Intel Core i5-1240U vs Intel Core i7-1260P Comparison

The Intel Core i7-1260P and Intel Core i5-1240U are both Alder Lake mobile processors, but they target very different performance and efficiency profiles. The data shows a decisive sweep: the i7-1260P wins all 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, with margins ranging from a negligible 0.3% to a commanding 42.7%. While the i5-1240U is no slouch in absolute terms, the i7-1260P consistently delivers substantially higher throughput, particularly in multi-threaded and math-intensive workloads.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most lopsided victory for the Intel Core i7-1260P comes in PassMark's floating-point math test, where it scores 42,417 against the i5-1240U's 29,726 — a 42.7% advantage. This is a massive gap that speaks to the i7-1260P's superior sustained compute capability. Integer math follows a similar pattern: 62,316 versus 44,968, a 38.6% lead. These two results alone signal that the i7-1260P is in a different class for number-crunching tasks.

The extended instructions benchmark also heavily favors the i7-1260P, with a score of 10,493 versus 7,932 — a 32.3% delta. This indicates stronger SIMD and advanced instruction set performance, which matters for modern applications that leverage AVX or similar extensions. Data compression shows a 27.9% gap (182,968 vs 143,102), while random string sorting is 28.7% faster on the i7-1260P (20,586 vs 15,996). These are real-world productivity wins, not just synthetic outliers.

Multi-threaded rendering benchmarks paint a consistent picture. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the i7-1260P scores 9,711 versus 7,902 — a 22.9% lead. The earlier Cinebench R20 multicore test shows a 17.2% gap (5,874 vs 5,013), while R15 multicore is the closest of the heavy workloads at 30.9% (1,626 vs 1,242). The i7-1260P's PassMark multithread score of 16,775 beats the i5-1240U's 13,406 by 25.1%, reinforcing that the extra two cores and four threads translate directly into faster parallel execution.

Single-thread performance tells a more nuanced story. The i7-1260P still wins every test, but the margins shrink considerably. Cinebench R23 single-core shows an 11.4% lead (1,737.5 vs 1,559), and R20 single-core is 17.3% higher (829 vs 707). However, PassMark single-thread scores are nearly identical: 3,250 versus 3,239 — a mere 0.3% difference. This suggests that for lightly threaded tasks, the two processors are effectively peers, with the i7-1260P's higher boost clock only providing a marginal edge.

Other notable wins include data encryption (11,238 vs 8,964, up 25.4%), physics simulation (1,092 vs 981, up 11.3%), and the find-prime-numbers test, which is a dead heat at 63 versus 63. The i7-1260P's average benchmark score of 17,007 also edges out the i5-1240U's 16,957, but both sit at the 70th percentile among all CPUs, indicating they occupy a similar overall performance tier despite the i7's dominance in head-to-head tests.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i7-1260P is the faster processor in every measured category. With 12 cores and 16 threads versus the i5-1240U's 10 cores and 12 threads, the i7-1260P leverages its additional resources to deliver between 7.5% and 42.7% more performance depending on the workload. The only near-tie is in PassMark single-thread, where the 0.3% delta is within noise.

Pick the Intel Core i7-1260P if you need maximum throughput for rendering, code compilation, data analysis, or any workload that scales with core count. Its 28W TDP means it is designed for more substantial laptops that can sustain higher power draw. Pick the Intel Core i5-1240U if you prioritize efficiency above all else — its 9W TDP is a third of the i7-1260P's, making it suited for ultraportables and fanless designs, but you will sacrifice 17-43% performance in multi-threaded tasks. For single-threaded office work, web browsing, or light productivity, the difference is negligible, and the i5-1240U's lower power consumption could translate to longer battery life.

Architecture Differences

Both CPUs are built on Intel's Alder Lake architecture using a 10nm process node, but they belong to different sub-families. The i7-1260P uses the Alder Lake-P die (217 mm²), while the i5-1240U is based on Alder Lake-U. The core configuration differs significantly: the i7-1260P offers 12 cores and 16 threads, whereas the i5-1240U has 10 cores and 12 threads. This gives the i7-1260P two additional cores and four additional threads, which explains its multi-threaded dominance.

Cache allocation also differs. Both CPUs feature 80 KB of L1 cache 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 i5-1240U. This extra 6 MB of L3 can reduce memory latency for frequently accessed data, further contributing to the i7-1260P's performance edge.

Clock speeds reveal the fundamental design trade-off. The i7-1260P has a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. The i5-1240U's base clock is listed as 1100.00 MHz (which appears to be a data anomaly, but the pack states it as such), with a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. The i7-1260P's higher boost clock explains its single-thread wins, while the i5-1240U's significantly lower base clock underscores its efficiency focus. The TDP difference is stark: 28W for the i7-1260P versus 9W for the i5-1240U, confirming that the i7-1260P is meant for performance-oriented laptops while the i5-1240U targets power-efficient designs.

Memory support is identical — both support DDR4 and DDR5 in dual-channel mode — but the PCIe implementation differs. The i7-1260P offers Gen 4 with 20 lanes from the CPU, while the i5-1240U lists Gen 4 without a lane count. Integrated graphics also differ: the i7-1260P features Iris Xe with 96 execution units, while the i5-1240U has Iris Xe with 80 EUs. Both CPUs use different sockets (BGA 1744 for the i7-1260P, BGA 1781 for the i5-1240U), meaning they are not interchangeable in the same motherboard.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core i7-1260P wins every multi-threaded test, with margins from 17.2% in Cinebench R20 multicore to 42.7% in PassMark floating-point math. Its Cinebench R23 multicore score is 9,711 versus 7,902 for the i5-1240U, a 22.9% lead.

Q: Is the i5-1240U competitive in single-thread performance?

A: It is close but still behind. PassMark single-thread scores are 3,250 for the i7-1260P and 3,239 for the i5-1240U, a 0.3% difference. However, in Cinebench R23 single-core, the gap widens to 11.4% (1,737.5 vs 1,559).

Q: What is the TDP difference between these two chips?

A: The i7-1260P has a 28W TDP, while the i5-1240U is rated at 9W. This makes the i5-1240U significantly more power-efficient, at the cost of substantial multi-threaded performance.

Q: Do they share the same integrated graphics?

A: No. The i7-1260P uses Iris Xe with 96 execution units, while the i5-1240U has Iris Xe with 80 execution units. The i7-1260P's GPU is more capable in theory, though no GPU benchmarks are provided in the data.

Q: How do these CPUs compare to other processors in the database?

A: Both sit at the 70th percentile among all CPUs. The i7-1260P's average score of 17,007 places it near the AMD EPYC 7742 (17, -0.1% delta) and AMD Ryzen 5 3600 (17,035, -0.2%). The i5-1240U's 16,957 average is close to the AMD EPYC 7702 (16,932, +0.1%) and AMD EPYC 7742 (16,998, -0.2%).

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-1260P is the clear winner for compute-heavy tasks. Its 42.7% lead in floating-point math and 38.6% lead in integer math make it the obvious choice for scientific computing, financial modeling, or any workload that relies heavily on arithmetic operations. The 32.3% advantage in extended instructions means it handles SIMD-heavy applications like video encoding or 3D rendering more effectively. Its 25.1% multithread lead and 22.9% Cinebench R23 advantage position it for content creation, software compilation, and batch processing.

The i7-1260P also wins in data-related tasks: 27.9% faster data compression and 28.7% faster random string sorting suggest it can handle database operations and file archiving more quickly. Data encryption is 25.4% faster, which matters for security-sensitive applications or VPN throughput.

The Intel Core i5-1240U's only real wins are in efficiency and single-thread parity. Its 9W TDP versus 28W means it generates less heat and draws less power, making it suitable for thin-and-light laptops without active cooling. In PassMark single-thread, the 0.3% delta means there is no practical difference for everyday tasks like web browsing, email, or document editing. For users who rarely push multi-core workloads, the i5-1240U offers near-identical responsiveness while enabling longer battery life and quieter operation.

The i7-1260P is the pick for power users who need sustained performance. The i5-1240U is for those who value portability and efficiency over raw speed. There is no middle ground in the benchmark data — the i7-1260P wins every test, but the i5-1240U's lower power budget is the only metric where it comes out ahead.