Intel Core i5-10500 vs Intel Core i5-1155G7 Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i5-10500 has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Core i5-1155G7 has 4 cores and 8 threads.

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

A: The Intel Core i5-10500 scores 8686 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, which is 6.1% ahead of the Intel Core i5-1155G7's score of 8155.

Q: Which processor wins in Geekbench single-core testing?

A: The Intel Core i5-1155G7 wins decisively, scoring 1574 versus 1117 for the Intel Core i5-10500, a 40.9% advantage.

Q: What are the process nodes for each chip?

A: The Intel Core i5-1155G7 uses a 10 nm process, while the Intel Core i5-10500 is built on a 14 nm process.

Q: Do both processors support PCIe Gen 4?

A: No, only the Intel Core i5-1155G7 supports PCIe Gen 4 with 16 lanes. The Intel Core i5-10500 uses PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The Intel Core i5-1155G7 has a TDP of 28 watts, while the Intel Core i5-10500 has a TDP of 65 watts.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel generations and target different market segments. The Intel Core i5-1155G7 is a Tiger Lake-U mobile chip based on the Willow Cove microarchitecture, built on a 10 nm process. It is designed for laptops and ultraportables, with a socket type of Intel BGA 1449. The Intel Core i5-10500, by contrast, is a Comet Lake desktop processor using the older Skylake-derived core design, manufactured on a 14 nm process and installed in Intel Socket 1200.

The core count difference is fundamental: the i5-1155G7 offers 4 cores and 8 threads, while the i5-10500 offers 6 cores and 12 threads. This means the desktop part has 50% more physical cores and 50% more threads, which directly impacts multi-threaded workloads. Cache hierarchies also differ. The i5-1155G7 has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The i5-10500 has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and a larger 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The larger L3 on the desktop chip is notable, but the mobile chip has substantially more L2 per core.

Memory support diverges as well. The i5-1155G7 supports both DDR4 and LPDDR4X memory, while the i5-10500 supports only DDR4. Both use dual-channel memory buses. The i5-10500 lists a memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s, while the i5-1155G7 does not have a recorded bandwidth figure in the database. The integrated graphics differ significantly: the i5-1155G7 features Iris Xe-LP Graphics G7 with 80 execution units, whereas the i5-10500 uses the older UHD Graphics 630.

PCIe support is another differentiator. The i5-1155G7 offers PCIe Gen 4 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i5-10500 provides PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes. This gives the mobile chip a generational advantage in bandwidth for compatible devices. The production status for both is listed as Active, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a clear split between Cinebench and Geekbench results. In all six Cinebench tests, the Intel Core i5-10500 takes the win, with margins ranging from 6.0% to 6.5%. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-10500 scores 875 versus 822 for the i5-1155G7, a 6.1% lead. The single-core R15 test shows a 6.5% advantage for the desktop chip: 123 versus 115. Cinebench R20 multi-core gives the i5-10500 a 3648 score against the i5-1155G7's 3425, again a 6.1% difference. The R20 single-core test shows 514 versus 483, a 6% margin. Cinebench R23 multi-core repeats the pattern: 8686 versus 8155, 6.1% ahead. The R23 single-core test shows 1226 versus 1151, another 6.1% gap.

The picture reverses completely in Geekbench. The Intel Core i5-1155G7 wins Geekbench multi-core with a score of 4246 against 3381 for the i5-10500, a substantial 25.6% advantage. In Geekbench single-core, the margin grows even larger: 1574 versus 1117, a 40.9% lead for the mobile chip. These results indicate that the i5-1155G7's Willow Cove architecture delivers significantly stronger per-core performance in the Geekbench workload, while the i5-10500's additional cores give it the edge in Cinebench's rendering tasks.

The overall win count stands at 2 for the i5-1155G7 and 6 for the i5-10500 across the eight head-to-head tests. However, the magnitude of the Geekbench wins for the i5-1155G7 is much larger than the Cinebench wins for the i5-10500, which matters for interpreting average performance.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every major specification field. The core and thread counts are 4/8 for the i5-1155G7 versus 6/12 for the i5-10500. Base clocks differ: 2.50 GHz for the mobile chip versus 3.10 GHz for the desktop chip. Boost clocks are identical at 4.50 GHz for both. TDP is a major divergence, with the i5-1155G7 rated at 28 watts and the i5-10500 at 65 watts.

Socket types are incompatible: Intel BGA 1449 for the i5-1155G7 versus Intel Socket 1200 for the i5-10500. Architecture names differ (Tiger Lake versus Comet Lake), as do codenames (Tiger Lake-U versus Comet Lake) and generations (Willow Cove-U versus Comet Lake). Process nodes are 10 nm versus 14 nm. Die size is recorded only for the i5-1155G7 at 144 mm²; the i5-10500 has no recorded die size. L1 cache per core is 80 KB versus 64 KB, L2 cache per core is 1.25 MB versus 256 KB, and L3 cache is 8 MB shared versus 12 MB shared.

Memory support lists DDR4 and LPDDR4X for the i5-1155G7, versus DDR4 only for the i5-10500. Memory bandwidth is absent for the mobile chip but listed as 42.7 GB/s for the desktop chip. PCIe generations differ: Gen 4 versus Gen 3, both with 16 lanes. Integrated graphics are Iris Xe-LP Graphics G7 80EU versus UHD Graphics 630. Market segments are Mobile versus Desktop. Release dates differ: 2021-05-30 for the i5-1155G7 versus 2020-04-29 for the i5-10500. The i5-1155G7 has a launch MSRP of $309, while the i5-10500 has no recorded launch MSRP. Both have locked multipliers and active production status.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-10500 wins all Cinebench tests, which are rendering workloads that scale with core count and sustained multi-threaded performance. The 6-core, 12-thread configuration gives it a consistent 6% to 6.5% edge across R15, R20, and R23, both multi-core and single-core. The higher base clock of 3.10 GHz also contributes to its Cinebench single-core wins, where it beats the i5-1155G7 by 6.0% to 6.5%. For users running CPU rendering, video encoding, or other heavily threaded tasks that resemble the Cinebench workload, the data points to the i5-10500 as the stronger choice.

The Intel Core i5-1155G7 wins in Geekbench, which is a more varied workload mixing integer, floating-point, and memory operations. Its 40.9% single-core advantage and 25.6% multi-core advantage are far larger than any Cinebench margin for the i5-10500. This indicates that the Willow Cove architecture, with its 10 nm process and higher per-core efficiency, delivers superior performance in tasks that are not purely core-count dependent. The mobile chip also offers PCIe Gen 4 support and a more modern integrated GPU, which matters for systems using those capabilities.

The percentile rankings are nearly identical: the i5-1155G7 sits at the 49th percentile among all CPUs, while the i5-10500 sits at the 48th percentile. The average benchmark scores are 2496 for the i5-1155G7 and 2446 for the i5-10500. This means that despite losing six of eight head-to-head tests, the i5-1155G7 has a slightly higher average score overall, driven by the outsized Geekbench wins.

The Verdict

The data presents a nuanced picture. For desktop users who prioritize Cinebench-style rendering performance, the Intel Core i5-10500 is the clear winner. It delivers a 6.1% advantage in Cinebench R23 multi-core, a 6.0% edge in R20 single-core, and 6.5% in R15 single-core. Its 6 cores and 12 threads provide more parallel processing capacity, and its 12 MB of L3 cache is larger. The 65-watt TDP reflects a desktop-oriented design that assumes adequate cooling.

For users who value Geekbench performance, particularly single-core responsiveness, the Intel Core i5-1155G7 is the superior part. Its 40.9% single-core lead over the i5-10500 is substantial, and its 25.6% multi-core win in Geekbench shows that architectural efficiency can overcome a core count disadvantage. The 28-watt TDP makes it suitable for mobile systems, and the 10 nm process node indicates a more modern manufacturing technology. The i5-1155G7 also offers PCIe Gen 4 and a newer integrated GPU.

The choice ultimately depends on the target workload and platform. The i5-10500 is the pick for socketed desktop builds where multi-threaded rendering and sustained all-core loads are common. The i5-1155G7 is the pick for mobile devices or compact systems where power efficiency, single-core speed, and PCIe Gen 4 support matter more. The benchmark database shows that neither chip is universally dominant; the i5-1155G7 wins on average benchmark score (2496 versus 2446) and percentile rank (49 versus 48), but the i5-10500 wins the majority of direct comparisons. Each processor excels in the specific workloads where its design strengths align.