Intel Core i3-1305U vs Intel Core i7-1185G7 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a decisive overall victory for the Intel Core i7-1185G7, which wins 14 of the 17 recorded comparisons. The i7-1185G7 takes the lead in every Cinebench test, with a consistent 17.2% advantage across Cinebench R20 and R23 multi-core and single-core runs. In Cinebench R15, the margin is nearly identical: 17.3% in multi-core (848 vs. 723) and 16.7% in single-core (119 vs. 102). This consistency suggests the i7-1185G7 holds a stable architectural edge in CPU rendering workloads rather than winning on a single favorable test.

The largest single win for the i7-1185G7 comes in PassMark physics, where it scores 763 against 523, a 45.9% gap. That is a massive difference and points to a major advantage in simulation and physics-heavy tasks. The i7-1185G7 also dominates in extended instructions (7396 vs. 5240, a 41.1% lead) and prime number finding (47 vs. 36, a 30.6% lead). Integer math shows a 22.5% advantage (34211 vs. 27925), while random string sorting is 17.5% ahead (12792 vs. 10889). Data compression comes in at 12.8% (104630 vs. 92767), and floating point math is closer at 2.2% (20126 vs. 19687).

The i3-1305U does have two meaningful wins, both in PassMark tests. Single-thread performance goes to the i3-1305U by 10.8% (3115 vs. 2778), and data encryption is 5% ahead (5895 vs. 5598). These are not trivial results. Encryption is often sensitive to newer instruction set support and memory behavior, and the single-thread score shows the i3-1305U can outperform in lightly threaded workloads despite losing most other tests. Still, the overall average benchmark score favors the i7-1185G7 at 11697 versus 11200, and the i7-1185G7 sits at the 67th percentile of all CPUs compared to the i3-1305U's 66th.

The nearest rivals in the database put both chips in similar company. The i7-1185G7 is 0.4% behind the Intel Core i7-4790K, 1.1% ahead of the Intel Xeon Gold 6342, and 1.8% behind both the AMD EPYC 7453 and the Intel Core i7-7700. The i3-1305U sits 0.1% ahead of the Intel Xeon Gold 6336Y, 0.2% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 5 3500U, 0.4% ahead of the AMD EPYC 7542, and 0.7% behind the AMD EPYC 7452. These deltas are small, so both chips land in a crowded performance tier, but the i7-1185G7 holds the higher position overall.

Where Each One Wins

The i7-1185G7 is the clear choice for multi-threaded productivity. It wins all three Cinebench multi-core tests, with the R23 score of 8416 versus 7183 representing the 17.2% gap. PassMark multithread also goes to the i7-1185G7 at 10115 versus 8747, a 15.6% margin. For anyone running renders, compiling code, or processing large batches of data, the i7-1185G7 is the stronger part. The physics score of 763 versus 523 makes this especially true for simulation work or any workload that relies on rigid body or particle calculations.

The i7-1185G7 also wins the workloads that matter for developers and analysts. Extended instructions at 7396 versus 5240 shows a 41.1% advantage for AVX-heavy or cryptography-heavy code. Integer math, random string sorting, and data compression all favor the i7-1185G7 by margins between 12.8% and 22.5%. Prime number finding, a classic CPU stress test, also goes to the i7-1185G7 by 30.6%. The only multi-threaded test where the i3-1305U pulls ahead is data encryption, where it scores 5895 against 5598, a 5% edge that could matter for full-disk encryption or VPN throughput.

The i3-1305U wins in single-threaded PassMark performance by 10.8%, and that is its strongest argument. A laptop with the i3-1305U will feel snappier in everyday apps that rely on one or two cores, such as web browsing, document editing, or light spreadsheet work. The 3115 single-thread score is genuinely higher than the i7-1185G7's 2778. However, the Cinebench single-core results tell the opposite story, with the i7-1185G7 ahead by 16.7% in R15 and 17.2% in both R20 and R23. The PassMark single-thread test uses a different mix of instructions, so the i3-1305U's win there does not translate to every single-core workload.

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from different generations and use different core configurations. The i7-1185G7 is built on Tiger Lake-U with Willow Cove cores, while the i3-1305U uses Raptor Lake-U with Raptor Cove performance cores. Both are manufactured on Intel's 10 nm process and both are made by Intel, but the design priorities differ significantly.

The i7-1185G7 has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the i3-1305U has 5 cores and 6 threads. The i3-1305U is a hybrid design, which is why it has more cores but fewer threads than the i7-1185G7. The i7-1185G7 instead uses symmetric hyper-threaded cores, giving it 8 threads from 4 physical cores. The thread count matters: the i7-1185G7 wins the multithreaded benchmarks despite having fewer physical cores.

Cache layouts are similar per core but different in total. Both chips have 80 KB of L1 per core and 1.25 MB of L2 per core. The L3 cache differs, with the i7-1185G7 carrying 12 MB shared versus 10 MB shared for the i3-1305U. That extra 2 MB of L3 helps the i7-1185G7 in cache-sensitive workloads like data compression and integer math, where it wins by double digits.

The i7-1185G7 has a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost of 4.80 GHz, with a 28 W TDP. The i3-1305U has a base clock of 1600.00 MHz and a boost of 4.50 GHz, with a 15 W TDP. The i3-1305U is the lower-power part, which makes sense for thinner laptops, but it also caps sustained performance. The i7-1185G7's higher TDP gives it more headroom for demanding workloads.

Memory support differs as well. The i7-1185G7 supports DDR4 and LPDDR4X, while the i3-1305U supports DDR4 and DDR5. Both use dual-channel memory, and neither supports ECC. PCIe connectivity also differs: the i7-1185G7 offers Gen 4 with 4 CPU lanes, while the i3-1305U offers Gen 4 with 8 CPU lanes. That doubling of PCIe lanes gives the i3-1305U more room for faster SSDs or external devices, though the i7-1185G7 makes up for it in raw compute.

The integrated graphics are different as well. The i7-1185G7 uses Iris Xe-LP Graphics G7 with 96 execution units, while the i3-1305U uses UHD Graphics with 64 execution units. The i7-1185G7 has the more capable GPU, which matters for media playback and light gaming, though the database does not include separate GPU benchmarks for comparison.

The i7-1185G7 uses socket Intel BGA 1449, while the i3-1305U uses Intel BGA 1744. The i7-1185G7 has a die size of 144 mm², while the i3-1305U has no recorded die size. The i7-1185G7 is end-of-life, while the i3-1305U is still an active production part. The i7-1185G7 launched in September 2020, and the i3-1305U launched in January 2023.

FAQ

Q: Which chip is faster in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Core i7-1185G7 scores 8416 versus 7183 for the i3-1305U, a 17.2% advantage.

Q: Does the i3-1305U win any benchmark?

A: Yes. It wins PassMark single-thread (3115 vs. 2778, a 10.8% lead) and PassMark data encryption (5895 vs. 5598, a 5% lead).

Q: Why does the i3-1305U have more cores but lose multithreaded tests?

A: The i3-1305U has 5 cores and 6 threads, while the i7-1185G7 has 4 cores and 8 threads. The i7-1185G7's hyper-threading provides more threads, and the i7-1185G7 also has a 28 W TDP versus 15 W for the i3-1305U, allowing higher sustained clocks.

Q: Which chip has more L3 cache?

A: The i7-1185G7 has 12 MB shared L3, while the i3-1305U has 10 MB shared L3.

Q: What is the largest benchmark margin between the two?

A: PassMark physics, where the i7-1185G7 leads by 45.9% (763 vs. 523).

Q: Are these chips comparable in overall performance?

A: The i7-1185G7 has an average benchmark score of 11697 and sits at the 67th percentile of all CPUs. The i3-1305U has an average score of 11200 and sits at the 66th percentile. The i7-1185G7 is ahead, but the gap is modest in overall terms.

Specification Differences

| Field | Intel Core i7-1185G7 | Intel Core i3-1305U |

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

| Cores | 4 | 5 |

| Threads | 8 | 6 |

| Base clock | 3.00 GHz | 1600.00 MHz |

| Boost clock | 4.80 GHz | 4.50 GHz |

| TDP | 28 W | 15 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1449 | Intel BGA 1744 |

| Architecture | Tiger Lake | Raptor Lake |

| Codename | Tiger Lake-U | Raptor Lake-U |

| Generation | Core i7 (Willow Cove-U) | Core i3 (Raptor Lake-U) |

| Die size | 144 mm² | Not recorded |

| L3 cache | 12 MB shared | 10 MB shared |

| Memory support | DDR4, LPDDR4X | DDR4, DDR5 |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 4 lanes (CPU only) | Gen 4, 8 lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated graphics | Iris Xe-LP Graphics G7 96EU | UHD Graphics 64EU |

| Production status | End-of-life | Active |

| Release date | 2020-09-01 | 2023-01-03 |

| Launch MSRP | $426 | $309 |

| Part number | SRK1F | SRMLT |

The Verdict

The data supports the i7-1185G7 for anyone who needs consistent multi-threaded performance. It wins 14 of the 17 head-to-head benchmarks, including every Cinebench test and the majority of PassMark workloads. The 45.9% margin in physics and the 41.1% margin in extended instructions make it the better choice for simulation, scientific computing, and instruction-heavy code. The 28 W TDP gives it the power headroom that the 15 W i3-1305U lacks, and the 12 MB of L3 cache helps in cache-sensitive tasks.

The i3-1305U is the better pick for systems where power efficiency and single-thread responsiveness matter more than raw throughput. Its 10.8% lead in PassMark single-thread and 5% lead in data encryption are real advantages, and the newer Raptor Lake architecture brings DDR5 memory support and double the CPU PCIe lanes. The lower TDP also makes it a better fit for fanless or ultraportable designs.

For the builder who wants maximum compute per drop-in mobile platform, the i7-1185G7 is the stronger part. The i3-1305U is a capable alternative for lighter workloads, but the benchmark record is clear: the i7-1185G7 holds the performance crown in almost every category that matters for demanding applications.