Intel Core i5-1230U vs Intel Core i7-7700 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data splits this comparison into two very different halves. The Intel Core i5-1230U wins 14 of the 19 head-to-head benchmarks, while the Intel Core i7-7700 takes only 5. The margins tell the real story, and they are not subtle.

Start with the single-core tests. The i5-1230U leads the i7-7700 by 79.6% in Cinebench R15 single-core (186.8 vs 104). That is the largest single-core gap in the entire dataset. The same pattern appears in Cinebench R20 single-core, where the i5 wins 550 to 435 (26.4% ahead), and in Cinebench R23 single-core, where it wins 1310 to 1036 (again 26.4% ahead). Geekbench single-core shows a 24.1% advantage for the i5 (1699 vs 1369). PassMark single-thread scores are closer, but the i5 still wins 2712 to 2442 (11.1% ahead).

The multi-core picture is more complicated. The i7-7700 wins the two older Cinebench multi-core tests decisively. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i7 posts 740 against the i5's 514, a 30.5% lead. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i7 wins 7344 to 4402, a 40.1% lead. But in Cinebench R20 multi-core, the i5 flips the result, winning 3903 to 3084 (26.6% ahead). Geekbench multi-core also goes to the i5, but narrowly: 4875 vs 4640, only 5.1% apart. PassMark multithread gives the i5 a 26% win (10881 vs 8635).

The specialized PassMark workloads show where each chip has a clear niche. The i5-1230U dominates in data encryption, scoring 7176 against the i7's 2974, a massive 141.3% advantage. It also wins floating-point math by 49.9% (25340 vs 16904), integer math by 39.4% (38401 vs 27538), physics by 40.8% (828 vs 588), and find-prime-numbers by 96.4% (55 vs 28). The i7-7700 answers with wins in data compression (122429 vs 114042, a 6.9% margin), extended instructions (8128 vs 6282, a 22.7% margin), and random string sorting (15509 vs 12760, a 17.7% margin).

Overall average benchmark scores put the i5-1230U at 12559 and the i7-7700 at 11914. Both chips sit at the 67th percentile among all CPUs in the database. The i5's nearest rivals include the AMD EPYC 9174F at a 0.2% difference and the Intel Core i3-1215U at 0.4% behind. The i7's closest competitor is the AMD EPYC 7453, with a 0.0% delta, and the AMD Ryzen 5 3500X at 0.7% behind.

The Verdict

The data points to two different buyers. If single-thread responsiveness matters most, the Intel Core i5-1230U is the clear choice. It wins every single-core benchmark in the dataset, often by double-digit percentages. Its boost clock of 4.40 GHz against the i7's 4.20 GHz helps explain that, but the architecture difference matters more, which we will cover later.

If sustained multi-core throughput in legacy Cinebench workloads is your priority, the Intel Core i7-7700 has the edge. Its Cinebench R15 and R23 multi-core wins are substantial, 30.5% and 40.1% respectively. Those are not small margins. The i7 also holds advantages in data compression, extended instructions, and random string sorting, which suggests it handles certain memory-heavy or instruction-heavy tasks better.

But look at the broader trend. The i5-1230U wins 14 of 19 tests. It wins the modern Cinebench R20 multi-core test, Geekbench multi-core, and PassMark multithread. It wins every math and encryption workload. The i7's wins are concentrated in older Cinebench versions and three specific PassMark subtests. For a general-purpose recommendation, the i5-1230U is the stronger overall performer in this database. The i7-7700 remains relevant only for workloads that specifically favor its older design.

One important context: the i5-1230U is a mobile chip with a 9 W TDP, while the i7-7700 is a desktop chip with a 65 W TDP. The i5 achieves most of its wins while consuming a fraction of the power budget. That is not a spec comparison, but it is worth noting when interpreting the scores.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-1230U wins in every category that rewards modern instruction efficiency and higher per-clock throughput. Single-core workloads are its strongest area, with a 79.6% lead in Cinebench R15 single-core and consistent 24-26% leads in Cinebench R20 and R23 single-core. It also dominates encryption (141.3% ahead), prime number finding (96.4% ahead), floating-point math (49.9% ahead), and integer math (39.4% ahead). Physics simulation goes to the i5 by 40.8%. If your work involves cryptography, scientific calculations, or any heavily threaded math, the i5 is the pick.

The Intel Core i7-7700 wins in legacy multi-core Cinebench tests and in three specialized PassMark tasks. Data compression goes to the i7 by 6.9%, extended instructions by 22.7%, and random string sorting by 17.7%. The Cinebench R15 multi-core win (30.5%) and Cinebench R23 multi-core win (40.1%) are the i7's most significant victories. These results suggest the i7 handles older compiled workloads and certain sorting or compression algorithms better, likely due to its higher sustained base clock of 3.60 GHz versus the i5's 1000.00 MHz base clock.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has the higher single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i5-1230U wins every single-core benchmark in the dataset. The largest margin is in Cinebench R15 single-core, where it scores 186.8 against the i7-7700's 104, a 79.6% difference. Geekbench single-core shows a 24.1% lead (1699 vs 1369).

Q: Is the Intel Core i7-7700 faster in multi-core workloads?

A: Not consistently. The i7 wins Cinebench R15 multi-core by 30.5% (740 vs 514) and Cinebench R23 multi-core by 40.1% (7344 vs 4402). However, the i5 wins Cinebench R20 multi-core by 26.6% (3903 vs 3084), Geekbench multi-core by 5.1% (4875 vs 4640), and PassMark multithread by 26% (10881 vs 8635).

Q: How do the two compare in encryption workloads?

A: The i5-1230U is dramatically faster. In PassMark data encryption, it scores 7176 against the i7-7700's 2974, a 141.3% advantage. This is the largest single delta in the head-to-head dataset.

Q: Are there any workloads where the i7-7700 wins?

A: Yes, five tests. The i7 wins Cinebench R15 multi-core, Cinebench R23 multi-core, PassMark data compression (122429 vs 114042), PassMark extended instructions (8128 vs 6282), and PassMark random string sorting (15509 vs 12760).

Q: Which chip has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The i5-1230U has an average benchmark score of 12559, while the i7-7700 averages 11914. Both sit at the 67th percentile among all CPUs in the database.

Q: What do the nearest rival comparisons show?

A: The i5-1230U's closest rival is the AMD EPYC 9174F, with a 0.2% score difference, followed by the Intel Core i3-1215U at 0.4% behind. The i7-7700's nearest rival is the AMD EPYC 7453 at a 0.0% delta, with the AMD Ryzen 5 3500X at 0.7% behind.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel architectures and process nodes. The Intel Core i5-1230U uses the Alder Lake architecture, specifically the Alder Lake-U variant, built on a 10 nm process. It has 10 cores and 12 threads, with a hybrid layout implied by the core count. The Intel Core i7-7700 uses the Kaby Lake architecture, built on a 14 nm process, with 4 cores and 8 threads.

The i5-1230U has a base clock of 1000.00 MHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. The i7-7700 has a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.20 GHz. The i5's much lower base clock is typical of a low-power mobile design, while the i7's higher base clock reflects its desktop positioning.

Cache configurations differ significantly. The i5-1230U has 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, with 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The i7-7700 has 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, with 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The i5's larger per-core L2 cache and larger L3 cache help explain its single-core and math workload advantages.

Memory support also differs. The i5-1230U supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the i7-7700 supports only DDR4. Both use dual-channel memory buses. The i7-7700 has a listed memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s; the i5-1230U has no bandwidth figure in the database. The i5 uses PCIe Gen 4, while the i7 uses PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU.

Integrated graphics differ as well. The i5-1230U carries Iris Xe 80EU graphics, while the i7-7700 has HD 630 graphics. The i5 is a mobile-market chip on the Intel BGA 1781 socket, whereas the i7 is a desktop-market chip on the Intel Socket 1151.

Specification Differences

The key specification differences between the two chips are as follows.

The i5-1230U has 10 cores and 12 threads, compared to the i7-7700's 4 cores and 8 threads. The i5's base clock is 1000.00 MHz versus the i7's 3.60 GHz. The i5's boost clock is 4.40 GHz versus the i7's 4.20 GHz. The i5 has a TDP of 9 W, while the i7 has a TDP of 65 W.

The i5 uses the Intel BGA 1781 socket, while the i7 uses the Intel Socket 1151. The i5 is built on a 10 nm process, the i7 on a 14 nm process. The i5 supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the i7 supports DDR4 only. The i5 uses PCIe Gen 4, while the i7 uses PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU.

L1 cache is 80 KB per core on the i5 versus 64 KB per core on the i7. L2 cache is 1.25 MB per core on the i5 versus 256 KB per core on the i7. L3 cache is 12 MB shared on the i5 versus 8 MB shared on the i7. The i7 has a listed memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s; the i5 has no such figure recorded.

Integrated graphics are Iris Xe 80EU on the i5 and HD 630 on the i7. The i5 targets the mobile market segment, while the i7 targets desktop. Both processors are currently marked as Active in production status. Neither has an unlocked multiplier. The i7 has a part number of SR338; the i5 has no part number listed. The i5 was released on 2022-02-22, while the i7 was released on 2017-01-02.