Intel Core i7-1365U vs Intel Core i7-8700 Comparison

The Intel Core i7-8700 and Intel Core i7-1365U represent two very different philosophies for a 12-thread processor. The data is clear: the newer mobile chip, the i7-1365U, wins the majority of benchmark comparisons, taking 13 of 17 head-to-head tests. However, the older desktop i7-8700 is not obsolete; it holds decisive victories in specific, demanding workloads. The i7-1365U is the superior all-round performer for most tasks, but the i7-8700 remains the pick for sustained multi-core rendering and certain data-processing operations.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark results split these two processors along clear lines of architecture and power. The Intel Core i7-1365U dominates in single-threaded performance and lighter, more common workloads. It wins the Cinebench R15 and R20 tests in both single and multi-core, and its Passmark single-thread score of 3411 is 22.9% higher than the i7-8700's 2629. This makes it the better choice for responsive daily use, general productivity, and applications that rely heavily on a single core.

The i7-1365U also excels in math and encryption tasks. It is 52.9% faster in data encryption (9531 vs 4488), 17.4% faster in floating-point math (33689 vs 27839), and 11.8% faster in integer math (50881 vs 44881). Its victory in the Passmark physics test (966 vs 732, a 24.2% lead) further indicates its strength in simulation and physics-based calculations.

The Intel Core i7-8700, conversely, claims its wins in areas that benefit from its higher sustained power envelope and larger shared cache. Its most significant victory is in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where it scores 10829 compared to the i7-1365U's 8946, a 21% advantage. This suggests that in longer, more demanding rendering workloads, the desktop chip can sustain higher performance. It is also 49.4% faster in extended instruction sets (12432 vs 8321) and 41.1% faster in random string sorting (23963 vs 16977). Its 25% lead in data compression (187009 vs 149585) shows it is better suited for archiving and file management tasks.

Architecture Differences

The fundamental difference lies in their design targets. The i7-8700 is a desktop processor from the Coffee Lake generation, built on Intel's 14 nm process. It features 6 cores and 12 threads with a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. Its TDP is 65 W, reflecting a design for a desktop system with ample cooling. It uses the Intel Socket 1151 and supports dual-channel DDR4 memory with a bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s. Its integrated graphics are the UHD Graphics 630.

In contrast, the i7-1365U is a mobile processor from the newer Raptor Lake generation, built on a more advanced 10 nm process. It is designed for efficiency, with a TDP of just 15 W. It packs 10 cores and 12 threads, a configuration that allows for more parallel task handling. Its clock speeds are more aggressive, with a base clock of 1800 MHz and a boost clock of 5.20 GHz, which explains its single-thread dominance. It uses the Intel BGA 1744 socket and supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory. The i7-1365U also features a more powerful integrated GPU, the Iris Xe Graphics 96EU, and supports PCIe Gen 4 with 8 lanes, compared to the i7-8700's PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes.

The cache hierarchies also differ. The i7-8700 has a smaller L1 and L2 cache per core (64 KB and 256 KB, respectively) but shares a 12 MB L3 cache. The i7-1365U has larger per-core L1 and L2 caches (80 KB and 1.25 MB, respectively) and also shares 12 MB of L3 cache. This larger per-core cache likely contributes to its efficiency in single-threaded tasks.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest victory for the i7-1365U is in data encryption, where its score of 9531 is 52.9% higher than the i7-8700's 4488. This is a massive gap, indicating the newer chip's architectural improvements have a profound impact on cryptographic workloads. Another decisive win is in Passmark's find prime numbers test, where the i7-1365U scores 58 versus the i7-8700's 35, a 39.7% advantage, highlighting its superior integer processing capabilities.

The single-core Cinebench tests show a consistent trend. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the i7-1365U scores 265.5, which is 42.4% higher than the i7-8700's 153. In R20 single-core, the lead narrows to 7% (689 vs 641), and in R23 single-core, it is 19% (1887 vs 1528). This shows the i7-1365U's boost clock of 5.20 GHz provides a significant advantage in lightly-threaded tasks.

The i7-8700's biggest win is 49.4% in extended instructions (12432 vs 8321), a test that often involves heavy SIMD operations. It also shows a strong 41.1% lead in random string sorting (23963 vs 16977). The Cinebench R23 multi-core result is also a key data point. While the i7-1365U wins the older R15 and R20 multi-core tests (1466.5 vs 1091 and 4882 vs 4548), the i7-8700's 10829 score in R23 is 21% higher than the i7-1365U's 8946. This suggests that as the workload becomes more intensive and prolonged, the i7-8700's higher 65W TDP allows it to pull ahead of the 15W mobile chip, which may be thermally constrained.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is better for single-threaded tasks?

A: The Intel Core i7-1365U is decisively better. It wins all single-core benchmarks, with its Passmark single-thread score of 3411 being 22.9% higher than the i7-8700's 2629.

Q: Does the newer i7-1365U win all the multi-core tests?

A: No. While the i7-1365U wins the Cinebench R15 (1466.5 vs 1091) and R20 (4882 vs 4548) multi-core tests, the i7-8700 wins the Cinebench R23 multi-core test with a 21% higher score (10829 vs 8946).

Q: Which processor has a more advanced manufacturing process?

A: The Intel Core i7-1365U is built on a 10 nm process, while the Intel Core i7-8700 is built on a 14 nm process.

Q: How do their core counts compare?

A: The i7-1365U has 10 cores and 12 threads, while the i7-8700 has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: Which chip has the higher boost clock speed?

A: The Intel Core i7-1365U has a boost clock of 5.20 GHz, which is higher than the i7-8700's boost clock of 4.60 GHz.

Q: Which processor is better for data compression?

A: The Intel Core i7-8700 is better, scoring 187009 in the Passmark data compression test, which is 25% higher than the i7-1365U's 149585.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every fundamental specification.

• Cores: The i7-8700 has 6 cores, while the i7-1365U has 10 cores.
• Base Clock: The i7-8700 has a base clock of 3.20 GHz, while the i7-1365U has a base clock of 1800 MHz.
• Boost Clock: The i7-8700 boosts to 4.60 GHz, while the i7-1365U boosts to 5.20 GHz.
• TDP: The i7-8700 has a TDP of 65 W, while the i7-1365U has a TDP of 15 W.
• Socket: The i7-8700 uses Intel Socket 1151, while the i7-1365U uses Intel BGA 1744.
• Process Node: The i7-8700 is on a 14 nm process, while the i7-1365U is on a 10 nm process.
• L1 Cache: The i7-8700 has 64 KB per core, while the i7-1365U has 80 KB per core.
• L2 Cache: The i7-8700 has 256 KB per core, while the i7-1365U has 1.25 MB per core.
• Memory Support: The i7-8700 supports DDR4, while the i7-1365U supports both DDR4 and DDR5.
• PCIe: The i7-8700 has PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes, while the i7-1365U has PCIe Gen 4 with 8 lanes.
• Integrated Graphics: The i7-8700 has UHD Graphics 630, while the i7-1365U has Iris Xe Graphics 96EU.
• Market Segment: The i7-8700 is a Desktop processor, while the i7-1365U is a Mobile processor.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear winner for general use: the Intel Core i7-1365U. Its dominance in single-threaded performance, encryption, and math workloads makes it the more responsive and capable processor for the vast majority of tasks. Its 10-core design also gives it an edge in the older Cinebench multi-core tests, and its 5.20 GHz boost clock provides a snappy experience. Its active production status and more modern 10 nm process further cement its position.

The Intel Core i7-8700, however, has a specific and important role. Its victory in the Cinebench R23 multi-core test is not a fluke; it demonstrates that for sustained, heavy rendering workloads, the desktop chip's design can outperform the mobile part. Its significant wins in data compression and extended instructions also make it a more suitable choice for specialized professional tasks, such as video encoding, scientific computing, or heavy data analysis. If your work involves long render times or relies on those specific instruction sets, the i7-8700 is the stronger option despite being end-of-life. Ultimately, choose the i7-1365U for a balanced, modern, and efficient performer, and the i7-8700 for specific, power-hungry sustained workloads.