Intel Core i5-1135G7 vs Intel Core i5-8350U Comparison

Intel Core i5-1135G7 vs Intel Core i5-8350U: the newer Tiger Lake silicon wins every single benchmark in the comparison set, but the margin is not uniform. The headline average benchmark scores are nearly identical — 9053 for the i5-1135G7 versus 8998 for the i5-8350U, a delta of just 0.6% — yet that aggregate masks a systematic performance gap that grows dramatically in specific workloads. The i5-1135G7 takes 17 of 17 head-to-head tests, with deltas ranging from a modest 18.5% in random string sorting to a crushing 163.4% in data encryption. The data tells a clear story: the i5-8350U is competitive in aggregate only because the benchmark pool is weighted toward lighter tasks, while the i5-1135G7 pulls far ahead in sustained and specialized workloads.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most lopsided result is in PassMark data encryption, where the i5-1135G7 scores 5465 against the i5-8350U’s 2075 — a 163.4% advantage. That is not a marginal improvement; it is a generational leap in cryptographic throughput, likely reflecting the newer architecture’s integrated instructions. For any workload involving encryption, compression, or hashing, the i5-1135G7 is in a different class.

Cinebench results are uniformly strong for the i5-1135G7. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it posts 7909 versus 5173 for the i5-8350U, a 52.9% lead. The single-core R23 score tells the same story: 1116 against 730, also a 52.9% delta. The pattern repeats across R15 and R20, with multi-core deltas of 53% (797 vs 521 in R15) and 52.9% (3321 vs 2172 in R20). Single-core R15 shows a 53.4% gap (112 vs 73), the largest single-threaded delta in the Cinebench family. These numbers indicate the i5-1135G7’s clock advantage — 4.20 GHz boost versus 3.60 GHz — and its newer core design translate directly into rendering performance.

PassMark multi-thread results amplify the trend: the i5-1135G7 scores 9512 against 6129, a 55.2% lead. Integer math shows a 43% advantage (31814 vs 22244), while floating-point math is 43.2% ahead (19221 vs 13422). These are not small wins; they represent fundamental throughput differences in arithmetic-heavy code.

The narrowest margin is in random string sorting, where the i5-1135G7 leads by only 18.5% (12625 vs 10651). That task is often memory-latency bound, and the i5-8350U’s older memory controller keeps it relatively close. Still, even the “worst” result for the i5-1135G7 is a decisive win.

Data compression favors the newer chip by 29.6% (103380 vs 79781), and extended instructions by 41.3% (7406 vs 5243). Prime number finding shows a 78.9% gap (34 vs 19), and physics a 34.8% lead (577 vs 428). Single-thread PassMark is 32.3% higher (2640 vs 1996). Across the board, the i5-1135G7 wins by double digits, with only one test below 20%.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i5-1135G7, with an average benchmark score of 9053, versus 8998 for the i5-8350U. The delta is 0.6% in favor of the i5-1135G7.

Q: How large is the performance gap in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The i5-1135G7 scores 7909, while the i5-8350U scores 5173. That is a 52.9% advantage for the i5-1135G7.

Q: Is the i5-1135G7 better in single-threaded tasks?

A: Yes. In PassMark single-thread, it scores 2640 versus 1996, a 32.3% lead. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 1116 versus 730, a 52.9% lead.

Q: What is the biggest single benchmark difference between the two?

A: The largest delta is in PassMark data encryption, where the i5-1135G7 scores 5465 and the i5-8350U scores 2075 — a 163.4% difference.

Q: Do the two CPUs have the same core and thread counts?

A: Yes, both have 4 cores and 8 threads. The performance differences come from architecture, clocks, and cache, not core count.

Q: Which CPU has the higher boost clock?

A: The i5-1135G7 has a boost clock of 4.20 GHz, while the i5-8350U boosts to 3.60 GHz. The i5-8350U has a higher base clock at 1.70 GHz versus 1.50 GHz.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i5-1135G7 is the faster processor in every measured category. It wins all 17 head-to-head benchmarks, with deltas from 18.5% to 163.4%. For users prioritizing raw compute, rendering, encryption, or math-heavy workloads, the i5-1135G7 is the clear choice. Its average benchmark score of 9053 places it in the 65th percentile of all CPUs, matching the i5-8350U’s percentile, but the distribution of wins shows far more headroom in demanding tasks.

The i5-8350U is not without merit — it is still an active production part, and its 65th percentile ranking means it outperforms the majority of CPUs in the database. For light office work, web browsing, or legacy software, the 0.6% average score difference would be imperceptible. However, the i5-8350U loses every single benchmark to the i5-1135G7, and the losses are not close. Anyone choosing the i5-8350U over the i5-1135G7 would be accepting a significant performance penalty in exchange for an older, less capable architecture.

The i5-1135G7 also offers a more modern feature set, including PCIe Gen 4 support (4 lanes CPU-only) and a newer integrated GPU. For mobile users who need sustained performance, the i5-1135G7 is the only rational pick from this data. The i5-8350U might still be found in budget laptops, but the benchmark evidence shows it is decisively outclassed.

Specification Differences

The two CPUs differ in several key specifications. The i5-1135G7 uses an Intel BGA 1449 socket, while the i5-8350U uses Intel BGA 1356. The i5-1135G7 has a boost clock of 4.20 GHz versus 3.60 GHz for the i5-8350U, but the i5-8350U has a higher base clock at 1.70 GHz versus 1.50 GHz. Both are 15W TDP parts with 4 cores and 8 threads.

Cache configurations diverge significantly. The i5-1135G7 has 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and 8 MB shared L3. The i5-8350U has 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 6 MB shared L3. The i5-1135G7’s L2 cache is five times larger per core, which helps explain its superior performance in cache-sensitive workloads.

Memory support differs: the i5-1135G7 supports DDR4 and LPDDR4X in dual-channel mode, while the i5-8350U supports only DDR4. The i5-1135G7 features PCIe Gen 4 with 4 lanes (CPU only); the i5-8350U has no PCIe specification listed. Integrated graphics differ as well: the i5-1135G7 has Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EU, while the i5-8350U has UHD 620. The i5-1135G7’s launch MSRP was $309; the i5-8350U has no launch MSRP listed.

Architecture Differences

The i5-1135G7 is built on Tiger Lake architecture with the codename Tiger Lake-U, while the i5-8350U uses Kaby Lake with codename Kaby Lake-R. The process node is a major differentiator: the i5-1135G7 uses 10 nm technology, while the i5-8350U is on 14 nm. Both are fabricated by Intel, but the die sizes differ — the i5-1135G7 measures 144 mm² versus 123 mm² for the i5-8350U.

The generation labels reflect the architectural gap: the i5-1135G7 is listed as Core i5 (Willow Cove-U), while the i5-8350U is Core i5 (Kaby Lake-U Refresh). The i5-1135G7 was released on 2020-09-01 and is now end-of-life, whereas the i5-8350U was released on 2017-08-20 and remains in active production. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier, and both are mobile market segments.

The cache hierarchy differences are architectural, not just numerical. The i5-1135G7’s larger L1 (80 KB vs 64 KB per core) and much larger L2 (1.25 MB vs 256 KB per core) reflect a newer core design with deeper buffering. The i5-1135G7 also has 33% more L3 cache (8 MB vs 6 MB). The i5-8350U’s smaller caches and older 14 nm process explain its consistent underperformance, even at a higher base clock. The i5-1135G7’s newer memory controller supporting LPDDR4X further differentiates it from the i5-8350U’s DDR4-only support. These architectural changes — smaller process node, larger caches, newer memory support — collectively drive the 17-0 benchmark sweep.