Intel Core i7-1195G7 vs Intel Core i7-9700T Comparison

The Intel Core i7-9700T and the Intel Core i7-1195G7 represent two very different answers to the question of what a low-power Intel processor should be. The 9700T is an 8-core desktop part from the Coffee Lake era, designed to sit in a socket and sip power. The 1195G7 is a mobile Tiger Lake chip, soldered to a motherboard and built for thin laptops. Benchmark data shows a fascinating split: the 1195G7 wins seven of eight head-to-head tests, yet the 9700T takes a commanding victory in the one test that matters most for multi-threaded productivity. The numbers reveal that core count and architecture generation pull in opposite directions here, creating a genuinely close overall contest.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores, and does that translate to a clear win in all benchmarks?

A: The Intel Core i7-9700T has 8 cores and 8 threads, while the Intel Core i7-1195G7 has 4 cores and 8 threads. Despite the core deficit, the 1195G7 wins the Cinebench R23 multicore test with a score of 8803 versus 8325, a delta of -5.4% from the 9700T's perspective. However, the 9700T wins Geekbench multicore decisively, scoring 5503 against 4248, a 29.5% advantage.

Q: How do their single-core performances compare?

A: The 1195G7 dominates single-core workloads. In Geekbench single-core, it scores 1584 versus 1392, a 12.1% lead. The gap is smaller but consistent in Cinebench R23 single-core, where the 1195G7 scores 1242 against 1175, a 5.4% margin.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each chip, and how do they rank globally?

A: The 9700T has an average benchmark score of 2668 and sits in the 50th percentile of all CPUs. The 1195G7 has an average score of 2638 and sits in the 49th percentile. These are nearly identical overall standings, with the 9700T holding a 1.1% advantage in average score.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock, and what is the difference?

A: The 1195G7 has a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, significantly higher than the 9700T's 4.30 GHz. This 0.70 GHz difference is a key factor in the mobile chip's single-core dominance.

Q: What memory types does each processor support?

A: The 9700T supports DDR4 memory only. The 1195G7 is more flexible, supporting DDR4, LPDDR4, and LPDDR4X. Both use a dual-channel memory bus.

Q: Which processor has a larger die size?

A: The 9700T has a die size of 180.3 mm², while the 1195G7 is smaller at 144 mm². This is notable because the 1195G7 is built on a 10 nm process, while the 9700T uses Intel's older 14 nm node.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data splits these two processors into distinct use-case territory. The 1195G7 is the clear winner for anyone prioritizing responsiveness in everyday tasks and lightly-threaded applications. Its sweep of every single-core test—Cinebench R15 (125 vs 118), R20 (521 vs 493), R23 (1242 vs 1175), and Geekbench (1584 vs 1392)—makes it the superior choice for web browsing, office work, and any software that relies on a single fast thread. The 5.00 GHz boost clock is the obvious driver here, and the Tiger Lake architecture's newer design amplifies that advantage.

The 9700T, conversely, makes its stand in Geekbench multicore. Its 5503 score against the 1195G7's 4248 represents a 29.5% margin, the largest in any test. This suggests that workloads which scale well across eight physical cores—such as video encoding, 3D rendering, or scientific computing—will favor the desktop chip. The fact that it loses the Cinebench multicore tests despite having double the cores is a critical nuance; the 1195G7's higher per-core efficiency and 5.00 GHz boost allow it to compensate for its thread deficit in those specific workloads.

For sustained all-core loads, the picture is murkier. The 1195G7 wins Cinebench R23 multicore (8803 vs 8325), but the 9700T wins Geekbench multicore (5503 vs 4248). This divergence means the "winner" depends entirely on the software's threading model and instruction set usage. The 9700T is the safer bet for legacy multi-threaded applications that don't fully utilize new instruction sets, while the 1195G7 is better for modern, well-optimized renderers.

Architecture Differences

The 9700T is built on the Coffee Lake architecture, specifically the Coffee Lake Refresh generation. It uses Intel's 14 nm process node, with a die size of 180.3 mm². Its 8 cores are organized with 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, sharing 12 MB of L3 cache. The processor is designed for the Intel Socket 1151 platform, has a 35 W TDP, and targets the desktop market segment.

The 1195G7 is a Tiger Lake part, with the Willow Cove-U microarchitecture. It moves to Intel's 10 nm process node, shrinking the die to 144 mm². This newer node allows for a much higher boost clock of 5.00 GHz despite a lower 28 W TDP. The cache hierarchy is different: each core gets 80 KB of L1 and a substantial 1.25 MB of L2, while the L3 cache is the same 12 MB shared pool. This larger per-core L2 cache is a key architectural advantage for the 1195G7, reducing latency for frequently accessed data.

The integrated graphics also differ significantly. The 9700T includes UHD Graphics 630, a basic desktop solution. The 1195G7 features Iris Xe-LP Graphics G7 with 96 execution units, a much more capable GPU for a mobile part. The 1195G7 also supports a wider range of memory types, including LPDDR4 and LPDDR4X, reflecting its laptop-focused design. The 9700T uses PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes, while the 1195G7 steps up to PCIe Gen 4 with the same 16 lanes.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts are the most fundamental difference: the 9700T has 8 cores and 8 threads, while the 1195G7 has 4 cores and 8 threads. The base clocks differ, with the 9700T starting at 2000 MHz and the 1195G7 at 2900 MHz. The boost clocks show an even larger gap: 4.30 GHz for the 9700T versus 5.00 GHz for the 1195G7.

The TDP ratings are close but not identical. The 9700T draws 35 W, while the 1195G7 is rated at 28 W. This makes the 1195G7 the more power-efficient option on paper. The sockets are incompatible: the 9700T uses Intel Socket 1151, and the 1195G7 uses Intel BGA 1449, meaning the 9700T is upgradeable in a desktop board while the 1195G7 is soldered to a laptop motherboard.

Memory support differs in both type and bandwidth. The 9700T supports DDR4 with a memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s. The 1195G7 supports DDR4, LPDDR4, and LPDDR4X, but its memory bandwidth figure is not listed in the data. Both use dual-channel memory buses. The process nodes differ, with the 9700T on 14 nm and the 1195G7 on 10 nm. The L1 and L2 cache sizes per core are larger on the 1195G7 (80 KB and 1.25 MB versus 64 KB and 256 KB), while the L3 cache is identical at 12 MB shared. The 9700T was released on 2019-04-22, while the 1195G7 came later on 2021-05-30.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The 1195G7 wins seven of the eight head-to-head comparisons, but the margins are not uniform. In the Cinebench tests, the 1195G7's victories are consistent but narrow. In Cinebench R15 multicore, it scores 887 against 839, a 5.4% lead. The single-core R15 test shows a nearly identical gap, with 125 versus 118 (5.6%). This pattern repeats in R20 multicore (3697 vs 3496, 5.4%) and R20 single-core (521 vs 493, 5.4%). The R23 tests follow suit: multicore at 8803 vs 8325 (5.4%) and single-core at 1242 vs 1175 (5.4%).

The Geekbench results tell a different story. In Geekbench single-core, the 1195G7 wins by a larger margin, scoring 1584 against 1392, a 12.1% advantage. This is the second-largest delta in the entire comparison. But in Geekbench multicore, the 9700T strikes back decisively. Its score of 5503 dwarfs the 1195G7's 4248, giving the 9700T a 29.5% victory. This is the only test the 9700T wins, and it does so by a huge margin, demonstrating the raw power of eight physical cores when a benchmark properly utilizes them.

The pattern is striking: the 1195G7 wins every Cinebench test by roughly the same 5.4% margin, suggesting a consistent per-clock advantage from its Willow Cove architecture and higher boost clock. Yet the 9700T's win in Geekbench multicore is nearly three times larger, indicating that Geekbench's workload scales almost perfectly with core count, negating the 1195G7's architectural benefits. This suggests that the 1195G7's Cinebench wins are due to its superior single-thread efficiency, not its core count, and that any multi-threaded workload which scales like Geekbench will strongly favor the 9700T.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear choice based on workload type, not brand loyalty. The Intel Core i7-1195G7 is the better processor for general-purpose use and any task that favors single-thread performance. Its wins across all four Cinebench single-core tests and Geekbench single-core, combined with its lower 28 W TDP and newer 10 nm process, make it the superior choice for a mobile user who values responsiveness and battery life. Its average benchmark score of 2638 is within 1.1% of the 9700T, meaning overall performance is nearly identical, but its architecture is more modern and its boost clock is 0.70 GHz higher.

The Intel Core i7-9700T is the pick for users who need maximum multi-threaded throughput in applications that scale well with core count. Its 29.5% victory in Geekbench multicore is the single largest performance gap in this comparison, and its 8 physical cores provide a foundation that the 1195G7 cannot match in such workloads. Its 35 W TDP is higher, but still low for a desktop part, and its 42.7 GB/s memory bandwidth is a listed advantage. The 9700T's 50th percentile ranking versus the 1195G7's 49th percentile is a marginal overall difference, but the desktop chip's core advantage is decisive for specific tasks.

For a laptop buyer, the 1195G7 is the obvious choice, as the 9700T's Socket 1151 form factor makes it impossible to install in a mobile chassis. For a desktop builder seeking a low-power SFF or HTPC processor, the 9700T offers a unique combination of 8 cores and a 35 W TDP. The verdict from the benchmark data is that the 1195G7 is the more versatile processor, winning 87.5% of the head-to-head tests, but the 9700T is the specialist that dominates the one area where it excels. Choose the 1195G7 for everyday speed and efficiency; choose the 9700T for heavy multi-threaded compute.