Intel Core i7-1160G7 vs Intel Core i7-5950HQ Comparison

# Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a consistent picture: the Intel Core i7-1160G7 wins every single head-to-head comparison across all six Cinebench tests, with no victories for the Intel Core i7-5950HQ. The largest margin comes in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the i7-1160G7 scores 104 against 92 for the i7-5950HQ, a delta of -11.5% from the perspective of the older chip. That same single-core gap persists in Cinebench R20, with scores of 435 versus 386, again an -11.3% difference. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the i7-1160G7 posts 1036 against 920, a -11.2% delta.

Multi-core results follow nearly the same pattern. The i7-1160G7 leads by -11.4% in Cinebench R15 multi-core, scoring 740 versus 656. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the margin is -11.3%, with scores of 3084 and 2736. The largest absolute gap appears in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the i7-1160G7 reaches 7343 while the i7-5950HQ manages 6516 — a difference of 827 points, though the percentage delta remains consistent at -11.3%. Notably, the relative margins are remarkably uniform across all tests, hovering between -11.2% and -11.5%. This consistency suggests the performance advantage is not workload-specific but rather a general throughput advantage across both single-threaded and multi-threaded scenarios.

The overall average benchmark score reinforces this narrative. The i7-5950HQ holds an average score of 2158 across its benchmark suite, while the i7-1160G7 averages 2124. This is curious: despite losing every head-to-head comparison, the i7-5950HQ has a higher average benchmark score. The explanation lies in the benchmark sets. The i7-5950HQ includes Geekbench multi-core and single-core results (4601 and 1353 respectively) in its average, while the i7-1160G7 does not have Geekbench scores listed. The Geekbench multi-core score of 4601 pulls the i7-5950HQ's average upward, whereas the i7-1160G7's average is computed only from its six Cinebench results. This discrepancy highlights how average scores can be skewed by differing test suites.

Percentile rankings place both chips near the middle of the CPU distribution. The i7-5950HQ sits at the 47th percentile of all CPUs, while the i7-1160G7 ranks at the 46th percentile. Despite the i7-1160G7 winning every head-to-head test, the two are statistically near-identical in overall standing relative to the broader market. The nearest rivals for the i7-5950HQ include the Intel Core i5-10200H (avg score 2154, delta 0.2%), the Intel Core i5-7640X (avg score 2167, delta -0.4%), the AMD Ryzen 3 3300X (avg score 2148, delta 0.5%), and the Intel Core i5-1145G7E (avg score 2174, delta -0.7%). For the i7-1160G7, the nearest rivals are the Intel Atom C5125 (avg score 2122, delta 0.1%), the AMD Ryzen 5 7520C (avg score 2127, delta -0.1%), the Intel Xeon E-2224G (avg score 2117, delta 0.3%), and the AMD Ryzen 3 5300U (avg score 2135, delta -0.5%). All deltas are within one percentage point, placing both chips in tightly packed competitive clusters.

# Where Each One Wins

The i7-1160G7 wins in every measurable benchmark category. In single-core performance, it leads by roughly 11% across all three Cinebench versions. This makes it the stronger choice for lightly threaded applications where a single core's speed dominates — typical scenarios include everyday productivity, web browsing, and office applications. The i7-1160G7 also wins every multi-core test, making it the better option for threaded workloads such as video encoding, 3D rendering, and compilation tasks. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 7343 versus 6516 represents a substantial 827-point advantage that would translate to noticeably shorter render times.

The i7-5950HQ, by contrast, wins no benchmark comparisons in this head-to-head. Its only relative strength appears in the Geekbench multi-core test, where it scores 4601. However, since the i7-1160G7 has no Geekbench score in the data pack, a direct comparison cannot be made. The i7-5950HQ's average benchmark score of 2158 is higher than the i7-1160G7's 2124, but this is an artifact of the different test suites included in each average rather than evidence of superior performance. The i7-5950HQ does have a higher percentile ranking (47th versus 46th), but this difference is negligible.

For users selecting between these two processors strictly on benchmark data, the i7-1160G7 is the clear winner in every measured category. The i7-5950HQ offers no performance advantage in any test where both chips were evaluated. Its only potential edge would be in scenarios not covered by the available benchmarks, such as memory bandwidth or integrated graphics performance — but the data pack provides no comparison for those metrics.

# Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural eras and process nodes. The i7-5950HQ uses the Broadwell architecture, specifically the Broadwell-H codename, built on Intel's 14 nm process. The i7-1160G7 uses the Tiger Lake architecture with the Tiger Lake-U codename, built on a 10 nm process. The die sizes differ accordingly: the i7-5950HQ measures 182 mm², while the i7-1160G7 is smaller at 144 mm². Both have 4 cores and 8 threads, but their cache hierarchies diverge significantly. The i7-5950HQ offers 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The i7-1160G7 provides 80 KB of L1 per core, a much larger 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 — double the L3 capacity of the older chip.

Memory support differs as well. The i7-5950HQ uses DDR3 memory with a dual-channel bus and 29.9 GB/s of bandwidth. The i7-1160G7 uses LPDDR4X memory, also dual-channel, but with a higher 34.1 GB/s bandwidth. Neither chip supports ECC memory. PCIe connectivity shows a notable divergence: the i7-5950HQ provides PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i7-1160G7 provides PCIe Gen 4 with only 4 lanes (CPU only). The newer chip has a faster PCIe standard but far fewer lanes.

Integrated graphics differ substantially. The i7-5950HQ carries Iris Pro Graphics 6200, while the i7-1160G7 includes Iris Xe-LP Graphics G7 with 96 execution units. The i7-1160G7's graphics solution is from a newer generation and is likely more capable, though no direct benchmark comparisons are provided in the data pack. Both processors are mobile parts, use Intel BGA sockets (BGA 1364 for the i7-5950HQ, BGA 1598 for the i7-1160G7), and are end-of-life products. The i7-5950HQ was released on June 1, 2015, while the i7-1160G7 launched on September 1, 2020 — a gap of over five years that explains the architectural advancements.

Clock speeds reveal another fundamental difference. The i7-5950HQ has a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 3.80 GHz. The i7-1160G7's base clock is listed as 1200.00 MHz (1.20 GHz), which is significantly lower, but its boost clock reaches 4.40 GHz — substantially higher than the i7-5950HQ's maximum. This low base clock with high boost clock is characteristic of a low-power design. The thermal design power (TDP) confirms this: the i7-5950HQ has a 47 W TDP, while the i7-1160G7 is rated at only 15 W. The i7-1160G7 achieves better performance while consuming far less power, proof of architectural efficiency gains.

# FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher multi-core performance in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core i7-1160G7 scores 7343 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, compared to 6516 for the Intel Core i7-5950HQ, giving the i7-1160G7 an -11.3% advantage.

Q: How do the single-core scores compare?

A: The i7-1160G7 wins all three single-core tests. In Cinebench R15, it scores 104 versus 92; in R20, 435 versus 386; and in R23, 1036 versus 920. The deltas range from -11.2% to -11.5%.

Q: What is the thermal design power difference?

A: The i7-5950HQ has a TDP of 47 W, while the i7-1160G7 has a TDP of only 15 W — a 32 W difference in favor of the newer chip.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. Both the i7-5950HQ and the i7-1160G7 have ECC memory support set to false in the data.

Q: Which processor has more L3 cache?

A: The i7-1160G7 has 12 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i7-5950HQ has only 6 MB. The i7-1160G7 also has larger L1 (80 KB vs 64 KB per core) and L2 (1.25 MB vs 256 KB per core) caches.

Q: What are the average benchmark scores for each processor?

A: The i7-5950HQ has an average benchmark score of 2158, and the i7-1160G7 averages 2124. The i7-5950HQ's average includes Geekbench scores that the i7-1160G7 lacks, which affects this comparison.

# The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i7-1160G7 outperforms the Intel Core i7-5950HQ in every head-to-head benchmark measured. Across six Cinebench tests spanning R15, R20, and R23, the i7-1160G7 maintains a consistent advantage of approximately 11% in both single-core and multi-core workloads. This consistency indicates a fundamental architectural superiority rather than a workload-specific edge. The i7-1160G7 achieves this while consuming only 15 W of power compared to the i7-5950HQ's 47 W, making it dramatically more power-efficient. Its boost clock of 4.40 GHz versus 3.80 GHz, double the L3 cache (12 MB versus 6 MB), and newer 10 nm process node all contribute to this result.

Who should pick the i7-5950HQ? The data suggests very few use cases. It has no benchmark wins in any comparison. Its higher average benchmark score (2158 versus 2124) is misleading, as it stems from including Geekbench results that the i7-1160G7 does not have in its average. Its higher percentile ranking (47th versus 46th) is statistically negligible. The only scenarios where the i7-5950HQ might be preferable relate to its PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes, which offers more expansion lanes than the i7-1160G7's PCIe Gen 4 with 4 lanes. For users needing many PCIe lanes for dedicated devices, this could matter. However, for raw processing performance, the i7-5950HQ offers no advantage.

Who should pick the i7-1160G7? Any user prioritizing performance, power efficiency, or both. It wins every benchmark, uses less than a third of the power, and offers faster memory bandwidth (34.1 GB/s versus 29.9 GB/s). Its integrated graphics, Iris Xe-LP Graphics G7 with 96 execution units, is from a newer generation than the Iris Pro Graphics 6200. The i7-1160G7 also has a lower launch MSRP of $426, compared to the i7-5950HQ's $623 launch MSRP. For mobile computing where battery life and thermal management are critical, the i7-1160G7 is the superior choice on every measurable axis in this data pack.

# Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i7-5950HQ | Intel Core i7-1160G7 |

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

| Base Clock | 2.90 GHz | 1200.00 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.80 GHz | 4.40 GHz |

| TDP | 47 W | 15 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1364 | Intel BGA 1598 |

| Architecture | Broadwell | Tiger Lake |

| Codename | Broadwell-H | Tiger Lake-U |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 10 nm |

| Die Size | 182 mm² | 144 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 80 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 256 KB (per core) | 1.25 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 6 MB (shared) | 12 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR3 | LPDDR4X |

| Memory Bandwidth | 29.9 GB/s | 34.1 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 4, 4 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Iris Pro Graphics 6200 | Iris Xe-LP Graphics G7 96EU |

| Release Date | 2015-06-01 | 2020-09-01 |

| Launch MSRP | $623 | $426 |

| Part Number | SR2BJ | SRK0E |