Intel Core i7-1270P vs Intel Core Ultra 9 288V Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a clear split between the two processors, with the Intel Core Ultra 9 288V taking the majority of the head-to-head tests. Out of 17 recorded comparisons, the Ultra 9 288V wins 14, while the Core i7-1270P takes only 3. The average benchmark scores reinforce this: the Ultra 9 288V sits at 23219, while the Core i7-1270P is at 22502, a difference of roughly 3.2%.

The Ultra 9 288V dominates in several high-margin wins. Its most extreme advantage comes in the PassMark find prime numbers test, where it scores 195 against 66, a delta of 195.5%. That is a massive gap, suggesting the Lunar Lake architecture handles the specific integer-heavy prime iteration workload far more efficiently than Alder Lake. Similarly, in PassMark extended instructions, the Ultra 9 288V scores 15613 versus 10575, a 47.6% advantage. PassMark physics shows 1637 versus 1120, a 46.2% lead. PassMark floating point math is also heavily in favor of the Ultra 9 288V, with 59536 against 43168, a 37.9% difference.

Single-core performance also heavily favors the Ultra 9 288V. In Cinebench R15 single-core, it scores 301.5 versus 198, a 52.3% lead. Cinebench R20 single-core shows 997 versus 826, a 20.7% advantage. PassMark single thread shows 4274 versus 3354, a 27.4% lead. These results align with the higher boost clock of the Ultra 9 288V, which reaches 5.10 GHz compared to 4.80 GHz for the Core i7-1270P.

Memory-heavy tasks also favor the Ultra 9 288V. PassMark data encryption shows 14141 versus 11276, a 25.4% lead. PassMark random string sorting shows 22622 versus 20546, a 10.1% advantage. PassMark data compression is closer, with 186521 versus 184917, a slim 0.9% edge. PassMark multithread shows 19810 versus 16957, a 16.8% lead. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Ultra 9 288V scores 1583 versus 1404, a 12.7% advantage. In Cinebench R20 multicore, it scores 7069 versus 5853, a 20.8% lead.

The Core i7-1270P does secure three wins, and they are notable. The biggest is in Cinebench R23 multicore, where it scores 13938 versus 10178, a 27% advantage. This is a significant reversal, likely stemming from its 12 cores and 16 threads versus the Ultra 9 288V's 8 cores and 8 threads. PassMark integer math also goes to the Core i7-1270P, with 63016 versus 44019, a 30.1% lead. The third win is in Cinebench R23 single-core, where it edges out the Ultra 9 288V with 1967 versus 1950, a 0.9% margin, which is effectively a tie within normal run-to-run variation.

Where Each One Wins

The Ultra 9 288V is the stronger choice for workloads that stress single-core responsiveness, encryption, floating-point math, and physics simulation. Its 52.3% lead in Cinebench R15 single-core and 27.4% lead in PassMark single thread indicate that bursty, latency-sensitive tasks will feel snappier. The 47.6% advantage in extended instructions and 37.9% lead in floating point math make it well suited for simulation, scientific computing, and any code that relies heavily on SIMD-style operations. The 46.2% advantage in physics further supports this, as physics engines often depend on floating-point throughput and instruction-level parallelism. Data encryption also favors the Ultra 9 288V by 25.4%, which matters for VPN, disk encryption, and secure communication workloads.

The Core i7-1270P, by contrast, is the better option for heavily multithreaded integer workloads. Its 27% lead in Cinebench R23 multicore is the largest multithreaded win in the data set, and its 30.1% advantage in PassMark integer math shows that the extra cores and threads pay off when the workload is parallel and integer-bound. The 12 cores and 16 threads give it a structural advantage over the Ultra 9 288V's 8 cores and 8 threads, which is most visible in these two tests. For users running compilation jobs, video encoding, or database workloads that scale across threads and rely on integer operations, the Core i7-1270P would be the more capable chip despite losing the overall benchmark average.

The near-tie in Cinebench R23 single-core, with the Core i7-1270P ahead by only 0.9%, suggests that for single-threaded productivity tasks, the two are essentially interchangeable, even though the Ultra 9 288V wins the other single-core tests by wide margins. The data compression result is also close, with the Ultra 9 288V ahead by just 0.9%, so neither chip holds a meaningful edge there.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different Intel designs. The Ultra 9 288V is part of the Core Ultra Series 2, built on the Lunar Lake architecture, while the Core i7-1270P is based on Alder Lake, specifically the Alder Lake-P variant. The manufacturing process differs sharply: the Ultra 9 288V is fabricated on a 3 nm process by TSMC, while the Core i7-1270P uses Intel's 10 nm process. The die size for the Core i7-1270P is recorded at 217 mm², while no die size is listed for the Ultra 9 288V.

Core counts are also quite different. The Ultra 9 288V has 8 cores and 8 threads, with no hyperthreading. The Core i7-1270P has 12 cores and 16 threads, meaning it relies on a hybrid core arrangement with additional efficiency cores and hyperthreading on the performance cores. The cache hierarchy differs as well. The Ultra 9 288V has 192 KB of L1 per core, 2.5 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3. The Core i7-1270P has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3. This means the Ultra 9 288V has larger per-core caches, while the Core i7-1270P has a larger total L3 pool.

Memory support differs. The Ultra 9 288V supports LPDDR5X memory on a dual-channel bus with a recorded memory bandwidth of 136.5 GB/s. The Core i7-1270P supports both DDR4 and DDR5 on a dual-channel bus, but no memory bandwidth figure is recorded for it. The socket also differs: the Ultra 9 288V uses Intel BGA 2833, while the Core i7-1270P uses Intel BGA 1744.

PCIe capabilities are split by generation. The Ultra 9 288V offers PCIe Gen 5 with 4 lanes from the CPU, while the Core i7-1270P offers PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes. This means the Ultra 9 288V has the newer PCIe standard but fewer lanes, while the Core i7-1270P has more lanes at an older generation. Integrated graphics also differ: the Ultra 9 288V pairs with Arc 140V, while the Core i7-1270P uses Iris Xe 96EU. Neither chip supports ECC memory, and both have locked multipliers.

Clock speeds are another differentiator. The Ultra 9 288V has a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz, while the Core i7-1270P has a base clock of 2.20 GHz and a boost clock of 4.80 GHz. The TDP values are close, with the Ultra 9 288V rated at 30 W and the Core i7-1270P at 28 W.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher overall benchmark average?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 288V has an average benchmark score of 23219, while the Intel Core i7-1270P has 22502. The Ultra 9 288V also sits at the 76th percentile among all CPUs, as does the Core i7-1270P.

Q: Where does the Core i7-1270P beat the Ultra 9 288V?

A: The Core i7-1270P wins in Cinebench R23 multicore with a 27% advantage, in PassMark integer math with a 30.1% lead, and in Cinebench R23 single-core with a 0.9% edge.

Q: How much faster is the Ultra 9 288V in single-core tests?

A: The Ultra 9 288V leads by 52.3% in Cinebench R15 single-core, 20.7% in Cinebench R20 single-core, and 27.4% in PassMark single thread.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No, both the Intel Core Ultra 9 288V and the Intel Core i7-1270P have ECC memory support set to false.

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

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 288V has 8 cores and 8 threads. The Intel Core i7-1270P has 12 cores and 16 threads.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 288V has a boost clock of 5.10 GHz, while the Intel Core i7-1270P has a boost clock of 4.80 GHz.

Specification Differences

The following table lists only the specification fields where the two processors differ:

| Field | Intel Core Ultra 9 288V | Intel Core i7-1270P |

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

| Series | Core Ultra Series 2 | None |

| Cores | 8 | 12 |

| Threads | 8 | 16 |

| Base Clock | 3.30 GHz | 2.20 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.10 GHz | 4.80 GHz |

| TDP | 30 W | 28 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 2833 | Intel BGA 1744 |

| Architecture | Lunar Lake | Alder Lake |

| Codename | Lunar Lake | Alder Lake-P |

| Generation | Ultra 9 (Lunar Lake) | Core i7 (Alder Lake-P) |

| Process Node | 3 nm | 10 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Die Size | None | 217 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 192 KB (per core) | 80 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 2.5 MB (per core) | 1.25 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 12 MB (shared) | 18 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | LPDDR5X | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 136.5 GB/s | None |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 4 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 4, 20 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Arc 140V | Iris Xe 96EU |

| Release Date | 2024-09-23 | 2022-02-22 |

| Part Number | SRPMSSRPMWQ5JTQ5JUQ5KW | SRLD7 |