Intel Core i5-1245U vs Intel Core i7-9700KF Comparison

The Intel Core i7-9700KF and the Intel Core i5-1245U occupy opposite ends of the hardware spectrum: one is an end-of-life desktop part with an unlocked multiplier, the other an active mobile processor designed for power efficiency. Yet, their average benchmark scores are nearly identical—3787 for the i7-9700KF and 3775 for the i5-1245U—placing both at the 56th percentile among all CPUs. The data reveals a striking generational inversion: the newer mobile chip outperforms the older desktop chip in every single head-to-head test, despite a 95W TDP versus a 15W TDP.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The i5-1245U wins all six head-to-head comparisons, with a remarkably consistent margin across both multi-core and single-core workloads. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i5-1245U scores 13053 against the i7-9700KF’s 12100, a 7.3% advantage. The single-core result is equally decisive: 1842 versus 1708, also 7.3% ahead. This uniformity suggests a fundamental architectural edge rather than a workload-specific anomaly.

The pattern repeats across older Cinebench versions. In R20 multi-core, the i5-1245U scores 5482 versus 5082 (7.3% higher), and in R20 single-core it posts 773 against 717 (7.2% higher). The R15 results follow suit: 1315 versus 1219 in multi-core (7.3% higher) and 185 versus 172 in single-core (7.0% higher). Every deltaPct in the data lands between -7.0% and -7.3%, indicating that the i5-1245U’s advantage is consistent across rendering workloads of varying thread counts and durations.

What makes this outcome notable is the hardware context. The i7-9700KF has a 4.90 GHz boost clock and 8 cores with 8 threads, while the i5-1245U boosts to 4.40 GHz and offers 10 cores with 12 threads. Despite a lower peak frequency, the i5-1245U’s higher core and thread counts, combined with its newer architecture, overcome the clock deficit. The i7-9700KF does not win a single benchmark in the head-to-head data—winsA is 0, winsB is 6.

In Geekbench, the i7-9700KF shows its only competitive stand, scoring 7620 multi-core and 1681 single-core. However, the i5-1245U has no Geekbench results in the data pack, so no direct comparison is possible for that test suite. The Cinebench results, which are the only matched benchmarks, tell a uniform story of i5-1245U superiority.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The i7-9700KF has an average benchmark score of 3787, while the i5-1245U scores 3775. The delta between them is 0.3%, with the i7-9700KF leading by a razor-thin margin. Both CPUs sit at the 56th percentile among all CPUs.

Q: How does the i5-1245U compare to the i7-9700KF in multi-core rendering?

A: The i5-1245U is consistently ahead by 7.3% in Cinebench multi-core tests. It scores 1315 in R15, 5482 in R20, and 13053 in R23, versus the i7-9700KF’s 1219, 5082, and 12100 respectively.

Q: Does the i7-9700KF win in any benchmark?

A: No. The head-to-head data shows zero wins for the i7-9700KF and six wins for the i5-1245U. The i7-9700KF’s best single-core Cinebench R23 score of 1708 is still 7.3% behind the i5-1245U’s 1842.

Q: What are the closest rivals for these two CPUs?

A: For the i7-9700KF, the nearest rival is the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 2700 with an average score of 3777 (0.3% lower), followed by the i5-1245U itself at 3775 (0.3% lower). The i5-1245U’s closest rival is the same AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 2700 at 3777 (0% delta), with the i7-9700KF at 3787 (-0.3%).

Q: Which chip has a higher boost clock?

A: The i7-9700KF has a boost clock of 4.90 GHz, while the i5-1245U boosts to 4.40 GHz. Despite the 0.50 GHz deficit, the i5-1245U still wins all single-core Cinebench tests by roughly 7%.

Q: Are these CPUs in the same performance percentile?

A: Yes. Both are listed at the 56th percentile among all CPUs, which aligns with their near-identical average benchmark scores. Their performance class is effectively the same, despite very different physical and architectural profiles.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two processors is generational. The i7-9700KF is built on Coffee Lake, a 14 nm process, while the i5-1245U uses Alder Lake-U on a 10 nm node. This process shrink contributes to the i5-1245U’s ability to deliver comparable or better performance at a fraction of the power envelope.

Core and thread counts differ substantially. The i7-9700KF provides 8 cores and 8 threads, meaning no hyper-threading. The i5-1245U offers 10 cores and 12 threads, a hybrid configuration typical of Alder Lake that mixes performance and efficiency cores. This extra parallelism likely explains the i5-1245U’s multi-core edge.

Cache hierarchies also diverge. The i7-9700KF has 64 KB of L1 per core and 256 KB of L2 per core, with 12 MB of shared L3. The i5-1245U has 80 KB of L1 per core and 1.25 MB of L2 per core, also with 12 MB of shared L3. The larger per-core L2 cache on the i5-1245U is a significant architectural upgrade.

Die size and fabrication details further separate them. The i7-9700KF has a die size of 180.3 mm²; the i5-1245U’s die size is not listed. Both are fabricated by Intel, but the process nodes differ as noted. The i7-9700KF is marked end-of-life, while the i5-1245U is active production.

The i5-1245U also integrates graphics: Iris Xe 80EU. The i7-9700KF has no integrated graphics listed, which is consistent with the "KF" suffix indicating a disabled iGPU. This makes the i5-1245U a self-contained mobile package, whereas the i7-9700KF requires a discrete GPU for any display output.

Specification Differences

The specification sheet shows major divergences in nearly every category. The i7-9700KF has a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. The i5-1245U has a base clock of 1600.00 MHz (1.60 GHz) and a boost of 4.40 GHz. The i7-9700KF’s base clock is more than double, but the i5-1245U’s boost is within 10%—and it still wins in performance.

TDP is the starkest difference: 95W for the i7-9700KF versus 15W for the i5-1245U. This is a 6.3x gap in thermal design power, making the i5-1245U dramatically more power-efficient per unit of performance.

Socket and market segment are incompatible. The i7-9700KF uses Intel Socket 1151 and targets the desktop market. The i5-1245U uses Intel BGA 1744 and is a mobile part. They are not interchangeable in any system.

Memory support differs: the i7-9700KF supports DDR4 only, while the i5-1245U supports both DDR4 and DDR5. Both are dual-channel, but the i7-9700KF lists a memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s; the i5-1245U has no bandwidth figure listed. Neither supports ECC memory.

PCIe capabilities favor the i5-1245U: it offers Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only), while the i7-9700KF provides Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The i5-1245U is also newer by release date—2022-02-22 versus 2019-01-07.

The i7-9700KF has an unlocked multiplier and a launch MSRP of $374, though the i5-1245U has no launch MSRP listed. The i7-9700KF is end-of-life, while the i5-1245U is active. Part numbers are SRG16SRFAC for the i7-9700KF and SRLFSSRLWY for the i5-1245U.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i5-1245U outperforms the Intel Core i7-9700KF in every matched benchmark. The i5-1245U is 7.3% ahead in multi-core and single-core Cinebench tests, despite having a lower boost clock and a fraction of the TDP. The i7-9700KF’s only claim to superiority is its average benchmark score of 3787 versus 3775, a 0.3% margin that falls within the noise of nearest rival deltas.

For desktop users with an existing Socket 1151 platform, the i7-9700KF offers an unlocked multiplier and a 4.90 GHz boost, which may appeal for overclocking. But the benchmark data shows that even without overclocking, the i5-1245U delivers better rendering performance. The i7-9700KF’s lack of integrated graphics is a drawback for systems without a discrete GPU, and its end-of-life status limits long-term viability.

For mobile or compact systems, the i5-1245U is the clear choice from the data. It provides higher core and thread counts, newer architecture, faster PCIe, and integrated Iris Xe graphics, all within a 15W envelope. The 10 nm process and hybrid core design give it a generational advantage that the i7-9700KF cannot overcome despite its higher clocks.

The verdict from the benchmark results is simple: the i5-1245U wins on performance, efficiency, and feature set. The i7-9700KF remains competitive only in the narrow sense of its average score, which is statistically tied with its rival. Buyers choosing between these two should prioritize the i5-1245U unless they specifically need the i7-9700KF’s unlocked multiplier and desktop socket, which the performance data does not justify.