Intel Core i5-1245U vs Intel Core i9-10885H Comparison

The Intel Core i5-1245U sweeps the Intel Core i9-10885H across every recorded Cinebench test, a clean six-for-six result that reverses the usual expectations when a newer mid-range chip meets an older flagship. The i5-1245U wins every single-core and multi-core contest by margins between 7.6 and 7.9 percent, and it does so while operating at a third of the rated power. The i9-10885H still posts respectable absolute numbers, sitting at the 55th percentile of all CPUs in the database, but the recorded data gives it no category win in this matchup.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The data shows a strikingly consistent gap. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-1245U scores 1315 against 1219 for the i9-10885H, a 7.9 percent win. The single-core result is nearly identical: 185 versus 172, a 7.6 percent advantage for the Alder Lake chip. Cinebench R20 follows the same script. Multi-core ends 5482 to 5082, a 7.9 percent gap, while single-core lands at 773 versus 717, 7.8 percent in favor of the i5.

Cinebench R23, the heaviest rendering test in the set, confirms the pattern rather than breaking it. The i5-1245U posts 13053 in multi-core against 12102, again 7.9 percent ahead, and 1842 versus 1708 in single-core, 7.8 percent ahead. Across six tests the delta never leaves a narrow band between 7.6 and 7.9 percent. That uniformity matters: it indicates a structural performance advantage across the entire load range rather than a lucky result in one workload.

For context against the wider database, the i5-1245U holds an average benchmark score of 3775 and the 56th percentile, essentially tied with rivals such as the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 2700 (average score 3777, a 0 percent delta) and slightly ahead of the Intel Core i7-9700KF (3787, minus 0.3 percent) and Core i7-8086K (3800, minus 0.6 percent). The i9-10885H averages 3651 at the 55th percentile, clustering with the Intel Xeon E5-2658A v3 (3658), Intel Xeon E5-1681 v3 (3643), and AMD EPYC 7251 (3671). Two chips one percentile apart in the database, yet the newer one wins every direct exchange.

The i9-10885H does have additional Geekbench results on file: 6764 multi-core and 1447 single-core. No matching Geekbench entries exist for the i5-1245U, so no cross-comparison can be drawn there, and the Cinebench suite remains the only common ground.

Where Each One Wins

The honest answer from the recorded data: the i5-1245U wins everywhere. Six benchmarks, six wins, zero for the i9-10885H. Multi-core rendering, single-threaded responsiveness, short bursts, sustained loads, the outcome does not change.

What makes the sweep notable is how the two chips get there. The i5-1245U pairs a higher multi-core score with a clearly superior single-core score, which is rare when a low-power part faces a high-power flagship. Its 185-point R15 single-core result and 1842-point R23 single-core result mean snappier UI work, faster lightly threaded application behavior, and better per-task responsiveness, all at a 15W TDP versus 45W for the i9.

The i9-10885H's remaining case rests on factors outside these tests. It offers 16 threads against 12, which the Cinebench results suggest it cannot fully convert into a win here, and its 5.30 GHz boost clock exceeds the i5's 4.40 GHz. Buyers who specifically need the older Comet Lake platform's characteristics, such as its PCIe Gen 3 configuration or DDR4-only support, might still land on it, but the performance data provides no reason to prefer it.

Architecture Differences

These are two fundamentally different Intel designs. The i5-1245U is built on the Alder Lake architecture (codename Alder Lake-U) on a 10 nm process from Intel's own foundry. It uses a hybrid layout of 10 cores and 12 threads, combining performance and efficiency cores, and carries a modern feature set: DDR4 and DDR5 memory support over a dual-channel bus, PCIe Gen 4 with 20 CPU lanes, and Iris Xe 80EU integrated graphics. Its cache hierarchy is deep per core, with 80 KB of L1 and 1.25 MB of L2 per core, plus 12 MB of shared L3. Base clock is 1600.00 MHz with a 4.40 GHz boost, all under a 15W TDP in the Intel BGA 1744 socket.

The i9-10885H is Comet Lake (codename Comet Lake-H) on Intel's 14 nm process, a monolithic design of 8 cores and 16 threads, all of the same core type. Its boost clock reaches 5.30 GHz from a 2.40 GHz base, but the TDP is 45W in the Intel BGA 1440 socket. Cache tilts the other way at the top level: 16 MB of shared L3, though per-core L1 and L2 are smaller at 64 KB and 256 KB respectively. Platform support is narrower, with DDR4-only memory, PCIe Gen 3 with 16 CPU lanes, and the older UHD Graphics 630 integrated GPU. The die measures 206 mm², a figure not recorded for the i5. Memory bandwidth for the i9 is listed at 46.9 GB/s, with no equivalent figure on file for the i5.

Production status is another differentiator. The i5-1245U is Active, released in late February 2022. The i9-10885H is End-of-life, released in April 2020, carrying a launch MSRP of $556. Neither part has an unlocked multiplier, and neither supports ECC memory.

The Verdict

Pick the Core i5-1245U. The data shows it ahead in every single recorded benchmark, by 7.6 to 7.9 percent, in both single-core and multi-core tests, while drawing a fraction of the power on paper. It also brings the newer platform: DDR5 support, PCIe Gen 4 with more lanes, stronger integrated graphics, and an active production status versus an end-of-life predecessor.

The Core i9-10885H earns consideration only where its specific attributes matter more than benchmark scores: a need for its 16-thread topology, its higher 5.30 GHz boost figure, its 16 MB of shared L3, or compatibility with an existing Comet Lake-H design. On pure measured performance, which is what this comparison tracks, it loses every event. The percentile gap is just one point, 56 versus 55, but the head-to-head record is a shutout, and the verdict follows directly from it.

FAQ

Q: Does the Core i5-1245U beat the Core i9-10885H in single-core performance?

A: Yes. It wins every single-core test: 185 versus 172 in Cinebench R15 (7.6 percent), 773 versus 717 in R20 (7.8 percent), and 1842 versus 1708 in R23 (7.8 percent).

Q: How large is the multi-core gap?

A: The i5-1245U leads by 7.9 percent in all three Cinebench multi-core tests: 1315 versus 1219 in R15, 5482 versus 5082 in R20, and 13053 versus 12102 in R23.

Q: Which chip has more threads?

A: The i9-10885H, with 16 threads from 8 cores. The i5-1245U offers 12 threads from 10 cores. Despite the thread deficit, the i5 wins every multi-core benchmark on record.

Q: How do their power ratings compare?

A: The i5-1245U is rated at 15W TDP while the i9-10885H is rated at 45W TDP, and the lower-power part still wins all six recorded benchmarks.

Q: Which processor supports newer memory and connectivity?

A: The i5-1245U. It supports DDR4 and DDR5 with PCIe Gen 4 and 20 CPU lanes, whereas the i9-10885H supports DDR4 only with PCIe Gen 3 and 16 CPU lanes.

Q: Are both chips still in production?

A: No. The i5-1245U is listed as Active, while the i9-10885H is End-of-life. The i9 carried a launch MSRP of $556 when introduced.

Specification Differences

| Field | Intel Core i5-1245U | Intel Core i9-10885H |

|---|---|---|

| Architecture | Alder Lake | Comet Lake |

| Codename | Alder Lake-U | Comet Lake-H |

| Cores | 10 | 8 |

| Threads | 12 | 16 |

| Base Clock | 1600.00 MHz | 2.40 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.40 GHz | 5.30 GHz |

| TDP | 15W | 45W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1744 | Intel BGA 1440 |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 14 nm |

| L1 Cache | 80 KB (per core) | 64 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core) | 256 KB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 12 MB (shared) | 16 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR4 |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 20 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Iris Xe 80EU | UHD Graphics 630 |

| Die Size | Not recorded | 206 mm² |

| Production Status | Active | End-of-life |

| Release Date | 2022-02-22 | 2020-04-01 |

| Launch MSRP | Not recorded | $556 |