Intel Core i7-1185G7E vs Intel Core i7-5820K Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results reveal a surprisingly close contest between these two processors, with the older desktop part edging ahead in the majority of tests despite its age. Across the eight recorded benchmark runs, the Intel Core i7-5820K claims six wins, while the Intel Core i7-1185G7E takes two. The margins, however, are frequently razor-thin.

In multi-core workloads, the six-core 5820K consistently posts slightly higher scores. Cinebench R15 multicore shows 841 versus 836, a delta of -0.6% from the perspective of the 1185G7E. The pattern repeats in Cinebench R20 multicore with 3508 against 3487, again a -0.6% difference. Cinebench R23 multicore follows the same script: 8354 versus 8303, once more a -0.6% gap. Geekbench multicore is the closest of all, with 5464 versus 5459, a negligible -0.1% delta. These results indicate that the 1185G7E, despite having two fewer cores and four fewer threads, nearly matches the 5820K in heavily threaded rendering and synthetic multi-core tests. The data suggests that architectural efficiency and higher boost clocks compensate for the core deficit.

Single-core results are similarly tight. Cinebench R15 singlecore is a dead heat at 118 points for both chips, with the winner listed as the 1185G7E due to the 0% delta. Cinebench R20 singlecore goes to the 5820K by a hair: 495 versus 492, a -0.6% delta. Cinebench R23 singlecore also favors the 5820K at 1179 versus 1172, another -0.6% margin. These are effectively statistical ties, with the older Haswell design holding its own against the much newer Tiger Lake architecture in per-core throughput.

The one decisive break comes in Geekbench singlecore, where the 1185G7E posts 1756 against just 1174 for the 5820K. That is a 49.6% advantage, by far the largest delta in the entire comparison. This result stands out as a clear demonstration of generational IPC gains. The 1185G7E's single-thread score in this test is dramatically higher, suggesting that the Tiger Lake core design delivers substantially better per-clock performance and that the 4.40 GHz boost clock is being leveraged effectively.

Interpreting the overall picture, the 5820K's average benchmark score sits at 2642, placing it in the 49th percentile of all CPUs. The 1185G7E averages 2703, placing it in the 50th percentile. Despite losing the head-to-head count, the mobile chip has a slightly higher average score, driven almost entirely by that Geekbench singlecore outlier. The nearest rivals for the 1185G7E include the Intel Xeon E5-2640 v3 at 2703 (0% delta), the Intel Core i7-8700T at 2701 (0.1% delta), and the Intel Core i5-1345UE at 2698 (0.2% delta). The 5820K's nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon E-2274G at 2643 (0% delta) and the Intel Core i9-8950HK at 2641 (0.1% delta). The 1185G7E slots into a slightly higher performance bracket overall, even though the older chip wins most direct comparisons.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core i7-1185G7E is built on Tiger Lake-U, a 10 nm process from Intel, with a die size of 144 mm². It uses the Willow Cove-U core generation and targets the mobile segment with a socket of Intel BGA 1449. The chip has 4 cores and 8 threads, with a base clock of 1800.00 MHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. Its thermal design point is just 15 watts, reflecting its low-power mobile positioning.

The Intel Core i7-5820K, by contrast, is a Haswell-E desktop part fabricated on Intel's 22 nm process. It has a substantially larger die at 356 mm² and contains 2,600 million transistors. The chip offers 6 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 3.60 GHz. Its thermal design point is 140 watts, nearly ten times that of the mobile part. The socket is Intel Socket 2011-3, and the production status is end-of-life, whereas the 1185G7E remains active.

Cache hierarchies differ in structure and size. The 1185G7E has 80 KB of L1 per core and 1.25 MB of L2 per core, with 12 MB of shared L3. The 5820K has 64 KB of L1 per core and 256 KB of L2 per core, with 15 MB of shared L3. The newer chip's larger per-core L2 is notable, but the older part compensates with more shared L3 capacity.

Memory support also diverges. The 1185G7E supports DDR4 and LPDDR4X over a dual-channel bus, with no ECC support. The 5820K supports DDR4 over a quad-channel bus with a rated memory bandwidth of 68.3 GB/s, and likewise lacks ECC. The quad-channel configuration gives the desktop part a theoretical bandwidth advantage, though the recorded data does not include a direct bandwidth benchmark for the mobile chip.

PCIe capabilities differ by generation and lane count. The 1185G7E provides Gen 4 with 4 lanes (CPU only), while the 5820K provides Gen 3 with 28 lanes (CPU only). The older part offers far more expansion lanes, while the newer part supports a faster PCIe generation.

Integrated graphics present another clear split. The 1185G7E includes Iris Xe-LP Graphics G7 with 96 execution units, while the 5820K has no integrated graphics at all. The multiplier on the 1185G7E is locked; the 5820K has an unlocked multiplier, which historically allows overclocking. The 1185G7E launched with an MSRP of $431; no launch MSRP is recorded for the 5820K.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core rendering?

A: The Intel Core i7-5820K wins every recorded multi-core test, but by very narrow margins. Cinebench R23 multicore shows 8354 versus 8303, a -0.6% delta, and Geekbench multicore shows 5464 versus 5459, a -0.1% delta. The 1185G7E is nearly competitive despite having fewer cores.

Q: How large is the single-core performance gap?

A: It depends on the benchmark. In Geekbench singlecore, the 1185G7E leads by 49.6% with 1756 versus 1174. In Cinebench R23 singlecore, the 5820K leads by -0.6% with 1179 versus 1172. Cinebench R15 singlecore is tied at 118 points.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. Both the Intel Core i7-1185G7E and the Intel Core i7-5820K have ECC memory support listed as false.

Q: Which chip has integrated graphics?

A: Only the Intel Core i7-1185G7E includes integrated graphics, specifically Iris Xe-LP Graphics G7 with 96 execution units. The Intel Core i7-5820K has no integrated graphics.

Q: What are the core and thread counts?

A: The Intel Core i7-1185G7E has 4 cores and 8 threads. The Intel Core i7-5820K has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i7-1185G7E boosts to 4.40 GHz, while the Intel Core i7-5820K boosts to 3.60 GHz. The mobile chip's higher boost clock helps it stay competitive in single-threaded tests.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every major specification category. The 1185G7E has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the 5820K has 6 cores and 12 threads. Base clocks are 1800.00 MHz for the 1185G7E and 3.30 GHz for the 5820K; boost clocks are 4.40 GHz and 3.60 GHz respectively. Thermal design power is 15 watts versus 140 watts.

Sockets are entirely different: Intel BGA 1449 for the mobile part and Intel Socket 2011-3 for the desktop part. The architecture generation differs as well, with Tiger Lake (Willow Cove-U) on a 10 nm process for the 1185G7E, versus Haswell (Haswell-E) on a 22 nm process for the 5820K. The die size is 144 mm² versus 356 mm², and the 5820K has 2,600 million transistors while the 1185G7E has no recorded transistor count.

Cache configurations are not shared. The 1185G7E has 80 KB L1 per core and 1.25 MB L2 per core with 12 MB shared L3. The 5820K has 64 KB L1 per core and 256 KB L2 per core with 15 MB shared L3. Memory support differs: DDR4 and LPDDR4X dual-channel for the 1185G7E, versus DDR4 quad-channel with 68.3 GB/s bandwidth for the 5820K.

PCIe capability is Gen 4 with 4 lanes for the 1185G7E, versus Gen 3 with 28 lanes for the 5820K. The 1185G7E has Iris Xe-LP Graphics G7 96EU; the 5820K has none. The multiplier is locked on the 1185G7E and unlocked on the 5820K. Production status is active for the 1185G7E and end-of-life for the 5820K. Release dates are 2020-09-01 for the mobile chip and 2014-08-31 for the desktop chip. The 1185G7E has a recorded launch MSRP of $431; the 5820K has none. Part numbers are SRK0X and SR20S respectively.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-5820K wins in multi-core rendering consistency. It holds a small but uniform advantage across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multicore tests, as well as Geekbench multicore. For workloads that are heavily threaded and sustained, such as video encoding, 3D rendering, or compiling, the 5820K's extra two cores and four threads provide a measurable, if modest, edge. The data shows that this older desktop chip remains viable for productivity tasks that scale across cores. Its quad-channel memory bus and 68.3 GB/s bandwidth also make it a better candidate for memory-hungry applications, though the recorded benchmarks do not directly measure that effect. The unlocked multiplier is another factor: for users who overclock, the 5820K offers headroom that the locked 1185G7E cannot match.

The Intel Core i7-1185G7E wins decisively in Geekbench singlecore, with a 49.6% lead that stands as the largest performance gap in the entire comparison. This suggests it is the stronger choice for lightly threaded workloads that depend heavily on per-core performance, such as everyday desktop responsiveness, office applications, and single-threaded legacy software. Its integrated Iris Xe-LP Graphics G7 with 96 execution units provides a display output and basic graphics capability without a discrete GPU, which is a significant practical advantage for compact or mobile systems. The 1185G7E also carries a far lower thermal design point of 15 watts, making it suitable for thin-and-light laptops and fanless or low-noise designs. Its active production status and newer process node indicate it is the more current platform for new designs, and its higher boost clock of 4.40 GHz supports burst workloads.

In terms of overall percentile placement, the 1185G7E sits at the 50th percentile versus the 5820K's 49th, and its average benchmark score of 2703 exceeds the 5820K's 2642. The 1185G7E's nearest rivals, including the Intel Xeon E5-2640 v3 at 2703 and the Intel Core i5-1345UE at 2698, occupy a slightly higher performance tier. The 5820K's rivals, such as the Intel Xeon E-2274G at 2643 and the Intel Core i9-8950HK at 2641, sit just below. The practical takeaway: the 5820K is the better multi-core renderer, but the 1185G7E is the better all-rounder for single-thread performance, mobility, and integrated functionality.