Intel Core i7-1180G7

The Intel Core i7-1180G7 is a 4-core, 8-thread mobile processor built on Intel’s 10 nm Tiger Lake-U architecture, with a base clock of 1300 MHz and a boost clock of 4600 MHz. Its benchmark results place it near the middle of the pack, with a 45th percentile ranking among all CPUs and an average benchmark score of 1908. The data shows a processor designed for efficient mobile workloads, but its performance envelope is tightly constrained by a 9 W thermal design power, which shapes every comparison that follows.

Benchmark Performance

The i7-1180G7’s raw scores tell a story of a chip that punches above its power class in multi-threaded tasks but lags in single-thread efficiency. In Cinebench R23, the multi-core score is 6597, while the single-core score is 931 — a ratio of roughly 7.1:1, indicating that the 4 cores and 8 threads scale well under full load. The Cinebench R20 results follow a similar pattern: 2770 multi-core and 391 single-core. In the older Cinebench R15 test, the multi-core score is 664, but the single-core score drops to 93, which is notably low and suggests the chip’s power management aggressively limits single-thread bursts in that workload.

Compared to its nearest rivals, the i7-1180G7 is essentially tied in average benchmark score. The Intel Core i7-4790S (average score 1909) is only 0.1% ahead, while the Intel Xeon E5-2620 v3 and AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2400GE (both 1910) are also 0.1% ahead. The Intel Xeon E-2314 (1905) trails by 0.2%. These deltas are negligible — within measurement noise — meaning the i7-1180G7 delivers compute performance comparable to those desktop and server parts, despite being a low-power mobile chip. However, the context matters: those rivals are older or higher-TDP designs, so the i7-1180G7 achieves parity with far less power draw.

The 45th percentile ranking confirms this is not a top-tier performer. It sits below the median of all CPUs, which is expected given its 4-core count and 9 W envelope. For heavy all-core workloads like video rendering or 3D modeling, the data shows the i7-1180G7 will fall behind higher-core-count processors, but for short bursts or lightly threaded tasks, it holds its own.

Who Should Consider It

The workload profile of the i7-1180G7 is best suited to users who prioritize portability and battery life over raw throughput. Gaming is a mixed bag: the integrated Iris Xe-LP Graphics G7 with 96 execution units can handle light or older titles, but the 9 W TDP and 4-core design mean modern AAA games will likely struggle, especially at higher settings. The single-core Cinebench R15 score of 93 is particularly telling for gaming, as many game engines rely on strong single-thread performance, and that score is far below what desktop gaming CPUs achieve.

For content creation, the multi-core scores are more encouraging. The Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 6597 suggests the chip can handle occasional photo editing, light 1080p video encoding, or code compilation, but sustained heavy workloads will cause thermal throttling given the power limit. Office productivity is where this chip shines — spreadsheets, document editing, web browsing, and email are all well within its capabilities, and the dual-channel LPDDR4X memory support with 34.1 GB/s bandwidth is sufficient for these tasks.

The 45th percentile ranking means most users with demanding workloads should look elsewhere, but for a thin-and-light laptop used for daily tasks and occasional creative bursts, the i7-1180G7 is a reasonable fit. It is not a desktop replacement, and the data does not support it as a primary workstation chip.

Platform and Compatibility

The i7-1180G7 uses the Intel BGA 1598 socket, which is a soldered, non-upgradeable design typical of ultra-portable laptops. This means the processor is permanently attached to the motherboard, so any platform considerations are locked at purchase time. It supports LPDDR4X memory in a dual-channel configuration, with a memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s — adequate for the integrated graphics and general tasks, but not expandable beyond what the laptop ships with.

PCIe support is Gen 4 with 4 lanes available from the CPU, which is sufficient for a single high-speed NVMe SSD or a discrete GPU, though the 9 W TDP makes a discrete GPU pairing unlikely in practice. The memory bus is dual-channel, but ECC memory is not supported, so this is not a workstation or server part. The architecture is Tiger Lake, part of the Willow Cove-U generation, built on Intel’s 10 nm process with a die size of 144 mm². The production status is end-of-life, and the release date was March 30, 2021, so this is a mature platform with no future upgrade path.

Upgrade potential is essentially zero — the BGA socket and end-of-life status mean users must choose the full laptop configuration at purchase. The integrated Iris Xe-LP Graphics G7 with 96EU is the sole graphics option, and while it is capable for light media, it cannot be upgraded or replaced. The cache hierarchy is modest: 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and 12 MB shared L3, which is adequate for the core count.

How It Compares

Intel Core i7-4790S: This desktop chip from a previous generation scores an average of 1909, a mere 0.1% above the i7-1180G7. The 4790S has a higher TDP and older architecture, yet the performance parity shows how far mobile chips have come. For single-thread tasks, the 4790S may feel snappier due to its higher base clock, but the i7-1180G7 matches it in overall benchmark averages.

Intel Xeon E5-2620 v3: A server-oriented processor with an average score of 1910, also 0.1% ahead. The Xeon has more cores, but its older design and lower per-core performance bring it to the same average. This comparison highlights that the i7-1180G7’s multi-threaded efficiency can rival a server chip in aggregate benchmarks, though the Xeon would handle sustained heavy loads better.

AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2400GE: This AMD APU scores 1910, 0.1% ahead. The 2400GE is a comparable low-power part with integrated graphics, making it a direct competitor in thin-and-light systems. The i7-1180G7 matches it in average score, though the AMD chip may have different characteristics in specific tests.

Intel Xeon E-2314: The closest rival in raw score, at 1905, is 0.2% behind the i7-1180G7. This is a 4-core Xeon without integrated graphics, so the i7-1180G7’s inclusion of Iris Xe graphics gives it a feature advantage despite the tiny performance delta.

Single-Thread vs Multi-Thread Behavior

The split between single-thread and multi-thread scores is stark and revealing. In Cinebench R23, the single-core score of 931 is low for a 4.6 GHz boost clock, which suggests the 9 W TDP severely limits how long the chip can sustain high clocks on a single core. The multi-core score of 6597, by contrast, shows that when all 4 cores engage, the chip distributes power more efficiently, achieving a respectable throughput.

In Cinebench R20, the single-core score of 391 versus multi-core of 2770 yields a 7.1x scaling, which is strong for a 4-core part — indicating that multi-threaded workloads see near-linear gains. However, the Cinebench R15 results show a different story: single-core 93 and multi-core 664, a 7.1x ratio as well, but the absolute single-core number is much lower relative to the R20 and R23 scores, likely due to the test’s shorter duration and power ramp-up behavior.

For real-world workloads, this means the i7-1180G7 excels in tasks that use all cores simultaneously, like video encoding or batch photo processing, where the power can be shared. It suffers in tasks that demand brief, high-frequency single-core bursts, such as opening large files, web page rendering, or older games that rely on one main thread. The 45th percentile ranking reflects this imbalance — the chip is better than its single-core numbers suggest for multi-threaded use, but worse than its boost clock implies for single-thread responsiveness.

FAQ

Q: What is the launch MSRP of the Intel Core i7-1180G7?

A: The launch MSRP is $426.

Q: How does the i7-1180G7 compare to the Intel Xeon E-2314 in average benchmark score?

A: The i7-1180G7 has an average score of 1908, which is 0.2% higher than the Xeon E-2314’s 1905.

Q: Does the i7-1180G7 support ECC memory?

A: No, ECC memory is not supported.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth of this processor?

A: It supports dual-channel LPDDR4X memory with a bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s.

Q: Is the i7-1180G7 overclockable?

A: No, the multiplier is locked, and it uses a soldered BGA 1598 socket.

Q: What integrated graphics does the i7-1180G7 include?

A: It includes Iris Xe-LP Graphics G7 with 96 execution units.