Intel Core i5-1334U vs Intel Core i7-1255U Comparison

Both processors are 10-core, 12-thread mobile parts built for the same 15 W TDP class, but the recorded data shows they are not interchangeable. The Intel Core i5-1334U wins the majority of benchmark comparisons, taking 13 of the 17 head-to-head tests, while the Intel Core i7-1255U claims four wins. The i5-1334U holds a higher average benchmark score of 18154 compared to 17656 for the i7-1255U, and it sits at the 72nd percentile versus the 71st percentile for the i7. The database places the i5-1334U in the company of the AMD Ryzen 3 8300G and the Intel Core i7-1365U, while the i7-1255U is bracketed by the Intel Core i3-13100F and the AMD EPYC 9374F. Despite the i7 branding on one side, the newer Raptor Lake architecture in the i5 delivers a measurable edge across most workloads.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-1334U is the clear winner in rendering and general compute. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 8641 against 8285 for the i7-1255U, a 4.1% advantage. The same pattern appears in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where the i5 posts 1569 versus 1387, a substantial 11.6% lead. These results indicate that the i5-1334U is better suited for sustained multi-threaded tasks like video encoding, 3D scene rendering, and batch processing. The i5 also wins the single-threaded Cinebench R23 test with 1727 against 1647, a 4.6% margin, showing that its per-core efficiency is superior for less parallelized workloads.

The i5-1334U also dominates in Passmark's math and instruction tests. It scores 50374 in integer math, 34474 in floating-point math, and 8563 in extended instructions, each outpacing the i7-1255U by margins between 3.7% and 5.4%. Data compression also favors the i5, with a score of 150568 versus 147320, a 2.2% edge. For productivity suites that rely on encryption and compression, the i5-1334U is the stronger pick.

The Intel Core i7-1255U does not go home empty-handed. Its wins are concentrated in physics simulation, prime number finding, and random string sorting. The most notable victory is in Passmark physics, where it scores 789 against 722 for the i5, a 9.3% advantage. This suggests that the i7 retains an edge in specific simulated physics workloads, possibly due to its higher boost clock of 4.70 GHz versus 4.60 GHz. It also wins the prime number test by a narrow 2.6% (40 versus 39) and ties or edges out the i5 in random string sorting with a 0% delta. These are niche wins, but they show that the i7-1255U is not universally slower.

Architecture Differences

The two CPUs come from different Intel architecture generations. The i7-1255U is built on Alder Lake, with the codename Alder Lake-U, while the i5-1334U is based on Raptor Lake, specifically Raptor Lake-U. Both use the same 10 nm process node and are fabricated by Intel, but the architectural refresh in Raptor Lake brings tangible improvements. The i5-1334U launches nearly a year later, with a release date in early 2023 versus early 2022 for the i7, and the newer design shows up in benchmark outcomes.

Core and cache configurations are identical on paper. Both have 10 cores and 12 threads, with the same L1 cache of 80 KB per core, L2 cache of 1.25 MB per core, and a shared L3 cache of 12 MB. Memory support is also the same: DDR4 and DDR5 in a dual-channel configuration, with no ECC support. The key architectural differences lie elsewhere. The i7-1255U has a base clock of 1.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz, while the i5-1334U runs a lower base clock of 1.30 GHz but a slightly lower boost of 4.60 GHz. The higher boost on the i7 explains its physics win, but the i5's architecture compensates with better IPC (instructions per clock) in most other tests.

Another notable difference is in the integrated graphics. The i7-1255U carries Iris Xe with 96 execution units, while the i5-1334U is paired with Iris Xe Graphics with 80 execution units. This gives the i7 a theoretical graphics advantage, though the benchmark data in this database does not include GPU-specific tests. The PCIe configuration also differs: the i7-1255U supports Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only), while the i5-1334U supports Gen 4 with only 8 lanes (CPU only). This makes the i7 more suitable for systems that need additional PCIe lanes for discrete GPUs or high-speed storage expansion.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single margin in the entire comparison belongs to the i5-1334U in Cinebench R15 multi-core. The i5 scores 1569, which is 182 points higher than the i7's 1387, representing an 11.6% delta in favor of the i5. This is a clear signal that the Raptor Lake design scales better across all cores under moderate load. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i5 leads by 356 points (8641 versus 8285), a 4.1% gap that holds up even in a longer, more demanding render.

Single-thread performance also tilts to the i5. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the i5 scores 1727 versus 1647, a 4.6% lead. Passmark single-thread results echo this, with the i5 at 3345 and the i7 at 3192, again a 4.6% delta. The i5 also wins Passmark floating-point math by 5.4% (34474 versus 32618) and integer math by 3.7% (50374 versus 48498). These are the kinds of margins that matter for everyday responsiveness and office productivity.

The i7-1255U's wins are smaller but distinct. Its biggest victory is in Passmark physics, where it scores 789 against 722, a 9.3% advantage. This is a rare case where the i7's higher boost clock of 4.70 GHz pays off. In Passmark find prime numbers, the i7 wins 40 to 39, a 2.6% margin. The random string sorting test is effectively a tie, with the i7 at 16934 and the i5 at 16933, a 0% delta that the database credits to the i7. The Cinebench R20 single-core test is also a tie at 654 points for both, with the i7 named the winner on a 0% delta.

Specification Differences

The two processors share many core specifications, but several fields differ. The most obvious is the architecture and codename, with the i7 on Alder Lake (Alder Lake-U) and the i5 on Raptor Lake (Raptor Lake-U). The base clock is different: the i7 runs at 1.70 GHz, while the i5 runs at 1.30 GHz. The boost clock also differs, with the i7 at 4.70 GHz and the i5 at 4.60 GHz. The i7's part number is SRLFP, while the i5's is SRML5. Release dates are distinct, with the i7 arriving in February 2022 and the i5 in January 2023.

The integrated graphics differ as well, with the i7 featuring Iris Xe 96EU and the i5 featuring Iris Xe Graphics 80EU. The PCIe lane count is another point of divergence: the i7 offers Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only), while the i5 provides Gen 4 with 8 lanes (CPU only). The i5 has a launch MSRP of $340, which is recorded in the database, while the i7 has no listed launch MSRP. All other specifications, including core count, thread count, cache sizes, memory support, memory bus width, ECC support, socket type, TDP, process node, and production status, are identical between the two.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core i5-1334U wins all multi-core Cinebench tests. It scores 1569 in R15 multi-core versus 1387 for the i7-1255U (11.6% lead), and 8641 in R23 multi-core versus 8285 (4.1% lead). The i5 also leads in Passmark multithread with 13410 against 13234.

Q: Does the Intel Core i7-1255U have any advantages?

A: Yes, the i7-1255U wins in Passmark physics with a score of 789 versus 722 for the i5-1334U, a 9.3% advantage. It also wins the prime number test (40 versus 39) and random string sorting (16934 versus 16933). Its higher boost clock of 4.70 GHz supports these specific wins.

Q: How do the integrated graphics compare?

A: The i7-1255U has Iris Xe with 96 execution units, while the i5-1334U has Iris Xe Graphics with 80 execution units. The i7 offers a higher execution unit count, but the database does not include GPU-specific benchmark scores for either processor.

Q: Are the cache sizes the same?

A: Yes, both processors have identical cache configurations: 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. This is not a point of differentiation.

Q: What is the difference in average benchmark scores?

A: The i5-1334U has an average benchmark score of 18154, while the i7-1255U has an average of 17656. The i5 sits at the 72nd percentile of all CPUs, and the i7 sits at the 71st percentile.

Q: Which processor has a higher base clock?

A: The i7-1255U has a higher base clock at 1.70 GHz, compared to 1.30 GHz for the i5-1334U. However, the i5 still outperforms the i7 in the majority of benchmarks, indicating that its Raptor Lake architecture delivers better performance per clock cycle.