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

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a clear pattern: the Intel Core i7-1185G7 wins 15 of the 19 head-to-head comparisons, while the Intel Core i7-6700K takes 4 wins. The most decisive victory for the 1185G7 comes in PassMark data encryption, where it scores 5598 against 3067, a 45.2% advantage. This is the largest delta in either direction across the entire comparison set. The 1185G7 also dominates prime number finding with a 47 to 30 score, a 36.2% lead, and integer math at 34211 versus 28144, a 17.7% margin.

The 6700K's wins are concentrated in memory and data handling workloads. Random string sorting shows its best result, scoring 15788 against 12792, a 23.4% edge. Data compression follows at 125659 versus 104630, a 20.1% lead. Extended instructions favor the 6700K by 11.5%, with scores of 8248 against 7396. The Geekbench multicore test is the only synthetic CPU benchmark where the 6700K wins, posting 5011 versus 4816, a 4% advantage.

Single-threaded performance consistently favors the 1185G7. In Cinebench R15 single-core, it scores 119 versus 108, a 9.2% lead. Cinebench R20 single-core shows 498 against 450, a 9.6% margin. Cinebench R23 single-core delivers 1188 versus 1072, a 9.8% gap. PassMark single-thread confirms the trend at 2778 versus 2500, a 10% advantage. Geekbench single-core rounds out the picture with 1591 against 1442, a 9.4% lead.

Multithreaded Cinebench results follow the same direction. R15 multicore gives the 1185G7 an 848 to 765 win, a 9.8% margin. R20 multicore shows 3534 versus 3189, also 9.8%. R23 multicore delivers 8416 against 7594, again 9.8%. PassMark multithread shows 10115 versus 8927, an 11.7% lead for the 1185G7. Floating point math and physics also favor the mobile chip, with 20126 versus 17375 (13.7%) and 763 versus 637 (16.5%) respectively.

Looking at the broader database context, both CPUs sit at the 67th percentile among all processors. The 6700K carries an average benchmark score of 12237, placing it near the Intel Core i3-10105 at 12316 (0.6% behind), the Intel Core i3-12100 at 12054 (1.5% ahead), and the Intel Xeon Gold 6314U at 12026 (1.8% ahead). The 1185G7 averages 11697, sitting between the Intel Core i7-4790K at 11745 (0.4% behind), the AMD EPYC 7453 at 11912 (1.8% behind), and the Intel Core i7-7700 at 11914 (1.8% behind). The data suggests both processors hold similar overall standing despite their very different design targets.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU wins more head-to-head benchmarks?

A: The Intel Core i7-1185G7 wins 15 of the 19 comparisons. The Intel Core i7-6700K wins the remaining 4.

Q: What is the largest performance gap in either direction?

A: PassMark data encryption favors the 1185G7 by 45.2%, with scores of 5598 versus 3067. This is the biggest delta in the comparison set.

Q: Where does the 6700K perform better than the 1185G7?

A: The 6700K wins in PassMark random string sorting (15788 versus 12792, a 23.4% edge), data compression (125659 versus 104630, a 20.1% lead), extended instructions (8248 versus 7396, an 11.5% margin), and Geekbench multicore (5011 versus 4816, a 4% advantage).

Q: How do the two compare in single-threaded performance?

A: The 1185G7 wins every single-threaded test. PassMark single-thread shows 2778 versus 2500, a 10% lead. Cinebench R23 single-core shows 1188 versus 1072, a 9.8% gap. Geekbench single-core shows 1591 versus 1442, a 9.4% margin.

Q: Do both CPUs occupy the same performance percentile?

A: Yes, both are at the 67th percentile among all CPUs. The 6700K has a higher average benchmark score at 12237, while the 1185G7 averages 11697.

Q: Which CPU has the higher boost clock?

A: The 1185G7 boosts to 4.80 GHz, while the 6700K boosts to 4.20 GHz. The 6700K has a higher base clock at 4.00 GHz versus 3.00 GHz.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations and process nodes. The 6700K uses Skylake architecture built on Intel's 14 nm process with a die size of 122 mm². The 1185G7 uses Tiger Lake architecture, specifically the Willow Cove-U design, built on a 10 nm process with a die size of 144 mm². Both are manufactured by Intel but represent distinct design philosophies separated by five years of development.

Cache hierarchies differ substantially. The 6700K provides 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, with 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The 1185G7 offers 80 KB of L1 per core and a much larger 1.25 MB of L2 per core, with 12 MB of shared L3 cache. This larger cache arrangement helps explain the 1185G7's advantages in several compute-heavy workloads.

Memory support also differs. The 6700K supports DDR3 and DDR4 depending on the motherboard, while the 1185G7 supports DDR4 and LPDDR4X. Both use dual-channel memory buses. The 6700K lists a memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s, while the 1185G7 does not have a recorded bandwidth figure in the database. Neither CPU supports ECC memory.

PCIe capabilities show a significant generational shift. The 6700K provides Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The 1185G7 provides Gen 4 with 4 lanes from the CPU. This reflects the different market positions: desktop processors typically need more expansion lanes, while mobile processors prioritize bandwidth per lane for connected devices.

Integrated graphics differ as well. The 6700K includes HD Graphics 530, while the 1185G7 includes Iris Xe-LP Graphics G7 with 96 execution units. The socket types are entirely different, with the 6700K using Intel Socket 1151 and the 1185G7 using Intel BGA 1449, meaning they are not interchangeable in any system.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts are identical at 4 cores and 8 threads. Clock speeds differ in both directions. The 6700K has a base clock of 4.00 GHz and a boost clock of 4.20 GHz. The 1185G7 has a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 4.80 GHz. This gives the mobile chip a 0.60 GHz boost advantage and the desktop chip a 1.00 GHz base advantage.

Thermal design power differs dramatically. The 6700K is rated at 91 W, while the 1185G7 is rated at 28 W. This 63 W difference reflects the desktop versus mobile positioning and explains why the 1185G7 can achieve competitive performance in a much lower power envelope.

The 6700K has an unlocked multiplier, while the 1185G7 does not. This makes the desktop part more flexible for overclocking scenarios. The 6700K launched with an MSRP of $339, while the 1185G7 launched with an MSRP of $426. Both are end-of-life products in the database.

Release dates place them in different eras. The 6700K was released in August 2015, while the 1185G7 was released in September 2020. This five-year gap explains the architectural and process improvements present in the newer part.

Where Each One Wins

The 1185G7 is the clear winner in most compute-oriented workloads. Its 45.2% lead in data encryption, 36.2% lead in prime number finding, and 17.7% lead in integer math make it the stronger choice for cryptography, numerical computation, and general arithmetic processing. The 17.7% advantage in integer math and 13.7% advantage in floating point math indicate better raw compute efficiency per thread. The consistent 9.8% leads across all three Cinebench R23 tests, both single-core and multicore, suggest better rendering performance in CPU-bound scenarios. The 16.5% lead in physics calculations and 11.7% lead in multithread performance reinforce this pattern.

The 6700K wins in specific memory-heavy and data-organization tasks. Its 23.4% advantage in random string sorting points to better memory access patterns for sorting algorithms. The 20.1% lead in data compression indicates stronger throughput for compression workloads. The 11.5% edge in extended instructions suggests better support for certain specialized instruction sequences. The 4% Geekbench multicore win, while modest, shows the desktop part can still hold its own in at least one aggregate multicore metric.

The 1185G7 wins all six single-threaded tests across Cinebench, Geekbench, and PassMark. This consistency makes it the better choice for lightly threaded applications where per-core performance matters most. The 6700K has no single-threaded wins in the comparison set.

The Verdict

The Intel Core i7-1185G7 is the better processor for the majority of workloads measured. Its 15 wins out of 19 comparisons, including every single-threaded test and all three Cinebench generations, make it the stronger all-around performer. The 45.2% encryption advantage and 36.2% prime number advantage are particularly significant for security-focused and mathematical applications. Users running rendering workloads in Cinebench, physics simulations, or integer-heavy tasks should choose the 1185G7 based on the recorded data.

The Intel Core i7-6700K remains competitive in specific scenarios. Its 23.4% random string sorting advantage and 20.1% data compression lead indicate strengths in data organization and compression pipelines. The extended instructions win by 11.5% and the Geekbench multicore win by 4% round out a narrower but real set of use cases. Users whose workloads center on sorting, compression, or specialized instruction sequences may find the 6700K preferable.

Both CPUs sit at the 67th percentile overall, and the 6700K actually holds a higher average benchmark score at 12237 versus 11697. However, the head-to-head data shows the 1185G7 winning the majority of direct comparisons. The 6700K's higher average comes from its larger wins in the four tests it takes, especially the 23.4% and 20.1% margins. The 1185G7 wins more tests but by smaller margins in several cases.

The choice depends on workload profile. For general compute, single-threaded performance, encryption, physics, and rendering, the 1185G7 has the data on its side. For data compression, string sorting, and extended instruction workloads, the 6700K is the recorded winner. The 1185G7 achieves its results at 28 W against the 6700K's 91 W, making it the more efficient option in the database's measurements. The 6700K offers an unlocked multiplier for users who prioritize overclocking flexibility, while the 1185G7 offers a higher boost clock at 4.80 GHz. The data points to the 1185G7 as the broader performer, with the 6700K reserved for specific data-oriented tasks.