Intel Core i7-1185G7E vs Intel Core i7-8700T Comparison

The Intel Core i7-1185G7E and Intel Core i7-8700T represent two very different approaches to Intel’s mid-range lineup, separated by a generation gap and a fundamental divergence in target platform. The 1185G7E is a low-power mobile part built on Tiger Lake, while the 8700T is an energy-efficient desktop chip from the Coffee Lake era. Benchmark data reveals a fascinating split: the older desktop processor dominates in raw compute workloads, yet the newer mobile chip secures decisive victories in Geekbench, particularly in single-core performance. The average benchmark scores are nearly identical, with the 1185G7E posting an average of 2703 and the 8700T at 2701, a delta of just 0.1 percent, placing both at the 50th percentile of all CPUs. This near-parity in overall standing contrasts sharply with the specific test results, where the two chips trade blows based on workload characteristics.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench suite paints a consistent picture: the Intel Core i7-8700T wins every single iteration of this rendering benchmark, but by a narrow margin. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the 8700T scores 876 against the 1185G7E’s 836, a delta of -4.6 percent from the perspective of the mobile chip. The single-core R15 result follows the same pattern, with the 8700T scoring 123 versus 118, a 4.1 percent advantage. Moving to Cinebench R20, the desktop part extends its lead slightly: it scores 3653 in multicore against 3487, a 4.5 percent gap, and 515 in single-core versus 492, also 4.5 percent. The R23 results mirror this exactly, with the 8700T winning multicore at 8698 versus 8303 and single-core at 1228 versus 1172, both representing 4.5 and 4.6 percent leads respectively. These are consistent, if modest, victories across the board, suggesting that the 8700T’s two additional physical cores and higher base clock provide a real, though not overwhelming, advantage in sustained multi-threaded rendering tasks.

The Geekbench results tell a completely different story, and this is where the 1185G7E makes its case. In Geekbench multicore, the Tiger Lake chip scores 5459 against the 8700T’s 5168, a 5.6 percent victory. This is notable because it reverses the Cinebench trend, indicating that the 1185G7E’s newer architecture handles Geekbench’s mixed workload more efficiently despite having fewer cores. The single-core Geekbench result is a landslide: the 1185G7E scores 1756 versus 1343, a staggering 30.8 percent advantage. This is the single largest delta in the entire comparison and highlights the massive generational leap in single-threaded performance that Willow Cove delivers over Coffee Lake. The data shows that the 8700T wins 6 of the 8 head-to-head benchmarks, but the 1185G7E’s two victories are disproportionately impactful, particularly the 30.8 percent single-core blowout.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i7-1185G7E holds a razor-thin edge with an average score of 2703, compared to the 2701 average of the Intel Core i7-8700T, a delta of just 0.1 percent.

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

A: The 1185G7E outscores the 8700T by 30.8 percent in Geekbench single-core, posting 1756 points against 1343 points, which is the largest performance delta between the two chips in any test.

Q: Does the older 8700T win any benchmarks?

A: Yes, the 8700T wins all six Cinebench tests (R15, R20, and R23, both single- and multi-core) with margins ranging from 4.1 to 4.6 percent over the 1185G7E.

Q: Are the two processors comparable in overall performance?

A: Yes, the data indicates near-parity in average scores. The 1185G7E’s average is 2703, and the 8700T’s is 2701, with both occupying the 50th percentile of all CPUs and appearing as direct rivals in each other’s nearestRivals lists.

Q: What is the difference in core and thread counts?

A: The 8700T has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the 1185G7E has 4 cores and 8 threads, giving the desktop part a 50 percent advantage in core count.

Q: How do the boost clocks compare?

A: The 1185G7E has a higher boost clock of 4.40 GHz, while the 8700T boosts to 4.00 GHz, a difference of 0.4 GHz in favor of the mobile chip.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-8700T is the clear choice for sustained, multi-threaded compute workloads that rely on traditional rendering engines. Its consistent 4.5 percent lead across all Cinebench iterations, from R15 to R23, indicates that applications built around CPU-based rendering—such as 3D model visualization or video encoding—will see a tangible, if not dramatic, benefit from the two extra physical cores. The 8700T’s higher base clock of 2.40 GHz versus 1.80 GHz also helps it maintain throughput in scenarios where all cores are active for extended periods. For users running batch rendering jobs or compiling large codebases, the data suggests the 8700T is the more reliable workhorse, even if the margin is not huge.

The Intel Core i7-1185G7E wins where responsiveness and single-threaded execution matter most. The 30.8 percent lead in Geekbench single-core is a massive generational improvement, and the 5.6 percent lead in Geekbench multicore suggests that its newer architecture handles mixed, latency-sensitive workloads far better than the older Coffee Lake design. This makes the 1185G7E the superior option for general desktop snappiness, web browsing, office productivity, and any application that is not fully multi-threaded. The fact that it achieves this while consuming significantly less power (15W TDP versus 35W) underscores that the Tiger Lake architecture is far more efficient per watt. For users prioritizing day-to-day responsiveness and battery life in a mobile form factor, the 1185G7E is the clear winner.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ fundamentally in their physical specifications. The 1185G7E is a mobile chip built on a 10 nm process with a die size of 144 mm², while the 8700T is a desktop part on the older 14 nm process with a slightly larger die at 154 mm². The mobile chip has a TDP of 15W, less than half the 8700T’s 35W. Core counts differ, with the 8700T offering 6 cores and 12 threads versus the 1185G7E’s 4 cores and 8 threads. Base clocks are 1.80 GHz for the 1185G7E and 2.40 GHz for the 8700T, but the boost clocks flip the order, with the 1185G7E reaching 4.40 GHz and the 8700T capping at 4.00 GHz. The sockets are incompatible: BGA 1449 for the mobile part and Socket 1151 for the desktop part. Memory support also diverges, with the 1185G7E supporting DDR4 and LPDDR4X, while the 8700T supports only DDR4; the 8700T lists a memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s, whereas the 1185G7E has no listed bandwidth figure. PCIe connectivity differs as well, with the 1185G7E offering Gen 4 with 4 lanes and the 8700T providing Gen 3 with 16 lanes.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide between these chips is substantial. The 1185G7E is built on the Tiger Lake architecture, specifically the Tiger Lake-U codename, and belongs to the Core i7 (Willow Cove-U) generation. The 8700T is based on the older Coffee Lake architecture and codename, from the Core i7 (Coffee Lake) generation. This represents a full process node jump, from 14 nm to 10 nm, which directly impacts efficiency and clock scaling. The cache hierarchies differ notably: the 1185G7E has 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, while the 8700T has 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core. Both share 12 MB of L3 cache, but the newer chip’s larger per-core L2 cache is a significant factor in its superior single-threaded performance. The integrated graphics are also vastly different, with the 1185G7E featuring Iris Xe-LP Graphics G7 with 96 execution units, compared to the 8700T’s older UHD Graphics 630. The mobile part’s production status is Active, while the desktop chip is End-of-life. Release dates are separated by roughly two and a half years, with the 8700T launching in April 2018 and the 1185G7E following in September 2020.