Intel Core i7-1185GRE vs Intel Core i7-5950HQ Comparison

The Intel Core i7-1185GRE and the Intel Core i7-5950HQ are both 4-core, 8-thread mobile processors, but they represent vastly different eras of Intel design. The data shows a clear generational split: the newer 1185GRE dominates synthetic single-threaded workloads, while the older 5950HQ posts a surprising victory in Geekbench multi-core. With the 1185GRE taking 7 of 8 head-to-head benchmarks, the overall average scores are close, but the character of each chip is distinct.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most dramatic gap between these two CPUs appears in Geekbench single-core, where the 1185GRE scores 1848 against the 5950HQ’s 1353. That is a 36.6% advantage, by far the largest delta in any test. This result is not an outlier; it reflects the architectural gulf between the two parts. The 1185GRE’s 4.40 GHz boost clock and Tiger Lake design translate directly into a massive lead in lightly-threaded performance, which matters for everyday responsiveness and legacy applications.

Multi-threaded workloads tell a more nuanced story. In the Cinebench suite, the 1185GRE wins every round, but by narrow margins. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the 1185GRE scores 6635 versus 6516 for the 5950HQ, a 1.8% edge. The pattern repeats in Cinebench R20 multi-core (2786 vs 2736, +1.8%) and Cinebench R15 multi-core (668 vs 656, +1.8%). These are statistically minor differences, suggesting that for heavily threaded rendering tasks, the two processors are effectively peers despite the six-year gap in release dates.

Single-core Cinebench results follow the same trend as Geekbench, though with smaller magnitudes. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the 1185GRE scores 936 versus 920 for the 5950HQ, a 1.7% win. Cinebench R20 single-core shows 393 vs 386 (+1.8%), and Cinebench R15 single-core shows 94 vs 92 (+2.2%). The consistency of these deltas—hovering around 1.8%—suggests that Cinebench’s workload is less sensitive to the architectural improvements that the 1185GRE brings, whereas Geekbench’s single-core test exposes the full extent of the generational leap.

The one benchmark where the 5950HQ wins decisively is Geekbench multi-core, where it scores 4601 against the 1185GRE’s 4060. That is an 11.8% margin in favor of the older chip. This result is counterintuitive given the Cinebench multi-core results, but the data is unambiguous. The 5950HQ’s higher base clock of 2.90 GHz (versus 1.80 GHz) likely helps it sustain multi-threaded throughput in workloads that are not boost-limited, while the 1185GRE’s lower base clock forces it to rely more heavily on reaching its 4.40 GHz boost under sustained load.

Overall, the 1185GRE wins 7 benchmarks to 1. Its average benchmark score is 2178, slightly ahead of the 5950HQ’s 2158. Both chips sit at the 47th percentile of all CPUs, meaning they are squarely mid-pack in the broader market. The nearest rival data confirms this: the 1185GRE’s closest competitor is the AMD Ryzen 5 3400GE (2175 avg, +0.2%), while the 5950HQ’s nearest rival is the Intel Core i5-10200H (2154 avg, +0.2%).

Architecture Differences

The 1185GRE is built on Intel’s 10 nm process node with a Tiger Lake-U codename, representing the Willow Cove microarchitecture. It has a 144 mm² die size. The 5950HQ, in contrast, uses Intel’s older 14 nm node with a Broadwell-H codename and a larger 182 mm² die. This process shrink is a primary driver of the 1185GRE’s efficiency and higher clock headroom.

Cache configurations differ substantially. The 1185GRE has 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 1.25 MB of L2 per core, with a 12 MB shared L3 cache. The 5950HQ has smaller 64 KB L1 per core and 256 KB L2 per core, and only 6 MB of shared L3. The 1185GRE’s double-sized L3 cache is a significant advantage for workloads that fit within cache, though the benchmark data shows only modest real-world impact in the tested scenarios.

The integrated graphics also represent two generations. The 1185GRE pairs with Iris Xe-LP Graphics G7 with 96 execution units, while the 5950HQ uses Iris Pro Graphics 6200. The newer GPU architecture in the 1185GRE should offer better media and compute capabilities, though no graphics benchmarks are available in the data to quantify this.

Memory and I/O are other divergent points. The 1185GRE supports DDR4 and LPDDR4X memory with ECC support enabled, and it provides PCIe Gen 4 with 4 lanes from the CPU. The 5950HQ supports only DDR3 memory with no ECC, and it offers PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes. The 5950HQ does list a memory bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s, a field left null for the 1185GRE. The 1185GRE also has a lower 15W TDP versus the 5950HQ’s 47W TDP, a massive difference that makes the newer chip far more suitable for thin-and-light designs.

Production status and socket further separate them. The 1185GRE is Active production, uses Intel BGA 1449, and launched in September 2020. The 5950HQ is End-of-life, uses Intel BGA 1364, and launched in June 2015. The 1185GRE has a launch MSRP of $490, while the 5950HQ launched at $623. Both parts have locked multipliers.

The Verdict

For anyone building or buying a system today, the Intel Core i7-1185GRE is the defensible choice. It wins the majority of benchmarks, offers a dramatically higher single-core score (36.6% ahead in Geekbench), consumes one-third the power, and is still in active production. The data shows that its architectural advantages—smaller process node, larger caches, higher boost clock—translate into real performance gains in most tests.

The 5950HQ is only preferable in one specific scenario: if your workload is heavily multi-threaded and replicates the Geekbench multi-core test pattern, where it leads by 11.8%. It also provides 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes versus the 1185GRE’s 4 PCIe Gen 4 lanes, which could matter for systems needing many expansion devices. However, its 47W TDP and end-of-life status make it a poor fit for new designs.

The 1185GRE’s 1.8% wins in Cinebench are underwhelming given the hardware differences, but its single-core dominance and efficiency advantages are decisive. For most users, the 1185GRE is the better processor.

Specification Differences

| Field | Intel Core i7-1185GRE | Intel Core i7-5950HQ |

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

| Base Clock | 1.80 GHz | 2.90 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.40 GHz | 3.80 GHz |

| TDP | 15 W | 47 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1449 | Intel BGA 1364 |

| Architecture | Tiger Lake | Broadwell |

| Codename | Tiger Lake-U | Broadwell-H |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 14 nm |

| Die Size | 144 mm² | 182 mm² |

| 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) | 6 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4, LPDDR4X | DDR3 |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not listed | 29.9 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 4 Lanes | Gen 3, 16 Lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | Iris Xe-LP Graphics G7 96EU | Iris Pro Graphics 6200 |

| Production Status | Active | End-of-life |

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

| Part Number | SRK0Y | SR2BJ |

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster in single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i7-1185GRE wins all single-core benchmarks. Its most significant margin is in Geekbench single-core, where it scores 1848 against the 5950HQ’s 1353, a 36.6% difference. It also leads in Cinebench R23 single-core (936 vs 920), R20 (393 vs 386), and R15 (94 vs 92).

Q: Is the older 5950HQ better at any benchmark?

A: Yes. The 5950HQ wins Geekbench multi-core with a score of 4601 versus 4060 for the 1185GRE, an 11.8% advantage. This is the only benchmark out of eight where the 5950HQ comes out ahead.

Q: How do they compare in multi-threaded rendering?

A: The 1185GRE wins all three Cinebench multi-core tests, but by narrow margins. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 6635 versus 6516 (+1.8%). The R20 and R15 multi-core tests show the same 1.8% delta, with scores of 2786 vs 2736 and 668 vs 656 respectively.

Q: What is the TDP difference?

A: The 1185GRE has a 15W TDP, while the 5950HQ has a 47W TDP. The 1185GRE uses one-third the power, which is significant for mobile designs focused on battery life and thermal management.

Q: Do they support the same memory types?

A: No. The 1185GRE supports DDR4 and LPDDR4X memory with ECC enabled. The 5950HQ supports only DDR3 memory without ECC. The 5950HQ lists memory bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s, while the 1185GRE’s bandwidth is not specified in the data.

Q: Are both CPUs still available?

A: No. The 1185GRE has an Active production status with a September 2020 release date. The 5950HQ is End-of-life, having been released in June 2015.

Where Each One Wins

Intel Core i7-1185GRE wins in:

• All Cinebench tests (R15, R20, R23) in both single-core and multi-core variants, with margins ranging from 1.7% to 2.2%.
• Geekbench single-core, where its 1848 score is 36.6% higher than the 5950HQ’s 1353.
• Efficiency-focused scenarios, given its 15W TDP versus 47W.
• Systems requiring ECC memory support or DDR4/LPDDR4X memory.
• Modern connectivity, with PCIe Gen 4 support (though limited to 4 lanes).

Intel Core i7-5950HQ wins in:

• Geekbench multi-core, scoring 4601 versus 4060, an 11.8% lead.
• Workloads that favor its higher 2.90 GHz base clock and sustained multi-threaded throughput.
• Expansion-heavy builds, as it offers 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes versus the 1185GRE’s 4 Gen 4 lanes.
• Legacy DDR3 memory platforms that may already be in service.