Intel Core i5-8365U vs Intel Core i7-1165G7 Comparison

The Verdict

The recorded data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i7-1165G7 wins every single head-to-head benchmark against the Intel Core i5-8365U, with a 17 to 0 score in the database. The i7-1165G7 is the faster processor across all tested workloads, from single-threaded tasks to multi-threaded rendering and encryption. The i5-8365U, while still holding the same 65th percentile ranking among all CPUs, trails by significant margins that range from roughly 24% to over 177% depending on the specific test. Any user selecting between these two mobile chips should prioritize the i7-1165G7 if raw performance is the primary criterion, as the data shows no scenario where the older i5-8365U pulls ahead.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel design generations and manufacturing nodes. The Core i7-1165G7 is built on Tiger Lake, specifically the Tiger Lake-U codename, using Intel's 10 nm process with a die size of 144 mm². Its architecture is designated as Willow Cove-U. The Core i5-8365U, by contrast, belongs to the Whiskey Lake family, using the older 14 nm process node, and its architecture is listed simply as Whiskey Lake. This generational gap is the most fundamental difference between the two.

Cache configurations also differ substantially. The i7-1165G7 provides 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, and a shared 12 MB L3 cache. The i5-8365U offers 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and only 6 MB of shared L3. That is a doubling of L3 capacity in favor of the newer chip, which helps explain its advantage in memory-heavy workloads.

The integrated graphics differ as well. The i7-1165G7 ships with Iris Xe-LP Graphics G7 with 96 execution units, while the i5-8365U uses the older UHD Graphics 620. The memory support also diverges: the i7-1165G7 supports both DDR4 and LPDDR4X, whereas the i5-8365U is limited to DDR4. The PCIe interface is newer on the i7-1165G7, with Gen 4 and 4 lanes, compared to Gen 3 with 16 lanes on the i5-8365U. The sockets are different as well, BGA 1449 for the i7-1165G7 and BGA 1528 for the i5-8365U, meaning they are not drop-in interchangeable in a system design.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results paint a consistent picture of i7-1165G7 dominance. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i7-1165G7 scores 835 against 509 for the i5-8365U, a 64% advantage. The single-core R15 result shows 117 versus 71, a 64.8% lead. Moving to Cinebench R20, the multi-core gap remains at 64.2%, with scores of 3483 and 2121, while the single-core test shows 491 versus 299, again a 64.2% delta. Cinebench R23 follows the same pattern: the i7-1165G7 achieves 8293 multi-core and 1170 single-core, versus 5050 and 713 for the i5-8365U, translating to 64.2% and 64.1% gaps respectively.

The PassMark suite reveals even wider divergences in certain specialized tasks. Data encryption is the most lopsided result: the i7-1165G7 scores 5561 against 2006, a 177.2% increase. Prime number finding also shows a massive gap, 46 versus 19, which is 142.1% ahead. Floating point math favors the i7-1165G7 by 51.3% (19830 versus 13110), and integer math by 51.4% (33349 versus 22021). Extended instructions show a 44.3% lead (7323 versus 5074). The multi-thread PassMark score is 9958 versus 5976, a 66.6% difference, while physics testing shows 712 versus 422, a 68.7% gap.

The smaller but still notable wins include data compression at 103497 versus 76239, a 35.8% margin, and random string sorting at 12698 versus 10256, a 23.8% lead. Single-thread PassMark scores are 2763 versus 2073, a 33.3% advantage. The i5-8365U never wins a single test in this comparison, so the narrative is not about trade-offs but about the magnitude of the i7-1165G7's superiority.

Specification Differences

The two chips differ in several key specification fields. The base clock is listed as 2.80 GHz for the i7-1165G7 and 1600.00 MHz for the i5-8365U, while boost clocks are 4.70 GHz and 4.10 GHz respectively. Thermal design power is another differentiator: the i7-1165G7 has a TDP of 28 watts, while the i5-8365U is rated at 15 watts. This explains part of the performance gap, as the i7-1165G7 is allowed to draw more power.

Memory bandwidth is only recorded for the i5-8365U, at 38.4 GB/s, while the i7-1165G7 does not have a listed bandwidth figure. The i5-8365U also has a smaller L2 cache per core (256 KB versus 1.25 MB) and L1 per core (64 KB versus 80 KB), as previously noted. The release dates are also different: the i7-1165G7 launched on 2020-09-01, while the i5-8365U came earlier on 2019-04-15. The launch MSRP for the i7-1165G7 is $426, and for the i5-8365U it is $297. Both are end-of-life products with no unlocked multiplier. The part numbers are SRK02 for the i7-1165G7 and SRF9Z for the i5-8365U.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i7-1165G7 boosts up to 4.70 GHz, while the Intel Core i5-8365U reaches 4.10 GHz.

Q: How much larger is the L3 cache on the i7-1165G7?

A: The i7-1165G7 has 12 MB of shared L3 cache, exactly double the 6 MB found on the i5-8365U.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two in any benchmark?

A: The biggest delta is in PassMark data encryption, where the i7-1165G7 scores 5561 versus 2006 for the i5-8365U, a 177.2% difference.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No, both the i7-1165G7 and the i5-8365U have ECC memory support set to false.

Q: Which processor has a smaller manufacturing process node?

A: The i7-1165G7 uses a 10 nm process, while the i5-8365U is built on a 14 nm node.

Q: Are the two processors compatible with the same socket?

A: No, the i7-1165G7 uses Intel BGA 1449, and the i5-8365U uses Intel BGA 1528.

Where Each One Wins

Given the data, the i7-1165G7 wins in every measured category, so the more useful question is which workloads benefit most from its advantages. The single-core Cinebench scores show a consistent lead of around 64%, which translates directly to responsiveness in lightly threaded applications like everyday productivity, web browsing, and legacy software. The PassMark single-thread score of 2763 versus 2073 reinforces this, a 33.3% edge that will be noticeable in user-facing tasks.

For multi-threaded work, the i7-1165G7's lead is even larger in some cases. The Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 8293 versus 5050 indicates a 64.2% advantage in rendering workloads. PassMark multi-thread shows a 66.6% gap, and physics testing shows 68.7%. The encryption test is the most extreme outlier, with the i7-1165G7 delivering 177.2% higher throughput, which matters for disk encryption and secure communications. Prime number finding, a proxy for certain integer workloads, shows a 142.1% lead.

The i5-8365U does have one specification advantage: a lower TDP of 15 watts versus 28 watts. That means it could be more suitable for fanless or ultra-low-power designs, though the benchmark data does not include any power efficiency measurements. The i5-8365U also supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes, which is more lanes than the 4 lanes on the i7-1165G7, potentially offering more connectivity options for certain laptop configurations. However, in purely computational terms, the i7-1165G7 is the clear choice, and the i5-8365U is best reserved for scenarios where its lower power envelope is a strict requirement.