Intel Core i5-1035G4 vs Intel Core i7-4940MX Comparison

The Verdict

The data presents a clear and consistent picture: the Intel Core i5-1035G4 outperforms the Intel Core i7-4940MX across every recorded benchmark. In the head-to-head comparison, the i5-1035G4 claims 6 wins out of 6 contests, while the i7-4940MX secures none. The margin is uniform, with the i5-1035G4 leading by 10.5% in most Cinebench tests and 11% in Cinebench R15 single-core. Despite the i7-4940MX carrying the Extreme branding and a much higher launch MSRP of $1096, the recorded data does not favor it in any workload.

The i7-4940MX is an end-of-life product with a 43rd percentile ranking across all CPUs, while the i5-1035G4 sits just below at the 42nd percentile. Their average benchmark scores are close, 1886 for the i7 and 1861 for the i5, but the i5 achieves this with a substantially lower 15 W TDP compared to the i7's 57 W. For users prioritizing raw performance per watt, the i5-1035G4 is the clear choice. For those constrained to the Intel Socket G3 platform, the i7-4940MX remains the only option among these two, but the data suggests it is the weaker performer in every measured category.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural eras. The i7-4940MX is built on the Haswell architecture using a 22 nm process node, with a die size of 177 mm² and 1,400 million transistors. The i5-1035G4 uses the Ice Lake architecture, specifically the Ice Lake-U codename, on a 10 nm process node with a smaller die size of 123 mm². The transistor count for the i5 is not recorded in the database.

The i7-4940MX belongs to the Core i7 Extreme (Haswell) generation and features an unlocked multiplier, allowing overclocking. The i5-1035G4 is from the Core i5 (Sunny Cove-U) generation and has a locked multiplier. The i7 uses Intel Socket G3, while the i5 uses Intel BGA 1526, meaning they are not socket-compatible.

Cache configurations differ as well. The i7-4940MX has 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 per core, with 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The i5-1035G4 has 80 KB of L1 per core and 256 KB of L2 per core, but only 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The i5 actually has more L1 cache per core, while the i7 has more total L3 cache.

Memory support diverges: the i7-4940MX supports DDR3 with dual-channel memory and a bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s, while the i5-1035G4 supports DDR4 with dual-channel memory and a bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. The i5 effectively doubles the memory bandwidth. PCIe support also differs: the i7 lists Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i5 lists simply Gen 3 without lane count details.

Integrated graphics differ: the i7-4940MX includes Intel HD 4600, while the i5-1035G4 ships with Iris Plus. The i5 also has a significantly lower base clock of 1100.00 MHz compared to the i7's 3.10 GHz, but the boost clocks are closer, 3.70 GHz for the i5 versus 4.00 GHz for the i7.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i7-4940MX has an average benchmark score of 1886, while the Intel Core i5-1035G4 has an average of 1861. The difference is only 25 points, roughly 1.3%.

Q: Does the i7-4940MX win any benchmark against the i5-1035G4?

A: No. In the head-to-head comparison, the i5-1035G4 wins all 6 recorded benchmarks. The i7-4940MX has 0 wins, and the i5 has 6 wins.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two chips?

A: The i7-4940MX has a TDP of 57 W, while the i5-1035G4 has a TDP of 15 W. The i5 uses significantly less power according to the recorded specifications.

Q: Are these processors socket compatible?

A: No. The i7-4940MX uses Intel Socket G3, and the i5-1035G4 uses Intel BGA 1526. They are not interchangeable.

Q: Which chip has more L3 cache?

A: The i7-4940MX has 8 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i5-1035G4 has 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The i7 has 2 MB more L3 cache.

Q: What is the production status of each processor?

A: The i7-4940MX is end-of-life, while the i5-1035G4 is active. The i7 was released on 2014-01-19, and the i5 was released on 2019-07-31.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i7-4940MX | Intel Core i5-1035G4 |

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

| Base Clock | 3.10 GHz | 1100.00 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.00 GHz | 3.70 GHz |

| TDP | 57 W | 15 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket G3 | Intel BGA 1526 |

| Architecture | Haswell | Ice Lake |

| Codename | Haswell | Ice Lake-U |

| Process Node | 22 nm | 10 nm |

| Die Size | 177 mm² | 123 mm² |

| Transistors | 1,400 million | Not recorded |

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

| L2 Cache | 256 KB (per core) | 256 KB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 8 MB (shared) | 6 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR3 | DDR4 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 25.6 GB/s | 51.2 GB/s |

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

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 4600 | Iris Plus |

| Multiplier Unlocked | Yes | No |

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

| Release Date | 2014-01-19 | 2019-07-31 |

| Launch MSRP | $1096 | Not recorded |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data is remarkably consistent. The i5-1035G4 leads by 10.5% in five of the six recorded tests, and by 11% in one test. There is no single test where the i7-4940MX pulls ahead.

In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i5-1035G4 scores 648 against the i7's 580, a 10.5% advantage. The single-core test shows 91 versus 81, an 11% lead for the i5. These scores indicate the i5 delivers better per-thread performance despite its lower boost clock of 3.70 GHz versus 4.00 GHz.

The Cinebench R20 results mirror this pattern. Multicore: 2703 for the i5 versus 2418 for the i7, again a 10.5% delta. Single-core: 381 versus 341, also 10.5%. The consistency of this margin across both multi-threaded and single-threaded workloads suggests the architectural efficiency of Ice Lake, with its 10 nm process and newer core design, offsets the i7's higher clock speeds.

Cinebench R23 continues the trend. The i5 scores 6436 in multicore against 5759 for the i7, a 10.5% difference. In single-core, the i5 records 908 while the i7 manages 813, also a 10.5% gap. These are the most recent Cinebench versions in the database, and they confirm the same relative standing.

The Geekbench results are only available for the i7-4940MX, which scores 3869 in multicore and 1227 in single-core. The i5-1035G4 has no recorded Geekbench scores in the database, so a direct comparison for that suite is not possible. However, the Cinebench results are sufficient to establish the i5's dominance.

Looking at the i7-4940MX's nearest rivals, it sits within 0.3% of the Intel Xeon D-1531, Xeon E3-1270L v4, Xeon E3-1558L v5, and Intel Processor U300. The i5-1035G4's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i3-9350K at 0.3% higher, the Xeon E5-1630 v4 at 0.4% higher, the Core i5-7600 at 0.9% lower, and the Xeon E3-1545M v5 at 0.9% higher. These rival comparisons place both chips in the same performance tier, but the head-to-head results favor the i5 in every direct test.

The i7-4940MX's 57 W TDP does not translate into a performance advantage over the 15 W i5-1035G4. In fact, the lower-power chip wins every benchmark. The i7's only advantages are its higher boost clock, larger L3 cache, and unlocked multiplier, but none of these translate into a benchmark win in the recorded data. The i5-1035G4, despite its lower clocks and smaller cache, achieves superior results across all Cinebench tests, likely due to the newer architecture and higher memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s versus 25.6 GB/s.