Intel Core i5-1145GRE vs Intel Core i7-7920HQ Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a decisive sweep in favor of the Intel Core i5-1145GRE across all six shared benchmark tests. The Intel Core i7-7920HQ does not secure a single win in any multi-core or single-core workload, with the i5-1145GRE leading by a consistent margin of approximately 12% in every comparison.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-1145GRE scores 705 against 619 for the i7-7920HQ, a gap of 12.2%. The single-core R15 result follows the same pattern: 99 versus 87, a 12.1% advantage for the newer chip. Moving to Cinebench R20, the i5-1145GRE posts 2940 in multi-core and 414 in single-core, while the i7-7920HQ manages 2583 and 364 respectively. Each of those differences translates to a 12.1% deficit for the older processor.

Cinebench R23 confirms the trend with the largest raw score separation. The i5-1145GRE reaches 7001 in multi-core and 988 in single-core, against 6151 and 868 for the i7-7920HQ. Again, the delta sits at 12.1%. The consistency of this margin across different rendering workloads and across both single-threaded and multi-threaded tests suggests a uniform generational advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk.

The average benchmark score in the database reinforces the head-to-head result. The i5-1145GRE carries an average score of 2025, placing it at the 45th percentile of all CPUs tracked. The i7-7920HQ averages 1992, landing at the 44th percentile. This places the two parts nearly adjacent in the overall distribution, but the i5-1145GRE holds a slim edge in the aggregate metric, consistent with its clean sweep in the direct comparisons.

Looking at nearest rivals in the database, the i7-7920HQ sits exactly level with the AMD Ryzen 5 1500X at an average score of 1992, with a 0% difference. It also trades fractions of a point with the Intel Xeon E3-1285L v4 (1991, 0.1% behind) and the Intel Xeon E3-1585L v5 (1989, 0.2% behind). The Intel Xeon E-2276M is marginally ahead at 1996, a 0.2% gap. The i5-1145GRE, by contrast, is bracketed by the Intel Core i5-1130G7 at 2026 (0.1% ahead), the Intel Xeon E3-1260L v5 at 2029 (0.2% ahead), and the Intel Xeon E3-1280 v5 at 2029 (0.2% ahead). Its nearest measured competitor is slightly stronger, indicating that the i5-1145GRE sits in a marginally faster tier of comparable mobile chips.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel generations and process nodes. The i7-7920HQ is built on Kaby Lake, specifically the Kaby Lake-H variant, using a 14 nm process. It has a die size of 126 mm². The i5-1145GRE belongs to the Tiger Lake family, specifically Tiger Lake-U, and uses the Willow Cove-U core architecture on a 10 nm process. Its die is larger at 144 mm². The shift from 14 nm to 10 nm is the most visible manufacturing change, and it accompanies a substantial redesign of the core microarchitecture.

Both parts have four physical cores and eight threads, so the thread count does not explain the performance gap. The cache hierarchy, however, differs meaningfully. The i7-7920HQ provides 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 per core, with 8 MB of shared L3. The i5-1145GRE increases L1 to 80 KB per core and L2 to 1.25 MB per core, while keeping the same 8 MB shared L3. That larger per-core L2 cache is a significant structural advantage for the Tiger Lake part, especially in workloads that reuse a working set within a single core.

Memory support also diverges. The i7-7920HQ supports DDR3 and DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration. The i5-1145GRE supports DDR4 and LPDDR4X, also dual-channel. The newer chip adds support for low-power memory, which aligns with its lower thermal envelope. ECC memory is not available on the i7-7920HQ, but the i5-1145GRE supports ECC, a notable feature for reliability-sensitive deployments.

PCIe connectivity differs as well. The i7-7920HQ provides PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The i5-1145GRE offers PCIe Gen 4 but only 4 lanes from the CPU. This is a trade-off: the older part has more raw lanes, while the newer part has a faster per-lane standard. For workloads that demand many parallel PCIe devices, the i7-7920HQ has the advantage; for bandwidth per lane, the i5-1145GRE is ahead.

The integrated graphics are another clear separation point. The i7-7920HQ uses Intel HD Graphics 630, a Kaby Lake era GPU. The i5-1145GRE uses Iris Xe Graphics G7 with 80 execution units, a much newer and more capable integrated solution. Benchmark data in the database does not directly measure iGPU performance, but the architectural generation gap is evident from the naming and execution unit count.

Base clock rates present an interesting anomaly in the data. The i7-7920HQ is listed with a base clock of 3.10 GHz, while the i5-1145GRE shows a base clock of 1500.00 MHz, which is 1.5 GHz. The boost clocks are identical at 4.10 GHz. The i5-1145GRE compensates for its lower base frequency with a much higher turbo ceiling relative to its base, and the benchmark results show that it still outperforms the i7-7920HQ in all recorded tests despite the lower sustained base clock. Thermal design power also differs: the i7-7920HQ is rated at 45 W, while the i5-1145GRE is rated at 28 W. The newer processor delivers better benchmark scores at a lower power envelope, which reflects the efficiency gains from the 10 nm process and Willow Cove architecture.

Production status separates the two further. The i7-7920HQ is end-of-life, while the i5-1145GRE remains active. The release dates confirm the generational distance: the i7-7920HQ launched in January 2017, and the i5-1145GRE arrived in September 2020. The part numbers differ (SR32L for the i7-7920HQ, SRK10 for the i5-1145GRE), and the sockets are different as well (Intel BGA 1440 versus Intel BGA 1449). Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

The i5-1145GRE also carries an advantage in the benchmark averages relative to its nearest rivals. Its four closest comparators in the database all sit within a narrow band of 2026 to 2030, with the i5-1145GRE at 2025. The i7-7920HQ sits in a similar band with its rivals, but that band is roughly 30 points lower. In percentile terms, the difference is just one point (45th versus 44th), but the head-to-head deltas show a consistent 12% advantage for the Tiger Lake part across every rendering test.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in multi-core rendering?

A: The Intel Core i5-1145GRE wins every multi-core test. It scores 705 in Cinebench R15, 2940 in R20, and 7001 in R23, compared to 619, 2583, and 6151 for the i7-7920HQ. That is a 12.1% to 12.2% advantage in each case.

Q: Is the i7-7920HQ better in single-core performance?

A: No. The i5-1145GRE also wins every single-core test. It scores 99 in Cinebench R15, 414 in R20, and 988 in R23, while the i7-7920HQ scores 87, 364, and 868. The i5-1145GRE leads by 12.1% in each single-core test.

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

A: Yes, both have 4 cores and 8 threads. The performance difference is not due to core count.

Q: How do the cache sizes compare?

A: The i7-7920HQ has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3. The i5-1145GRE has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3. The i5-1145GRE has substantially more L2 cache per core.

Q: Which processor has a lower power draw?

A: The i5-1145GRE is rated at 28 W TDP, while the i7-7920HQ is rated at 45 W TDP. The i5-1145GRE delivers better benchmark scores at the lower power rating.

Q: Are both chips still in production?

A: No. The i7-7920HQ is end-of-life, while the i5-1145GRE is listed as active production.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear conclusion: the Intel Core i5-1145GRE is the faster processor in every recorded benchmark. Its sweep of all six Cinebench tests, with a consistent margin of about 12%, is unambiguous. The newer Tiger Lake architecture, built on a 10 nm process, delivers higher scores in both single-threaded and multi-threaded workloads while drawing less power (28 W versus 45 W) and offering more L2 cache per core.

The i7-7920HQ retains some structural advantages that do not appear in the rendering benchmarks. It has 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes from the CPU, compared to 4 PCIe Gen 4 lanes on the i5-1145GRE. It also supports DDR3 memory, which may matter for legacy system designs. However, none of those advantages translate into a benchmark win in the recorded data.

For users who prioritize raw CPU performance in Cinebench-style workloads, the i5-1145GRE is the obvious choice. It is also the only one of the two that remains in active production. The i7-7920HQ is end-of-life, which limits its appeal for new designs regardless of its performance profile. The average benchmark scores reflect the same ordering: 2025 for the i5-1145GRE versus 1992 for the i7-7920HQ.

The i5-1145GRE additionally supports ECC memory, a feature absent on the i7-7920HQ, which could be decisive for certain reliability-focused applications. Its integrated Iris Xe Graphics G7 with 80 execution units is a generational step beyond the HD Graphics 630 in the older part, even though the database does not include iGPU benchmark numbers. The i5-1145GRE also lists a launch MSRP of $362, while the i7-7920HQ lists a launch MSRP of $568, but that price difference is secondary to the performance and efficiency gap.

The nearest rival data confirms that neither chip is a top-tier processor in the broader database. The i7-7920HQ sits at the 44th percentile and the i5-1145GRE at the 45th percentile. But within this direct comparison, the newer chip is measurably better in every test. The verdict is straightforward: the i5-1145GRE wins on performance, efficiency, and production status.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several specification fields. The i7-7920HQ uses the Kaby Lake architecture on a 14 nm process with a 126 mm² die, while the i5-1145GRE uses Tiger Lake on a 10 nm process with a 144 mm² die. Base clocks differ: 3.10 GHz for the i7-7920HQ versus 1500.00 MHz for the i5-1145GRE, though both boost to 4.10 GHz. TDP is 45 W for the i7-7920HQ and 28 W for the i5-1145GRE.

Sockets differ: Intel BGA 1440 for the i7-7920HQ and Intel BGA 1449 for the i5-1145GRE. Cache allocation changes: the i7-7920HQ 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 L3. Memory support differs: the i7-7920HQ supports DDR3 and DDR4, while the i5-1145GRE supports DDR4 and LPDDR4X. ECC memory is absent on the i7-7920HQ and present on the i5-1145GRE.

PCIe configuration differs: the i7-7920HQ offers Gen 3 with 16 lanes, while the i5-1145GRE offers Gen 4 with 4 lanes. Integrated graphics differ: HD Graphics 630 on the i7-7920HQ versus Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EU on the i5-1145GRE. Production status differs: end-of-life for the i7-7920HQ, active for the i5-1145GRE. Release dates differ: January 2017 for the i7-7920HQ, September 2020 for the i5-1145GRE. Launch MSRP also differs: $568 for the i7-7920HQ and $362 for the i5-1145GRE. Both parts have 4 cores, 8 threads, dual-channel memory, an unlocked multiplier set to false, and a mobile market segment.

Where Each One Wins

The i5-1145GRE wins in every benchmark category recorded in the database. It dominates Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 in both multi-core and single-core modes. It wins on efficiency, delivering higher scores at a lower TDP of 28 W. It wins on longevity, remaining in active production. It wins on memory flexibility for low-power systems with LPDDR4X support. It wins on ECC capability, which is absent on the i7-7920HQ. It wins on integrated graphics, with Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EU superseding the older HD Graphics 630.

The i7-7920HQ has no recorded benchmark wins. Its advantages are limited to structural specifications: 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes versus 4 PCIe Gen 4 lanes, DDR3 memory support, and a higher base clock of 3.10 GHz. For a system that needs many PCIe devices connected directly to the CPU, the higher lane count could be relevant. For a design constrained to DDR3 memory, the i7-7920HQ is the only compatible option. For workloads that rely on a high sustained base frequency without turbo engagement, the 3.10 GHz base clock could offer an edge, though the benchmark data does not capture such a scenario.

The use-case split is therefore lopsided. The i5-1145GRE is the correct choice for nearly all CPU-bound workloads, for power-constrained mobile designs, and for any application where ECC memory is required. The i7-7920HQ is only preferable in niche scenarios involving PCIe lane count or legacy DDR3 memory support. Every measured performance indicator favors the i5-1145GRE.