Intel Core i5-1035G7 vs Intel Core i7-1180G7 Comparison

The Intel Core i5-1035G7 and Intel Core i7-1180G7 are both 4-core, 8-thread mobile processors, but they belong to different architectural generations and target different power envelopes. Benchmark data shows the older i5-1035G7 edges out the newer i7-1180G7 across every tested Cinebench workload, though the margins are consistently narrow. The i5-1035G7 achieves an average benchmark score of 1948, placing it at the 44th percentile of all CPUs, while the i7-1180G7 scores 1930, sitting at the 43rd percentile. Both chips are closely matched in raw compute, but their architectural and platform differences—ranging from cache hierarchy to memory support and PCIe generation—make them suited to different system designs.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are remarkably uniform, with the Intel Core i5-1035G7 winning all six Cinebench comparisons. In the Cinebench R15 multicore test, the i5-1035G7 scores 678 against the i7-1180G7’s 672, a 0.9% lead. The single-core R15 test shows a similar pattern: 95 versus 94, a 1.1% advantage. Moving to Cinebench R20, the i5-1035G7 posts 2829 multicore and 399 single-core, while the i7-1180G7 trails at 2802 and 395, respectively, with a 1% delta in both. The Cinebench R23 results continue the trend: 6736 versus 6672 in multicore and 951 versus 942 in single-core, again a 1% gap.

The consistency of these margins is notable. Every test shows the i5-1035G7 ahead by roughly 1%, regardless of whether the workload is single-threaded or fully multithreaded. This suggests the performance difference is not workload-specific but rather a fundamental, if small, advantage in execution efficiency. The i5-1035G7’s boost clock is lower at 3.70 GHz compared to the i7-1180G7’s 4.60 GHz, yet it still manages to win, indicating that architectural efficiency or sustained power delivery plays a larger role than peak frequency in these benchmarks. For context, the i5-1035G7’s nearest rival is the Intel Xeon E3-1230 v5 with a delta of just 0.1%, while the i7-1180G7 sits exactly level with the AMD Opteron 6348 and within 0.4% of the Intel Core i3-10305T.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i5-1035G7 has an average benchmark score of 1948, while the Intel Core i7-1180G7 scores 1930. The i5-1035G7 also holds a higher percentile ranking at 44th versus the i7-1180G7’s 43rd.

Q: Are there any Cinebench tests where the i7-1180G7 wins?

A: No. Across all six head-to-head Cinebench tests—R15, R20, and R23 in both single-core and multicore—the i5-1035G7 wins every round. The closest margin is the R15 multicore test at 0.9%, and the widest is the R15 single-core at 1.1%.

Q: How do the cache configurations differ between the two chips?

A: The i5-1035G7 has 256 KB of L2 cache per core and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The i7-1180G7 features a much larger 1.25 MB L2 cache per core and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. Both have 80 KB of L1 cache per core.

Q: What are the power consumption differences?

A: The i5-1035G7 has a TDP of 15 watts, while the i7-1180G7 is rated at a significantly lower 9 watts. This makes the i7-1180G7 a more power-efficient part on paper, despite its lower benchmark scores.

Q: Do these processors support the same memory types?

A: No. The i5-1035G7 supports DDR4 memory with a dual-channel bus and a bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. The i7-1180G7 supports LPDDR4X memory, also dual-channel, but with a lower bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s.

Q: What is the production status of each chip?

A: The i5-1035G7 is listed as "Active" in production, while the i7-1180G7 is marked as "End-of-life." The i5-1035G7 was released on 2019-07-31, and the i7-1180G7 followed on 2021-03-30.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-1035G7 wins in every benchmark category tested, making it the clear choice if raw Cinebench performance is the sole criterion. Its 6 wins out of 6 head-to-head comparisons give it a perfect record. The largest advantage comes in the Cinebench R15 single-core test, where it leads by 1.1%, and the smallest in the R15 multicore test at 0.9%. For users running rendering or CPU-bound workloads that scale with Cinebench scores, the i5-1035G7 is the more capable part.

The Intel Core i7-1180G7, despite losing every benchmark, has its own strengths that are not captured by Cinebench. Its 9-watt TDP is substantially lower than the i5-1035G7’s 15 watts, making it more suitable for fanless or ultra-thin designs where thermal headroom is scarce. It also offers a larger L3 cache (12 MB versus 6 MB) and a bigger L2 cache per core (1.25 MB versus 256 KB), which could benefit workloads with high cache reuse that are not represented in the Cinebench suite. Additionally, the i7-1180G7 supports PCIe Gen 4 with 4 CPU lanes, whereas the i5-1035G7 is limited to PCIe Gen 3. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking is not a differentiator.

Specification Differences

The two processors diverge on several key specifications beyond their benchmark scores. The i5-1035G7 has a base clock of 1200 MHz and a boost clock of 3.70 GHz, while the i7-1180G7 runs at 1300 MHz base and 4.60 GHz boost. The i7-1180G7’s higher clocks are offset by its lower 9-watt TDP compared to the i5-1035G7’s 15 watts. Their sockets differ: the i5-1035G7 uses Intel BGA 1526, and the i7-1180G7 uses Intel BGA 1598. Memory support is also distinct—DDR4 for the i5-1035G7 versus LPDDR4X for the i7-1180G7—with the i5-1035G7 offering higher bandwidth at 51.2 GB/s versus 34.1 GB/s.

The integrated graphics are different as well: the i5-1035G7 pairs with Iris Plus graphics, while the i7-1180G7 includes Iris Xe-LP Graphics G7 96EU. The PCIe interface moves from Gen 3 on the i5-1035G7 to Gen 4 with 4 CPU-only lanes on the i7-1180G7. The die size grows from 123 mm² on the i5-1035G7 to 144 mm² on the i7-1180G7. Finally, the part numbers differ (SRGKJ for the i5-1035G7, SRK0D for the i7-1180G7), and the i7-1180G7 has a launch MSRP of $426, while the i5-1035G7 has no listed launch MSRP.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two chips is significant. The i5-1035G7 is built on the Ice Lake architecture, specifically the Ice Lake-U codename, using the Sunny Cove microarchitecture for its Core i5 generation. It is manufactured on Intel’s 10 nm process with a 123 mm² die. The i7-1180G7, in contrast, uses the Tiger Lake architecture with a Tiger Lake-U codename and the Willow Cove microarchitecture for its Core i7 generation. It is also on a 10 nm process but has a larger 144 mm² die.

Cache hierarchy differences are substantial. Both chips share 80 KB of L1 cache per core, but the L2 cache jumps from 256 KB per core on the i5-1035G7 to 1.25 MB per core on the i7-1180G7. The L3 cache doubles from 6 MB shared on the i5-1035G7 to 12 MB shared on the i7-1180G7. These larger caches on the i7-1180G7 likely contribute to its ability to reach higher boost clocks at a lower TDP, but they do not translate into higher Cinebench scores in this data set. Memory bandwidth is lower on the i7-1180G7 (34.1 GB/s versus 51.2 GB/s), which could offset some of the cache advantages in memory-bound workloads.

The i7-1180G7 also moves to a newer PCIe generation (Gen 4 versus Gen 3), but it is limited to 4 CPU-only lanes, which may restrict expansion options compared to the i5-1035G7’s full Gen 3 implementation. Both chips lack ECC memory support and have locked multipliers. The production statuses also differ, with the i5-1035G7 still active and the i7-1180G7 end-of-life.

The Verdict

The data points to the Intel Core i5-1035G7 as the better performer in Cinebench tests, with a clean sweep across all six comparisons and a higher average benchmark score (1948 versus 1930). It also holds a higher percentile ranking (44th versus 43rd). For users prioritizing raw CPU throughput in rendering or multi-threaded applications, the i5-1035G7 is the safer choice, especially given its active production status and higher memory bandwidth.

However, the Intel Core i7-1180G7 is not without merit. Its 9-watt TDP makes it far more appealing for ultra-portable, passively cooled designs where the i5-1035G7’s 15-watt TDP would be prohibitive. The larger L2 and L3 caches could provide benefits in specific workloads that are not captured by Cinebench, and the PCIe Gen 4 support offers newer connectivity. Its end-of-life status, though, is a concern for long-term availability.

Choose the i5-1035G7 if benchmark performance and memory bandwidth are your priorities, and you need a chip that is still in production. Choose the i7-1180G7 if you are designing a power-constrained system and can accept a small performance deficit in exchange for lower TDP and newer PCIe support. Given the i7-1180G7’s launch MSRP of $426, it is positioned as a premium low-power part, but the benchmark data does not justify that positioning on performance alone. The i5-1035G7 wins outright in compute, and the i7-1180G7 wins only in efficiency and platform features.