Intel Core i5-1235U vs Intel Core i7-10850H Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score in the database?

A: The Intel Core i5-1235U records an average benchmark score of 16770, while the Intel Core i7-10850H records 16204. Both processors sit at the 70th percentile when compared against all CPUs in the database.

Q: How do the two processors compare in Cinebench multi-core tests?

A: The results are nearly identical. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i7-10850H scores 9786 versus 9774 for the i5-1235U, a delta of 0.1%. The R20 multi-core results show 4110 versus 4105, and R15 multi-core shows 986 versus 985, both with 0.1% differences.

Q: Which processor wins in Geekbench tests?

A: The i5-1235U wins decisively in both Geekbench tests. In single-core, it scores 1609 versus 1327, a 17.5% advantage. In multi-core, it scores 5308 versus 4997, a 5.9% advantage.

Q: Are there workloads where the older i7-10850H clearly outperforms the newer i5-1235U?

A: Yes. The database shows the i7-10850H wins 10 of the 19 head-to-head benchmarks. Its largest wins are in data compression (12.5% ahead), extended instructions (27% ahead), and random string sorting (26.3% ahead). It also wins all six Cinebench tests, though by very narrow margins.

Q: What is the core and thread configuration for each processor?

A: The i7-10850H has 6 cores and 12 threads. The i5-1235U has 10 cores and 12 threads. Both processors have the same thread count, but the i5-1235U achieves that with a hybrid core layout.

Q: What are the power targets for these two mobile processors?

A: The i7-10850H has a TDP of 45 watts, while the i5-1235U has a TDP of 15 watts. The i5-1235U operates at a much lower power envelope despite having more cores.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core i7-10850H belongs to the Comet Lake-H generation, built on Intel's 14 nm process. It uses the Comet Lake architecture and is part of the Core 10th Gen series. The processor is mounted on the Intel BGA 1440 socket. Its integrated graphics are UHD Graphics. The i7-10850H features a conventional monolithic design with 6 cores and 12 threads, all of which are performance-oriented.

The Intel Core i5-1235U belongs to the Alder Lake-U generation, built on Intel's 10 nm process. This is a significant architectural leap. The i5-1235U uses the Alder Lake architecture with a hybrid core design. It has 10 cores and 12 threads, meaning it combines performance cores and efficiency cores. The processor uses the Intel BGA 1744 socket. Its integrated graphics are Iris Xe 80EU, a more capable GPU solution than the UHD Graphics found in the older part.

The process node difference is notable: 14 nm for the i7-10850H versus 10 nm for the i5-1235U. This translates into density and efficiency improvements for the newer part. The i5-1235U also supports a broader memory range, accepting both DDR4 and DDR5, while the i7-10850H is limited to DDR4. Both processors have dual-channel memory buses.

The i7-10850H provides PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The i5-1235U provides PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes from the CPU. This gives the newer processor more bandwidth and more connectivity options for peripherals.

Cache hierarchies differ substantially. The i7-10850H has 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, with 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The i5-1235U has 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, also with 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The larger per-core L2 cache on the i5-1235U reflects the efficiency of the newer architecture.

Neither processor supports ECC memory, and both have locked multipliers. The i7-10850H was released in April 2020, while the i5-1235U was released in February 2022. Both remain in active production.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-10850H wins in CPU-intensive legacy workloads that favor sustained multi-core throughput on a higher power budget. Its 45-watt TDP allows it to maintain boost clocks across all six cores. The data shows it leads in data compression by 12.5%, extended instructions by 27%, and random string sorting by 26.3%. It also wins in physics calculations by 4.7%. All six Cinebench tests go to the i7-10850H, though the margins are extremely small, all under 1%. This suggests that in pure rendering-style synthetic workloads, the two processors are effectively equivalent, with the i7-10850H having a slight edge.

The Intel Core i5-1235U wins in workloads that benefit from its newer architecture, higher single-thread performance, and hybrid core layout. Its single-thread advantage is clear: 17.5% ahead in Geekbench single-core and 15.3% ahead in PassMark single-thread. The i5-1235U also dominates in math-heavy tasks, with a 41.8% lead in floating point math and a 17.8% lead in integer math. Data encryption shows the largest gap: the i5-1235U is 58.4% ahead. Prime number finding is dramatically faster on the i5-1235U, with a 95.7% lead. The multithread score favors the i5-1235U by 9.9%.

For users who need raw single-core responsiveness, quick encryption, or heavy mathematical computation, the i5-1235U is the clear choice. For users who need data compression, string sorting, extended instruction throughput, or slightly better Cinebench rendering, the i7-10850H holds the advantage. The overall win count in the database is 10 for the i7-10850H and 9 for the i5-1235U, making this a closely contested pairing despite the architectural generation gap.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specification fields. The i7-10850H has 6 cores and 12 threads. The i5-1235U has 10 cores and 12 threads. The thread count is identical, but the core count is not.

Base clock speeds differ dramatically. The i7-10850H has a base clock of 2.70 GHz. The i5-1235U has a base clock of 1300.00 MHz, which is 1.30 GHz. Boost clocks favor the older part: the i7-10850H boosts to 5.10 GHz, while the i5-1235U boosts to 4.40 GHz.

TDP is a major differentiator. The i7-10850H is rated at 45 watts, and the i5-1235U is rated at 15 watts. This threefold difference in power envelope explains why the i7-10850H can maintain higher boost clocks despite the older architecture.

The socket differs: Intel BGA 1440 for the i7-10850H versus Intel BGA 1744 for the i5-1235U. These are not interchangeable.

Process node differs: 14 nm for the i7-10850H versus 10 nm for the i5-1235U.

Memory support differs: the i7-10850H supports DDR4 only, while the i5-1235U supports both DDR4 and DDR5. The i7-10850H has a recorded memory bandwidth of 46.9 GB/s; the i5-1235U has no memory bandwidth figure recorded in the database.

PCIe support differs: Gen 3 with 16 lanes for the i7-10850H versus Gen 4 with 20 lanes for the i5-1235U.

Integrated graphics differ: UHD Graphics on the i7-10850H versus Iris Xe 80EU on the i5-1235U.

Cache configuration differs in L1 and L2. The i7-10850H has 64 KB L1 per core and 256 KB L2 per core. The i5-1235U has 80 KB L1 per core and 1.25 MB L2 per core. Both share 12 MB of L3.

Part numbers differ: SRH8P for the i7-10850H and SRLFR for the i5-1235U.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database contains 19 head-to-head benchmark comparisons. The i7-10850H wins 10, and the i5-1235U wins 9. The margins tell the story of architectural generational differences.

In Cinebench tests, the i7-10850H wins all six. The margins are tiny: R15 multi-core is 986 versus 985, a 0.1% delta. R15 single-core is 139 versus 138, a 0.7% delta. R20 multi-core is 4110 versus 4105, a 0.1% delta. R20 single-core is 580 versus 579, a 0.2% delta. R23 multi-core is 9786 versus 9774, a 0.1% delta. R23 single-core is 1381 versus 1379, a 0.1% delta. These results indicate that in rendering-oriented synthetic tests, the two processors are functionally equivalent, with the i7-10850H holding a razor-thin edge.

Geekbench tests tell a different story. The i5-1235U wins multi-core with 5308 versus 4997, a 5.9% advantage. The single-core gap is much larger: 1609 versus 1327, a 17.5% advantage. The newer architecture clearly delivers superior single-thread performance despite a lower boost clock.

PassMark tests show the most extreme divergences. The i7-10850H wins data compression with 165882 versus 147450, a 12.5% lead. It wins extended instructions with 10381 versus 8176, a 27% lead. It wins random string sorting with 21537 versus 17050, a 26.3% lead. It wins physics with 718 versus 686, a 4.7% lead.

The i5-1235U dominates in other PassMark tests. Data encryption shows a massive gap: 9347 versus 3890, a 58.4% advantage for the i5-1235U. Find prime numbers is the largest single delta: 954 versus 41, a 95.7% advantage. Floating point math favors the i5-1235U with 43303 versus 25216, a 41.8% lead. Integer math goes to the i5-1235U with 48553 versus 39919, a 17.8% lead. Multithread favors the i5-1235U with 12923 versus 11643, a 9.9% lead. Single-thread is also won by the i5-1235U with 3151 versus 2668, a 15.3% lead.

The database also records the nearest rivals for context. The i7-10850H sits within a narrow band: the Intel Core i5-10600KF is 0.2% ahead, the Intel Core 3 100U is 0.3% behind, the Intel Core i7-1260U is 0.7% ahead, and the AMD Ryzen 5 4600H is 0.8% ahead. The i5-1235U is similarly clustered: the Intel Core Ultra 5 115U is 0.1% behind, the AMD Ryzen 3 7335U is 0.3% ahead, the Intel Core i3-12100E is 0.5% ahead, and the AMD Ryzen 3 8440U is 0.6% behind.

The benchmark results indicate a clear pattern: the i7-10850H leverages its high boost clock and 45-watt TDP for narrow wins in legacy rendering and compression tasks, while the i5-1235U uses its 10-core hybrid design and 10 nm process to deliver large advantages in encryption, math, and single-threaded responsiveness. The average benchmark scores reflect this split, with the i5-1235U at 16770 and the i7-10850H at 16204, a difference of approximately 3.5%.