Intel Core i7-1280P vs Intel Core i7-1370P Comparison

The Intel Core i7-1370P and Intel Core i7-1280P are both 14-core mobile processors sharing the same 28W TDP class, socket, and integrated graphics. Benchmark data reveals a fascinating split: the older Alder Lake-based i7-1280P actually wins more individual test categories (8 vs 9), yet the newer Raptor Lake i7-1370P takes the most decisive victories, including a commanding 40.3% lead in the Cinebench R23 multi-core test. This creates a nuanced picture where the overall average benchmark score slightly favors the i7-1370P at 26900 versus 26469 for the i7-1280P, but the distribution of wins tells a more complex story about workload-specific strengths.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most dramatic divergence appears in Cinebench R23 results. The i7-1370P scores 16365 in the multi-core test against 11666 for the i7-1280P, a 40.3% advantage. Single-core R23 shows a similar pattern: 2310 versus 1651, a 39.9% gap. These are the largest deltas in the entire benchmark suite, and they completely reverse the results seen in older Cinebench versions. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i7-1280P wins with 2112 against 1649 for the i7-1370P, a 21.9% margin. The R15 single-core test also goes to the i7-1280P (238 vs 232, a 2.5% edge), as do both R20 tests: multi-core 7153 vs 6873 (3.9%) and single-core 1009 vs 970 (3.9%).

The Passmark suite provides a more balanced picture. The i7-1370P wins seven of the twelve Passmark tests, while the i7-1280P claims five. The i7-1370P takes find prime numbers with 97 against 86, a 12.8% victory, and leads floating point math 54105 to 51355 (5.4%). Integer math goes to the i7-1370P at 78675 versus 75485 (4.2%), and physics shows a 3.9% lead at 1466 versus 1411. The multithread test is nearly identical: 20303 for the i7-1370P against 20168 for the i7-1280P, a slim 0.7% margin. Single-thread performance favors the i7-1370P at 3557 versus 3316, a 7.3% advantage.

However, the i7-1280P holds its ground in several Passmark workloads. Data compression goes to the i7-1280P at 220621 versus 217676 (1.3%), and data encryption similarly favors it at 13179 versus 13067 (0.8%). Extended instructions show a 0.6% edge for the i7-1280P (12897 vs 12822), and random string sorting produces its best result: 24308 for the i7-1280P against 23580 for the i7-1370P, a 3% win. This mixed distribution suggests that the newer architecture does not universally outperform the older one, with the i7-1280P retaining advantages in memory-intensive and string-manipulation tasks.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different generations of Intel's mobile lineup. The i7-1370P uses Raptor Lake architecture with the Raptor Lake-P codename, while the i7-1280P is built on Alder Lake with the Alder Lake-P codename. Both are manufactured on Intel's 10 nm process node at the same foundry, and both have identical die sizes of 217 mm². The core counts match at 14 cores and 20 threads, with the same 80 KB L1 cache per core and 24 MB shared L3 cache. The critical cache difference lies in L2: the i7-1370P has 2 MB per core, while the i7-1280P has 1.25 MB per core, a 60% increase for the newer part.

Clock speeds differ as well. The i7-1370P has a base clock of 1900 MHz and a boost clock of 5200 MHz, compared to 1800 MHz base and 4800 MHz boost for the i7-1280P. That 400 MHz boost advantage partially explains the R23 single-core dominance. Both processors support DDR4 and DDR5 memory in dual-channel configuration, lack ECC support, and use the same PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes from the CPU. The integrated graphics are identical: Iris Xe Graphics with 96 execution units. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier, and both are currently Active in production. The i7-1370P launched on January 3, 2023, with a launch MSRP of $438, while the i7-1280P launched earlier on February 22, 2022, with no listed launch MSRP.

FAQ

Q: Why does the i7-1370P win Cinebench R23 by 40% but lose Cinebench R15 by 22%?

A: The benchmark results show a complete reversal between these two tests. The i7-1370P scores 16365 in R23 multi-core versus 11666 for the i7-1280P, while in R15 the i7-1280P scores 2112 against 1649 for the i7-1370P. This pattern suggests the two processors respond very differently to the workload scaling between R15 and R23, possibly related to the larger L2 cache and higher boost clock of the i7-1370P.

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The i7-1370P has an average benchmark score of 26900, while the i7-1280P scores 26469. This places the i7-1370P at the 79th percentile of all CPUs and the i7-1280P at the 78th percentile. The i7-1370P's nearest rival is the AMD Ryzen AI 7 445 at 26936, a 0.1% difference, while the i7-1280P matches the Intel Core i9-12900HK exactly at 26469.

Q: Does the i7-1280P win any significant benchmarks?

A: Yes, the i7-1280P wins both Cinebench R15 and R20 tests, plus Passmark data compression, data encryption, extended instructions, and random string sorting. Its best results are in R15 multi-core (21.9% ahead) and random string sorting (3% ahead). The i7-1280P also edges out the i7-1370P in data compression by 1.3% and data encryption by 0.8%.

Q: What is the difference in L2 cache between these processors?

A: The i7-1370P has 2 MB of L2 cache per core, while the i7-1280P has 1.25 MB per core. This represents a 60% increase for the newer processor. Both share the same 80 KB L1 cache per core and 24 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: Are these processors the same in terms of memory and expansion?

A: Both processors support DDR4 and DDR5 memory in dual-channel configuration, have no ECC support, and provide PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes from the CPU. They also use the same Intel BGA 1744 socket and feature identical Iris Xe Graphics with 96 execution units.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The i7-1370P boosts to 5200 MHz, while the i7-1280P reaches 4800 MHz. The base clocks also differ: 1900 MHz for the i7-1370P versus 1800 MHz for the i7-1280P. Both run at the same 28W TDP.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specification areas. The architecture changes from Alder Lake to Raptor Lake, with corresponding codename changes from Alder Lake-P to Raptor Lake-P. The base clock rises from 1800 MHz to 1900 MHz, and the boost clock increases from 4800 MHz to 5200 MHz. The L2 cache per core expands from 1.25 MB to 2 MB. The release dates differ by roughly ten months, with the i7-1370P launching January 3, 2023, and the i7-1280P launching February 22, 2022. The i7-1370P has a launch MSRP of $438, while the i7-1280P has no listed launch MSRP. The part numbers also differ: SRMJ6 for the i7-1370P and SRLD5 for the i7-1280P. All other specifications remain identical, including core count (14), threads (20), TDP (28W), socket (Intel BGA 1744), process node (10 nm), die size (217 mm²), L1 cache (80 KB per core), L3 cache (24 MB), memory support (DDR4, DDR5), memory bus (dual-channel), ECC (false), PCIe (Gen 4, 20 lanes), integrated graphics (Iris Xe 96EU), market segment (Mobile), production status (Active), and multiplier unlock (false).

The Verdict

The data presents a clear choice based on workload priorities. The i7-1370P should be selected by users who prioritize modern multi-threaded rendering workloads, as evidenced by its 40.3% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 39.9% lead in single-core R23. It also wins the Passmark single-thread test by 7.3% and shows advantages in prime number finding (12.8%), floating point math (5.4%), and integer math (4.2%). The i7-1280P, conversely, is the better choice for legacy Cinebench versions and specific data manipulation tasks. It wins R15 multi-core by 21.9%, R20 multi-core by 3.9%, and both R15 and R20 single-core tests by 2.5% and 3.9% respectively. For data compression, encryption, extended instructions, and random string sorting, the i7-1280P holds advantages ranging from 0.6% to 3%.

The overall average benchmark scores are close: 26900 for the i7-1370P versus 26469 for the i7-1280P, a difference of only 1.6%. The percentile ranking is nearly identical at 79 versus 78. This suggests that for general-purpose use, the two processors perform at a similar level. The i7-1370P's decisive R23 wins, however, indicate that it is substantially better suited to modern rendering and compute-intensive applications that scale well with the newer architecture and larger L2 cache. The i7-1280P's wins in string sorting and compression tasks suggest it may have specific advantages in database or text-processing workloads.

Where Each One Wins

The i7-1370P is the clear winner for modern Cinebench workloads, particularly R23 where it more than doubles the performance gap seen in older tests. Its 40.3% lead in R23 multi-core and 39.9% in single-core represents the strongest arguments for choosing this processor. The i7-1370P also dominates in Passmark prime number finding (12.8% ahead), floating point math (5.4%), and integer math (4.2%). For single-threaded Passmark performance, it maintains a 7.3% advantage. These wins cluster around computational and mathematical workloads.

The i7-1280P, despite being the older architecture, wins in Cinebench R15 and R20 across both single and multi-core tests. Its largest victory is 21.9% in R15 multi-core, followed by 3.9% in R20 multi-core and 3.9% in R20 single-core. In Passmark, the i7-1280P takes data compression (1.3%), data encryption (0.8%), extended instructions (0.6%), and random string sorting (3%). These wins are concentrated in memory-access and string-handling tasks, suggesting the i7-1280P retains a competitive edge in those specific workloads. The data compression score of 220621 versus 217676 and random string sorting of 24308 versus 23580 are the notable Passmark wins for the i7-1280P.