Intel Core i5-1240P vs Intel Core i7-9700E Comparison

The Intel Core i5-1240P and Intel Core i7-9700E occupy the same performance percentile (53rd), yet their benchmark profiles could hardly be more different. The i5-1240P is a 12-core Alder Lake mobile processor with a 28 W TDP, while the i7-9700E is an 8-core Coffee Lake desktop chip with a 65 W TDP and a launch MSRP of $323. The data shows a near-tie in average benchmark score—3202 for the i5-1240P versus 3197 for the i7-9700E—but the head-to-head results reveal a split personality: the i5-1240P wins five of six tests, while the i7-9700E takes the one that matters most in prolonged multi-threaded workloads.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i5-1240P edges out the Intel Core i7-9700E with an average benchmark score of 3202, compared to 3197 for the i7-9700E. This places the i5-1240P 0.2% ahead in the nearestRivals data.

Q: How do the two chips compare in Cinebench R23 multi-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i7-9700E wins this test decisively, scoring 10613 versus 9392 for the i5-1240P. The deltaPct of -11.5% indicates the i5-1240P trails by 11.5% in this specific workload.

Q: Which processor wins the single-core tests?

A: The Intel Core i5-1240P wins every single-core benchmark in the head-to-head data. The largest margin is in Cinebench R15 single-core, where it scores 226 versus 150 for the i7-9700E, a 50.7% advantage.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The Intel Core i5-1240P has 12 cores and 16 threads. The Intel Core i7-9700E has 8 cores and 8 threads, meaning it has no hyper-threading support.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?

A: No. The Intel Core i5-1240P supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the Intel Core i7-9700E supports only DDR4. Both use a dual-channel memory bus.

Q: Which processor has a higher TDP?

A: The Intel Core i7-9700E has a TDP of 65 W, which is more than double the 28 W TDP of the Intel Core i5-1240P. This reflects their different market segments: desktop versus mobile.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two processors spans two generations and two design philosophies. The Intel Core i5-1240P is built on Alder Lake, Intel's hybrid architecture, using a 10 nm process node with a die size of 217 mm². It features 12 cores and 16 threads, combining performance and efficiency cores to balance power draw against throughput. Its cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The i5-1240P uses the Intel BGA 1744 socket, which is soldered to the motherboard, and is classified as a mobile part.

In contrast, the Intel Core i7-9700E belongs to the older Coffee Lake architecture, manufactured on a 14 nm process with a smaller die size of 180.3 mm². It offers 8 cores and 8 threads, with no simultaneous multi-threading. Its cache configuration is more modest per core: 64 KB of L1, 256 KB of L2, and the same 12 MB of shared L3 cache as the i5-1240P. The i7-9700E uses the Intel Socket 1151, a standard desktop socket, and is designated as an end-of-life product.

The integrated graphics also differ significantly. The i5-1240P comes with Iris Xe 80EU, while the i7-9700E pairs with UHD Graphics 630. Memory support diverges as well: the i5-1240P accepts both DDR4 and DDR5, whereas the i7-9700E is limited to DDR4. The i7-9700E does list a memory bandwidth figure of 42.7 GB/s, a detail not specified for the i5-1240P. PCIe capabilities also differ, with the i5-1240P offering Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only) versus Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only) on the i7-9700E. Neither chip supports ECC memory, and both have locked multipliers.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data reveals a curious pattern: the i5-1240P dominates in most tests, but the i7-9700E wins the most demanding multi-threaded workload. Starting with Cinebench R15, the i5-1240P scores 1566.5 in multi-core versus 1069 for the i7-9700E, a 46.5% advantage. In single-core R15, the gap widens to 50.7%, with scores of 226 and 150 respectively.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the i5-1240P maintains its lead but with a narrower margin. In multi-core, it scores 5632 against 4457, a 26.4% difference. The single-core R20 result shows the exact same deltaPct of 26.4%, with scores of 795 and 629. These consistent margins across R15 and R20 suggest the i5-1240P’s architectural advantages—more cores, higher boost clock (4.40 GHz on both, but the i5 has a lower base clock of 1700 MHz versus 2600 MHz)—translate into measurable gains in these older Cinebench versions.

The story flips in Cinebench R23 multi-core. The i7-9700E scores 10613, surpassing the i5-1240P’s 9392 by 11.5%. This is the only head-to-head test the i7-9700E wins. The R23 workload appears to favor the i7-9700E’s higher sustained power envelope and desktop-class cooling, allowing it to leverage its 65 W TDP more effectively than the mobile i5-1240P’s 28 W TDP. In R23 single-core, however, the i5-1240P reclaims the lead with a score of 1600 versus 1498, a 6.8% advantage.

The overall win count is 5-1 in favor of the i5-1240P. Yet the average benchmark scores are nearly identical—3202 for the i5-1240P and 3197 for the i7-9700E—which suggests that the i7-9700E’s R23 multi-core victory carries substantial weight, offsetting its losses in the other five tests. The i5-1240P’s wins are spread across both single-core and multi-core tests, but the i7-9700E’s single win is a large enough margin to nearly equalize the averages.

Specification Differences

The two processors diverge on nearly every major specification. The core and thread counts differ sharply: the i5-1240P has 12 cores and 16 threads, while the i7-9700E has 8 cores and 8 threads. Base clocks are also distinct, with the i5-1240P running at 1700 MHz and the i7-9700E at 2600 MHz. Both share the same boost clock of 4.40 GHz, which explains the i5-1240P’s single-core superiority despite its lower base frequency.

TDP is a major differentiator: 28 W for the i5-1240P versus 65 W for the i7-9700E. This reflects their intended environments—mobile versus desktop. The sockets are incompatible: Intel BGA 1744 for the i5-1240P, Intel Socket 1151 for the i7-9700E. Process node and die size also differ: 10 nm and 217 mm² for the i5-1240P, 14 nm and 180.3 mm² for the i7-9700E.

Cache layouts are not directly comparable. The i5-1240P allocates 80 KB L1 and 1.25 MB L2 per core, while the i7-9700E uses 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core. Both have 12 MB of shared L3 cache. Memory support offers the i5-1240P more flexibility with DDR4 and DDR5, versus the i7-9700E’s DDR4-only support. The i7-9700E lists a memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s, which the i5-1240P does not specify.

PCIe generations and lane counts differ: Gen 4 with 20 lanes on the i5-1240P, Gen 3 with 16 lanes on the i7-9700E. Integrated graphics are Iris Xe 80EU for the i5-1240P and UHD Graphics 630 for the i7-9700E. Production status also separates them: the i5-1240P is active, while the i7-9700E is end-of-life. The i7-9700E has a launch MSRP of $323; the i5-1240P has no listed launch MSRP.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear split based on workload type. The Intel Core i5-1240P is the better all-round performer, winning five of six head-to-head tests with margins ranging from 6.8% to 50.7%. Its single-core performance is consistently ahead, benefiting from the newer Alder Lake architecture and the same 4.40 GHz boost clock as the i7-9700E. For users prioritizing responsiveness in everyday tasks, lightly threaded applications, or older Cinebench versions, the i5-1240P is the data-backed choice.

The Intel Core i7-9700E, however, holds a decisive advantage in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where it scores 10613 versus 9392. This suggests that in sustained, heavily multi-threaded workloads—rendering, video encoding, or scientific computing—the i7-9700E’s higher TDP and desktop design allow it to extract more performance from its 8 cores than the i5-1240P can from its 12 cores under a 28 W power limit. The near-identical average benchmark scores (3202 versus 3197) and the same 53rd percentile ranking indicate that, on balance, neither chip is a runaway winner.

The choice hinges on the user’s platform and power constraints. The i5-1240P is a mobile processor on a BGA 1744 socket, suited for laptops and compact systems. The i7-9700E is a desktop chip on Socket 1151, now end-of-life but still capable. If the workload is R23-style multi-threading, the i7-9700E wins. For everything else in this benchmark suite, the i5-1240P is ahead.

Where Each One Wins

Intel Core i5-1240P:

• Cinebench R15 multi-core: 1566.5 versus 1069 (46.5% lead)
• Cinebench R15 single-core: 226 versus 150 (50.7% lead)
• Cinebench R20 multi-core: 5632 versus 4457 (26.4% lead)
• Cinebench R20 single-core: 795 versus 629 (26.4% lead)
• Cinebench R23 single-core: 1600 versus 1498 (6.8% lead)
• Overall benchmark wins: 5 out of 6 head-to-head tests

The i5-1240P’s wins span both single-core and multi-core tests, demonstrating broad superiority in the older Cinebench R15 and R20 workloads. Its single-core edge is particularly pronounced, with a 50.7% margin in R15. The 12-core, 16-thread configuration and 10 nm process likely contribute to these results, as does the higher per-core cache allocation (80 KB L1, 1.25 MB L2 per core).

Intel Core i7-9700E:

• Cinebench R23 multi-core: 10613 versus 9392 (11.5% lead)
• Overall benchmark wins: 1 out of 6 head-to-head tests

The i7-9700E’s sole win is in the most recent and demanding multi-threaded benchmark in the data set. This result is notable because it reverses the trend seen in R15 and R20, where the i5-1240P held a 26.4% to 46.5% advantage. The i7-9700E’s 65 W TDP and desktop socket allow for sustained high clocks, which appears to be decisive in R23’s longer render workload. Its 8-core, 8-thread design, while older, still delivers competitive throughput when power is not a constraint.