Intel Core i5-1130G7 vs Intel Core i7-7700T Comparison

The Intel Core i7-7700T and Intel Core i5-1130G7 are both 4-core, 8-thread processors, but they come from different generations and market segments. The recorded data shows a clear winner in Cinebench workloads: the i5-1130G7 outperforms the i7-7700T in every head-to-head test, despite having a much lower TDP and a mobile form factor. This analysis breaks down the benchmark results, architectural differences, and the practical implications of each chip's strengths.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The i5-1130G7 wins all six Cinebench comparisons, with margins ranging from 8.1% to 8.5%. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5 scores 706 against the i7's 646, a delta of -8.5% (meaning the i7 trails by 8.5%). The single-core R15 test shows 99 versus 91, a -8.1% gap. Moving to Cinebench R20, the i5 leads 2942 to 2692 in multi-core (-8.5%) and 415 to 380 in single-core (-8.4%). In Cinebench R23, the i5 again takes multi-core 7006 to 6410 (-8.5%) and single-core 989 to 905 (-8.5%). These are consistent, decisive wins for the i5 across every Cinebench version.

The i7-7700T does have recorded Geekbench scores: 3938 multi-core and 1248 single-core. The i5-1130G7 has no Geekbench result in the database, so no direct comparison is possible there. However, the Cinebench results are the only head-to-head data available, and they uniformly favor the i5.

Looking at overall average benchmark scores, the two CPUs are nearly identical. The i7-7700T averages 2039, while the i5-1130G7 averages 2026. Both sit at the 45th percentile of all CPUs. The i7's nearest rivals include the AMD Opteron 6386 SE (2038, +0.1%), the Intel Core i7-3960X (2037, +0.1%), and the Intel Xeon E3-1275 v5 (2043, -0.2%). The i5's nearest rivals are the Intel Core i5-1145GRE (2025, +0.1%), the Intel Xeon E3-1260L v5 (2029, -0.1%), and the Intel Xeon E3-1280 v5 (2029, -0.1%). This shows that in aggregate, the two chips are comparable, but the head-to-head Cinebench tests reveal a clear performance edge for the i5.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on different process nodes and architectures. The i7-7700T uses Intel's 14 nm process and the Kaby Lake architecture, while the i5-1130G7 uses the 10 nm process and the Tiger Lake architecture (specifically Tiger Lake-U, with Willow Cove cores). The i7 is a desktop part on Intel Socket 1151, whereas the i5 is a mobile part on Intel BGA 1598.

Cache configurations differ significantly. The i7 has 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, while the i5 has 96 KB of L1 and 1.25 MB of L2 per core. Both share 8 MB of L3 cache. The i5's larger L1 and L2 caches likely contribute to its higher single-thread performance.

Memory support also diverges. Both support DDR4 in dual-channel mode, but the i5 has a much higher memory bandwidth: 68.3 GB/s versus 38.4 GB/s for the i7. The i5 also uses PCIe Gen 4 with 16 lanes, while the i7 uses PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes. Integrated graphics differ as well: the i7 has HD 630, while the i5 has Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EU.

Clock speeds are notable. The i7 has a base clock of 2.90 and a boost clock of 3.80. The i5 has a base clock of 1100.00 and a boost clock of 4.00. The i5's boost clock is higher, but its base clock is far lower, reflecting its mobile, low-power design. The TDP tells the story: the i7 is rated at 35W, the i5 at 15W. The i5 achieves its performance advantage while consuming less than half the power.

Release dates are also far apart: the i7 launched on 2017-01-02, the i5 on 2020-09-01. The i7 has a part number of SR339, while the i5 has no recorded part number. Both are currently marked as Active in production.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i5-1130G7 has a boost clock of 4.00, while the Intel Core i7-7700T has a boost clock of 3.80.

Q: Which CPU has more L2 cache?

A: The i5-1130G7 has 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, compared to 256 KB per core on the i7-7700T.

Q: Which CPU has higher memory bandwidth?

A: The i5-1130G7 has a memory bandwidth of 68.3 GB/s, while the i7-7700T has 38.4 GB/s.

Q: Which CPU is more power efficient?

A: The i5-1130G7 has a TDP of 15W, while the i7-7700T has a TDP of 35W.

Q: Which CPU is designed for desktop systems?

A: The i7-7700T is a desktop processor on Intel Socket 1151, while the i5-1130G7 is a mobile processor on Intel BGA 1598.

Q: Which CPU has a newer process node?

A: The i5-1130G7 uses a 10 nm process, while the i7-7700T uses a 14 nm process.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i5-1130G7 wins every head-to-head Cinebench test, with margins of 8.1% to 8.5%. It achieves this while consuming only 15W of power, compared to the i7-7700T's 35W. The i5 also offers a higher boost clock, larger caches, higher memory bandwidth, and a newer process node. For any workload represented by Cinebench, the i5 is the better performer.

The i7-7700T does have a higher base clock (2.90 versus 1100.00) and is a desktop part, which may matter for systems that require a socketed CPU. It also has recorded Geekbench scores, but the i5 has no Geekbench result, so no comparison is possible. In the absence of any head-to-head win for the i7, the i5-1130G7 is the clear choice for raw performance in the tested benchmarks.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i7-7700T | Intel Core i5-1130G7 |

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

| Base Clock | 2.90 | 1100.00 |

| Boost Clock | 3.80 | 4.00 |

| TDP | 35W | 15W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1151 | Intel BGA 1598 |

| Architecture | Kaby Lake | Tiger Lake |

| Codename | Kaby Lake | Tiger Lake-U |

| Generation | Core i7 (Kaby Lake) | Core i5 (Willow Cove-U) |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 10 nm |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 96 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 256 KB (per core) | 1.25 MB (per core) |

| Memory Bandwidth | 38.4 GB/s | 68.3 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 4, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | HD 630 | Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EU |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Release Date | 2017-01-02 | 2020-09-01 |

| Part Number | SR339 | Not recorded |

Where Each One Wins

The i5-1130G7 wins all six recorded head-to-head Cinebench tests. It is ahead by 8.5% in R15 multi-core, 8.1% in R15 single-core, 8.5% in R20 multi-core, 8.4% in R20 single-core, 8.5% in R23 multi-core, and 8.5% in R23 single-core. These are the only direct benchmark comparisons available, and the i5 dominates every one.

The i7-7700T does not win any head-to-head benchmark. Its only recorded advantage is a higher base clock (2.90 versus 1100.00) and a desktop socket, which are not performance wins. The i7 also has Geekbench scores, but the i5 lacks a Geekbench result, so no comparison can be made. For users who need a socketed desktop CPU, the i7 is the only option, but for benchmark performance, the i5-1130G7 is the clear winner.