Intel Core i7-10510U vs Intel Core i7-1165G7 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i7-1165G7 wins every single recorded benchmark against the Intel Core i7-10510U, taking all 19 comparisons. The margin varies dramatically by workload, from a modest 14.7% advantage in random string sorting to a crushing 158.5% lead in data encryption.

The most lopsided result comes in PassMark's data encryption test, where the i7-1165G7 scores 5561 against 2151 for the i7-10510U. That 158.5% delta suggests the Tiger Lake part's cryptographic execution resources are fundamentally more efficient, not merely faster clock-for-clock. Similarly, the prime number finding test shows a 109.1% advantage (46 vs 22), indicating a substantial uplift in integer-heavy algorithmic throughput.

Cinebench results tell a consistent story across multiple versions. In Cinebench R20 multicore, the i7-1165G7 posts 3483 versus 2262, a 54% lead. The single-core result mirrors this at 53.9% (491 vs 319). Cinebench R23 multicore shows 8293 against 5388, again a 53.9% gap, while single-core R23 lands at 1170 versus 760, the same 53.9% delta. This consistency across rendering generations points to a fundamental architectural advantage rather than a benchmark-specific quirk.

Geekbench delivers the second-largest overall margin. The multicore score of 4467 for the i7-1165G7 against 2648 for the i7-10510U represents a 68.7% improvement, the biggest non-encryption delta in the dataset. The single-core Geekbench result shows 1578 versus 1032, a 52.9% gap. The fact that multicore scaling exceeds single-core scaling here suggests the i7-1165G7 manages thread scheduling and memory access more effectively under full load.

PassMark's suite splits into two tiers of advantage. The larger tier includes multithread (9958 vs 6450, 54.4%), physics (712 vs 472, 50.8%), floating point math (19830 vs 14080, 40.8%), extended instructions (7323 vs 5224, 40.2%), and integer math (33349 vs 23441, 42.3%). The smaller tier contains single-thread (2763 vs 2237, 23.5%), data compression (103497 vs 82606, 25.3%), and random string sorting (12698 vs 11068, 14.7%). These sub-30% margins in day-to-day tasks are still decisive, but they reveal that the i7-1165G7's advantage narrows when workloads are memory-latency-bound or rely on simpler instruction streams.

The average benchmark score in the database tells a broader story. The i7-1165G7 averages 9235, placing it in the 65th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals in the database include the Intel Xeon Gold 5320 (9234, 0% delta) and the Intel Core i5-10300H (9243, -0.1% delta). The i7-10510U averages 8580, also at the 65th percentile, but its nearest rivals are far less demanding parts: the Intel Core i5-8250U (8577, 0% delta) and Intel Core i5-8265U (8568, 0.1% delta). While both CPUs sit at the same percentile, the i7-1165G7 competes in a higher performance tier, sitting alongside server-class Xeon parts, whereas the i7-10510U trades blows with older quad-core U-series chips.

The Verdict

The data supports only one conclusion for raw performance: the Intel Core i7-1165G7 is the superior processor in every measured category. With 19 wins out of 19 head-to-head benchmarks, there is no workload in the database where the i7-10510U comes out ahead. The smallest margin, 14.7% in random string sorting, is still a comfortable victory, and the largest margins exceed 150%.

For users running encryption-heavy workloads, the i7-1165G7 is the only rational choice. The 158.5% lead in PassMark data encryption is the single most decisive result in this comparison. For users whose primary tasks involve rendering, compilation, or other multithreaded compute, the roughly 54% advantage across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multicore tests makes the i7-1165G7 clearly preferable.

The i7-10510U is not without merit, but its merits do not appear in the benchmark data. It operates at a lower TDP of 25 watts against 28 watts for the i7-1165G7, which could translate to longer battery life in thin-and-light designs, but the database records no efficiency or power draw measurements to confirm this. The i7-10510U also has a higher boost clock of 4.90 GHz against 4.70 GHz for the i7-1165G7, yet it still loses every single-core test by substantial margins, which indicates that raw clock rate does not compensate for architectural inefficiency.

The launch MSRP for the i7-1165G7 is $426. The i7-10510U has no recorded launch MSRP in the database. Both processors are end-of-life mobile parts, so system availability rather than new retail pricing will determine real-world choices.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel generations with fundamentally different designs. The i7-1165G7 uses the Tiger Lake architecture on a 10 nm process node, with the Willow Cove core design. It sits on the Intel BGA 1449 socket. The i7-10510U uses the older Comet Lake architecture on a 14 nm process node, with the Comet Lake-U core design, on the Intel BGA 1440 socket. This process node difference, 10 nm versus 14 nm, is the primary driver of the performance gap, as it allows the i7-1165G7 to achieve higher efficiency per watt and pack more capable execution units into the same thermal envelope.

Both processors have 4 cores and 8 threads, so the multithreaded differences come from IPC (instructions per clock) improvements rather than core count. The cache hierarchy differs substantially. The i7-1165G7 provides 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The i7-10510U offers 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3. The i7-1165G7 has 50% more L3 cache and significantly more L2 per core, which explains its advantage in cache-sensitive workloads like data compression and random string sorting.

The integrated graphics differ as well. The i7-1165G7 includes Iris Xe-LP Graphics G7 with 96 execution units, while the i7-10510U relies on the older UHD Graphics. The database does not record graphics benchmarks, so the performance delta cannot be quantified here, but the architectural generational leap is clear.

Memory support also diverges. The i7-1165G7 supports DDR4 and LPDDR4X memory in a dual-channel configuration. The i7-10510U supports DDR3 and DDR4, with no memory bus configuration recorded. The i7-1165G7 additionally supports PCIe Gen 4 with 4 CPU lanes, while the i7-10510U has no PCIe information in the database. Neither processor supports ECC memory, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

The die size for the i7-1165G7 is recorded at 144 mm², while the i7-10510U has no die size data. The i7-1165G7 has a base clock of 2.80 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. The i7-10510U lists a base clock of 1800.00 MHz (1.80 GHz) and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. The lower base clock of the i7-10510U, combined with its 25 watt TDP against 28 watts for the i7-1165G7, means it will spend more time at lower frequencies under sustained load, further widening the performance gap in multi-minute workloads.

Release timing explains the architectural gap. The i7-10510U launched on 2019-08-20, while the i7-1165G7 arrived on 2020-09-01. The 10 nm Tiger Lake design incorporates roughly a year of additional architecture development over the 14 nm Comet Lake part.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in single-core workloads?

A: The Intel Core i7-1165G7 wins every single-core test in the database. In Cinebench R20 single-core, it scores 491 against 319 for the i7-10510U, a 53.9% lead. Geekbench single-core shows 1578 versus 1032, a 52.9% advantage, and PassMark single-thread shows 2763 versus 2237, a 23.5% lead.

Q: How do the two processors compare in encryption performance?

A: The i7-1165G7 dominates with a PassMark data encryption score of 5561 against 2151 for the i7-10510U. This is a 158.5% advantage, the largest margin in any recorded benchmark between the two.

Q: Do both processors have the same core and thread counts?

A: Yes, both have 4 cores and 8 threads. Despite this, the i7-1165G7 leads by roughly 54% in multithreaded Cinebench tests, demonstrating that architectural efficiency, cache size, and memory support matter more than core count alone.

Q: What is the cache difference between the two?

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 i7-10510U has 8 MB of shared L3, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 64 KB of L1 per core. The i7-1165G7 has 50% more L3 cache overall.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The i7-10510U has a higher boost clock at 4.90 GHz, compared to 4.70 GHz for the i7-1165G7. However, the i7-1165G7 still wins all single-core benchmarks, indicating its 10 nm architecture delivers more performance per clock cycle.

Q: Are both processors still in production?

A: No, both are marked as end-of-life in the database. The i7-10510U launched on 2019-08-20, and the i7-1165G7 launched on 2020-09-01. The i7-1165G7 has a recorded launch MSRP of $426; the i7-10510U has no launch MSRP recorded.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-1165G7 wins every benchmark category in the database, but the magnitude of its victories varies by workload type, which helps define where each processor is usable.

The i7-1165G7 is the clear choice for security-related and cryptographic workloads. Its 158.5% lead in data encryption is the standout result, and the 109.1% advantage in prime number finding reinforces that this chip handles algorithmic integer workloads far more efficiently. Anyone running VPN software, disk encryption, or hashing tasks should select the i7-1165G7 without hesitation.

For content creation and rendering tasks, the i7-1165G7 maintains a consistent 54% lead across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multicore tests. The 8293 R23 multicore score versus 5388 for the i7-10510U means render jobs complete in roughly two-thirds of the time. The single-core Cinebench results show the same 53.9% gap, so interactive applications that depend on single-thread responsiveness also favor the i7-1165G7.

General productivity tasks show a smaller but still decisive advantage. The i7-1165G7 leads by 23.5% in PassMark single-thread, 25.3% in data compression, and 14.7% in random string sorting. These are the workloads most likely to appear in everyday office use, and while the i7-10510U is not embarrassed by these margins, the i7-1165G7 still finishes every task faster.

The i7-10510U has no recorded benchmark wins, but its lower TDP of 25 watts against 28 watts for the i7-1165G7 means it could sustain operation in thinner chassis designs with smaller cooling solutions. Its higher boost clock of 4.90 GHz suggests it can reach higher peak frequencies in short bursts, though the benchmark data shows this does not translate into actual performance wins. For users who prioritize minimal heat output over all other factors, the i7-10510U remains a functional choice, but the database records no scenario where it outperforms the i7-1165G7.