Intel Core i5-1155G7 vs Intel Core i5-9500T Comparison

The Intel Core i5-1155G7 and the Intel Core i5-9500T occupy nearly the same performance tier, with average benchmark scores of 2496 and 2493 respectively—a difference of just 0.1% that places both at the 49th percentile of all CPUs. Yet the data shows they achieve this parity through completely different means. The 1155G7 is a mobile Tiger Lake chip with 4 cores and 8 threads, while the 9500T is a desktop Coffee Lake part with 6 cores and 6 threads. The head-to-head results reveal a fascinating split: the 9500T wins 7 of 8 benchmarks, but the one victory for the 1155G7 is a landslide in Geekbench single-core, suggesting the architectural gap between generations is real even when the final scores converge.

Where Each One Wins

The 9500T dominates the multi-threaded and sustained-load scenarios, which aligns with its physical core advantage. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 8264 against the 1155G7's 8155, a 1.3% lead that reflects two extra physical cores offsetting the mobile chip's hyper-threading. The pattern holds across every Cinebench iteration: R15 multi-core (832 vs 822, 1.2% lead), R20 multi-core (3470 vs 3425, 1.3% lead), and Geekbench multi-core (4407 vs 4246, a more substantial 3.7% lead). For rendering, encoding, or any workload that scales across cores, the 9500T is the consistent winner, even if the margins are modest.

The 1155G7's sole victory is Geekbench single-core, where it posts 1574 against the 9500T's 1198—a 31.4% advantage that is by far the largest gap in any test. This is a decisive win for lightly-threaded tasks like web browsing, office productivity, and legacy applications that rely on a single fast core. The 1155G7's 4.50 GHz boost clock, compared to the 9500T's 3.70 GHz, explains much of this, but the generational IPC improvement from Tiger Lake's Willow Cove architecture also plays a role. Interestingly, the 9500T still edges ahead in Cinebench R23 single-core (1166 vs 1151), albeit by a tiny 1.3% margin, showing that the Geekbench result is not universal across all single-threaded workloads.

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from different Intel eras. The 1155G7 uses the Tiger Lake architecture on a 10 nm process, built on the Willow Cove core design, while the 9500T relies on the older Coffee Lake architecture on a 14 nm process. This process gap is significant: the 10 nm node allows the 1155G7 to deliver higher clock speeds (4.50 GHz boost vs 3.70 GHz) while consuming less power (28 W TDP vs 35 W TDP), despite being a mobile part. The 1155G7's die size is 144 mm², while the 9500T's die size is not listed in the data.

Cache distribution reveals another fundamental difference. The 1155G7 allocates 80 KB of L1 and 1.25 MB of L2 per core, with 8 MB of shared L3. The 9500T has 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, but a larger 9 MB of shared L3. The 1155G7's much larger per-core L2 cache (nearly 5x) suggests a design optimized for single-thread performance, while the 9500T's larger L3 pool benefits all six cores sharing data. Memory support also differs: the 1155G7 supports both DDR4 and LPDDR4X, while the 9500T only supports DDR4, though both run dual-channel. The 9500T lists a memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s, while the 1155G7 does not provide this figure.

The PCIe interfaces reflect their market segments. The 1155G7 offers PCIe Gen 4 with 16 lanes, a newer standard for faster peripheral bandwidth, while the 9500T uses PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes. Integrated graphics differ as well: the 1155G7 carries Iris Xe-LP Graphics G7 with 80 execution units, while the 9500T has the older UHD Graphics 630. The 1155G7 is still in active production, while the 9500T is end-of-life, and the 1155G7 launched in 2021 with a launch MSRP of $309, whereas the 9500T launched in 2018 with a launch MSRP of $192.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result is Geekbench single-core: the 1155G7 scores 1574 against the 9500T's 1198, a 31.4% lead that dwarfs every other comparison. This is not a marginal improvement; it is a generational leap in single-thread capability. The 1155G7's Willow Cove cores, combined with the 4.50 GHz boost, simply outclass the older Coffee Lake design at 3.70 GHz. For users running single-threaded applications, this is the defining metric.

Yet the 9500T wins every other test, though by much smaller margins. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 832 vs 822, a 1.2% lead. R15 single-core is 117 vs 115, a 1.7% lead. R20 multi-core is 3470 vs 3425, a 1.3% lead. R20 single-core is 489 vs 483, a 1.2% lead. R23 multi-core is 8264 vs 8155, a 1.3% lead, and R23 single-core is 1166 vs 1151, also a 1.3% lead. The consistency of these single-core Cinebench results—all showing the 9500T ahead by roughly 1-2%—contrasts sharply with the Geekbench single-core result, where the 1155G7 leads by over 30%. This suggests the two benchmarks measure different aspects of single-thread performance, with Geekbench favoring the newer architecture's IPC while Cinebench responds more to raw clock speed or cache behavior.

The largest multi-core gap is in Geekbench multi-core: the 9500T scores 4407 vs the 1155G7's 4246, a 3.7% lead. This is double the margin seen in Cinebench multi-core tests, indicating that Geekbench's multi-threaded workload benefits more from the 9500T's six physical cores. The 1155G7's hyper-threading (8 threads vs 6) cannot fully compensate for the two missing physical cores in this test.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster in single-core performance?

A: It depends on the benchmark. The 1155G7 wins Geekbench single-core decisively with 1574 vs 1198, a 31.4% lead. However, the 9500T wins all three Cinebench single-core tests (R15, R20, R23) by margins of 1.2-1.7%, scoring 117, 489, and 1166 respectively against the 1155G7's 115, 483, and 1151.

Q: How much better is the 9500T in multi-core workloads?

A: The 9500T leads in every multi-core test, but the margins are small. It wins Cinebench R23 multi-core by 1.3% (8264 vs 8155), R20 multi-core by 1.3% (3470 vs 3425), R15 multi-core by 1.2% (832 vs 822), and Geekbench multi-core by 3.7% (4407 vs 4246). The largest gap is Geekbench, where the 9500T's six physical cores provide a bigger advantage.

Q: Do these CPUs have the same overall performance?

A: Yes, nearly identical. The 1155G7 has an average benchmark score of 2496, while the 9500T scores 2493, a delta of just 0.1%. Both sit at the 49th percentile of all CPUs. The nearest rivals list shows the 1155G7 is 0.1% ahead of the 9500T, while the 9500T is 0.1% behind the 1155G7, confirming they are effectively tied.

Q: Which CPU has more cores and threads?

A: The 9500T has 6 cores and 6 threads, while the 1155G7 has 4 cores and 8 threads. The 9500T's advantage is in physical cores, while the 1155G7 uses hyper-threading to reach 8 threads. The 9500T's extra two physical cores drive its multi-core wins, while the 1155G7's higher per-core capability drives its Geekbench single-core win.

Q: What are the cache differences between these CPUs?

A: The 1155G7 has 80 KB of L1 and 1.25 MB of L2 per core, plus 8 MB of shared L3. The 9500T has 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, plus 9 MB of shared L3. The 1155G7's per-core L2 cache is nearly 5x larger, which likely contributes to its strong Geekbench single-core performance, while the 9500T's larger L3 pool benefits multi-core workloads.

Q: Which CPU has a higher boost clock?

A: The 1155G7 boosts to 4.50 GHz, while the 9500T boosts to 3.70 GHz. The 1155G7's 0.80 GHz clock advantage is a key factor in its Geekbench single-core win, though it does not help in the Cinebench single-core tests, where the 9500T still edges ahead.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear trade-off. The 9500T is the better choice for multi-threaded workloads, winning all four multi-core benchmarks with margins ranging from 1.2% (Cinebench R15) to 3.7% (Geekbench multi-core). Its six physical cores provide a steady advantage in rendering, video encoding, and any parallel workload. The 9500T also wins all three Cinebench single-core tests, making it the overall benchmark winner with 7 of 8 head-to-head victories.

The 1155G7 is the pick for single-threaded applications that align with Geekbench's workload. Its 31.4% lead in Geekbench single-core is the single largest performance gap between the two chips, and its higher 4.50 GHz boost clock, larger per-core L2 cache, and newer 10 nm Willow Cove architecture make it the more modern design. However, this advantage does not translate to Cinebench single-core, where the 9500T wins by narrow margins. The 1155G7 also offers PCIe Gen 4 and a newer integrated GPU (Iris Xe vs UHD 630), making it a more feature-forward part despite its mobile orientation.

For users prioritizing multi-core performance, the 9500T is the data-backed winner. For those running single-threaded applications that resemble Geekbench's test, the 1155G7's massive single-core lead is compelling. The near-identical average scores (2496 vs 2493) mean neither choice is a performance mistake, but the specific workload distribution should drive the decision.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-1155G7 | Intel Core i5-9500T |

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

| Cores | 4 | 6 |

| Threads | 8 | 6 |

| Base Clock | 2.50 GHz | 2.20 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.50 GHz | 3.70 GHz |

| TDP | 28 W | 35 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1449 | Intel Socket 1151 |

| Architecture | Tiger Lake | Coffee Lake |

| Codename | Tiger Lake-U | Coffee Lake |

| Generation | Core i5 (Willow Cove-U) | Core i5 (Coffee Lake Refresh) |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 14 nm |

| Die Size | 144 mm² | Not listed |

| L1 Cache | 80 KB (per core) | 64 KB (per core) |

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

| L3 Cache | 8 MB (shared) | 9 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4, LPDDR4X | DDR4 |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not listed | 42.7 GB/s |

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

| Integrated Graphics | Iris Xe-LP Graphics G7 80EU | UHD Graphics 630 |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Production Status | Active | End-of-life |

| Release Date | 2021-05-30 | 2018-03-31 |

| Launch MSRP | $309 | $192 |

| Part Number | SRKSF | SRF4D |