Intel Core i5-1240U vs Intel Core Ultra 7 164U Comparison

The Intel Core Ultra 7 164U and the Intel Core i5-1240U are both 9 W mobile processors aimed at thin-and-light laptops, but the benchmark data reveals a clear split between single-threaded and multi-threaded workloads. The Core Ultra 7 164U, built on the newer Meteor Lake architecture, wins 5 of the 17 head-to-head tests, while the Core i5-1240U takes 12. Despite this, the Core Ultra 7 164U holds a slight edge in overall average benchmark score (17074 vs 16957) and a one-point higher percentile ranking (71st vs 70th). The data shows a nuanced picture: the older Alder Lake chip dominates in single-core and legacy multi-core tests, while the newer chip excels in modern multi-threaded rendering and math-heavy workloads.

The Verdict

The Intel Core i5-1240U is the better choice for users whose workloads are predominantly single-threaded or rely on older benchmark suites. It wins the Cinebench R20 multicore test by a substantial 10.5% (5013 vs 4488) and the R20 single-core test by the same margin (707 vs 633). PassMark single-thread performance also favors the i5-1240U, with a 7.5% lead (3239 vs 2996). For general productivity tasks like data compression (143102 vs 137133, a 4.2% lead) and random string sorting (15996 vs 15131, a 5.4% lead), the i5-1240U is consistently ahead. It also wins the PassMark physics test (981 vs 918, a 6.4% lead) and the find prime numbers test (63 vs 56, an 11.1% lead).

The Intel Core Ultra 7 164U is the pick for users running modern multi-threaded creative applications. Its most significant victory is in Cinebench R23 multicore, where it scores 8766 against 7902, a 10.9% advantage. This is complemented by a 13% lead in PassMark floating point math (33581 vs 29726) and a 12.1% lead in integer math (50387 vs 44968). The Ultra 7 also takes the Cinebench R15 multicore test (1304 vs 1242, a 5% lead) and the R23 single-core test (1590 vs 1559, a 2% lead). Data suggests the Ultra 7’s architecture is better optimized for sustained multi-threaded loads and modern instruction sets, while the i5-1240U retains an edge in older, less parallelized benchmarks.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 164U has a slightly higher average benchmark score of 17074, compared to 16957 for the Intel Core i5-1240U.

Q: How do the two chips compare in Cinebench R23 multicore performance?

A: The Core Ultra 7 164U wins decisively, scoring 8766 versus 7902 for the i5-1240U, a 10.9% difference.

Q: Which CPU is faster in single-threaded PassMark tests?

A: The Intel Core i5-1240U is faster, scoring 3239 compared to 2996 for the Core Ultra 7 164U, a 7.5% lead.

Q: What is the core and thread count difference?

A: The Core Ultra 7 164U has 12 cores and 14 threads, while the Core i5-1240U has 10 cores and 12 threads.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock speed?

A: The Core Ultra 7 164U has a higher boost clock of 4.80 GHz, while the Core i5-1240U boosts to 4.40 GHz.

Q: Are there any benchmarks where the i5-1240U wins by more than 10%?

A: Yes, the i5-1240U wins the Cinebench R20 multicore and single-core tests by 10.5%, and the PassMark find prime numbers test by 11.1%.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel architectures and process nodes. The Core Ultra 7 164U is built on Meteor Lake architecture using a 7 nm process, while the Core i5-1240U uses Alder Lake architecture on a 10 nm process. The Core Ultra 7 164U features 12 cores and 14 threads, configured with a larger per-core cache: 112 KB of L1 and 2 MB of L2 per core. Its L3 cache is 12 MB shared. The Core i5-1240U has 10 cores and 12 threads, with smaller per-core caches of 80 KB L1 and 1.25 MB L2, but it matches the 12 MB shared L3 cache. The integrated graphics also differ: the Ultra 7 164U has Arc Xe-LPG with 64 EU, while the i5-1240U has Iris Xe with 80 EU. Memory support varies, with the Ultra 7 supporting DDR5 (depending on motherboard) and the i5-1240U supporting both DDR4 and DDR5. The socket is another distinguishing factor: the Ultra 7 uses Intel BGA 2551, while the i5-1240U uses Intel BGA 1781. The Ultra 7 164U also has a newer release date of 2023-12-13, compared to 2022-02-22 for the i5-1240U.

Specification Differences

The specification sheets show several key differences between the two parts. The Core Ultra 7 164U has 12 cores and 14 threads, while the Core i5-1240U has 10 cores and 12 threads. The Ultra 7 164U has a boost clock of 4.80 GHz versus 4.40 GHz for the i5-1240U; both have a base clock of 1100.00 MHz. Both have a TDP of 9 W. The process node differs, with the Ultra 7 at 7 nm and the i5-1240U at 10 nm. The Ultra 7 164U uses the Intel BGA 2551 socket, while the i5-1240U uses Intel BGA 1781. Cache structures differ: the Ultra 7 has 112 KB L1 and 2 MB L2 per core, while the i5-1240U has 80 KB L1 and 1.25 MB L2 per core; both share 12 MB L3. The Ultra 7 164U supports only DDR5 memory, whereas the i5-1240U supports DDR4 and DDR5. PCIe support also varies, with the Ultra 7 offering Gen 4 with 8 lanes (CPU only), while the i5-1240U has Gen 4 without a lane count specified. The integrated GPU differs (Arc Xe-LPG 64EU vs Iris Xe 80EU). The Ultra 7 164U has a launch MSRP of $448; the i5-1240U has no listed launch MSRP. The part number for the Ultra 7 is SRN85, while the i5-1240U has no part number listed.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data reveals a clear pattern of where each processor excels. Starting with the biggest win for the Core Ultra 7 164U: in Cinebench R23 multicore, it scores 8766 against the i5-1240U’s 7902, a 10.9% advantage. This is followed by a 13% lead in PassMark floating point math (33581 vs 29726) and a 12.1% lead in integer math (50387 vs 44968). The Ultra 7 also wins Cinebench R15 multicore (1304 vs 1242, a 5% lead) and Cinebench R23 single-core (1590 vs 1559, a 2% lead).

The Core i5-1240U has its own set of decisive victories. Its largest win is a 10.5% lead in both Cinebench R20 multicore (5013 vs 4488) and single-core (707 vs 633). The i5-1240U also wins PassMark single-thread by 7.5% (3239 vs 2996), and PassMark physics by 6.4% (981 vs 918). In PassMark find prime numbers, the i5-1240U wins by 11.1% (63 vs 56). Data compression favors the i5-1240U by 4.2% (143102 vs 137133), and random string sorting by 5.4% (15996 vs 15131). The i5-1240U also wins the data encryption test by 1.4% (8964 vs 8838), extended instructions by 0.2% (7932 vs 7918), and PassMark multithread by 0.8% (13406 vs 13296). The only near-tie is Cinebench R15 single-core, where the i5-1240U wins by 0.4% (226 vs 225). Overall, the i5-1240U wins 12 of 17 tests, but the Ultra 7 164U’s wins in the heavier Cinebench R23 multi-core and PassMark math workloads suggest it is better suited for modern, multi-threaded applications.