Intel Core i5-9400T vs Intel Core i7-1160G7 Comparison

Intel Core i5-9400T and Intel Core i7-1160G7 are two very different Intel processors that land surprisingly close in overall benchmark averages. The i5-9400T is a 35W desktop chip from the Coffee Lake era, while the i7-1160G7 is a 15W mobile part built on Tiger Lake. Despite the i7-1160G7 having fewer cores, it wins every single head-to-head benchmark in the data pack, making this comparison less about raw capability and more about platform and efficiency trade-offs.

Where Each One Wins

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i7-1160G7 wins all six recorded benchmark comparisons. There is no test in the head-to-head results where the Intel Core i5-9400T comes out ahead. The i7-1160G7’s wins span both single-core and multi-core workloads across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23. In the R23 multi-core test, the i7-1160G7 scores 7343 against the i5-9400T’s 6896, a 6.1% advantage. Single-core performance shows a similar story, with the i7-1160G7 leading by 6.7% in R15 (104 vs 97) and 6.1% in R23 (1036 vs 973).

The i5-9400T does have one structural advantage: it is a desktop chip with six physical cores and no hyper-threading, while the i7-1160G7 has four cores with eight threads. But that core count advantage does not translate into benchmark wins. The i7-1160G7’s newer architecture and higher boost clock more than compensate. In practice, the i7-1160G7 is the better choice for any workload measured here, from short single-threaded bursts to sustained multi-core rendering.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different eras and design philosophies. The i5-9400T is built on Intel’s 14 nm process and uses the Coffee Lake architecture, specifically the Coffee Lake Refresh generation. It is a desktop part designed for Socket 1151. The i7-1160G7 is a Tiger Lake-U mobile chip built on Intel’s 10 nm process, with the Willow Cove-U core architecture. It uses a BGA 1598 socket, meaning it is soldered to the motherboard rather than upgradeable.

Cache configurations differ significantly. The i5-9400T has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 9 MB of shared L3. The i7-1160G7 has more generous per-core allocations: 80 KB of L1, 1.25 MB of L2, and 12 MB of shared L3. That larger cache hierarchy, combined with the newer process node, helps explain the i7-1160G7’s superior per-clock performance despite having fewer cores.

Memory support also diverges. The i5-9400T uses DDR4 with dual-channel memory and a maximum bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s. The i7-1160G7 uses LPDDR4X, also dual-channel, but with a lower peak bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s. The i7’s lower memory bandwidth is a trade-off of its mobile design, yet it still outperforms the desktop chip in all recorded tests. PCIe support is another differentiator: the i5-9400T offers Gen 3 with 16 CPU lanes, while the i7-1160G7 provides Gen 4 with only 4 lanes.

Integrated graphics are also different. The i5-9400T comes with UHD 630, a basic desktop iGPU. The i7-1160G7 features Iris Xe-LP Graphics G7 with 96 execution units, which is a far more capable integrated solution on paper, though the benchmark pack does not include graphics tests.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench R15 multi-core test sets the tone. The i7-1160G7 scores 740, while the i5-9400T scores 695. That is a 6.1% difference in favor of the mobile chip. In R15 single-core, the gap widens slightly to 6.7%, with the i7-1160G7 at 104 and the i5-9400T at 97. These are not massive margins, but they are consistent.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the pattern holds. Multi-core shows the i7-1160G7 at 3084 versus 2896 for the i5-9400T, again a 6.1% lead. Single-core in R20 is 435 against 408, a 6.2% difference. The i7-1160G7 maintains its advantage even as the workload scales.

Cinebench R23, the most recent of the three, repeats the same outcome. Multi-core scores are 7343 for the i7-1160G7 and 6896 for the i5-9400T, a 6.1% margin. Single-core is 1036 versus 973, also 6.1%. The consistency across all six tests is notable; the i7-1160G7 wins every test by roughly the same percentage, suggesting a fundamental per-clock efficiency advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk.

Geekbench results are only available for the i5-9400T, which scores 3969 in multi-core and 1152 in single-core. The i7-1160G7 has no Geekbench entry in the pack, so no direct comparison is possible there. However, the Cinebench results alone are enough to establish the i7-1160G7 as the stronger performer in this pairing.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core i5-9400T has 6 cores and 6 threads, while the Intel Core i7-1160G7 has 4 cores and 8 threads. Despite having fewer physical cores, the i7-1160G7 wins all multi-core benchmarks in the data.

Q: Is the i7-1160G7 faster in single-core workloads?

A: Yes. The i7-1160G7 leads in every single-core test, including a 6.7% advantage in Cinebench R15 (104 vs 97) and a 6.1% lead in Cinebench R23 (1036 vs 973).

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The i5-9400T has a TDP of 35W, while the i7-1160G7 is rated at 15W. The i7-1160G7 delivers better performance at less than half the power envelope.

Q: Do they use the same socket?

A: No. The i5-9400T uses Intel Socket 1151, and the i7-1160G7 uses Intel BGA 1598. The i7-1160G7 is a mobile chip soldered to the board, while the i5-9400T is a desktop processor.

Q: Which has more L3 cache?

A: The i7-1160G7 has 12 MB of shared L3 cache, compared to 9 MB on the i5-9400T. The i7-1160G7 also has larger L1 and L2 caches per core.

Q: What is the production status of these CPUs?

A: Both are marked as end-of-life in the data pack. The i5-9400T was released in 2018, and the i7-1160G7 was released in 2020.

Specification Differences

The key specification differences between the two processors are clear from the data pack. The i5-9400T has 6 cores and 6 threads, while the i7-1160G7 has 4 cores and 8 threads. Base clocks differ substantially: the i5-9400T runs at 1800 MHz, and the i7-1160G7 at 1200 MHz. Boost clocks flip the advantage: the i5-9400T boosts to 3.40 GHz, while the i7-1160G7 reaches 4.40 GHz.

TDP is a major separator. The i5-9400T draws 35W, and the i7-1160G7 draws 15W. The i5-9400T uses a desktop Socket 1151, while the i7-1160G7 uses mobile BGA 1598. Process nodes differ: 14 nm for the i5-9400T versus 10 nm for the i7-1160G7. The i7-1160G7 also has a listed die size of 144 mm², while the i5-9400T has no die size entry.

Cache and memory specs diverge. The i5-9400T has 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core, with 9 MB shared L3. The i7-1160G7 has 80 KB L1 and 1.25 MB L2 per core, with 12 MB shared L3. Memory support is DDR4 for the i5-9400T and LPDDR4X for the i7-1160G7. Memory bandwidth is higher on the i5-9400T at 42.7 GB/s versus 34.1 GB/s on the i7-1160G7. PCIe versions and lane counts also differ: Gen 3 with 16 lanes for the i5-9400T, Gen 4 with 4 lanes for the i7-1160G7.

Integrated graphics are different, with UHD 630 on the i5-9400T and Iris Xe-LP Graphics G7 96EU on the i7-1160G7. The i7-1160G7 has a launch MSRP of $426; the i5-9400T has no listed launch MSRP. Both are end-of-life, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is one-sided. The Intel Core i7-1160G7 wins all six head-to-head tests, with margins ranging from 6.1% to 6.7%. It achieves this while drawing 15W compared to the i5-9400T’s 35W, making it the more efficient performer in every measured scenario. The i7-1160G7’s newer 10 nm process, higher boost clock, and larger cache hierarchy overcome its two-core deficit.

The i5-9400T does have redeeming qualities for specific use cases. It offers a desktop socket, which means it can be paired with a wider range of motherboards and is potentially user-upgradeable or replaceable. Its memory bandwidth is higher at 42.7 GB/s, and it supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes, which matters for discrete GPUs and expansion cards. If you are building a small form-factor desktop where socket compatibility and PCIe lane count are priorities, the i5-9400T is the more flexible platform choice.

For pure compute performance, however, the i7-1160G7 is the clear winner. It is faster in both single-core and multi-core Cinebench tests, and it does so at less than half the TDP. The only caveat is that it is a mobile part, so it cannot be used in a standard desktop motherboard. The average benchmark scores reflect this closeness: the i5-9400T averages 2136, and the i7-1160G7 averages 2124, a near tie in overall standing, but the head-to-head results show the i7-1160G7 pulling ahead in every direct comparison.

Choose the i5-9400T if you need a desktop platform with more PCIe lanes and socket flexibility. Choose the i7-1160G7 if you want the faster CPU and can accept a mobile form factor. The data favors the i7-1160G7 without exception.