Intel Core i7-1065G7 vs Intel Core i7-8550U Comparison

Both processors are 15 W mobile parts with four cores and eight threads, but the data tells a one-sided story. The Intel Core i7-1065G7, built on Ice Lake, dominates the Intel Core i7-8550U, a Kaby Lake-R part, across every single benchmark recorded in the head-to-head comparison. The average benchmark score difference is narrow — 8293 for the i7-1065G7 versus 8407 for the i7-8550U — but that overall average hides the fact that the newer chip wins all 17 individual tests, often by substantial margins. The i7-8550U does hold a slight edge in the aggregate score, but this is due to its performance in tests not covered by the head-to-head list. The i7-1065G7’s consistent victory in every measured workload makes it the clear choice for raw performance.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most decisive victory for the Intel Core i7-1065G7 comes in the PassMark data encryption test, where it scores 4552 against the i7-8550U’s 1944. That is a 57.3% delta, the largest gap in the entire comparison. This suggests a major architectural leap in cryptographic instruction handling, likely tied to the newer Sunny Cove cores. The i7-8550U cannot close this gap in any other test; the closest it gets is in random string sorting, where the i7-1065G7 leads by only 7.4% (10688 versus 9902).

Cinebench results amplify the trend. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i7-1065G7 scores 6866 versus 4926 for the i7-8550U, a 28.3% advantage. Single-core R23 shows the same delta: 969 versus 695, again 28.3%. The consistency of this 28.3% gap across R20 and R23, both single and multi-core, points to a uniform clock-for-clock improvement rather than a workload-specific quirk. The i7-8550U’s higher boost clock of 4.00 GHz versus 3.90 GHz on the i7-1065G7 is not enough to overcome the architectural deficit.

Integer math tells a similar story. The i7-1065G7 scores 28660 in PassMark’s integer math test, while the i7-8550U manages 20770, a 27.5% deficit. Floating-point math follows at 16603 versus 12523, a 24.6% gap. Even in the PassMark multi-thread test, which should favor the higher-clocked i7-8550U, the i7-1065G7 wins 8185 to 5835, a 28.7% margin. The only test where the i7-8550U stays within single digits is random string sorting, but that remains a loss.

The i7-1065G7 also wins the single-thread PassMark test by 11.9% (2295 versus 2021), which is notable given the i7-8550U’s higher boost clock. Data compression shows a 15.9% win for the newer chip (88300 versus 74223), and extended instructions see a 22.2% gap (5998 versus 4665). Find prime numbers, a test sensitive to branch prediction and instruction latency, goes to the i7-1065G7 by 24.1% (29 versus 22). Physics simulation in PassMark shows a 23.4% edge for the i7-1065G7 (589 versus 451).

Where Each One Wins

There is no benchmark category where the Intel Core i7-8550U comes out ahead. The data shows zero wins for the Kaby Lake part across all 17 head-to-head tests. However, the i7-8550U is not without merit in the broader benchmark context. Its average benchmark score of 8407 is higher than the i7-1065G7’s 8293, driven by its performance in tests outside the head-to-head set. This suggests that in certain legacy or specific workloads not captured here, the older chip can hold its own or even surpass the newer one. The i7-8550U also has a higher boost clock at 4.00 GHz, which could benefit lightly threaded tasks that rely on raw clock speed rather than architectural efficiency.

For the i7-1065G7, the wins are everywhere else. Encryption is its standout, with a 57.3% advantage. Multi-threaded productivity, as measured by Cinebench and PassMark multi-thread, sees consistent 28% leads. Single-core performance is also superior, with an 11.9% win in PassMark single-thread and a 28.3% win in Cinebench R23 single-core. The i7-1065G7’s integrated Iris Plus graphics also gives it a feature advantage over the i7-8550U’s UHD 620, though no graphics benchmarks are in the data. For users prioritizing encryption, heavy multi-threading, or any compute-intensive task, the i7-1065G7 is the unambiguous winner.

Architecture Differences

The two CPUs represent distinct design eras. The Intel Core i7-8550U is built on Intel’s 14 nm process node, using the Kaby Lake architecture with the Kaby Lake-R codename. It belongs to the Core i7 (Kaby Lake-U Refresh) generation. The Intel Core i7-1065G7, in contrast, uses the 10 nm process node and the Ice Lake architecture with the Ice Lake-U codename, part of the Core i7 (Sunny Cove-U) generation. Both have the same die size of 123 mm², but the newer process allows for a denser, more efficient design.

Cache configurations differ significantly. The i7-8550U has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, while the i7-1065G7 has 80 KB per core. Both share 256 KB of L2 per core and 8 MB of shared L3 cache, but the larger L1 on the i7-1065G7 likely contributes to its single-core performance lead. The i7-8550U uses the Intel BGA 1356 socket, while the i7-1065G7 moves to Intel BGA 1526, meaning they are not interchangeable in motherboards.

Memory support is another differentiator. Both support DDR4, but the i7-1065G7 explicitly lists dual-channel memory with a bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, while the i7-8550U does not specify memory bus or bandwidth. The i7-1065G7 also lists PCIe Gen 3 support, while the i7-8550U has no PCIe information in the data. Integrated graphics differ as well: the i7-8550U comes with UHD 620, while the i7-1065G7 features Iris Plus, a more capable GPU for mobile devices. Neither chip supports ECC memory, and both are unlocked for overclocking.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i7-8550U has a boost clock of 4.00 GHz, while the Intel Core i7-1065G7 boosts to 3.90 GHz. Despite the 100 MHz disadvantage, the i7-1065G7 wins all single-core benchmarks in the data.

Q: How much faster is the i7-1065G7 in encryption?

A: The i7-1065G7 scores 4552 in the PassMark data encryption test, compared to 1944 for the i7-8550U. This represents a 57.3% advantage, the largest gap in any benchmark between the two.

Q: Are these processors on the same socket?

A: No. The i7-8550U uses the Intel BGA 1356 socket, while the i7-1065G7 uses the Intel BGA 1526 socket. They are physically incompatible.

Q: Do both CPUs have the same core and thread count?

A: Yes, both have 4 cores and 8 threads. They also share a 15 W TDP and a 123 mm² die size.

Q: What is the difference in average benchmark scores?

A: The i7-8550U has an average benchmark score of 8407, while the i7-1065G7 averages 8293. The i7-8550U is 0.7% ahead of the Intel Core i5-10210U, one of its nearest rivals, while the i7-1065G7 is 0.6% behind the same rival.

Q: Which CPU has better integrated graphics?

A: The i7-1065G7 features Iris Plus graphics, while the i7-8550U has UHD 620. The data does not include graphics benchmarks, but the newer Iris Plus is a distinct hardware feature of the Ice Lake part.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unequivocal: the Intel Core i7-1065G7 outperforms the Intel Core i7-8550U in every head-to-head test. For anyone choosing between the two based purely on performance, the i7-1065G7 is the superior processor. It leads by 28% in multi-core Cinebench tests, by 57% in encryption, and by 11.9% in single-thread PassMark. The architectural leap from 14 nm Kaby Lake to 10 nm Ice Lake, combined with a larger L1 cache and newer instruction handling, delivers consistent wins across all measured workloads.

The i7-8550U’s only statistical advantage is its higher average benchmark score of 8407 versus 8293, but this is driven by tests not included in the head-to-head comparison. It also has a higher boost clock of 4.00 GHz, but that does not translate into any benchmark victory. The i7-8550U remains a viable option for systems already built on the BGA 1356 socket, but the data offers no performance reason to choose it over the i7-1065G7. For new designs, the i7-1065G7’s superior encryption, multithreading, and single-core scores make it the recommended pick. The i7-8550U’s edge in aggregate average score is a statistical curiosity, not a practical advantage.