Intel Core i5-1145GRE vs Intel Core i7-7700T Comparison

The Verdict

The Intel Core i5-1145GRE is the clear performance winner in this comparison. Across all six recorded benchmark comparisons, the Tiger Lake mobile chip outperforms the older Kaby Lake desktop processor. The data shows a consistent lead of roughly 8% in both single-core and multi-core workloads. The i7-7700T, despite its desktop positioning and higher TDP, cannot match the architectural efficiency of its newer rival. For any workload where raw benchmark scores matter, the i5-1145GRE is the superior choice. The i7-7700T retains relevance only in scenarios where its desktop socket, specific platform compatibility, or its integrated HD 630 graphics are required. The benchmark record is unambiguous: six wins for the i5-1145GRE, zero for the i7-7700T.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent distinct generational leaps for Intel. The i7-7700T is built on the Kaby Lake architecture using a 14 nm process node, while the i5-1145GRE uses the newer Tiger Lake architecture, specifically the Willow Cove-U core design, on a 10 nm node. This process shrink is a fundamental differentiator. The i7-7700T is a desktop part on the Intel Socket 1151, whereas the i5-1145GRE is a mobile processor on the Intel BGA 1449 socket. The die size for the i5-1145GRE is recorded at 144 mm², while no die size is listed for the i7-7700T in the database.

Cache configurations also differ. The i7-7700T provides 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, with 8 MB of shared L3. The i5-1145GRE offers a larger 80 KB L1 and a substantially larger 1.25 MB L2 per core, while keeping the same 8 MB shared L3. The larger per-core L2 on the newer chip is a likely contributor to its performance advantage in latency-sensitive tasks. Memory support differs as well: the i7-7700T supports DDR4 with dual-channel memory and a recorded bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, while the i5-1145GRE supports both DDR4 and LPDDR4X, also dual-channel, but its memory bandwidth is not recorded in the database. The i5-1145GRE supports ECC memory, a feature absent on the i7-7700T.

PCIe capabilities are another generational divide. The i7-7700T uses PCIe Gen 3 with 16 CPU lanes, while the i5-1145GRE uses the newer PCIe Gen 4 standard but with only 4 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics differ significantly: the i7-7700T pairs with HD 630, while the i5-1145GRE includes Iris Xe Graphics G7 with 80 execution units. The release dates are far apart, with the i7-7700T launching in early 2017 and the i5-1145GRE arriving in late 2020.

Where Each One Wins

Based strictly on the recorded head-to-head benchmarks, the i5-1145GRE wins every category. It outperforms the i7-7700T in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, for both single-core and multi-core tests. The deltas are consistent, ranging from an 8.1% advantage in Cinebench R15 single-core to an 8.4% advantage in several multi-core tests. This uniformity suggests that the i5-1145GRE's architectural superiority is not workload-specific but applies broadly across rendering and processing tasks.

The i7-7700T does not win any benchmark in the head-to-head data. However, the database shows that both processors occupy the same overall percentile ranking of 45 among all CPUs, and their average benchmark scores are very close: 2039 for the i7-7700T versus 2025 for the i5-1145GRE. This indicates that while the i5-1145GRE wins the direct comparisons, the broader performance profile of the two chips places them in a similar tier. The i7-7700T's nearest rivals include the AMD Opteron 6386 SE, Intel Core i7-3960X, and AMD Ryzen 5 4500U, while the i5-1145GRE sits near the Intel Core i5-1130G7 and several Xeon E3 parts. In practical terms, the i5-1145GRE is the better choice for processing performance, while the i7-7700T's only advantage lies in its desktop platform features, such as the larger PCIe lane count of 16 versus 4.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core workloads?

A: The Intel Core i5-1145GRE is faster in every recorded multi-core test. It scores 7001 versus 6410 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, 2940 versus 2692 in R20, and 705 versus 646 in R15, with an 8.4% advantage in each case.

Q: How do the two chips compare in single-core performance?

A: The i5-1145GRE also leads in single-core tests. It scores 988 versus 905 in Cinebench R23 single-core, 414 versus 380 in R20, and 99 versus 91 in R15, representing an 8.1% to 8.4% lead.

Q: Do both processors have the same number of cores and threads?

A: Yes, both have 4 cores and 8 threads. The performance difference comes from architectural and clock improvements, not core count.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The i5-1145GRE has a boost clock of 4.10 GHz, while the i7-7700T boosts to 3.80 GHz. The base clocks are also very different, with the i7-7700T at 2.90 GHz and the i5-1145GRE listed at 1500.00 MHz (1.50 GHz).

Q: Is the i7-7700T a desktop processor and the i5-1145GRE a mobile processor?

A: Yes, the database lists the i7-7700T as a desktop part on the Intel Socket 1151, while the i5-1145GRE is a mobile part on the Intel BGA 1449 socket.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The i5-1145GRE supports ECC memory, while the i7-7700T does not.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data provides a complete picture of the performance gap. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-1145GRE scores 705 against the i7-7700T's 646, a delta of -8.4% from the perspective of the i7-7700T. The single-core R15 result is tighter but still favors the newer chip: 99 versus 91, an 8.1% difference. Moving to Cinebench R20, the multi-core score of 2940 for the i5-1145GRE versus 2692 for the i7-7700T maintains the same 8.4% gap. The R20 single-core test shows 414 versus 380, an 8.2% advantage.

The Cinebench R23 results confirm the pattern. In the multi-core test, the i5-1145GRE reaches 7001, while the i7-7700T posts 6410, again an 8.4% difference. The R23 single-core test shows 988 versus 905, also an 8.4% gap. Across all six comparisons, the i5-1145GRE wins by a margin that never dips below 8.1%. This consistency is notable. It suggests that the newer Willow Cove architecture delivers a uniform uplift across different rendering workloads and thread counts. The i7-7700T, despite a higher base clock of 2.90 GHz compared to the i5-1145GRE's 1.50 GHz, cannot overcome the newer chip's higher boost clock of 4.10 GHz and its more efficient 10 nm design. The benchmark data records zero wins for the i7-7700T and six wins for the i5-1145GRE.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every measurable specification. The i7-7700T has a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 3.80 GHz, while the i5-1145GRE has a base clock of 1500.00 MHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. The i7-7700T has a higher TDP of 35 watts, while the i5-1145GRE is rated at 28 watts. The sockets are incompatible: Intel Socket 1151 for the desktop part versus Intel BGA 1449 for the mobile part. The architectures are Kaby Lake versus Tiger Lake, with process nodes of 14 nm versus 10 nm. The i5-1145GRE has a recorded die size of 144 mm², while no die size is listed for the i7-7700T.

Cache sizes differ in L1 and L2. The i7-7700T has 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core, while the i5-1145GRE has 80 KB L1 and 1.25 MB L2 per core. Both share 8 MB of L3. Memory support shows the i7-7700T limited to DDR4, while the i5-1145GRE supports DDR4 and LPDDR4X. The i7-7700T has a recorded memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, while no bandwidth figure is listed for the i5-1145GRE. ECC support is present only on the i5-1145GRE. PCIe generation and lane counts differ: Gen 3 with 16 lanes for the i7-7700T, Gen 4 with 4 lanes for the i5-1145GRE. Integrated graphics are HD 630 for the former and Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EU for the latter. The i7-7700T launched in January 2017, while the i5-1145GRE launched in September 2020. The i5-1145GRE has a recorded launch MSRP of $362, while no launch MSRP is listed for the i7-7700T. Both have locked multipliers and are currently listed as active production parts.