Intel Core i5-1145G7 vs Intel Core i7-4790K Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data presents an unusual generational conflict: the Intel Core i7-4790K is a desktop Haswell part from 2014, while the Intel Core i5-1145G7 is a mobile Tiger Lake-U chip from 2020. Despite the older processor's desktop pedigree and higher 88 W TDP, the newer mobile chip wins 14 of the 19 head-to-head comparisons. The Core i5-1145G7 takes every Cinebench test, including an 11.9% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core (7777 versus 6855) and an 11.9% lead in single-core (1098 versus 967). The Core i7-4790K counters with wins in Geekbench multi-core (4569 versus 4066, a 12.4% advantage), data compression (121722 versus 103172, an 18% lead), and random string sorting (16431 versus 12658, a 29.8% lead). For workloads dominated by Cinebench rendering, floating-point math, integer math, and encryption, the Core i5-1145G7 is the clear choice. For legacy software that stresses memory bandwidth, string sorting, or Geekbench multi-threaded workloads, the Core i7-4790K remains competitive despite its age. The data shows the mobile part's architectural advances outweigh its 28 W TDP limitation in most, but not all, scenarios.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design eras. The Intel Core i7-4790K uses the Haswell architecture on a 22 nm process with 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die. The Intel Core i5-1145G7 uses the Tiger Lake architecture, specifically Willow Cove-U, on a 10 nm process with a 144 mm² die size. Both parts have 4 cores and 8 threads, but the similarities end there. The Haswell chip features a 64 KB L1 cache per core and 256 KB L2 per core, while the Tiger Lake part has 80 KB L1 per core and a substantially larger 1.25 MB L2 per core. Both share 8 MB of L3 cache. The i7-4790K supports DDR3 memory over a dual-channel bus with 25.6 GB/s bandwidth, while the i5-1145G7 supports DDR4 and LPDDR4X over a dual-channel bus, with no bandwidth figure recorded. The i7-4790K offers PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, whereas the i5-1145G7 offers PCIe Gen 4 with only 4 lanes. The integrated graphics differ significantly: the i7-4790K pairs with Intel HD 4600, while the i5-1145G7 carries Iris Xe Graphics G7 with 80 execution units. The desktop part has an unlocked multiplier; the mobile part is locked. The i7-4790K uses the Intel Socket 1150 and the i5-1145G7 uses the Intel BGA 1449, making direct platform interchange impossible.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench results are uniformly in favor of the Core i5-1145G7. Across all three Cinebench versions and both single-core and multi-core tests, the mobile chip wins by 11.8% to 11.9%. Cinebench R15 multi-core shows 783 versus 690 (11.9% delta), R15 single-core shows 110 versus 97 (11.8% delta), R20 multi-core shows 3266 versus 2879 (11.8% delta), R20 single-core shows 461 versus 406 (11.9% delta), R23 multi-core shows 7777 versus 6855 (11.9% delta), and R23 single-core shows 1098 versus 967 (11.9% delta). This consistency suggests a fundamental per-clock efficiency advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk. The data indicates the Tiger Lake core design delivers roughly 12% better rendering performance across the board.

The Geekbench results split the two processors. The i7-4790K wins multi-core by 12.4% (4569 versus 4066), while the i5-1145G7 wins single-core by 7% (1463 versus 1361). This is a notable inversion: the older desktop chip maintains a multi-threaded Geekbench advantage despite losing every Cinebench multi-core test. The cause may lie in the different memory subsystems, with the DDR3 configuration of the i7-4790K and its higher TDP headroom playing a role in this specific benchmark.

PassMark results show a clear workload-dependent split. The i5-1145G7 wins data encryption by a massive 58.1% (5406 versus 2264), floating-point math by 24.1% (19233 versus 14597), integer math by 9.1% (32087 versus 29163), multithread by 14.7% (9452 versus 8062), physics by 3.5% (568 versus 548), and single-thread by 9.1% (2713 versus 2466). The i7-4790K wins data compression by 18% (121722 versus 103172), extended instructions by 4.8% (7579 versus 7235), find prime numbers by 3% (34 versus 33), and random string sorting by 29.8% (16431 versus 12658).

The encryption result deserves emphasis. The i5-1145G7 scores 5406 versus 2264, a delta of 58.1%, which is the largest margin in either direction across the entire test suite. This indicates a major architectural improvement in cryptographic instruction handling in the Tiger Lake generation. Similarly, the random string sorting result favors the i7-4790K by 29.8%, the largest win for the older chip, suggesting the Haswell memory controller or cache hierarchy handles this specific workload much better.

The average benchmark scores place the i7-4790K at 11745 and the i5-1145G7 at 11279, a difference of about 4%. The i7-4790K sits at the 67th percentile of all CPUs, while the i5-1145G7 sits at the 66th percentile. The nearest rivals for the i7-4790K include the Intel Core i7-1185G7 (0.4% higher average score), the AMD EPYC 7453 (1.4% higher), the Intel Core i7-7700 (1.4% higher), and the Intel Xeon Gold 6342 (1.5% lower). The i5-1145G7's nearest rivals include the AMD EPYC 7452 (exact tie at 0% delta), the AMD EPYC 7402 (0.3% lower), the AMD EPYC 73F3 (0.5% lower), and the Intel Core i3-1305U (0.7% higher). These tight margins show both processors are surrounded by capable competition, with neither occupying an isolated performance tier.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specifications. The i7-4790K has a base clock of 4.00 GHz, while the i5-1145G7 has a base clock of 2.60 GHz. Both reach a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. The i7-4790K has a TDP of 88 W, the i5-1145G7 a TDP of 28 W. The i7-4790K uses the Intel Socket 1150, the i5-1145G7 uses Intel BGA 1449. The i7-4790K is a Haswell part on 22 nm with 1,400 million transistors and a 177 mm² die; the i5-1145G7 is a Tiger Lake part on 10 nm with no transistor count recorded and a 144 mm² die. Cache levels differ: L1 is 64 KB per core on the i7-4790K versus 80 KB per core on the i5-1145G7, and L2 is 256 KB per core versus 1.25 MB per core. Both have 8 MB shared L3. Memory support differs: DDR3 for the i7-4790K, DDR4 and LPDDR4X for the i5-1145G7. The i7-4790K has 25.6 GB/s memory bandwidth recorded, the i5-1145G7 has none recorded. PCIe support differs: the i7-4790K offers Gen 3 with 16 lanes, the i5-1145G7 offers Gen 4 with 4 lanes. Integrated graphics are Intel HD 4600 versus Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EU. The i7-4790K targets the desktop market, the i5-1145G7 the mobile market. The i7-4790K has an unlocked multiplier, the i5-1145G7 does not. Part numbers are SR219 for the i7-4790K and SRK03 for the i5-1145G7. The i7-4790K launched with an MSRP of $350; the i5-1145G7 launched with an MSRP of $309. Both are end-of-life products. The i7-4790K released on 2014-04-30, the i5-1145G7 on 2020-09-01.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i7-4790K has an average benchmark score of 11745, while the Intel Core i5-1145G7 has 11279. The i7-4790K also holds a slightly higher percentile rank at 67 versus 66.

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

A: The Intel Core i5-1145G7 wins Cinebench R23 multi-core with a score of 7777 against the i7-4790K's 6855, a delta of 11.9% in favor of the mobile chip.

Q: Is there any benchmark where the i7-4790K wins by a large margin?

A: Yes, the i7-4790K wins PassMark random string sorting by 29.8% (16431 versus 12658) and data compression by 18% (121722 versus 103172). It also wins Geekbench multi-core by 12.4%.

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

A: The largest margin is in PassMark data encryption, where the i5-1145G7 scores 5406 against the i7-4790K's 2264, a delta of 58.1% in favor of the newer chip.

Q: Do both processors have the same core and thread counts?

A: Yes, both have 4 cores and 8 threads, but they differ in cache sizes: the i5-1145G7 has 80 KB L1 and 1.25 MB L2 per core, while the i7-4790K has 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core. Both share 8 MB of L3.

Q: Which processor supports faster PCIe?

A: The Intel Core i5-1145G7 supports PCIe Gen 4 with 4 lanes, while the Intel Core i7-4790K supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes. The mobile chip has the newer standard, but fewer lanes.

Q: How close are the nearest rivals in average score?

A: The i7-4790K's closest rival is the Intel Core i7-1185G7 at 0.4% higher average score, while the i5-1145G7's closest rival is the AMD EPYC 7452 at exactly 0% delta, a statistical tie.