Intel Core i7-1185G7 vs Intel Core i7-6700 Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark split between these two processors is lopsided. The Intel Core i7-1185G7 takes 16 of the 19 recorded head-to-head tests, while the Intel Core i7-6700 wins only 3. That tells a clear story about generational progress, but the three wins for the older chip are not trivial. They cluster around specific workload types where the i7-6700 retains an edge.

The i7-1185G7 dominates rendering, single-threaded throughput, and most compute-heavy math workloads. It wins every Cinebench test across R15, R20, and R23, both single-core and multi-core variants. It also takes Geekbench single-core and multi-core, plus PassMark's floating point math, integer math, multithread, physics, data encryption, prime number finding, and single-thread tests. The margin in encryption is enormous, over double the older chip's score.

The i7-6700's three wins are in data compression, extended instructions, and random string sorting. These are all memory-latency-sensitive or instruction-level tasks where the older desktop design with its higher base clock and mature platform apparently holds an advantage. The data compression win is the largest of the three at 8% ahead, and random string sorting shows an 11.2% lead. Extended instructions is a narrow 1.5% margin.

For a use-case split: the i7-1185G7 is the clear choice for content creation, physics simulation, encryption workloads, and any task that benefits from high single-thread performance. The i7-6700 remains competitive for compression-heavy data pipelines and string manipulation tasks, though its overall score profile is older.

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from different design eras. The i7-1185G7 uses the Tiger Lake architecture on a 10 nm process, while the i7-6700 uses Skylake on 14 nm. Both have 4 cores and 8 threads, so the thread count parity means any performance gap comes from architectural efficiency, clock behavior, and supporting features rather than core count.

Cache layouts differ substantially. The i7-1185G7 has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3. The i7-6700 has 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 8 MB shared L3. The newer chip's larger per-core L2 is particularly notable, as it reduces reliance on the shared L3 for frequently accessed data.

Memory support also differs. The i7-1185G7 supports DDR4 and LPDDR4X, while the i7-6700 supports DDR3 and DDR4. The older chip has a recorded memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s; the newer chip has no bandwidth figure in the database. PCIe generations differ as well: the i7-1185G7 has Gen 4 with 4 CPU lanes, while the i7-6700 has Gen 3 with 16 CPU lanes.

Integrated graphics are another major split. The i7-1185G7 carries Iris Xe-LP Graphics G7 with 96 execution units, while the i7-6700 has HD Graphics 530. The newer chip's GPU is far more capable for any integrated-graphics workload, though neither is meant for heavy discrete-class gaming.

The i7-1185G7 has a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost of 4.80 GHz, with a 28 W TDP. The i7-6700 has a higher base clock of 3.40 GHz but a lower boost of 4.00 GHz, with a 65 W TDP. The newer chip achieves higher turbo clocks while drawing less power, a direct benefit of the newer process node and architecture. Sockets differ: BGA 1449 for the Tiger Lake part, Socket 1151 for the Skylake part.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single win for the i7-1185G7 is in data encryption, where it scores 5598 against 2753, a 103.3% advantage. That is a doubling of throughput, likely reflecting new AES-NI improvements and the newer architecture's crypto acceleration.

Prime number finding shows a 74.1% lead: 47 versus 27. Physics simulation is 36.7% ahead (763 versus 558). Integer math is 33.4% ahead (34211 versus 25651). Floating point math is 27.1% ahead (20126 versus 15840). Multithread performance is 25.6% ahead (10115 versus 8051). Single-thread tests show a 22% lead (2778 versus 2277).

Cinebench results are remarkably consistent. All four R15, R20, and R23 tests show a delta between 23.2% and 24%. The R15 multicore score is 848 versus 688, R15 single-core 119 versus 96, R20 multicore 3534 versus 2867, R20 single-core 498 versus 404, R23 multicore 8416 versus 6828, and R23 single-core 1188 versus 964. The uniformity suggests the architectural efficiency gain is stable across different rendering workloads.

Geekbench shows a 25.9% single-core lead (1591 versus 1264) and a 14.6% multi-core lead (4816 versus 4201). The smaller multi-core margin hints that the i7-6700's higher base clock helps in less scalable workloads.

The i7-6700's wins are smaller in relative terms. Random string sorting: 14406 versus 12792, an 11.2% lead. Data compression: 113748 versus 104630, an 8% lead. Extended instructions: 7505 versus 7396, a 1.5% lead.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in single-threaded workloads?

A: The Intel Core i7-1185G7 wins every single-thread test. PassMark single-thread shows 2778 versus 2277, a 22% lead. Geekbench single-core shows 1591 versus 1264, a 25.9% lead. Cinebench R23 single-core shows 1188 versus 964, a 23.2% lead.

Q: Does the older i7-6700 win any benchmarks at all?

A: Yes, it wins 3 of 19 head-to-head tests: data compression (113748 versus 104630, an 8% lead), random string sorting (14406 versus 12792, an 11.2% lead), and extended instructions (7505 versus 7396, a 1.5% lead).

Q: How do the multi-core scores compare?

A: The i7-1185G7 leads in all multi-core tests. Cinebench R23 multicore is 8416 versus 6828, a 23.3% advantage. Geekbench multicore is 4816 versus 4201, a 14.6% advantage. PassMark multithread is 10115 versus 8051, a 25.6% advantage.

Q: What is the biggest performance gap between the two?

A: The largest gap is in PassMark data encryption, where the i7-1185G7 scores 5598 compared to 2753, more than double the i7-6700's result (a 103.3% delta).

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

A: Yes, both have 4 cores and 8 threads. The performance differences come from architecture, clock speeds, cache, and other features rather than core count.

Q: Which processor has newer memory support?

A: The i7-1185G7 supports DDR4 and LPDDR4X, while the i7-6700 supports DDR3 and DDR4. The i7-6700 has a recorded memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s; no bandwidth figure is recorded for the i7-1185G7.

Specification Differences

| Field | Intel Core i7-1185G7 | Intel Core i7-6700 |

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

| Base Clock | 3.00 GHz | 3.40 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.80 GHz | 4.00 GHz |

| TDP | 28 W | 65 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1449 | Intel Socket 1151 |

| Architecture | Tiger Lake | Skylake |

| Codename | Tiger Lake-U | Skylake |

| Generation | Core i7 (Willow Cove-U) | Core i7 (Skylake) |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 14 nm |

| Die Size | 144 mm² | Not recorded |

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

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

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

| Memory Support | DDR4, LPDDR4X | DDR3, DDR4 |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not recorded | 34.1 GB/s |

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

| Integrated Graphics | Iris Xe-LP Graphics G7 96EU | HD Graphics 530 |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Release Date | 2020-09-01 | 2015-06-30 |

| Launch MSRP | $426 | $303 |

| Part Number | SRK1F | SR2L2 |

Both chips have the same core count (4), thread count (8), dual-channel memory bus, lack of ECC support, locked multipliers, and end-of-life production status. They also share the same manufacturer.

The Verdict

The data points to the Intel Core i7-1185G7 as the stronger processor in nearly every meaningful category. Its 16 benchmark wins versus 3 for the i7-6700, combined with consistent double-digit margins across rendering, math, encryption, and physics workloads, make it the better choice for anyone running modern software that benefits from architectural improvements.

The i7-1185G7 is particularly compelling for single-threaded tasks, where it leads by 22% to 25.9% across different testing suites. It also draws far less power (28 W versus 65 W), making it more suitable for thermally constrained systems, even though it is a mobile part while the i7-6700 is a desktop chip.

The i7-6700 retains niche relevance. Its wins in data compression, random string sorting, and extended instructions suggest that certain legacy or memory-latency-bound workloads still favor the older design. Its higher base clock (3.40 GHz versus 3.00 GHz) likely contributes to these wins in tasks that do not boost well.

For a typical user, the choice is clear. The i7-1185G7 offers substantially better performance in the workloads that matter most: rendering, encryption, math, and general responsiveness. The i7-6700 should only be considered if the specific workload is one of its three winning categories, or if the platform compatibility of Socket 1151 is a hard requirement. The recorded average benchmark scores confirm the gap: 11697 for the i7-1185G7 versus 11074 for the i7-6700, with percentile rankings of 67 and 66 respectively.