Intel Core i5-8259U vs Intel Core i7-1185GRE Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a remarkably close contest across the Cinebench suite, but a dramatic split in Geekbench results. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Intel Core i7-1185GRE scores 668 against 667 for the Intel Core i5-8259U, a delta of just 0.1%. The single-core R15 test is a perfect tie at 94 points for both processors, with the i7-1185GRE recorded as the winner due to a 0% delta. Moving to Cinebench R20, the pattern holds: the i7-1185GRE leads multicore with 2786 points versus 2781, a 0.2% advantage, and single-core with 393 versus 392, a 0.3% margin. Cinebench R23 repeats the same story, with the i7-1185GRE ahead 6635 to 6622 in multicore (0.2%) and 936 to 934 in single-core (0.2%).

The Geekbench results, however, break the near-deadlock decisively. In Geekbench multicore, the i5-8259U takes the win with 4168 points against 4060 for the i7-1185GRE, a 2.6% margin. The single-core Geekbench test flips the script entirely: the i7-1185GRE posts 1848 points versus 1207 for the i5-8259U, a massive 53.1% advantage. This single result accounts for the i7-1185GRE holding seven wins out of eight head-to-head benchmarks, despite the i5-8259U's clear multicore victory in Geekbench.

Across the entire benchmark set, the average scores tell a complementary story. The i7-1185GRE has an average benchmark score of 2178, placing it at the 47th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 5 3400GE at 2175 (0.2% behind) and the Intel Core i5-1145G7E at 2174 (0.2% behind). The i5-8259U averages 2108, sitting at the 46th percentile, with the Intel Core i5-8500T at 2110 (0.1% ahead) and the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2400G at 2101 (0.3% behind) as its closest competitors. The 70-point gap in average scores between the two processors is modest, but the Geekbench single-core delta of 53.1% represents the single largest performance differential in any recorded test.

Where Each One Wins

The i7-1185GRE dominates in single-threaded workloads across both benchmark suites. Its 53.1% lead in Geekbench single-core is the standout result, but it also edges ahead in every single-core Cinebench test: R15 by 0%, R20 by 0.3%, and R23 by 0.2%. This suggests that applications relying heavily on per-core performance, such as lightly threaded productivity tasks, interactive workloads, or latency-sensitive operations, will see a clear benefit from the i7-1185GRE. The 4.40 GHz boost clock versus the i5-8259U's 3.80 GHz boost clock aligns with this pattern, though the database records the benchmark scores as the primary evidence.

The i5-8259U secures its single win in Geekbench multicore, posting 4168 points against 4060, a 2.6% advantage. This result indicates that in certain multi-threaded scenarios, the i5-8259U can outperform its newer counterpart despite losing all three Cinebench multicore tests by narrow margins. The i5-8259U's higher base clock of 2.30 GHz versus 1.80 GHz for the i7-1185GRE may contribute to this outcome, as sustained all-core workloads could benefit from the higher floor frequency. However, the Cinebench multicore results, where the i7-1185GRE wins by 0.1% to 0.2%, suggest that the i5-8259U's multicore advantage is not universal across different rendering engines.

For synthetic rendering workloads, the i7-1185GRE is the consistent winner, albeit by razor-thin margins. The largest multicore delta in Cinebench is just 0.2%, meaning the two processors are effectively tied for rendering tasks. The i5-8259U's Geekbench multicore win, therefore, represents a workload-specific strength rather than a general multicore superiority. Users prioritizing single-threaded responsiveness should favor the i7-1185GRE, while those running Geekbench-style mixed workloads might see a slight edge from the i5-8259U.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel generations and manufacturing nodes. The i7-1185GRE is built on Tiger Lake-U architecture with a 10 nm process node, while the i5-8259U uses Coffee Lake-U on a 14 nm node. The die sizes reflect this: the i7-1185GRE measures 144 mm², while the i5-8259U is smaller at 126 mm². Both are mobile processors with four cores and eight threads, but the architectural differences are substantial.

Cache configurations diverge significantly. The i7-1185GRE features 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The i5-8259U offers 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and only 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The i7-1185GRE therefore has twice the L3 capacity, which likely contributes to its single-core performance advantages, particularly the 53.1% Geekbench single-core lead.

Memory support also differs. The i7-1185GRE supports DDR4 and LPDDR4X memory in a dual-channel configuration, and it supports ECC memory. The i5-8259U supports only DDR4, also dual-channel, with a recorded memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, and it does not support ECC. The i7-1185GRE's broader memory compatibility and ECC support make it more suitable for reliability-focused deployments, while the i5-8259U's fixed DDR4 support with a stated bandwidth figure provides a concrete throughput specification.

PCIe capabilities differ by generation and lane count. The i7-1185GRE uses PCIe Gen 4 with 4 CPU lanes, while the i5-8259U uses PCIe Gen 3 with 16 CPU lanes. The newer Gen 4 standard offers higher per-lane bandwidth on the i7-1185GRE, but the i5-8259U provides more total lanes for expansion. Integrated graphics also differ: the i7-1185GRE ships with Iris Xe-LP Graphics G7 with 96 execution units, while the i5-8259U uses Iris Pro Plus 655.

The i7-1185GRE has a 15 W TDP and uses the Intel BGA 1449 socket, while the i5-8259U has a 28 W TDP and uses the Intel BGA 1526 socket. The i5-8259U's higher TDP allows for more sustained power draw, which may explain its Geekbench multicore win despite the older architecture. The i7-1185GRE's lower TDP, combined with its 10 nm process, suggests better energy efficiency per unit of performance. The i7-1185GRE maintains active production status, while the i5-8259U is marked end-of-life. The i7-1185GRE launched in September 2020 with a launch MSRP of $490, and the i5-8259U launched in April 2018 with a launch MSRP of $320.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i7-1185GRE has an average benchmark score of 2178, compared to 2108 for the Intel Core i5-8259U. The i7-1185GRE sits at the 47th percentile of all CPUs, while the i5-8259U sits at the 46th percentile.

Q: How large is the single-core performance gap in Geekbench?

A: The i7-1185GRE scores 1848 in Geekbench single-core versus 1207 for the i5-8259U, a 53.1% advantage. This is the largest performance delta recorded across all head-to-head benchmarks.

Q: Does the i5-8259U win any benchmark outright?

A: Yes, the i5-8259U wins Geekbench multicore with 4168 points against 4060 for the i7-1185GRE, a 2.6% margin. This is the only benchmark win for the i5-8259U out of the eight recorded tests.

Q: What are the TDP differences between the two processors?

A: The i7-1185GRE has a TDP of 15 W, while the i5-8259U has a TDP of 28 W. The i5-8259U's higher TDP allows for greater sustained power draw, potentially explaining its Geekbench multicore win.

Q: How do the cache configurations compare?

A: The i7-1185GRE has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The i5-8259U has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The i7-1185GRE offers double the L3 cache.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The i7-1185GRE supports ECC memory, while the i5-8259U does not. The i7-1185GRE also supports both DDR4 and LPDDR4X, whereas the i5-8259U supports only DDR4.

The Verdict

The data points to the i7-1185GRE as the overall performance leader, but the margin is thinner than the win count suggests. Seven of eight head-to-head benchmarks favor the i7-1185GRE, yet five of those wins are by 0.3% or less. The single decisive victory is the 53.1% Geekbench single-core lead, which demonstrates a clear architectural advantage in per-thread performance. Buyers prioritizing single-threaded workloads, such as interactive applications or lightly threaded productivity tools, should select the i7-1185GRE without hesitation.

The i5-8259U's sole win in Geekbench multicore, with a 2.6% advantage, indicates that certain multi-threaded workloads may perform slightly better on the older processor. However, the three Cinebench multicore tests all favor the i7-1185GRE, even if by narrow margins. This inconsistency suggests that the i5-8259U's multicore advantage is workload-specific rather than general. The i5-8259U's higher TDP of 28 W versus 15 W may allow it to sustain higher clocks under load, but the i7-1185GRE compensates with a newer architecture, larger caches, and a smaller process node.

For users running a mix of workloads, the i7-1185GRE is the safer recommendation. It wins the majority of tests, offers ECC memory support, provides PCIe Gen 4 connectivity, and remains in active production. The i5-8259U, being end-of-life, offers no future supply advantages. The i7-1185GRE's 12 MB of L3 cache versus 6 MB on the i5-8259U further reinforces its suitability for cache-sensitive applications. The i5-8259U is only preferable for workloads that closely mirror Geekbench's multicore pattern, and even then, the 2.6% margin is modest. Overall, the recorded data favors the i7-1185GRE for both single-threaded and general-purpose use, with the i5-8259U holding a narrow niche in specific multicore scenarios.