Intel Core i7-1068NG7 vs Intel Core i7-8559U Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a clear and consistent picture: the Intel Core i7-1068NG7 wins every single head-to-head test against the Intel Core i7-8559U, taking all six matchups with a decisive margin. This is not a case of one chip edging ahead in select workloads; it is a systematic performance advantage across the entire Cinebench suite, covering both single-core and multi-core rendering scenarios.

Looking at the multi-core results first, the i7-1068NG7 posts a Cinebench R15 score of 787, which is 11.9% higher than the i7-8559U's 703. That same pattern holds in Cinebench R20, where the newer chip scores 3280 against 2933, a delta of 11.8%. In the more demanding Cinebench R23 multi-core test, the i7-1068NG7 reaches 7810, while the i7-8559U manages 6984 — again an 11.8% advantage. These results indicate that the Ice Lake part delivers roughly a 12% improvement in threaded workloads across every generation of the Cinebench renderer, a remarkably consistent gain.

Single-core performance tells the same story. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the i7-1068NG7 scores 110 versus 99 for the i7-8559U, a lead of 11.1%. Cinebench R20 single-core shows 462 against 414, a 11.6% gap. The Cinebench R23 single-core test completes the sweep with 1102 versus 986, another 11.8% margin. The consistency across all six tests is striking: the smallest delta is 11.1% and the largest is 11.9%, meaning the i7-1068NG7's advantage is essentially uniform regardless of workload type or renderer version.

The average benchmark score reinforces this hierarchy. The i7-1068NG7 averages 2259 across its benchmark suite, while the i7-8559U averages 2225. Both processors sit at the 47th percentile of all CPUs, placing them in the same broad performance tier, but the i7-1068NG7 holds a measurable edge. For context, the i7-1068NG7's nearest rival is the Intel Core i3-10305, which scores 2264 and trails by just 0.2%, while the i7-8559U's closest competitor is the Intel Core i7-5775C at 2224, a 0% difference. The gap between the two chips in question is far larger than the gaps between each chip and its nearest rivals, confirming that the i7-1068NG7 is the stronger performer in this pairing.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in every benchmark comparison?

A: The Intel Core i7-1068NG7 wins all six head-to-head benchmark tests against the Intel Core i7-8559U. Its victories span Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 in both single-core and multi-core configurations.

Q: What is the largest performance difference between the two chips?

A: The largest delta is 11.9%, achieved in the Cinebench R15 multi-core test, where the i7-1068NG7 scores 787 versus the i7-8559U's 703. The smallest gap is 11.1% in Cinebench R15 single-core.

Q: How do the two processors compare in the most recent Cinebench R23 tests?

A: In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i7-1068NG7 scores 7810 against 6984 for the i7-8559U, an 11.8% advantage. In single-core, the i7-1068NG7 posts 1102 versus 986, also an 11.8% lead.

Q: Are these processors in the same overall performance percentile?

A: Yes, both the i7-1068NG7 and the i7-8559U rank at the 47th percentile among all CPUs. However, their average benchmark scores differ, with the i7-1068NG7 at 2259 and the i7-8559U at 2225.

Q: What is the average benchmark score difference between the two chips?

A: The i7-1068NG7 has an average benchmark score of 2259, while the i7-8559U averages 2225. This represents a 34-point gap in favor of the i7-1068NG7.

Q: Does the i7-8559U have any benchmark where it outperforms the i7-1068NG7?

A: No. The head-to-head data shows the i7-1068NG7 winning all six tests, with the i7-8559U recording zero wins in the comparison.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-1068NG7 is the outright winner in every measured workload category. Its six benchmark victories mean there is no scenario in the provided data where the i7-8559U takes the lead. For users prioritizing raw rendering performance in Cinebench — whether single-threaded tasks like lightweight scene editing or multi-threaded full renders — the i7-1068NG7 delivers a consistent 11-12% improvement.

The i7-8559U's only claim to relevance in this comparison is its active production status and its higher boost clock of 4.50 GHz, which exceeds the i7-1068NG7's 4.10 GHz boost. However, the benchmark results show that this clock advantage does not translate into superior real-world rendering performance, as the i7-1068NG7's newer architecture compensates for the lower clock speed.

For use cases outside Cinebench, such as Geekbench workloads, only the i7-8559U has data available, scoring 4293 multi-core and 1384 single-core. The i7-1068NG7 lacks Geekbench results in the fact pack, so a direct comparison in that specific test is not possible. Still, based on the six Cinebench tests, the i7-1068NG7 is the clear choice for rendering-intensive applications.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specifications, starting with their sockets. The i7-1068NG7 uses Intel BGA 1344, while the i7-8559U uses Intel BGA 1356, making them physically incompatible with the same motherboards. Both chips feature 4 cores and 8 threads, so the core-count parity means the performance gap comes from other architectural factors.

Clock speeds favor the i7-8559U on paper: it has a base clock of 2.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz, compared to the i7-1068NG7's 2.30 GHz base and 4.10 GHz boost. Despite this clock disadvantage, the i7-1068NG7 outperforms its rival in all benchmarks, suggesting architectural efficiency matters more than raw frequency. Both chips share a 28W TDP, so power consumption is identical on paper.

Memory support differs slightly: the i7-1068NG7 specifies a dual-channel DDR4 memory bus with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth, while the i7-8559U lists DDR4 support but provides no memory bus or bandwidth details. The integrated graphics also differ: the i7-1068NG7 features Iris Plus, while the i7-8559U uses Iris Pro Plus. Neither chip supports ECC memory, and both have locked multipliers.

The production status diverges significantly. The i7-1068NG7 is marked as end-of-life, while the i7-8559U remains active in production. The i7-1068NG7 also carries a launch MSRP of $320, while the i7-8559U has no listed launch MSRP. Release dates differ by over a year: the i7-1068NG7 launched on 2019-07-31, while the i7-8559U launched earlier on 2018-04-04.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide between these two chips is generational. The i7-1068NG7 is built on Ice Lake architecture with the Ice Lake-U codename, representing the "Sunny Cove-U" generation of Core i7 processors. It uses a 10nm process node manufactured by Intel. In contrast, the i7-8559U uses Kaby Lake architecture with the Kaby Lake-R codename, placed in the "Kaby Lake-U Refresh" generation, and relies on a larger 14nm process node, also from Intel's foundry.

Both chips share identical cache hierarchies: 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The die size is also identical at 123 mm², a notable fact given the process node difference — Intel managed to keep the die the same physical size despite the shrink from 14nm to 10nm.

The process node change is the most consequential architectural difference. The 10nm node in the i7-1068NG7 allows for denser transistors and potentially better power efficiency, which likely explains why it outperforms the i7-8559U despite lower clock speeds. The Ice Lake generation also brings a newer CPU microarchitecture (Sunny Cove) compared to the older Kaby Lake design, which improves instructions-per-clock (IPC) efficiency.

Memory bandwidth specifications favor the i7-1068NG7, which lists a dual-channel bus with 51.2 GB/s throughput. The i7-8559U only states DDR4 support without specifying bus width or bandwidth, suggesting the newer chip has more definitively engineered memory capabilities. PCIe support is listed as Gen 3 for the i7-1068NG7, while the i7-8559U has no PCIe specification provided in the data.

The integrated graphics differ in branding: Iris Plus on the i7-1068NG7 versus Iris Pro Plus on the i7-8559U. While the i7-8559U's "Pro" designation might imply a more capable iGPU, the fact pack provides no benchmark data for graphics performance, so any conclusion would be speculative. The i7-1068NG7 also has a part number (SRG0U) listed, while the i7-8559U does not.

The i7-1068NG7's end-of-life status is worth noting for procurement decisions, as it may be harder to source new units. The i7-8559U's active status means it remains available for new designs. However, from a pure performance standpoint, the i7-1068NG7's newer 10nm process and Sunny Cove architecture deliver superior results across every benchmark in the fact pack, making it the stronger processor despite its older release date and shorter production runway.