Intel Core i7-1060G7 vs Intel Core i7-8560U Comparison

The Intel Core i7-8560U and Intel Core i7-1060G7 are both 4-core, 8-thread mobile processors, but they represent two very different design philosophies from Intel. The 8560U is a Whiskey Lake part built on a 14 nm process with a 15 W TDP, while the 1060G7 is an Ice Lake-Y chip on 10 nm with a 9 W TDP. The head-to-head benchmark data shows a consistent, though modest, performance advantage for the 8560U across every Cinebench test, while the 1060G7 counters with a lower power envelope and a newer architecture. This analysis walks through the recorded measurements, architectural differences, and the use cases where each processor makes sense.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database records six Cinebench comparisons between the two CPUs, and the Intel Core i7-8560U wins all of them. The margins are narrow but uniform, ranging from 2.5% to 2.8%. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the 8560U scores 568 against 554 for the 1060G7, a 2.5% lead. The single-core R15 test shows 80 versus 78, a 2.6% advantage. Moving to R20, the multi-core result is 2369 for the 8560U and 2310 for the 1060G7, a 2.6% gap, while single-core is 334 versus 325, the largest delta at 2.8%. In R23, the multi-core scores are 5641 and 5500, again a 2.6% difference, and single-core is 796 versus 776, also 2.6%. The pattern is clear: the 8560U is faster in every workload measured, but the advantage is small enough that real-world differences would be subtle.

The average benchmark scores reinforce this. The 8560U has an average score of 1631, while the 1060G7 sits at 1591, a difference of 2.5%. Both processors land in the 39th percentile of all CPUs in the database, meaning they occupy a similar performance tier. The nearest rivals for the 8560U include the Intel Xeon E5-2623 v3 at 1630 (0.1% higher), the Pentium Gold G7400T at 1628 (0.2% higher), and the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 2200G at 1640 (0.6% higher). The 1060G7's nearest rivals are the Core i3-8300T at 1586 (0.3% higher), the Core i3-9100E at 1605 (0.8% lower), and the Xeon E3-1240L v5 at 1609 (1.1% lower). These comparisons show that both chips sit in a crowded mid-range mobile segment, with the 8560U holding a slight edge over its Ice Lake counterpart.

Architecture Differences

The two processors diverge significantly in their underlying design. The 8560U uses the Whiskey Lake architecture, built on Intel's 14 nm process, while the 1060G7 uses Ice Lake on a 10 nm node. The 1060G7 has a die size of 123 mm², while the 8560U's die size is not recorded. The sockets differ as well: the 8560U uses Intel BGA 1528, and the 1060G7 uses BGA 1440. The 8560U has a base clock of 1800 MHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz, whereas the 1060G7 runs at 1000 MHz base and 3.80 GHz boost. The 8560U's higher clocks are likely the primary reason for its benchmark lead, despite the 1060G7's newer process.

Cache layouts are similar but not identical. Both have 256 KB of L2 per core and 8 MB of shared L3. The L1 cache differs: the 8560U has 64 KB per core, while the 1060G7 has 80 KB per core. Memory support also differs. The 8560U supports DDR3 and DDR4 in a dual-channel configuration, with a recorded memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The 1060G7 supports only DDR4, but in a quad-channel configuration; no bandwidth figure is recorded. The 8560U lists PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the 1060G7 simply lists PCIe Gen 3 without a lane count. Integrated graphics are different: the 8560U has UHD Graphics 620, and the 1060G7 has Iris Plus. The 1060G7 is the newer part, released on 2019-07-31, while the 8560U came out on 2018-09-30. The 8560U is marked as end-of-life, while the 1060G7 is still active.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i7-8560U wins every performance test. Its higher boost clock of 4.60 GHz versus 3.80 GHz gives it a consistent edge in both single-threaded and multi-threaded Cinebench workloads. For users who prioritize raw compute performance, the 8560U is the clear choice. The margins are small, but they are present across all six recorded tests.

The Intel Core i7-1060G7, however, wins on efficiency and platform modernity. Its TDP is 9 W, compared to 15 W for the 8560U, making it a better fit for fanless or ultra-low-power designs. It is built on a newer 10 nm process, which typically offers better performance per watt, though the recorded benchmarks do not show a performance advantage. The 1060G7 also has a larger L1 cache (80 KB per core versus 64 KB) and a quad-channel memory bus, though no bandwidth number is available to quantify the benefit. Its Iris Plus integrated graphics are a different tier from the UHD Graphics 620, though no graphics benchmarks are in the database. The 1060G7 is also an active product, while the 8560U is end-of-life, which matters for long-term availability and support.

The Verdict

The data points to a simple conclusion: if you need the fastest Cinebench scores, the Intel Core i7-8560U is the better processor. It leads in all six head-to-head tests, with deltas between 2.5% and 2.8%. Its higher boost clock and 15 W TDP allow it to sustain more performance, even though it is built on an older 14 nm process. The 8560U's average benchmark score of 1631 is 2.5% above the 1060G7's 1591, and it sits in the same 39th percentile, so the performance gap is real but not dramatic.

The Intel Core i7-1060G7 is the better choice for power-constrained designs. Its 9 W TDP is 40% lower than the 8560U's 15 W, which can translate to longer battery life and thinner chassis. It also brings a newer 10 nm architecture, a larger L1 cache, and a quad-channel memory controller, though the latter's impact is not measured in the database. For users who value efficiency and a modern platform over a small performance edge, the 1060G7 is the appropriate pick. For those who want the highest Cinebench scores from these two options, the 8560U is the winner.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i7-8560U has a boost clock of 4.60 GHz, while the Intel Core i7-1060G7 boosts to 3.80 GHz.

Q: Do both processors have the same number of cores and threads?

A: Yes, both have 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: Which processor has a lower TDP?

A: The Intel Core i7-1060G7 has a TDP of 9 W, compared to 15 W for the Intel Core i7-8560U.

Q: Which processor is newer?

A: The Intel Core i7-1060G7 was released on 2019-07-31, while the Intel Core i7-8560U was released on 2018-09-30.

Q: Which processor has a larger L1 cache?

A: The Intel Core i7-1060G7 has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, while the Intel Core i7-8560U has 64 KB per core.

Q: Which processor wins in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Core i7-8560U scores 5641, beating the Intel Core i7-1060G7's 5500, a 2.6% advantage.