Intel Core i5-1345U vs Intel Core i7-1355U Comparison

The Intel Core i5-1345U and Intel Core i7-1355U are both 10-core, 12-thread Raptor Lake-U mobile processors on the same 10 nm process, sharing the same 12 MB L3 cache and 15 W TDP. The recorded data shows a clear split: the i7-1355U dominates Cinebench rendering workloads and single-threaded tasks, while the i5-1345U wins most PassMark data-processing tests. The i7-1355U takes 10 of 17 head-to-head benchmarks, but the i5-1345U is not a simple downgrade; it leads in seven tests, including several with margins over 5%. The choice depends on whether the workload favors Cinebench-style rendering or PassMark-style data manipulation.

The Verdict

The Intel Core i7-1355U is the pick for users who prioritize rendering performance and single-thread responsiveness. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 8286 is 6.8% ahead of the i5-1345U's 7724, and its single-core score of 1825 beats the i5's 1724 by 5.5%. The i7 also wins every Cinebench generation tested, from R15 to R23, in both single and multi-core modes. For physics simulation, the i7 leads by 7.9% (888 vs 818), and for prime number finding it leads by 7.8% (51 vs 47). If the workload is built around rendering, simulation, or lightly threaded applications, the i7-1355U is the stronger choice.

The Intel Core i5-1345U is the pick for data-heavy workloads that rely on compression, encryption, and instruction-level throughput. It wins PassMark data compression by 5.3% (164005 vs 155727), data encryption by 4.6% (10288 vs 9831), and extended instructions by 5.2% (9178 vs 8726). It also leads in random string sorting by 7.1% (18888 vs 17631), floating point math by 2.8% (35939 vs 34965), and integer math by 1.6% (52847 vs 52002). The i5 even edges out the i7 in PassMark multithread (14511 vs 14299, a 1.5% lead). For database operations, file compression, or encryption-heavy tasks, the i5-1345U delivers more throughput per test.

The i7-1355U carries a higher launch MSRP of $469, while the i5-1345U launched at $309. The data does not show a universal winner; it shows two different optimization targets. The i7 is the better all-rounder for rendering and general responsiveness, while the i5 is the better specialist for data processing.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on the same Raptor Lake architecture with the Raptor Lake-U codename. They share the same 10 nm process node from Intel, the same 10-core, 12-thread configuration, and the same cache hierarchy: 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and 12 MB shared L3. Both use the Intel BGA 1744 socket, support DDR4 and DDR5 memory in dual-channel mode, and offer PCIe Gen 4 with 8 lanes from the CPU. Neither supports ECC memory, and both are unlocked multipliers.

The key architectural differences are clock speeds and integrated graphics. The i7-1355U has a base clock of 1700 MHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, while the i5-1345U runs at 1600 MHz base and 4.70 GHz boost. That 300 MHz boost advantage explains the i7's consistent single-thread wins. The i7 also carries a stronger integrated GPU: Iris Xe Graphics with 96 execution units, compared to the i5's 80 EU version. Both processors are active in production and were released on the same date.

The memory support, PCIe lanes, and cache layout are identical, so the performance differences in the benchmark data come down to clock speed and the iGPU configuration. The i5's wins in data compression and encryption are not explained by architecture alone; they likely reflect the specific instruction paths in those PassMark tests, where the i5's slightly lower boost clock does not hinder throughput.

Where Each One Wins

The i7-1355U wins in every Cinebench test, which measures rendering performance. The largest margin is in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the i7 leads by 6.8%. The smallest is in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the i7 leads by just 0.1% (4949 vs 4942). The i7 also wins single-threaded PassMark tests, though by a narrow 0.8% (3444 vs 3415). Physics simulation and prime number finding are also i7 territory, with margins of 7.9% and 7.8% respectively. These are tasks that benefit from higher boost clocks and single-thread efficiency.

The i5-1345U wins in PassMark data processing tests. Its largest win is random string sorting at 7.1%, followed by data compression at 5.3% and extended instructions at 5.2%. It also leads in data encryption (4.6%), floating point math (2.8%), integer math (1.6%), and multithread (1.5%). These tests often involve memory access patterns and instruction-level parallelism where the i5's slightly lower clock does not penalize it. The i5's multithread win is notable because both chips have the same core and thread count; the i5 achieves 14511 vs the i7's 14299.

In practical terms, the i7 is the choice for video rendering, 3D modeling, and any workload that scales with single-thread speed. The i5 is the choice for file compression, encryption, and data transformation tasks. The i5's wins are not trivial; several exceed 5%, which is a meaningful gap in real-world throughput.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Core i7-1355U scores 8286, which is 6.8% ahead of the i5-1345U's 7724.

Q: Does the i5-1345U win any benchmarks?

A: Yes, it wins 7 of 17 head-to-head tests, including PassMark data compression (164005 vs 155727), data encryption (10288 vs 9831), and random string sorting (18888 vs 17631).

Q: Are the core counts the same?

A: Yes, both have 10 cores and 12 threads, with the same 12 MB L3 cache and 15 W TDP.

Q: What is the difference in integrated graphics?

A: The i7-1355U has Iris Xe Graphics with 96 execution units, while the i5-1345U has 80 execution units.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The i7-1355U boosts to 5.00 GHz, while the i5-1345U boosts to 4.70 GHz.

Q: How do they compare in single-threaded PassMark?

A: The i7-1355U scores 3444, a 0.8% lead over the i5-1345U's 3415.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest win for the i7-1355U is in PassMark physics, where it scores 888 against the i5's 818, a 7.9% margin. The second largest is in PassMark find prime numbers, 51 vs 47, a 7.8% lead. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i7 leads by 6.8% (8286 vs 7724), and in Cinebench R15 single-core, it leads by 6.1% (255.5 vs 240). Cinebench R15 multi-core shows a 5.9% gap (1393 vs 1311), and Cinebench R23 single-core shows 5.5% (1825 vs 1724). The i7 also wins Cinebench R20 multi-core by 0.1% (4949 vs 4942) and single-core by 0.1% (698 vs 697), plus PassMark single-thread by 0.8% (3444 vs 3415).

The largest win for the i5-1345U is in PassMark random string sorting, where it scores 18888 against the i7's 17631, a 7.1% margin. The second largest is data compression, 164005 vs 155727, a 5.3% lead. Extended instructions follow at 5.2% (9178 vs 8726), and data encryption at 4.6% (10288 vs 9831). Floating point math shows a 2.8% lead (35939 vs 34965), integer math a 1.6% lead (52847 vs 52002), and multithread a 1.5% lead (14511 vs 14299).

The pattern is consistent: the i7 wins all rendering and single-thread tests, while the i5 wins all data-processing tests except find prime numbers. The i7's wins are concentrated in Cinebench and physics, where clock speed matters most. The i5's wins are in PassMark's data manipulation suite, where the i5's architecture appears to handle instruction streams more efficiently despite the lower boost clock.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in only a few fields. The base clock is 1700 MHz for the i7-1355U and 1600 MHz for the i5-1345U. The boost clock is 5.00 GHz for the i7 and 4.70 GHz for the i5. The integrated graphics differ: the i7 has Iris Xe Graphics with 96 execution units, while the i5 has 80 execution units. The launch MSRP is $469 for the i7-1355U and $309 for the i5-1345U. All other specifications are identical: 10 cores, 12 threads, 15 W TDP, Intel BGA 1744 socket, Raptor Lake architecture, 10 nm process, 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, 12 MB shared L3, DDR4/DDR5 dual-channel memory, PCIe Gen 4 with 8 lanes, no ECC support, and the same release date. Both are active in production and have unlocked multipliers.