Intel Core i5-1235U vs Intel Core Ultra 7 164U Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results paint a split picture between these two mobile processors. The Intel Core Ultra 7 164U wins 8 of the 17 recorded head-to-head comparisons, while the Intel Core i5-1235U wins 9. The margins, however, are far from uniform, with each chip dominating in distinct workload categories.

The Ultra 7 164U delivers its most decisive victory in Cinebench R15 single-core, scoring 225 against the i5-1235U's 138, a 63% advantage. This is the largest single-core gap in the entire comparison set. The same processor also leads Cinebench R15 multi-core by 32.4%, posting 1304 versus 985. In Cinebench R20, the Ultra 7 164U maintains a consistent 9.3% lead in both single-core (633 vs 579) and multi-core (4488 vs 4105) tests. The physics workload also favors the Ultra 7 164U substantially, with a score of 918 versus 686, a 33.8% advantage. In integer math, the Ultra 7 164U edges ahead by 3.8% (50387 vs 48553), and in Passmark multithread it wins by 2.9% (13296 vs 12923).

The i5-1235U counters with its largest win in the find prime numbers test, scoring 954 against the Ultra 7 164U's 56, a staggering 94.1% delta. Floating point math also goes decisively to the i5-1235U, which posts 43303 versus 33581, a 22.5% lead. Data compression favors the i5-1235U by 7% (147450 vs 137133), and random string sorting by 11.3% (17050 vs 15131). Data encryption shows a 5.4% edge for the i5-1235U (9347 vs 8838), while extended instructions go its way by 3.2% (8176 vs 7918). In single-thread Passmark tests, the i5-1235U leads by 4.9% (3151 vs 2996).

The most notable anomaly is Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the i5-1235U wins by 10.3% (9774 vs 8766), despite losing Cinebench R15 and R20 multi-core. This suggests workload scaling behavior differs significantly between the two architectures at longer render durations. Meanwhile, Cinebench R23 single-core still favors the Ultra 7 164U by 15.3% (1590 vs 1379).

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel generations and manufacturing nodes. The Ultra 7 164U is built on Meteor Lake architecture using a 7 nm process, while the i5-1235U uses Alder Lake architecture on a 10 nm node. Both are mobile parts with active production status, but their physical designs diverge substantially.

Core counts differ: the Ultra 7 164U has 12 cores and 14 threads, while the i5-1235U has 10 cores and 12 threads. Despite having fewer cores, the i5-1235U has a higher base clock of 1300 MHz compared to 1100 MHz on the Ultra 7 164U. The boost clocks tell a different story, with the Ultra 7 164U reaching 4.80 GHz versus 4.40 GHz on the i5-1235U. The thermal design point also differs, with the Ultra 7 164U rated at 9 W and the i5-1235U at 15 W.

Cache hierarchies are organized differently. The Ultra 7 164U carries 112 KB of L1 cache per core and 2 MB of L2 cache per core, while the i5-1235U has 80 KB of L1 per core and 1.25 MB of L2 per core. Both share 12 MB of L3 cache. Socket compatibility is not shared: the Ultra 7 164U uses Intel BGA 2551, while the i5-1235U uses Intel BGA 1744.

Memory support also separates these parts. The Ultra 7 164U supports DDR5 only, with capacity depending on the motherboard, while the i5-1235U supports both DDR4 and DDR5. Both use dual-channel memory buses, and neither supports ECC memory. PCIe lanes differ, with the Ultra 7 164U providing Gen 4 with 8 lanes, while the i5-1235U offers Gen 4 with 20 lanes. Integrated graphics are different as well: the Ultra 7 164U has Arc Xe-LPG 64EU, while the i5-1235U has Iris Xe 80EU.

The release dates show a generational gap. The i5-1235U launched earlier on 2022-02-22, while the Ultra 7 164U arrived on 2023-12-13. The launch MSRP for the Ultra 7 164U is $448, while no launch MSRP is recorded for the i5-1235U. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 164U has 12 cores and 14 threads, while the Intel Core i5-1235U has 10 cores and 12 threads.

Q: How do the two processors compare in Cinebench R23 single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 164U scores 1590 versus 1379 on the i5-1235U, a 15.3% advantage for the Ultra 7 164U.

Q: Which processor wins the most benchmark comparisons overall?

A: The Intel Core i5-1235U wins 9 of the 17 head-to-head comparisons, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 164U wins 8.

Q: What is the difference in thermal design power between the two?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 164U has a TDP of 9 W, while the Intel Core i5-1235U has a TDP of 15 W.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?

A: No. The Intel Core Ultra 7 164U supports DDR5 only, while the Intel Core i5-1235U supports both DDR4 and DDR5.

Q: What is the largest single benchmark margin between the two processors?

A: In the Passmark find prime numbers test, the Intel Core i5-1235U scores 954 versus 56 on the Ultra 7 164U, a 94.1% delta in favor of the i5-1235U.

The Verdict

The data supports different choices depending on workload priorities. The Intel Core Ultra 7 164U is the stronger option for single-core burst performance, as shown by its 63% lead in Cinebench R15 single-core and 15.3% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core. It also handles physics workloads far better, with a 33.8% advantage, and maintains edges in integer math and multithread Passmark tests. Its lower 9 W TDP makes it the more power-efficient design on paper, which matters for thermally constrained mobile chassis.

The Intel Core i5-1235U, by contrast, dominates specialized compute tasks. Its 94.1% margin in prime number finding and 22.5% lead in floating point math indicate a significantly different compute profile. It also wins in data compression, encryption, extended instructions, random string sorting, and single-thread Passmark tests. For users running mixed productivity workloads that involve heavy data manipulation, the i5-1235U's recorded scores suggest better suitability.

The overall benchmark averages are close. The Ultra 7 164U has an average benchmark score of 17074 and sits at the 71st percentile, while the i5-1235U averages 16770 and sits at the 70th percentile. The nearest rivals for the Ultra 7 164U include the AMD EPYC 7573X at 17070 (0% delta) and the Intel Core i5-11400 at 17067 (0% delta). For the i5-1235U, the nearest rivals are the Intel Core Ultra 5 115U at 16753 (0.1% delta) and the AMD Ryzen 3 7335U at 16827 (-0.3% delta).

The Cinebench R23 multi-core result is the clearest differentiator. The i5-1235U wins that test by 10.3%, which may indicate better sustained multi-core rendering performance despite losing the shorter R15 and R20 multi-core tests. Users who prioritize long-duration rendering should weigh that result heavily.

Neither processor is an outright winner. The Ultra 7 164U offers better single-core responsiveness and physics performance at lower power, while the i5-1235U delivers stronger specialized math throughput and more PCIe lanes. The choice comes down to whether the workload leans toward bursty single-thread tasks or sustained data-heavy computation.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core Ultra 7 164U | Intel Core i5-1235U |

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

| Cores | 12 | 10 |

| Threads | 14 | 12 |

| Base Clock | 1100 MHz | 1300 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.80 GHz | 4.40 GHz |

| TDP | 9 W | 15 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 2551 | Intel BGA 1744 |

| Architecture | Meteor Lake | Alder Lake |

| Codename | Meteor Lake | Alder Lake-U |

| Generation | Ultra 7 (Meteor Lake) | Core i5 (Alder Lake-U) |

| Process Node | 7 nm | 10 nm |

| L1 Cache | 112 KB (per core) | 80 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 2 MB (per core) | 1.25 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 12 MB (shared) | 12 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR5 | DDR4, DDR5 |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 8 Lanes | Gen 4, 20 Lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | Arc Xe-LPG 64EU | Iris Xe 80EU |

| Release Date | 2023-12-13 | 2022-02-22 |

| Launch MSRP | $448 | Not recorded |

| Part Number | SRN85 | SRLFR |