Intel Core i5-1038NG7 vs Intel Core i7-8809G Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a surprisingly consistent picture. Across seven of the eight recorded tests, the Intel Core i5-1038NG7 takes the win, and often by a margin that is larger than the specification sheet might suggest. The most decisive result comes from Geekbench multicore, where the i5-1038NG7 scores 4919 against the i7-8809G's 4590, a 7.2% advantage. That is the single largest gap in the entire comparison.

The Cinebench suite tells a similar story, though with narrower margins. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i5-1038NG7 records 750 points versus 724 for the i7-8809G, a 3.6% lead. The same 3.6% delta repeats in Cinebench R23 multicore (7441 versus 7185) and Cinebench R20 multicore (3125 versus 3017). The single-core Cinebench results follow the same pattern: R15 shows 105 versus 102 (2.9% ahead), R20 shows 441 versus 425 (3.8% ahead), and R23 shows 1050 versus 1014 (3.6% ahead).

The only bright spot for the i7-8809G comes in Geekbench single-core, where it scores 1401 against the i5-1038NG7's 1354. That is a 3.4% reversal, and it is the sole benchmark win for the older part. Interestingly, this single-core Geekbench victory does not translate into any Cinebench single-core win, which suggests the two benchmarks are measuring different aspects of the CPU's behavior under light-threaded loads.

Looking at the aggregate data, the i5-1038NG7 holds an average benchmark score of 2398 across all recorded tests, while the i7-8809G sits at 2307. The nearest rivals for the i5 include the Intel Xeon E5-2630L v3 (2409, just 0.5% higher) and the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 4450U (2413, 0.6% higher), placing it in a tightly contested mid-range cluster. The i7-8809G, meanwhile, sits near the Intel Core i5-10400H (2303, 0.2% lower) and the AMD Ryzen 7 2700 (2320, 0.6% higher). Both CPUs land at the 48th percentile of all CPUs in the database, meaning they occupy nearly identical positions in the overall performance distribution despite the head-to-head deltas favoring the i5.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmark comparisons?

A: The Intel Core i5-1038NG7 wins 7 out of 8 head-to-head benchmark tests against the Intel Core i7-8809G. The only test won by the i7-8809G is Geekbench single-core.

Q: How large is the multicore performance gap between the two?

A: In Geekbench multicore, the i5-1038NG7 leads by 7.2% (4919 versus 4590). In Cinebench multicore tests, the lead is consistently 3.6% across R15, R20, and R23.

Q: Does the i7-8809G have any advantage in single-core performance?

A: Yes, but only in Geekbench single-core, where it scores 1401 versus 1354 for the i5-1038NG7, a 3.4% advantage. In all three Cinebench single-core tests, the i5-1038NG7 actually wins by margins between 2.9% and 3.8%.

Q: How do these processors compare to their nearest rivals?

A: The i5-1038NG7 sits within 0.9% of its nearest rivals, with the Intel Xeon E5-2630L v3 slightly ahead and the Intel Core i7-9850HE slightly behind. The i7-8809G sits within 1.1% of its nearest rivals, with the Intel Xeon E5-2629 v3 slightly ahead and the Intel Core i5-10400H slightly behind.

Q: What are the power consumption differences?

A: The i5-1038NG7 has a TDP of 28 watts, while the i7-8809G has a TDP of 65 watts. The i5 draws less than half the thermal envelope of the i7.

Q: Which processor was released more recently?

A: The i5-1038NG7 was released on May 3, 2020, while the i7-8809G was released on January 31, 2018. The i5 is the newer part by over two years.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two mobile processors is substantial. The i5-1038NG7 is built on Ice Lake, specifically the Ice Lake-U codename, using a 10 nm process node from Intel. The i7-8809G, by contrast, uses the older Kaby Lake architecture with the Kaby Lake-G codename on a 14 nm process. This process shrink from 14 nm to 10 nm is likely a major factor in the i5's ability to deliver higher benchmark scores while operating at a much lower TDP.

The die size also differs significantly. The i5-1038NG7 has a die size of 123 mm², while the i7-8809G does not have a recorded die size in the database. The i5's smaller process node allows more transistors in a compact area, though the database does not list transistor counts for either part.

Cache hierarchies diverge as well. The i5-1038NG7 allocates 80 KB of L1 cache per core, while the i7-8809G uses 64 KB per core. Both share 256 KB of L2 per core. The L3 cache favors the i7-8809G, which has 8 MB shared, versus 6 MB shared on the i5. This larger L3 on the older part does not appear to translate into benchmark wins, suggesting that the i5's architectural efficiency compensates for the smaller shared cache.

The integrated graphics represent a stark contrast. The i5-1038NG7 pairs with Iris Plus graphics, while the i7-8809G ships with a Radeon RX Vega M GH. The database does not list graphics benchmark scores, so the relative GPU performance cannot be quantified here, but the presence of a discrete-class Vega GPU on the i7 suggests a very different target use case.

Both processors use DDR4 memory, but the i5-1038NG7 specifies a dual-channel memory bus with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth. The i7-8809G does not have memory bus or bandwidth fields recorded in the database, leaving that comparison incomplete.

Specification Differences

The two CPUs differ on several key specification fields. Clock speeds are a notable divergence: the i5-1038NG7 has a base clock of 2000 MHz and a boost clock of 3.80 GHz, while the i7-8809G runs at 3100 MHz base and boosts to 4.20 GHz. The i7 has a clear frequency advantage on paper, yet the i5 still wins the majority of benchmarks, pointing to IPC improvements in the newer Ice Lake architecture.

Thermal design power is another major differentiator. The i5-1038NG7 is rated at 28 watts TDP, while the i7-8809G consumes 65 watts. This means the i5 delivers superior benchmark results in most tests while requiring less than half the thermal headroom.

The socket types differ: the i5-1038NG7 uses Intel BGA 1344, while the i7-8809G uses Intel BGA 2270. These are not interchangeable platforms, so users are locked into one or the other based on motherboard design.

Process node and architecture are already covered above, but the generation labels also differ: the i5 is listed as "Core i5 (Sunny Cove-U)" while the i7 is "Core i7 (Kaby Lake-G)". The production status shows the i5 is end-of-life, while the i7 is still marked as active in the database. The i5 has a recorded launch MSRP of $320; the i7 has no launch MSRP listed.

The i5 has a part number (SRG0V) recorded, while the i7 does not. Both processors have locked multipliers, so neither supports user overclocking through multiplier adjustment. Neither supports ECC memory. The PCIe generation is listed only for the i5 (Gen 3); the i7 has no PCIe field recorded.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear overall winner: the Intel Core i5-1038NG7. It wins 7 of 8 benchmark comparisons, achieves a higher average benchmark score (2398 versus 2307), and does so while consuming only 28 watts TDP versus 65 watts for the i7-8809G. The i5 also comes from a newer architecture (Ice Lake, 10 nm) and a newer release date (May 2020 versus January 2018).

The i7-8809G's sole victory in Geekbench single-core (1401 versus 1354) is real but isolated. It does not carry over to any Cinebench single-core test, and the margin of 3.4% is not enough to offset the i5's consistent multicore advantages.

The i5's nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon E5-2630L v3 (0.5% higher average score) and the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 4450U (0.6% higher), placing it in competitive company. The i7-8809G's nearest rival is the Intel Xeon E5-2629 v3 at 1.1% higher average score. Both parts sit at the 48th percentile of all CPUs, so neither is a standout in the broader database, but within this matchup, the i5 is the better engineering.

For buyers constrained by the data alone, the i5-1038NG7 is the superior choice for almost every workload measured. The only scenario where the i7-8809G looks preferable is if Geekbench single-core performance is the sole priority, and even then, the margin is slim.

Where Each One Wins

The i5-1038NG7 wins in all multicore scenarios. Geekbench multicore shows its largest advantage at 7.2%, while Cinebench multicore tests consistently show 3.6% leads. This makes the i5 the stronger option for rendering, compilation, and any workload that scales across multiple cores. Its single-core Cinebench wins (2.9% to 3.8%) further solidify its position for general productivity and lightly threaded applications.

The i7-8809G wins only in Geekbench single-core, with a 3.4% edge over the i5. This specific benchmark result suggests the i7 retains some advantage in workloads that Geekbench's single-core test emphasizes, possibly related to its higher boost clock of 4.20 GHz versus 3.80 GHz. However, the fact that Cinebench single-core tests all favor the i5 indicates that this advantage is benchmark-specific, not universal.

The i5 also wins on efficiency. With a 28-watt TDP versus 65 watts for the i7, the i5 delivers better or equal performance while generating far less heat. This makes it the better fit for thin-and-light mobile designs where thermal management is critical.

The i7-8809G's integrated Radeon RX Vega M GH graphics represent its most distinctive feature, though the database provides no graphics benchmarks to quantify this advantage. For workloads that leverage GPU compute or gaming, the i7 may hold an edge that the CPU benchmarks do not capture. But on pure CPU performance, the database records seven wins for the i5 and one for the i7, making the verdict unambiguous.