Intel Core i5-8350U vs Intel Core i7-1165G7 Comparison

The Intel Core i7-1165G7 and Intel Core i5-8350U are both 4-core, 8-thread mobile processors, but they belong to different eras of Intel’s architecture. The data reveals a sweeping victory for the newer i7-1165G7, which wins all 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons. The margins are not uniform, however, and the distribution of those deltas tells a story about where architectural improvements mattered most. The i7-1165G7 leads by as little as 19.2% in random string sorting and by as much as 168% in data encryption, indicating that the performance gap is highly workload-dependent.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result is in PassMark’s data encryption test, where the i7-1165G7 scores 5561 against the i5-8350U’s 2075, a 168% advantage. This is the largest delta in the entire comparison, suggesting a major leap in cryptographic instruction handling or memory throughput. Similarly, the find prime numbers test shows a 142.1% gap (46 vs 19), indicating that the newer chip’s integer and branch-prediction capabilities are dramatically stronger. These are not marginal improvements; they represent a generational shift in raw computational efficiency.

In Cinebench, the results are consistent but less extreme. Across R15, R20, and R23, the multicore deltas hover around 60.3-60.4%, with the i7-1165G7 scoring 835, 3483, and 8293 respectively versus 521, 2172, and 5173 for the i5-8350U. The single-core deltas are nearly identical at 60.3-60.5%, with scores of 117 vs 73 in R15, 491 vs 306 in R20, and 1170 vs 730 in R23. This uniformity suggests that the clock-speed and IPC advantages of the i7-1165G7 scale proportionally across rendering workloads, rather than favoring one thread count over another.

The PassMark multithread test shows a 62.5% lead (9958 vs 6129), while the physics test shows a 66.4% lead (712 vs 428). Floating-point math is 47.7% higher (19830 vs 13422), and integer math is 49.9% higher (33349 vs 22244). These results indicate that the i7-1165G7’s advantage extends beyond simple clock speed; the underlying execution units are simply more capable per cycle. The smallest margin, 19.2%, appears in random string sorting (12698 vs 10651), which is a memory-latency-sensitive workload that does not benefit as much from architectural improvements.

Where Each One Wins

The i7-1165G7 wins every single benchmark, so there is no workload category where the i5-8350U comes out ahead. However, the magnitude of the wins varies, which allows for a nuanced use-case analysis. For tasks involving encryption, prime number calculation, or physics simulation, the i7-1165G7 is in a different league, with leads of 142-168%. These are compute-heavy, instruction-level workloads where the Tiger Lake architecture’s improved execution resources shine.

For more mundane tasks like data compression (29.7% lead), random string sorting (19.2% lead), or extended instructions (39.7% lead), the i7-1165G7 is still faster, but the gap narrows. This suggests that memory bandwidth and I/O constraints play a larger role in these workloads, and the i5-8350U’s older design is not as heavily penalized. The i5-8350U, with its 15W TDP versus the i7-1165G7’s 28W TDP, is clearly designed for power efficiency, but the data shows no scenario where that lower power draw translates into a performance win. The i7-1165G7’s single-thread lead of 38.4% (2763 vs 1996) means that even in lightly threaded applications, the newer chip dominates.

Architecture Differences

The fundamental architectural gap is node size: the i7-1165G7 is built on a 10 nm process, while the i5-8350U uses 14 nm. This directly explains the clock speed disparity, with the i7-1165G7 boosting to 4.70 GHz versus the i5-8350U’s 3.60 GHz. The base clocks are even more divergent, though the i5-8350U’s listed base of 1700.00 MHz appears anomalous; regardless, the boost clocks are the relevant figure for peak performance. The i7-1165G7’s Tiger Lake architecture features Willow Cove cores, while the i5-8350U uses Kaby Lake-R with older cores.

Cache configurations differ significantly. The i7-1165G7 has 80 KB of L1 and 1.25 MB of L2 per core, plus 12 MB of shared L3. The i5-8350U has 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, with only 6 MB of L3. This 2x difference in L3 cache is likely a major contributor to the encryption and prime number performance gaps, as these workloads benefit from larger working sets residing on-chip. The die size also differs, with the i7-1165G7 at 144 mm² versus the i5-8350U’s 123 mm², reflecting the more complex Tiger Lake design.

The integrated graphics are another clear differentiator: the i7-1165G7 features Iris Xe-LP Graphics G7 with 96 execution units, while the i5-8350U has UHD 620. This is a massive generational leap in GPU capability, though no specific graphics benchmarks are provided in the data. Memory support also varies, with the i7-1165G7 supporting both DDR4 and LPDDR4X, while the i5-8350U only lists DDR4. The i7-1165G7 also supports PCIe Gen 4 with 4 lanes, whereas the i5-8350U has no PCIe information listed.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i7-1165G7 is the superior processor in every measurable way. If you are choosing between these two for a new system, the i7-1165G7 is the only rational pick from a performance standpoint. Its 60%+ lead in Cinebench multicore and single-core tests means it will handle both multi-threaded rendering and single-threaded productivity tasks with significantly less waiting. The 168% encryption advantage makes it particularly suited for security-focused workloads, VPNs, or any encrypted file operations.

The i5-8350U, with its 15W TDP and active production status, might be considered for ultra-portable devices where battery life is paramount. However, the data shows no performance scenario where it wins. Its only potential advantage is power consumption, which is not benchmarked here. The i7-1165G7, despite its higher 28W TDP, is end-of-life, which could affect long-term availability. But for raw computational throughput, the i7-1165G7 is categorically better. The i5-8350U is a relic of the Kaby Lake era, and the benchmark results confirm that it cannot compete with the architectural advancements of Tiger Lake.

FAQ

Q: How much faster is the i7-1165G7 in multi-core rendering?

A: In Cinebench R23 multicore, the i7-1165G7 scores 8293 versus 5173 for the i5-8350U, a 60.3% advantage. The R20 and R15 multicore tests show similar deltas of 60.4% and 60.3%, respectively.

Q: What is the biggest performance gap between the two processors?

A: The largest delta is in PassMark data encryption, where the i7-1165G7 leads by 168% (5561 vs 2075). The find prime numbers test is close behind at 142.1% (46 vs 19).

Q: Which processor has better single-threaded performance?

A: The i7-1165G7 wins every single-thread test. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 1170 versus 730, a 60.3% lead. PassMark single-thread shows 2763 versus 1996, a 38.4% lead.

Q: Are there any workloads where the i5-8350U is competitive?

A: The smallest gap is in PassMark random string sorting, where the i7-1165G7 leads by 19.2% (12698 vs 10651). Data compression shows a 29.7% lead for the i7-1165G7, but the i5-8350U never wins any benchmark.

Q: How do the cache sizes compare?

A: The i7-1165G7 has 12 MB of shared L3 cache, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 80 KB of L1 per core. The i5-8350U has 6 MB of L3, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 64 KB of L1 per core.

Q: What are the process node differences?

A: The i7-1165G7 is built on Intel’s 10 nm process, while the i5-8350U uses 14 nm. This contributes to the i7-1165G7’s higher boost clock of 4.70 GHz versus 3.60 GHz.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i7-1165G7 | Intel Core i5-8350U |

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

| Base Clock | 2.80 GHz | 1700.00 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.70 GHz | 3.60 GHz |

| TDP | 28 W | 15 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1449 | Intel BGA 1356 |

| Architecture | Tiger Lake | Kaby Lake |

| Codename | Tiger Lake-U | Kaby Lake-R |

| Generation | Core i7 (Willow Cove-U) | Core i5 (Kaby Lake-U Refresh) |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 14 nm |

| Die Size | 144 mm² | 123 mm² |

| 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) | 6 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4, LPDDR4X | DDR4 |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 4 Lanes (CPU only) | Not listed |

| Integrated Graphics | Iris Xe-LP Graphics G7 96EU | UHD 620 |

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

| Release Date | 2020-09-01 | 2017-08-20 |

| Launch MSRP | $426 | Not listed |

| Part Number | SRK02 | SR3L9 |