Intel Core i7-1185G7E vs Intel Core i7-7740X Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins the majority of the head-to-head benchmark comparisons?

A: The Intel Core i7-1185G7E wins all 8 recorded head-to-head tests against the Intel Core i7-7740X. The single largest margin is in Geekbench single-core, where it leads by 8.5%.

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

A: The i7-1185G7E has an average benchmark score of 2703, while the i7-7740X averages 2648. That places the 1185G7E about 2.1% higher overall, though both sit at the 50th percentile among all CPUs in the database.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: Both processors feature 4 cores and 8 threads. They are identical in this regard, making the performance differences entirely dependent on architecture, clock speeds, and memory configuration.

Q: Which chip has a higher base clock?

A: The i7-7740X has a significantly higher base clock of 4.30 GHz compared to 1.80 GHz for the i7-1185G7E. The 1185G7E compensates with a boost clock of 4.40 GHz, while the 7740X boosts to 4.60 GHz.

Q: Is there a difference in memory channel support?

A: Yes. The i7-1185G7E supports dual-channel DDR4 or LPDDR4X memory, while the i7-7740X supports quad-channel DDR4. That gives the desktop part a potential memory bandwidth advantage, though the database does not record a specific bandwidth figure for either.

Q: Does either processor include integrated graphics?

A: Only the i7-1185G7E includes integrated graphics: Iris Xe-LP Graphics G7 with 96 execution units. The i7-7740X has no integrated graphics at all, requiring a discrete GPU for any display output.

Where Each One Wins

The recorded data shows a clean sweep for the Intel Core i7-1185G7E across every benchmark test in the head-to-head comparison. There is no test where the i7-7740X takes the lead. That said, the margins tell a more nuanced story than the win count suggests.

In Cinebench workloads, the 1185G7E wins by very narrow margins. The R15 multicore test shows a 0.6% advantage, R20 multicore also shows 0.6%, and R23 multicore again shows 0.6%. Single-core Cinebench results are similarly close, with deltas of 0.9% in R15, 0.8% in R20, and 0.7% in R23. These are essentially statistical noise, indicating that both parts deliver nearly identical rendering performance in these specific tests.

The Geekbench results tell a different story. Here, the 1185G7E opens up a more substantial gap. In Geekbench multicore, it leads by 4.1%, and in single-core, it leads by 8.5%. These larger deltas suggest the newer Tiger Lake architecture has a clearer advantage in workloads that resemble Geekbench's mixed integer, floating-point, and memory-access patterns, whereas the heavily multithreaded Cinebench loops keep the two chips closer together.

For a user deciding between these two, the 1185G7E is the better choice across the board according to the benchmark data. The only real question is whether the narrow Cinebench margins matter less than the more decisive Geekbench wins, and that depends on the intended workload mix.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural eras. The i7-1185G7E uses Tiger Lake, specifically the Tiger Lake-U codename, built on Intel's 10 nm process node. It belongs to the Willow Cove-U generation of Core i7 parts. The i7-7740X uses Kaby Lake, specifically Kaby Lake-X, built on Intel's 14 nm process node, and belongs to the X-Series 7th Gen.

The cache hierarchies differ notably. The 1185G7E has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The 7740X has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3. That means the 1185G7E has roughly 4.9 times more L2 per core and 50% more total L3 cache, a substantial advantage for workloads that benefit from large, fast on-die storage.

Memory architecture also diverges. The 1185G7E supports both DDR4 and LPDDR4X in a dual-channel configuration, while the 7740X supports only DDR4 but in a quad-channel configuration. The 1185G7E also carries PCIe Gen 4 support with 4 CPU lanes, whereas the 7740X uses PCIe Gen 3. The 1185G7E includes integrated Iris Xe graphics with 96 execution units; the 7740X has none.

The socket situation is entirely different: the 1185G7E uses Intel BGA 1449, a mobile socket, while the 7740X uses Intel Socket 2066, a desktop HEDT socket. The 1185G7E is a mobile part, the 7740X a desktop part. The 1185G7E has a multiplier lock, while the 7740X has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking.

Specification Differences

The most visible difference is thermal design power. The i7-1185G7E has a TDP of 15 watts, while the i7-7740X has a TDP of 112 watts. That is a 97-watt gap, making the mobile part dramatically more power-efficient on paper.

Clock speeds differ significantly. The 1185G7E has a base clock of 1.80 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. The 7740X has a base clock of 4.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. The desktop part runs at a much higher idle and low-load frequency, but the boost clocks are only 0.20 GHz apart.

Process node and die size differ. The 1185G7E is on 10 nm with a die size of 144 mm². The 7740X is on 14 nm, and the database does not record a die size for it. Both are manufactured by Intel.

Memory support differs: the 1185G7E supports DDR4 and LPDDR4X, the 7740X only DDR4. The memory bus is dual-channel versus quad-channel. The 1185G7E has PCIe Gen 4 with 4 lanes, the 7740X has PCIe Gen 3.

Integrated graphics are present only on the 1185G7E. The 7740X has no iGPU. The 1185G7E has a launch MSRP of $431; the 7740X has no recorded launch MSRP in the database.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench R15 multicore test gives the i7-1185G7E a score of 836 against 831 for the i7-7740X, a 0.6% lead. Single-core R15 shows 118 versus 117, a 0.9% difference. These are the closest margins in the entire comparison.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the 1185G7E scores 3487 multicore versus 3465, again a 0.6% edge. Single-core R20 shows 492 versus 488, a 0.8% lead. The pattern holds in R23, where the 1185G7E scores 8303 multicore against 8250, a 0.6% margin, and 1172 single-core against 1164, a 0.7% margin.

Geekbench is where the gap widens. In Geekbench multicore, the 1185G7E scores 5459 against 5246, a 4.1% advantage. In Geekbench single-core, it scores 1756 against 1619, an 8.5% advantage. That single-core Geekbench result is the largest delta in the entire head-to-head set.

The data suggests that the architectural improvements in Tiger Lake, particularly the larger per-core cache and 10 nm process, manifest most strongly in single-threaded integer and floating-point performance as measured by Geekbench. The Cinebench results, which stress sustained multithreaded rendering, show that the 7740X's higher base clock and quad-channel memory help it stay competitive, despite its older architecture.

The Verdict

The benchmark data makes a clear recommendation: the Intel Core i7-1185G7E outperforms the Intel Core i7-7740X in every recorded test. The wins range from marginal 0.6% margins in Cinebench R15 multicore to a decisive 8.5% advantage in Geekbench single-core.

For users prioritizing single-threaded performance, the 1185G7E is the obvious pick. Its 8.5% Geekbench single-core lead and consistent 0.7% to 0.9% Cinebench single-core advantages indicate that the newer Willow Cove cores deliver more work per clock, despite the lower base frequency.

For users running heavily multithreaded workloads, the choice is less clear-cut. The 1185G7E still wins, but by only 0.6% in all three Cinebench multicore tests. That margin is small enough that other system factors, such as cooling, memory speed, or motherboard quality, could easily tip the balance in practice.

The 1185G7E also offers integrated graphics, PCIe Gen 4, and a dramatically lower 15-watt TDP, making it suitable for compact or power-constrained systems. The 7740X requires a discrete GPU and a high-power platform, but it does offer an unlocked multiplier and quad-channel memory support.

Given the complete head-to-head sweep, the database points to the i7-1185G7E as the stronger processor. The only scenario where the 7740X might appeal is one that heavily rewards the unlocked multiplier for overclocking or the quad-channel memory bus, but the recorded benchmark data does not show any test where those features translate into a win.