ability to sustain higher clocks and support more cores. The i3 was released in September 2020 with a launch MSRP of $281, while the i7 has no recorded release date in the data and a launch MSRP of $344. Both processors are currently marked as Active in production, and neither has an unlocked multiplier. The i3’s part number is SRK08, and the i7’s is SRL6D.

The Verdict

The data is clear: the Intel Core i7-12700E is the superior processor in every head-to-head benchmark. It outperforms the i3 by roughly 79% in Cinebench tests and by 36.5% to 76.9% in Geekbench tests. The i7’s 12 cores and 20 threads provide a massive multi-core advantage, while its higher boost clock of 4.80 GHz ensures it also leads in single-core workloads. The i3’s only statistical advantage is its higher average benchmark score (6851 vs 6776) and slightly better percentile ranking (63rd vs 62nd), but this is an artifact of the i3 having additional PassMark test results that are not part of the head-to-head comparison. When comparing the same tests directly, the i7 wins all of them.

For the i3-1115G4, the data suggests it is a capable low-power mobile processor. Its 2-core/4-thread configuration is sufficient for basic tasks, and its single-core performance in Geekbench is respectable, trailing the i7 by only 36.5%. The i3’s real strength lies in its efficiency and its inclusion in the PassMark suite, where it shows solid results in integer math (17472), floating point math (10791), and data compression (62444). These scores are not part of the head-to-head comparison, but they indicate that the i3 is a reasonable choice for light workloads where power consumption is a priority.

The i7-12700E is the clear choice for anyone needing raw performance, particularly in rendering, content creation, or multi-threaded productivity. Its 65 W TDP and desktop socket imply a system with adequate cooling and power delivery. The i3, with its 15 W TDP and mobile socket, is suited for compact, battery-powered devices where the i7’s power draw would be prohibitive. The data does not support any scenario where the i3 outperforms the i7 in the same workload; the only question is whether the i3’s efficiency justifies its use in a mobile context.

FAQ

Q: How much faster is the i7-12700E in multi-core Cinebench tests?

A: The i7 leads by 79.3% in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests. For example, in R23 multi-core, the i7 scores 23879 against the i3’s 4933.

Q: Is the i3-1115G4 competitive in single-core performance?

A: It is closer in Geekbench single-core, where the i7 leads by only 36.5% (2094 vs 1330). However, in Cinebench single-core tests, the i7’s lead is 79.4%, so the i3’s competitive showing is specific to Geekbench.

Q: What is the core and thread count difference?

A: The i3-1115G4 has 2 cores and 4 threads. The i7-12700E has 12 cores and 20 threads.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The i7-12700E has 25 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i3-1115G4 has 6 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: What memory types do these processors support?

A: The i3 supports DDR4 and LPDDR4X. The i7 supports DDR4 and DDR5. Both use dual-channel memory buses.

Q: Do these processors have the same average benchmark score?

A: No. The i3 has an average benchmark score of 6851, while the i7 has an average of 6776. The i3’s average is higher due to additional PassMark tests that are not in the head-to-head comparison.

Where Each One Wins

The i7-12700E wins every head-to-head benchmark in the data set. Its victories span all Cinebench versions (R15, R20, R23) in both single-core and multi-core, as well as Geekbench single-core and multi-core. The i7’s largest wins are in multi-core Cinebench tests, where it consistently leads by 79.3%. Its smallest win is in Geekbench single-core, where it leads by 36.5%. The i7 is the definitive choice for any workload that appears in the head-to-head comparison, including rendering, general processing, and mixed single/multi-threaded tasks.

The i3-1115G4 does not win any head-to-head test. Its strengths are only visible in the PassMark benchmark suite, which is not part of the head-to-head data. In PassMark tests, the i3 shows strong data compression (62444), integer math (17472), and floating point math (10791) scores. It also has a respectable single-thread score of 2585. These results suggest the i3 is capable of handling specific single-threaded and light multi-threaded tasks, but they do not appear in the direct comparison. For users comparing these two CPUs on the same benchmarks, the i7 is the only choice. The i3’s niche is strictly in low-power mobile systems where the i7 cannot physically fit or operate.