Intel Core i7-1260P vs Intel Core Ultra 7 164U Comparison

The Intel Core Ultra 7 164U and Intel Core i7-1260P are both 12-core mobile processors, but they target very different priorities. The data shows a complete sweep: the i7-1260P wins all 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, while the Ultra 7 164U counters with a dramatically lower 9W TDP and a newer architecture. This is a classic trade-off between raw throughput and energy efficiency.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-1260P wins every single benchmark in the comparison set. There is no workload category in the data where the Ultra 7 164U comes out ahead. The i7-1260P dominates in multi-threaded productivity, single-thread responsiveness, and every PassMark sub-test, from data compression to physics calculations.

The Ultra 7 164U’s advantage is not in performance but in power. Its TDP is 9W compared to the i7-1260P’s 28W. This makes the Ultra 7 164U the clear choice for fanless or ultra-thin designs where heat dissipation and battery life take priority over computing muscle. The data indicates the Ultra 7 164U is built for sustained light workloads in a compact chassis, while the i7-1260P is for thicker laptops that can handle a 28W thermal load and need more speed.

In practical terms, the i7-1260P is the pick for video editing, software compilation, or any task that scales with threads. The Ultra 7 164U is for web browsing, document work, and media consumption where the lower power draw extends runtime. The benchmark results confirm a complete performance separation; the only question is whether you need the i7-1260P’s speed or the Ultra 7 164U’s efficiency.

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from different Intel generations and designs. The Ultra 7 164U uses the Meteor Lake architecture on a 7 nm process node, while the i7-1260P is based on Alder Lake on a 10 nm node. Both have 12 cores, but thread counts differ: the Ultra 7 164U has 14 threads, and the i7-1260P has 16.

Cache configurations are notably different. The Ultra 7 164U has 112 KB of L1 per core and 2 MB of L2 per core, with 12 MB of shared L3. The i7-1260P has smaller per-core caches at 80 KB L1 and 1.25 MB L2, but a larger 18 MB shared L3. The i7-1260P’s larger L3 pool helps with frequently accessed data, though the Ultra 7 164U’s larger per-core L2 may benefit single-thread locality.

The integrated graphics differ as well. The Ultra 7 164U features Arc Xe-LPG 64EU, while the i7-1260P uses Iris Xe 96EU. The i7-1260P’s GPU has more execution units, which suggests better iGPU performance for light gaming or media encoding, though the benchmarks in this comparison do not test graphics.

Memory support also splits the two. The Ultra 7 164U supports DDR5 only, with capacity depending on the motherboard. The i7-1260P supports both DDR4 and DDR5. This gives the i7-1260P more flexibility for system builders, especially those using older DDR4 modules to cut costs.

The sockets are incompatible: the Ultra 7 164U uses Intel BGA 2551, and the i7-1260P uses Intel BGA 1744. PCIe lanes also differ, with the Ultra 7 164U providing Gen 4 with 8 lanes (CPU only) versus the i7-1260P’s Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only). The i7-1260P offers more bandwidth for discrete GPUs or NVMe storage.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 164U has a boost clock of 4.80 GHz, which is slightly higher than the Intel Core i7-1260P’s 4.70 GHz.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?

A: No. The Ultra 7 164U supports DDR5 only, while the i7-1260P supports both DDR4 and DDR5.

Q: How much faster is the i7-1260P in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The i7-1260P scores 9711 versus the Ultra 7 164U’s 8766, a delta of -9.7% for the Ultra 7 164U.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core i7-1260P has 18 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Ultra 7 164U has 12 MB.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The Ultra 7 164U has a 9W TDP, and the i7-1260P has a 28W TDP. The Ultra 7 164U uses significantly less power.

Q: Is there any benchmark where the Ultra 7 164U wins?

A: No. The head-to-head data shows the i7-1260P wins all 17 benchmark comparisons, with zero wins for the Ultra 7 164U.

Specification Differences

The following fields differ between the Intel Core Ultra 7 164U and Intel Core i7-1260P:

• Threads: 14 (Ultra 7 164U) vs 16 (i7-1260P)
• Base Clock: 1100.00 MHz vs 2100.00 MHz
• Boost Clock: 4.80 GHz vs 4.70 GHz
• TDP: 9W vs 28W
• Socket: Intel BGA 2551 vs Intel BGA 1744
• Architecture: Meteor Lake vs Alder Lake
• Process Node: 7 nm vs 10 nm
• Die Size: Not listed vs 217 mm²
• L1 Cache: 112 KB (per core) vs 80 KB (per core)
• L2 Cache: 2 MB (per core) vs 1.25 MB (per core)
• L3 Cache: 12 MB (shared) vs 18 MB (shared)
• Memory Support: DDR5 only vs DDR4, DDR5
• PCIe: Gen 4, 8 Lanes (CPU only) vs Gen 4, 20 Lanes (CPU only)
• Integrated Graphics: Arc Xe-LPG 64EU vs Iris Xe 96EU
• Release Date: 2023-12-13 vs 2022-02-22
• Launch MSRP: $448 (Ultra 7 164U only; i7-1260P has no listed MSRP)
• Part Number: SRN85 vs SRLD6

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The i7-1260P’s largest victory comes in PassMark random string sorting, where it scores 20586 versus the Ultra 7 164U’s 15131, a 26.5% deficit for the newer chip. Data compression also shows a wide gap: the i7-1260P posts 182968 against 137133, a 25.1% difference. These are memory-latency-sensitive workloads, and the i7-1260P’s larger L3 cache likely helps.

In Cinebench R20, the i7-1260P leads by 23.6% in both multi-core (5874 vs 4488) and single-core (829 vs 633). The single-core gap in R20 is surprisingly large given the Ultra 7 164U’s higher boost clock of 4.80 GHz versus 4.70 GHz. This suggests the i7-1260P’s architecture extracts more instructions per clock in this test.

The smallest margins appear in Cinebench R23. Multi-core shows the i7-1260P at 9711 versus 8766, a 9.7% lead. Single-core is closer still: 1737.5 versus 1590, an 8.5% edge for the i7-1260P. This indicates that the Ultra 7 164U’s newer Meteor Lake design narrows the gap in newer, more realistic rendering workloads, but it still loses.

PassMark integer math and floating-point math follow the same pattern. The i7-1260P scores 62316 versus 50387 in integer math (19.1% ahead) and 42417 versus 33581 in floating-point (20.8% ahead). Multi-thread performance in PassMark shows 16775 versus 13296, a 20.7% difference. The i7-1260P also wins in data encryption (11238 vs 8838, 21.4% ahead) and extended instructions (10493 vs 7918, 24.5% ahead).

Even the closest single-thread PassMark test favors the i7-1260P: 3250 versus 2996, a 7.8% lead. Physics simulation shows 1092 versus 918, a 15.9% gap. Find prime numbers is 63 versus 56, an 11.1% margin. Across all tests, the average benchmark score tells the same story: the i7-1260P averages 17007, and the Ultra 7 164U averages 17074 — a negligible 0.4% difference in overall average, but the i7-1260P wins every individual comparison.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i7-1260P outperforms the Intel Core Ultra 7 164U in every measured benchmark. If your priority is maximum performance in a mobile processor, the i7-1260P is the only choice here. It delivers 9.7% higher multi-core scores in Cinebench R23 and over 25% higher scores in some PassMark workloads.

The Ultra 7 164U should be selected only when power efficiency is the dominant requirement. Its 9W TDP is less than one-third of the i7-1260P’s 28W, which enables thinner, lighter, and potentially fanless designs. The newer 7 nm Meteor Lake process and higher boost clock do not translate into performance wins, but they do suggest better efficiency per watt.

For a user who needs sustained multi-threaded performance, the i7-1260P is the correct pick. The data shows no scenario where the Ultra 7 164U wins. For a user who prioritizes battery life and low heat output, the Ultra 7 164U is the rational choice, accepting a performance deficit that ranges from 7.8% to 26.5% depending on the workload. The i7-1260P is a faster chip; the Ultra 7 164U is a more efficient one. Choose accordingly based on your hardware priorities.