Intel Core i7-1068NG7 vs Intel Core i7-10710U Comparison

The Intel Core i7-1068NG7 and Intel Core i7-10710U are both end-of-life mobile processors from Intel, yet they represent two fundamentally different design philosophies. The 1068NG7 is a 4-core, 8-thread part built on Intel's 10 nm Ice Lake architecture, while the 10710U is a 6-core, 12-thread part on the older 14 nm Comet Lake architecture. Despite the 10710U having 50% more cores and threads, the benchmark data shows the 1068NG7 winning every single head-to-head test, albeit by very narrow margins. The average benchmark scores are nearly identical at 2259 for the 1068NG7 and 2248 for the 10710U, placing both in the 47th percentile of all CPUs. This creates an interesting dynamic where architectural efficiency trumps raw core count, but the differences are so small that real-world usability will likely come down to other factors like platform features and integrated graphics.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark results are unambiguous: the Intel Core i7-1068NG7 wins all six head-to-head comparisons across the Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 suites. However, the margins are razor-thin, with delta percentages ranging from 0% to just 0.5%. In single-core tests, the two processors are effectively tied; the R15 single-core score is 110 for both, and the R20 and R23 single-core scores are within 2 points of each other (462 vs 460 and 1102 vs 1097 respectively). This suggests that for single-threaded workloads like everyday office tasks, web browsing, or light productivity, there is no measurable difference between the two.

The multi-core results tell a slightly different story. The 1068NG7 leads in every multi-core test, but the largest margin is only 0.5% in the R15 and R23 multicore tests. This is surprising given that the 10710U has 6 cores and 12 threads compared to the 1068NG7's 4 cores and 8 threads. The 1068NG7's newer 10 nm Sunny Cove architecture appears to deliver higher instructions per clock, allowing it to overcome its core deficit. For workloads that are heavily multi-threaded, the 10710U's extra cores might theoretically provide an advantage, but the data shows the 1068NG7 still comes out ahead. The 10710U does not win a single benchmark category, making the 1068NG7 the clear choice for anyone prioritizing peak benchmark performance, even if the practical difference is minimal.

Architecture Differences

The two processors diverge significantly in their underlying architectures. The Intel Core i7-1068NG7 uses the Ice Lake architecture with the Sunny Cove core microarchitecture, built on a 10 nm process node from Intel. Its die size is 123 mm², and it features 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The 10710U, in contrast, uses the older Comet Lake architecture with the same core design as previous generations, built on a 14 nm process node. It offers 12 MB of shared L3 cache, which is 4 MB more than the 1068NG7, but its die size is not listed in the data.

Both processors have 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, so the per-core cache structure is identical. The key difference is the total L3 cache: the 10710U has 12 MB shared, while the 1068NG7 has only 8 MB shared. This gives the 10710U a potential advantage in workloads that benefit from large cache pools, though the benchmark data suggests this does not translate into a performance lead. The 1068NG7 also supports PCIe Gen 3, while the 10710U's PCIe specification is not listed. Both use integrated graphics, but the 1068NG7 features Iris Plus graphics while the 10710U uses the more basic UHD Graphics, indicating a significant difference in GPU capability for tasks like video playback or light gaming.

Memory support also differs. The 1068NG7 supports DDR4 memory exclusively with dual-channel configuration and a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. The 10710U supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory, though its memory bus and bandwidth are not specified. This suggests the 1068NG7 has a more modern and potentially faster memory interface, which could contribute to its benchmark edge. The 1068NG7 also has a higher TDP of 28 W compared to the 10710U's 25 W, giving it slightly more thermal headroom for sustained performance.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results show a consistent pattern of the 1068NG7 edging out the 10710U across all Cinebench iterations. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the 1068NG7 scores 787 against the 10710U's 783, a 0.5% lead. The R15 single-core test is a dead tie at 110 for both processors. Moving to Cinebench R20, the 1068NG7 scores 3280 multicore and 462 single-core, while the 10710U scores 3265 multicore and 460 single-core, giving the 1068NG7 leads of 0.5% and 0.4% respectively. In the most demanding test, Cinebench R23, the 1068NG7 scores 7810 multicore and 1102 single-core, versus 7774 multicore and 1097 single-core for the 10710U, again a 0.5% advantage for the 1068NG7 in both tests.

The average benchmark scores reinforce this picture. The 1068NG7 has an average score of 2259, while the 10710U sits at 2248, a difference of just 11 points or roughly 0.5%. This places both processors in the 47th percentile of all CPUs, meaning they perform similarly to a broad swath of mainstream desktop and mobile parts. Interestingly, the nearest rivals for the 1068NG7 include the Intel Core i3-10305 (average score 2264, delta -0.2%) and the Intel Core i5-9400 (average score 2254, delta 0.2%), showing that both chips are competitive with older desktop quad-core and six-core parts. The 10710U's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 (average score 2246, delta 0.1%) and the Intel Core i5-9400 (average score 2254, delta -0.3%), further confirming that these two mobile chips sit in a crowded performance band.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear, if narrow, winner: the Intel Core i7-1068NG7. It wins every benchmark comparison, has a higher average benchmark score, and does so with fewer cores, which speaks to the efficiency of its 10 nm Sunny Cove architecture. For anyone choosing between these two processors based purely on performance metrics, the 1068NG7 is the safer bet. Its lead is consistent across all Cinebench versions, suggesting that the advantage holds across different rendering workloads and is not an artifact of a single test.

However, the practical implications of this victory are minimal. A 0.5% performance delta is within the margin of error for most benchmarking runs and would be imperceptible in real-world use. The 10710U does offer more cores and threads, which could be beneficial for specific multi-threaded tasks that scale well beyond 8 threads, even if current benchmark data does not reflect this advantage. The 10710U also has a larger 12 MB L3 cache, which might help in cache-sensitive workloads. For a user who values the lower TDP of 25 W over the 1068NG7's 28 W, the 10710U could be a reasonable choice. But strictly from the benchmark data, the 1068NG7 is the superior processor.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has better multi-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i7-1068NG7 wins all three multi-core benchmarks. It scores 787 vs 783 in Cinebench R15, 3280 vs 3265 in R20, and 7810 vs 7774 in R23, each a 0.5% lead over the 10710U.

Q: Are the single-core scores different between the two?

A: The single-core scores are nearly identical. In Cinebench R15 both score 110. In R20 the 1068NG7 scores 462 vs 460, and in R23 it scores 1102 vs 1097, representing leads of 0.4% and 0.5% respectively.

Q: How many cores does each processor have?

A: The Intel Core i7-1068NG7 has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Intel Core i7-10710U has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: Which processor has a larger cache?

A: The 10710U has more shared L3 cache at 12 MB, compared to 8 MB for the 1068NG7. Both have 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 cache per core.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The 1068NG7 has a TDP of 28 W, while the 10710U has a TDP of 25 W.

Q: Which processor is newer?

A: The 1068NG7 was released on 2019-07-31, while the 10710U was released on 2019-08-20, making the 10710U slightly newer by release date.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i7-1068NG7 | Intel Core i7-10710U |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 4 | 6 |

| Threads | 8 | 12 |

| Base Clock | 2.30 GHz | 1100.00 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.10 GHz | 4.70 GHz |

| TDP | 28 W | 25 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1344 | Intel BGA 1440 |

| Architecture | Ice Lake | Comet Lake |

| Codename | Ice Lake-U | Comet Lake-U |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 14 nm |

| Die Size | 123 mm² | Not specified |

| L3 Cache | 8 MB (shared) | 12 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR3, DDR4 |

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Not specified |

| Memory Bandwidth | 51.2 GB/s | Not specified |

| PCIe | Gen 3 | Not specified |

| Integrated Graphics | Iris Plus | UHD Graphics |

| Launch MSRP | $320 | Not specified |

| Part Number | SRG0U | Not specified |