Intel Core i5-1235U vs Intel Core i7-1260P Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a clear picture: the Intel Core i7-1260P dominates the head-to-head comparison, winning 14 of the 17 recorded tests against the Intel Core i5-1235U. The margin of victory varies dramatically by workload, from razor-thin single-thread edges to enormous multi-core gaps.

The most lopsided result appears in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where the i7-1260P scores 1626 against the i5-1235U's 985, a 65.1% advantage. This pattern repeats in Cinebench R20 multi-core (5874 vs 4105, a 43.1% lead) and in PassMark's multi-threaded test (16775 vs 12923, a 29.8% lead). The i7-1260P also shows a commanding 59.2% edge in PassMark physics (1092 vs 686), a workload that typically benefits from higher sustained throughput.

Single-core results lean toward the i7-1260P but with varying intensity. Cinebench R15 single-core shows a 76.1% gap (243 vs 138), while Cinebench R20 single-core records a 43.2% difference (829 vs 579). Cinebench R23 single-core narrows to a 26% advantage (1737.5 vs 1379). PassMark single-thread tests are far closer, with the i7-1260P leading by just 3.1% (3250 vs 3151), suggesting that the two chips are nearly identical in lightly threaded day-to-day tasks.

The i5-1235U secures three wins, and two are worth examining closely. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i5-1235U scores 9774 against the i7-1260P's 9711, a marginal 0.6% edge. This near-tie is notable because it contradicts the pattern established by the older Cinebench versions. The i5-1235U also wins PassMark find prime numbers by a massive margin: 954 vs 63, a 93.4% difference in its favor. This particular workload appears to trigger unusual behavior in the i7-1260P, producing an anomalously low score. The third i5-1235U win comes in PassMark floating point math (43303 vs 42417), a 2% gap.

Across integer math, the i7-1260P leads by 28.3% (62316 vs 48553). Data compression shows a 24.1% edge (182968 vs 147450), data encryption a 20.2% advantage (11238 vs 9347), extended instructions a 28.3% lead (10493 vs 8176), and random string sorting a 20.7% margin (20586 vs 17050). The i7-1260P also sweeps the 3DMark tests, though those are only recorded for the i7-1260P: 915 single-thread, 1601 for 2 threads, 2540 for 4 threads, 3159 for 8 threads, 4072 for 16 threads, and 4406 for max threads.

Where Each One Wins

The i7-1260P is the clear choice for multi-core productivity. The Cinebench R15 and R20 multi-core results show a 43% to 65% advantage, which translates directly to faster rendering, video encoding, and compilation workloads. The PassMark physics score (59.2% ahead) reinforces this positioning for simulation and physical computation tasks. Integer math and extended instruction workloads also favor the i7-1260P by 28.3%, making it stronger for spreadsheet calculations, scientific computing, and code compilation.

The i7-1260P also handles memory-intensive operations better. Data compression runs 24.1% faster, data encryption 20.2% faster, and random string sorting 20.7% faster. These are the kinds of tasks that appear in database operations, file archiving, and secure communications. The multi-threaded PassMark score of 16775 versus 12923 confirms that the i7-1260P sustains higher throughput across mixed workloads.

The i5-1235U wins in exactly one meaningful category: the Cinebench R23 multi-core test, where it edges out the i7-1260P by 0.6%. This near-tie suggests that in certain modern rendering workloads, the two chips perform equivalently despite the i7-1260P's higher core count and TDP. The floating point math win (2% ahead) indicates the i5-1235U has a slight edge in pure FPU throughput, which could matter for some scientific and engineering applications.

The find prime numbers result is a statistical outlier. The i5-1235U scores 954 versus the i7-1260P's 63, a 93.4% difference. This pattern does not appear in any other integer workload, so it likely reflects a specific algorithmic inefficiency in the i7-1260P rather than a general weakness. Buyers should not weight this result heavily when choosing between the two.

For single-threaded responsiveness, the i7-1260P is faster but not by a wide margin in PassMark terms (3.1%). The Cinebench single-core gaps are larger (26% to 76%), which suggests the i7-1260P has an advantage in bursty, short-duration tasks like application launches and web page rendering, while the PassMark results indicate that sustained single-thread workloads are nearly identical.

Architecture Differences

Both processors share the Alder Lake architecture and are built on Intel's 10 nm process node. They use the same Intel BGA 1744 socket and support DDR4 and DDR5 memory through a dual-channel memory bus. PCIe connectivity is identical at Gen 4 with 20 lanes available from the CPU. Neither chip supports ECC memory, and both are unlocked, meaning they cannot be overclocked.

The core configurations differ substantially. The i7-1260P packs 12 cores and 16 threads, while the i5-1235U has 10 cores and 12 threads. The i7-1260P runs a 2.10 GHz base clock and boosts to 4.70 GHz, whereas the i5-1235U has a 1300.00 MHz base clock (recorded as such in the database, which is unusually low for a modern mobile chip) and boosts to 4.40 GHz. The extra cores and higher boost clock explain most of the i7-1260P's multi-core advantage.

Cache hierarchies also differ. Both chips allocate 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, but the shared L3 cache is larger on the i7-1260P at 18 MB versus 12 MB on the i5-1235U. This 6 MB difference in last-level cache can reduce memory traffic and improve performance in cache-sensitive workloads.

The TDP ratings reflect different design targets: the i7-1260P is rated at 28 W, while the i5-1235U is rated at 15 W. This 13 W gap influences sustained performance in thin-and-light laptops, where thermal headroom is limited. The i7-1260P's higher power budget allows it to maintain higher clocks under load, which shows in the multi-core benchmarks.

Integrated graphics differ as well. The i7-1260P carries the Iris Xe 96EU, while the i5-1235U has the Iris Xe 80EU. The 16 EU difference suggests the i7-1260P can handle more graphics shader work, though the database does not include GPU-specific benchmark scores for either chip.

The die size is recorded only for the i7-1260P at 217 mm². Both chips are from the same Alder Lake generation and were released on the same date: 2022-02-22. Their part numbers are SRLD6 for the i7-1260P and SRLFR for the i5-1235U.

FAQ

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

A: The i7-1260P wins most multi-core tests. It leads by 65.1% in Cinebench R15 multi-core, 43.1% in Cinebench R20 multi-core, and 29.8% in PassMark multi-thread. The only exception is Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the i5-1235U leads by 0.6% (9774 vs 9711).

Q: How do the single-core scores compare?

A: The i7-1260P is ahead in every single-core test. Cinebench R15 single-core shows a 76.1% lead, Cinebench R20 a 43.2% lead, Cinebench R23 a 26% lead, and PassMark single-thread a 3.1% lead. The PassMark gap is small enough that everyday single-threaded tasks will feel similar.

Q: Is the i5-1235U better at any computing task?

A: Yes, in three recorded tests. It wins PassMark find prime numbers by 93.4% (954 vs 63) and PassMark floating point math by 2% (43303 vs 42417). It also edges out the i7-1260P in Cinebench R23 multi-core by 0.6%. Outside of these, the i7-1260P holds the advantage.

Q: What explains the i7-1260P's multi-core advantage?

A: The i7-1260P has 12 cores and 16 threads versus 10 cores and 12 threads on the i5-1235U. It also has a higher boost clock (4.70 GHz vs 4.40 GHz), a larger shared L3 cache (18 MB vs 12 MB), and a higher TDP (28 W vs 15 W). These factors combine to deliver the 29.8% to 65.1% multi-core leads seen in most tests.

Q: Do these CPUs support the same memory and expansion features?

A: Yes. Both support DDR4 and DDR5 memory over a dual-channel bus, and both provide PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes from the CPU. Neither supports ECC memory. They share the same Intel BGA 1744 socket.

Q: Which chip has better integrated graphics?

A: The i7-1260P has the Iris Xe 96EU, while the i5-1235U has the Iris Xe 80EU. The i7-1260P's GPU has more execution units, suggesting better integrated graphics performance, though no GPU-specific benchmark scores are recorded in the database.

The Verdict

The data points decisively toward the Intel Core i7-1260P for most buyers. It wins 14 of 17 head-to-head tests, with multi-core leads ranging from 29.8% to 65.1% in the most demanding workloads. The Cinebench R15 and R20 results, along with the PassMark physics and multi-thread scores, show that the i7-1260P delivers substantially higher throughput for rendering, simulation, and productivity tasks. The larger L3 cache (18 MB vs 12 MB) and additional cores (12 vs 10) provide a structural advantage that the i5-1235U cannot overcome in most scenarios.

The i5-1235U is the better pick only in narrow circumstances. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 9774 essentially ties the i7-1260P's 9711, so modern rendering workloads that resemble R23 will see near-identical performance. The floating point math edge (2%) and the find prime numbers result (93.4% better) point to specific niche applications where the i5-1235U executes certain algorithms more efficiently. The 15 W TDP also makes the i5-1235U a more power-efficient option for ultraportable laptops, though the database does not provide battery life measurements to quantify this.

For users who prioritize raw compute performance, especially in multi-threaded applications, the i7-1260P is the clear choice. The 43.1% to 65.1% leads in Cinebench R20 and R15 multi-core translate to tangible time savings in video encoding, 3D rendering, and code compilation. The 28.3% edge in integer math and extended instructions further cements its position for developer and scientific workloads.

The i5-1235U makes sense only for those who specifically need its strengths: the R23 multi-core parity, the floating point advantage, and the lower power envelope. For general-purpose mobile computing, the i7-1260P's benchmark profile is stronger across nearly every measured category. Both processors sit at the 70th percentile of all CPUs in the database, but the i7-1260P's average benchmark score of 17007 edges out the i5-1235U's 16770, confirming that the i7-1260P is the more capable part overall.