Intel Core i7-1185G7 vs Intel Core i7-4790K Comparison

The Intel Core i7-4790K and Intel Core i7-1185G7 occupy opposite ends of the Intel spectrum: a 2014 desktop flagship versus a 2020 mobile part. Despite sharing the same core and thread counts, the data reveals a fascinating generational shift. The 1185G7 wins 16 of 19 head-to-head benchmarks, yet the 4790K still manages to claim victories in specific workloads. Their average benchmark scores are nearly identical—11745 for the 4790K versus 11697 for the 1185G7, a mere 0.4% difference—which makes the distribution of wins all the more telling. The 4790K posts a 67th percentile ranking among all CPUs, matching the 1185G7's 67th percentile exactly, suggesting that despite six years of architectural evolution, the old desktop chip remains a formidable baseline.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock, and does that translate into single-thread performance?

A: The Intel Core i7-1185G7 boosts to 4.80 GHz versus the 4790K's 4.40 GHz. This aligns with the benchmark data: the 1185G7 leads in Cinebench R23 single-core with a score of 1188 against 967, a 18.6% advantage, and in Geekbench single-core with 1591 versus 1361, a 14.5% lead.

Q: How do the two chips compare in overall average benchmark scores?

A: The 4790K has an average benchmark score of 11745, while the 1185G7 scores 11697. This puts the 1185G7 at a 0.4% deficit to the 4790K. In the nearest rivals list, the 4790K is 0.4% ahead of the 1185G7, while the 1185G7 is 0.4% behind the 4790K, confirming a statistical tie.

Q: Are there any workloads where the older 4790K actually beats the newer 1185G7?

A: Yes, the 4790K wins 3 benchmarks. Most notably, it leads in PassMark data compression with a score of 121722 versus 104630, a 16.3% margin, and in random string sorting with 16431 against 12792, a 28.4% edge. It also edges out the 1185G7 in extended instructions, 7579 to 7396, a 2.5% difference.

Q: What is the most significant single benchmark victory for either processor?

A: The 1185G7's largest win is in PassMark data encryption, where it scores 5598 against the 4790K's 2264. This represents a 59.6% advantage, the widest delta of any head-to-head test. This suggests a major architectural improvement in cryptographic instruction handling.

Q: Do both processors have the same core and thread configuration?

A: Yes, both feature 4 cores and 8 threads. However, they differ substantially in cache layout. The 4790K has 8 MB of shared L3 cache, while the 1185G7 has 12 MB shared. The 1185G7 also has larger per-core L2 cache at 1.25 MB versus 256 KB, and 80 KB L1 per core versus 64 KB.

Q: Which processor has a lower TDP, and what does that imply for its target platform?

A: The 1185G7 has a 28 W TDP compared to the 4790K's 88 W. The 1185G7 uses the Intel BGA 1449 socket, indicating it is soldered onto mobile motherboards, whereas the 4790K uses the desktop Intel Socket 1150. The lower TDP aligns with its mobile market segment classification.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two processors is vast, spanning multiple process nodes and microarchitectures. The 4790K is built on Intel's 22 nm Haswell process, featuring 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die. The 1185G7 uses the 10 nm Tiger Lake-U process, with a smaller 144 mm² die size, though its transistor count is not listed in the data. This node shrink is fundamental to the 1185G7's superior efficiency, allowing it to achieve higher performance at a fraction of the power draw.

The cache hierarchy tells a story of evolving design priorities. The 4790K offers 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 per core, with 8 MB of shared L3. The 1185G7 increases these figures dramatically: 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3. This larger cache pool directly supports the 1185G7's ability to feed its wider execution engines, particularly in data-intensive tasks like floating-point math where it scores 20126 versus 14597, a 27.5% advantage.

Integrated graphics present another major divergence. The 4790K carries the Intel HD 4600, while the 1185G7 features the Iris Xe-LP Graphics G7 with 96 execution units. This difference is not benchmarked directly, but the GPU specification suggests the mobile chip is designed for more capable visual workloads. Memory support also diverges: the 4790K is limited to DDR3 on a dual-channel bus with 25.6 GB/s bandwidth, while the 1185G7 supports both DDR4 and LPDDR4X on dual-channel, though its bandwidth figure is not provided.

PCIe connectivity shows a generational leap. The 4790K offers PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes, while the 1185G7 provides PCIe Gen 4 but only 4 lanes. This reflects their different roles: the desktop chip can drive multiple expansion cards, while the mobile processor is constrained by laptop form factors. The 4790K has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking, whereas the 1185G7 is locked, reinforcing the enthusiast desktop versus efficient mobile positioning.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The data paints a clear picture of the 1185G7's dominance in compute-heavy workloads. Across all Cinebench tests, the newer chip leads by a consistent 18.5-18.6%. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the 1185G7 scores 8416 against 6855, and in single-core it delivers 1188 versus 967. This uniformity suggests a fundamental per-clock efficiency advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk. The Geekbench results follow a similar pattern: multi-core shows a narrower 5.1% lead (4816 versus 4569), while single-core expands to 14.5% (1591 versus 1361).

The PassMark suite reveals where the 4790K still holds ground. Data compression is a clear win for the older chip, 121722 versus 104630, a 16.3% margin that indicates the 4790K's memory subsystem and instruction scheduling handle compression algorithms more effectively. Random string sorting shows an even larger 28.4% advantage (16431 versus 12792), suggesting a specific strength in pointer-chasing workloads. The extended instructions test is nearly a tie, with the 4790K edging ahead by 2.5% (7579 versus 7396).

The 1185G7's wins are often decisive. Data encryption is its standout performance, with a 59.6% lead (5598 versus 2264), indicating hardware-accelerated cryptographic features that simply did not exist in the Haswell era. Physics simulation shows a 28.2% gap (763 versus 548), and prime number finding demonstrates a 27.7% advantage (47 versus 34). Floating-point math is 27.5% better (20126 versus 14597), while integer math trails at 14.8% (34211 versus 29163). Multithread performance is 20.3% higher (10115 versus 8062), and single-thread shows an 11.2% lead (2778 versus 2466).

The Verdict

The benchmark data strongly favors the Intel Core i7-1185G7 for most workloads. Its 16 wins against 3 for the 4790K, combined with consistent double-digit margins in compute tasks, make it the superior processor for rendering, encryption, and general productivity. The 18.5% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core and the 59.6% advantage in data encryption are not marginal improvements—they represent a generational leap in IPC and specialized instruction support. For users running modern software that leverages AES-NI or advanced SIMD instructions, the 1185G7 is the clear choice.

However, the 4790K is not without merit. Its victories in data compression (16.3% ahead) and random string sorting (28.4% ahead) indicate that certain legacy or specific workloads still favor the older architecture. The near-identical average benchmark scores (11745 versus 11697) suggest that on a broad aggregate, they are equivalent, but this masks the fact that the 1185G7's wins are in more common tasks. The 4790K also offers an unlocked multiplier and PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes, making it more suitable for a desktop system with expansion needs. The data does not support a single universal winner; instead, it points to the 1185G7 for modern, compute-intensive applications and the 4790K for niche workloads where its specific strengths align.

Specification Differences

The two processors diverge on nearly every specification except core count and thread count. Base clock differs significantly: the 4790K runs at 4.00 GHz while the 1185G7 sits at 3.00 GHz. Boost clocks flip this, with the 1185G7 reaching 4.80 GHz versus the 4790K's 4.40 GHz. TDP is a major differentiator: 88 W for the desktop chip versus 28 W for the mobile part. The sockets are incompatible: Intel Socket 1150 for the 4790K and Intel BGA 1449 for the 1185G7.

Process technology separates them by a full node generation: 22 nm versus 10 nm. The 4790K has a transistor count of 1,400 million on a 177 mm² die, while the 1185G7's die is 144 mm² with no listed transistor count. Cache configurations differ across all levels, with the 1185G7 holding larger L1 (80 KB versus 64 KB per core), L2 (1.25 MB versus 256 KB per core), and L3 (12 MB versus 8 MB shared). Memory support shows the 4790K limited to DDR3 with 25.6 GB/s bandwidth, while the 1185G7 accepts DDR4 and LPDDR4X with no bandwidth figure provided.

PCIe lanes and generation differ: Gen 3 with 16 lanes for the 4790K, Gen 4 with 4 lanes for the 1185G7. Integrated graphics are completely different, with the HD 4600 versus the Iris Xe-LP Graphics G7 96EU. The 4790K has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking, while the 1185G7 is locked. Release dates are six years apart (2014 versus 2020), and the launch MSRP differs: $350 for the 4790K and $426 for the 1185G7. Both are marked as end-of-life production status and lack ECC memory support.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-1185G7 dominates in raw computational throughput and modern instruction efficiency. Its 59.6% lead in data encryption makes it the obvious choice for any workload involving cryptography, VPNs, or secure communications. The 27.5% advantage in floating-point math suggests superiority in scientific computing, 3D rendering, and any task relying on heavy FPU usage. Physics simulation, with a 28.2% edge, points to gaming physics engines and engineering simulations. Prime number finding, at 27.7% ahead, indicates strength in number theory and certain algorithmic workloads. The consistent 18.5% Cinebench margins across all versions show it excels in content creation, video encoding, and 3D modeling. Multithread performance at 20.3% higher makes it better for parallel workloads, while single-thread at 11.2% ahead benefits general responsiveness and lightly-threaded applications.

The Intel Core i7-4790K claims its territory in memory-intensive and specific algorithmic tasks. Data compression at 16.3% better means it handles ZIP, RAR, or database compression more efficiently. Random string sorting, with a 28.4% advantage, is the largest single win for the older chip, indicating strength in sorting algorithms, text processing, or any workload with unpredictable memory access patterns. The extended instructions test, where it leads by 2.5%, suggests it holds a slight edge in certain SIMD or specialized instruction sequences. For users running legacy software optimized for Haswell-era instruction sets, or those whose primary workload involves compression and sorting, the 4790K remains competitive despite its age. The data shows it is not universally obsolete; it simply serves a narrower range of tasks.