Intel Core i5-1035G1 vs Intel Core i5-8350U Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher base clock speed?

A: The Intel Core i5-8350U has a base clock of 1700.00 MHz, while the Intel Core i5-1035G1 has a base clock of 1000.00 MHz. Both processors share the same 3.60 GHz boost clock.

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

A: The Intel Core i5-1035G1 scores 6062 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, which is 17.2% ahead of the Intel Core i5-8350U's score of 5173.

Q: Are there any benchmark categories where the Intel Core i5-8350U wins?

A: Yes, the Intel Core i5-8350U wins in PassMark physics with a score of 428 versus 423 (1.2% ahead) and in PassMark random string sorting with a score of 10651 versus 9782 (8.2% ahead).

Q: What is the process node difference between these two chips?

A: The Intel Core i5-1035G1 is built on Intel's 10 nm process, while the Intel Core i5-8350U uses the older 14 nm process. Both have a die size of 123 mm².

Q: Do both processors have the same core and thread configuration?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core i5-1035G1 and the Intel Core i5-8350U feature 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i5-1035G1 has an average benchmark score of 9684, compared to 8998 for the Intel Core i5-8350U. Both sit at the 65th percentile among all CPUs in the database.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-1035G1 takes the overwhelming majority of benchmark categories, winning 15 of the 17 head-to-head comparisons. Its dominance is most pronounced in data encryption, where it scores 4094 against 2075 for the i5-8350U, a 97.3% advantage. This suggests workloads involving cryptographic operations, such as disk encryption or secure communications, will see a substantial benefit from the newer architecture.

The i5-1035G1 also leads in integer math (26645 versus 22244, 19.8% ahead) and multi-threaded PassMark performance (7211 versus 6129, 17.7% ahead). These results indicate general productivity workloads, compilation tasks, and parallel processing scenarios all favor the Ice Lake part. The Cinebench suite confirms this pattern, with R15, R20, and R23 all showing roughly 17% advantages for the i5-1035G1 in both single-core and multi-core tests.

The Intel Core i5-8350U does hold two specific wins. Its PassMark random string sorting score of 10651 is 8.2% higher than the i5-1035G1's 9782, which may translate to an edge in certain sorting-heavy data manipulation tasks. It also edges out the i5-1035G1 in PassMark physics, 428 versus 423, a marginal 1.2% difference that falls within typical run-to-run variance.

For single-threaded responsiveness, the i5-1035G1 leads with a PassMark single-thread score of 2198 versus 1996, a 10.1% advantage. This matters for everyday application responsiveness, where most interactions depend on single-core performance.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent different generations of Intel mobile silicon. The Intel Core i5-1035G1 belongs to the Ice Lake family, specifically Ice Lake-U, and uses the Sunny Cove-U microarchitecture. It is manufactured on Intel's 10 nm process node. The Intel Core i5-8350U, by contrast, is a Kaby Lake-R part built on the 14 nm process with the Kaby Lake-U Refresh architecture.

Both chips share the same L2 cache structure at 256 KB per core and the same 6 MB shared L3 cache. The L1 cache differs, however. The i5-1035G1 has 80 KB per core, while the i5-8350U has 64 KB per core. This larger L1 cache on the newer chip likely contributes to its single-threaded performance advantage.

The integrated graphics also differ. The i5-1035G1 ships with UHD Graphics, while the i5-8350U includes UHD 620. Both are integrated solutions, but the Ice Lake part benefits from the newer graphics architecture.

The memory subsystem differs as well. The i5-1035G1 supports DDR4 memory over a dual-channel bus with a measured bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. The i5-8350U also supports DDR4, but the database does not record a memory bus configuration or bandwidth figure for it. The i5-1035G1 also lists PCIe Gen 3 support, while no PCIe generation is recorded for the older chip.

The sockets are different: the i5-1035G1 uses Intel BGA 1526, and the i5-8350U uses Intel BGA 1356. Both are mobile packages, and neither processor has an unlocked multiplier. The i5-1035G1 has part number SRGKGSRGKL, while the i5-8350U has part number SR3L9.

Specification Differences

The core specifications that differ between the two processors are as follows. The base clock is 1000.00 MHz on the i5-1035G1 versus 1700.00 MHz on the i5-8350U, though both boost to 3.60 GHz. The i5-1035G1 uses a 10 nm process node, while the i5-8350U uses 14 nm. The L1 cache is 80 KB per core on the i5-1035G1 versus 64 KB per core on the i5-8350U. The socket is BGA 1526 for the i5-1035G1 and BGA 1356 for the i5-8350U. The architecture is Ice Lake for the newer part and Kaby Lake for the older one. The integrated graphics are UHD Graphics on the i5-1035G1 and UHD 620 on the i5-8350U. The i5-1035G1 records a dual-channel memory bus with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth and PCIe Gen 3 support, while the i5-8350U does not have these fields recorded. The release dates differ, with the i5-8350U appearing earlier and the i5-1035G1 following later.

Shared specifications include 4 cores, 8 threads, 15 W TDP, 256 KB L2 per core, 6 MB shared L3, DDR4 memory support, no ECC support, mobile market segment, active production status, and a locked multiplier.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result in the head-to-head comparison is PassMark data encryption. The i5-1035G1 scores 4094, which is 97.3% higher than the i5-8350U's 2075. This near-doubling of encryption throughput is the largest relative gap between the two processors in any test. The newer Sunny Cove architecture likely includes improved cryptographic instruction handling, although the database does not specify the exact mechanism.

In Cinebench tests, the i5-1035G1 maintains a consistent advantage across all three versions. In R15 multi-core, it scores 611 versus 521, a 17.3% lead. In R15 single-core, the gap is 17.8% (86 versus 73). R20 multi-core shows 2546 versus 2172, a 17.2% lead, and R20 single-core shows 359 versus 306, also 17.3%. R23 multi-core shows 6062 versus 5173, a 17.2% lead, and R23 single-core shows 855 versus 730, a 17.1% lead. The consistency of this roughly 17% margin across all Cinebench versions indicates a uniform architectural efficiency improvement rather than a workload-specific advantage.

PassMark integer math favors the i5-1035G1 by 19.8% (26645 versus 22244). Floating point math shows a 15.4% lead (15483 versus 13422). PassMark multi-thread performance shows a 17.7% lead (7211 versus 6129). The i5-1035G1 also leads in PassMark single-thread performance by 10.1% (2198 versus 1996), in extended instructions by 5.4% (5524 versus 5243), and in data compression by 0.9% (80534 versus 79781). The two processors tie in PassMark find prime numbers with identical scores of 19.

The i5-8350U's wins are narrower and more isolated. Its random string sorting score of 10651 beats the i5-1035G1's 9782 by 8.2%. Its physics score of 428 beats 423 by 1.2%. These two categories do not offset the broad pattern of i5-1035G1 superiority across compute-intensive workloads.

In terms of nearest rivals in the database, the i5-1035G1's average score of 9684 places it 0.2% behind the Intel Core i7-3770, 1.6% ahead of the AMD EPYC 7402P, 2% ahead of the Intel Core i7-7700HQ, and 2.2% behind the Intel Core 3 N350. The i5-8350U's average score of 8998 places it 0.6% behind the Intel Core i5-1135G7, 0.7% ahead of the Intel Xeon Gold 6330, 0.7% ahead of the Intel Core i7-8650U, and 1.7% behind the Intel Xeon Gold 6346.

The Verdict

The data clearly favors the Intel Core i5-1035G1 for most users. It wins 15 of 17 head-to-head comparisons and holds a 7.6% advantage in average benchmark score (9684 versus 8998). For anyone running Cinebench-style rendering workloads, PassMark multi-threaded tests, integer or floating point math, or encryption-heavy tasks, the i5-1035G1 is the stronger choice. Its 97.3% lead in data encryption is particularly notable for security-conscious workloads.

The Intel Core i5-8350U retains relevance only in narrow scenarios. Its 8.2% lead in random string sorting could matter for applications that perform heavy text processing or certain database operations. Its 1.2% lead in physics is negligible and unlikely to be perceptible in practice. For users whose workloads center on these specific tasks, the older chip offers a measurable, if limited, advantage.

Both processors sit at the 65th percentile among all CPUs in the database, indicating comparable overall positioning. The i5-1035G1 achieves this with a newer 10 nm process, larger L1 cache, and higher memory bandwidth, while the i5-8350U relies on a higher base clock to stay competitive in certain latency-sensitive operations.

For general-purpose mobile computing, rendering, encryption, and multi-threaded productivity, the Intel Core i5-1035G1 is the recommended choice based on the recorded benchmarks. The Intel Core i5-8350U should only be selected when the specific sorting-heavy or physics workloads that favor it are the primary use case.