[Comparison] Intel Core i5-1235U vs Core i7-1255U – almost identical
Similar to how the Core i5-1135G7 and the Core i7-1165G7 were essentially the same CPU when it came to the specs on paper, you can see the exact similarities in their 2022 Alder Lake counterparts. The i5-1235U and i7-1255U have 10 cores, 12 threads, and 12MB of cache, with the only lead that the Core i7 has in its sleeve being a slight 0.30MHz bump in the boost and base speeds.
Today we are comparing the Intel Core i5-1235U against the Core i7-1255U.
You can find more information about both CPUs here: Intel Core i5-1235U / Core i7-1255U
Specs table
| Intel Core i5-1235U | Intel Core i7-1255U | |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Alder Lake-U | Alder Lake-U |
| Cores / Threads | 10/12 | 10/12 |
| Clock Speeds – Base/Boost | 0.90 – 4.40GHz | 1.20 – 4.70GHz |
| Cache | 12MB | 12MB |
| Lithography | 10nm | 10nm |
| TDP | 15W | 15W |
| Memory type | DDR5-4800, LPDDR5-5200, DDR4-3200, LPDDR4x-4267 | DDR5-4800, LPDDR5-5200, DDR4-3200, LPDDR4x-4267 |
| Integrated GPU | Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 (80EU) | Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 (96EU) |
CPU benchmarks
While the Core i7 is quicker in both the 3D and 2D Benchmarks, it is not by much, generating a lead of 4% in Cinebench 20 and being only 0.1 seconds faster in Photoshop.
Results are from the Cinebench R23 CPU test (the higher the score, the better)
Conclusion
There really isn’t a point in getting the more expensive Core i7 CPU, as the Core i5 justifies it with a lot more performance than we thought, being very close to its opponent. If you decide to pick up a laptop with the Core i5-1235U, keep in mind that laptops perform differently, depending on cooling, and how the manufacturer tinkers with the chip, shifting power limits and playing with the voltage and clock speeds curves.
All laptops with the Intel Core i5-1235U:
All laptops with the Intel Core i7-1255G7:
Author: Severin Kolakov
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