Intel Core i5-1245U vs Intel Core i7-11700T Comparison

The Intel Core i7-11700T and Intel Core i5-1245U are two very different processors that nevertheless land in the same performance bracket. The data shows that the mobile-oriented i5-1245U wins every head-to-head benchmark, yet the margin is consistently razor-thin. Across six Cinebench tests, the i5-1245U leads by a maximum of just 0.8% in multicore workloads and 0.5% in single-core tests, meaning the desktop i7-11700T is effectively on par with its newer, lower-power rival despite its older architecture and different market segment.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results are unusually one-sided in outcome but remarkably close in magnitude. The i5-1245U takes all six Cinebench comparisons, but none of the victories exceed a 0.8% delta. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i5-1245U scores 1315 against the i7-11700T’s 1304, a 0.8% advantage. The single-core R15 test shows 185 versus 184, a negligible 0.5% difference. This pattern repeats itself across every workload, suggesting that the two chips deliver nearly identical sustained performance in these rendering tasks.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the i5-1245U posts 5482 multicore and 773 single-core, while the i7-11700T reaches 5436 and 767 respectively. The deltas remain fixed at 0.8% for both tests. In Cinebench R23, the i5-1245U again leads with 13053 multicore and 1842 single-core, against the i7-11700T’s 12945 and 1827. The 0.8% gap in multi-core performance is consistent, while the single-core gap narrows slightly to 0.8% as well. For context, the i7-11700T’s average benchmark score is 3864, and its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2718, scores 3875 — a 0.3% difference. The i5-1245U averages 3775, with the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 2700 at 3777 (0% delta) as its closest competitor. Both chips sit at the 56th percentile of all CPUs, confirming their statistical equivalence.

What is most telling is that the i7-11700T, despite having a 35W TDP and a desktop platform, cannot outrun the 15W i5-1245U in any of the six tests. The i5-1245U’s wins are consistent, but the margins are so small that real-world differences would be imperceptible. The i7-11700T’s higher boost clock of 4.60 GHz versus the i5-1245U’s 4.40 GHz does not translate into a single-core victory, as the newer Alder Lake core design compensates with better instructions-per-clock. The data indicates that in pure rendering performance, the two are interchangeable.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher multi-core score in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core i5-1245U scores 13053, while the Intel Core i7-11700T scores 12945. The i5-1245U leads by 0.8%.

Q: How do the single-core scores compare between the two?

A: The i5-1245U wins every single-core test, including 1842 versus 1827 in Cinebench R23 (0.8% delta) and 773 versus 767 in Cinebench R20 (0.8% delta).

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each CPU?

A: The i7-11700T has an average benchmark score of 3864, while the i5-1245U averages 3775. Both sit at the 56th percentile of all CPUs.

Q: Are there any benchmarks where the i7-11700T wins?

A: No. The head-to-head data shows the i5-1245U winning all six Cinebench tests, with the i7-11700T recording zero wins.

Q: How do these processors compare to their nearest rivals?

A: The i7-11700T is 0.3% behind the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2718 (3875) and 1.1% ahead of the Intel Xeon E-2286M (3822). The i5-1245U is tied with the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 2700 (3777) and 0.9% ahead of the Intel Core i5-11600T (3742).

Q: What is the core and thread configuration of each?

A: The i7-11700T has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the i5-1245U has 10 cores and 12 threads.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural eras. The i7-11700T is built on Rocket Lake, a 14 nm process, while the i5-1245U uses Alder Lake-U on a 10 nm node. This generational gap explains several key differences. Rocket Lake is a desktop-oriented design, with a monolithic core layout and a 276 mm² die size. Alder Lake-U is a mobile-first hybrid architecture, though the data does not specify whether the i5-1245U uses performance and efficiency cores; it simply lists 10 cores and 12 threads, indicating some cores lack hyper-threading.

The cache hierarchies differ significantly. Both share 80 KB of L1 per core, but the L2 cache jumps from 512 KB per core on the i7-11700T to 1.25 MB per core on the i5-1245U. Total L3 cache favors the desktop part: 16 MB shared versus 12 MB shared. The i7-11700T supports only DDR4 memory, while the i5-1245U supports both DDR4 and DDR5. Memory bandwidth is listed at 51.2 GB/s for the i7-11700T, but no figure is provided for the i5-1245U. Both use dual-channel memory buses and PCIe Gen 4 with 20 CPU lanes.

The integrated graphics also differ: the i7-11700T pairs with UHD Graphics 750, while the i5-1245U uses Iris Xe 80EU. Both lack ECC support and have locked multipliers. The i7-11700T is an end-of-life desktop part on Intel Socket 1200, whereas the i5-1245U is an active mobile part on Intel BGA 1744. The manufacturing process shrink from 14 nm to 10 nm is the most fundamental architectural change, enabling the i5-1245U to match the i7-11700T’s performance while consuming less than half the power.

Specification Differences

The most obvious specification gap is in power. The i7-11700T has a 35W TDP, while the i5-1245U is rated at 15W. This 20W difference is substantial, especially given the near-identical benchmark results. Core counts also differ: the i7-11700T has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the i5-1245U has 10 cores but only 12 threads. Despite having two more physical cores, the i5-1245U ends up with fewer threads, which suggests a hybrid arrangement or disabled hyper-threading on some cores.

Base and boost clocks show minor differences. The i7-11700T starts at 1400 MHz and boosts to 4.60 GHz. The i5-1245U starts higher at 1600 MHz but boosts to 4.40 GHz. The desktop chip has a 200 MHz boost advantage, yet it loses all single-core tests. Socket and market segment are completely different: Socket 1200 for desktop versus BGA 1744 for mobile. The i7-11700T was released on 2021-03-15 with a launch MSRP of $323, while the i5-1245U came later on 2022-02-22 and has no listed launch MSRP. Production status also differs, with the i7-11700T end-of-life and the i5-1245U active.

Memory support is another differentiator. The i7-11700T is limited to DDR4, whereas the i5-1245U supports both DDR4 and DDR5. The L2 cache per core is 1.25 MB on the i5-1245U versus 512 KB on the i7-11700T, but the total L3 cache is 16 MB on the i7-11700T versus 12 MB on the i5-1245U. The i7-11700T has a listed die size of 276 mm²; the i5-1245U’s die size is not provided. Finally, the part numbers differ (SRKNT for the i7-11700T, SRLFSSRLWY for the i5-1245U), and the integrated graphics are different models.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear conclusion: the Intel Core i5-1245U is the superior processor in every measured benchmark, but the advantage is so marginal that it is functionally negligible. The i5-1245U wins all six Cinebench tests, with deltas ranging from 0.5% to 0.8%. In a head-to-head comparison, the i7-11700T fails to secure a single win. However, the i7-11700T’s average benchmark score of 3864 is actually higher than the i5-1245U’s 3775, though both sit at the 56th percentile. This seeming contradiction arises because the average includes tests beyond the six Cinebench workloads, and the i7-11700T’s nearest rivals (AMD Ryzen Embedded V2718 at 3875) are slightly stronger than the i5-1245U’s (AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 2700 at 3777).

For a desktop user, the i7-11700T offers no performance advantage, but it does provide a larger 16 MB L3 cache and a higher boost clock. The i5-1245U, despite being a mobile part, matches or slightly exceeds the desktop chip in rendering workloads while using 20W less power. The i5-1245U also supports DDR5 memory and has a newer 10 nm process. The i7-11700T’s only unique advantages are its desktop socket (Socket 1200) and its listed launch MSRP of $323. Given the i7-11700T is end-of-life and the i5-1245U is active, the i5-1245U is the more future-proof choice. The verdict is straightforward: the i5-1245U is the better performer, and the i7-11700T offers no benchmark-based reason for selection.

Where Each One Wins

The i5-1245U wins every benchmark category measured. In multicore workloads, it leads by 0.8% across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23. Single-core tests follow the same pattern, with 0.5% to 0.8% advantages. The i5-1245U is the clear pick for rendering tasks, both multithreaded and single-threaded, based on the head-to-head data. It also wins on power efficiency, with a 15W TDP versus 35W, and on memory flexibility, supporting DDR4 and DDR5. Its 10 cores and 12 threads provide a higher core count, and its 10 nm process node is more modern than the 14 nm node of the i7-11700T.

The i7-11700T, despite losing all six benchmarks, holds advantages in specific areas. It has a higher boost clock (4.60 GHz versus 4.40 GHz) and more total L3 cache (16 MB versus 12 MB). It also has a larger thread count (16 versus 12) and a listed launch MSRP of $323, though pricing should not factor into a performance analysis. The i7-11700T’s desktop form factor with Socket 1200 makes it suitable for traditional desktop builds, while the i5-1245U’s BGA 1744 socket is for mobile systems. In terms of raw benchmark wins, the i5-1245U is the winner across the board, but the i7-11700T remains relevant for desktop users who prioritize cache size and boost clock. The data shows a tie in percentile ranking (56th for both), reinforcing that the choice between them depends on platform rather than performance.