Core i7-1255U Vs Core i5-1235U: We Tested Both

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Shehryar Khan

Senior Editor and Content Writer:

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At launch, Intel’s Alder Lake CPUs became the primary choice of PC gamers and casual consumers alike, as they blew AMD’s Ryzen 5000 CPUs out of the water. Today, I’ll compare two mobile CPUs from this Alder Lake lineup in Core i7-1255U vs Core i5-1235U. Read on to find which CPU is worth the dollar.

Key Takeaways

• The Core i7-1255U proved 12.4% faster in multi-core applications and 5.2% in single-core applications than the Core i5-1235U.
• Regarding power consumption, the Core i7-1255U consumed 5.9% more power under load than the Core i5-1235U.
• Price-wise, Core i7-1255U laptops cost between $419 and $2168, while Core i5-1235U laptops range from $289 to $1199.
• Talking value, the Core i5-1235U is much better as it costs much less for a small performance difference.

Comparison Table

Architectural Differences

1. Clock Speeds: The Core i7-1255U boasts faster speeds, clocking 1.7GHz on the P-cores and 1.2GHz on the E-cores at the base. In contrast, the Core i5-1235U P-cores run at 1.3GHz while the E-cores run at 0.9GHz regarding base frequencies. As for boost speeds, the Core i7-1255U clocks 4.7GHz (P-cores) and 3.5GHz (E-cores) over 4.4GHz (P-cores) and 3.3GHz (E-cores) of the Core i5-1235U.
2. iGPU: The Core i7-1255U adds 50MHz to the boost core clock speeds. In addition, it beats the Core i5-1235U regarding the number of core rendering units, including shading units, TMUs, ROPs, and EUs. All in all, this gives it better performance, at 1.69 TFLOPs over 1.41 TFLOPs of the Core i5-1235U.

Also Read: Core i7-1255U Vs Core i5-1335U

Core i7-1255U Vs Core i5-1235U: Performance Benchmarks

Cinebench R23

• Kicking things off with the Cinebench R23 multi-core test, the Core i7-1255U scores 8342 points. In comparison, the Core i5-1235U trailed with 6618 points.
• In the single-core test, the Core i7-1255U has a very narrow lead with 1665 points over 1654 of the Core i5-1235U.

Geekbench 5

• Moving on to Geekbench 5, the Core i7-1255U managed 7402 points in the multi-core test. In reply, the Intel Core i5-1235U’s figures read 6333 points.
• Regarding the single-core result, the Core i7-1255U scored 1655 points over 1580 points of the Core i5-1235U. 

Geekbench 6

• The next benchmark is Geekbench 6, where the Intel Core i7-1255U racked up 6662 multi-core points. Its Core i5 competitor scored 5677 points, trailing by 17.3%.
• As for the single-core scores, the Core i7-1255U recorded 1993 points, while the Core i5-1235U recorded 1688 points. 

Related: Core i7-12700H Vs Core i7-1255U

Passmark

• In Passmark, the Core i7-1255U bagged 13905 points, leading the Core i5-1235U (3334 points) by 1.7%.
• The Core i7-1255U (3382 points) also has an insignificant lead in the single-core test, at 1.4%.

Summing Up The Multi-Core And Single-Core Performance

Before reviewing the remaining benchmarks, here’s a look at the average multi-core and single-core scores across the four tests. 

• Multi-core Performance: The Core i7-1255U notched up 9077 points on average compared to 8073 points the Intel Core i5-1235U scored. In conclusion, the Core i7-1255U is, on average, 12.4% faster than the Core i5-1235U in multi-core applications.
• Single-core Performance: The Core i7-1255U averaged 2173 points in single-core applications. Meanwhile, the Core i5-1235U’s average is 2064 points. Thus, the Core i7-1255U leads the Core i5-1235U by 5.2% in single-core performance.

Also Check: Core i7-1255U Vs Core i7-1165G7

3DMark Time Spy CPU Benchmark

• The Intel Core i7-1255U scored 6140 points in this test over 5647 of the Core i5-1235U. 
• Here, the Core i7-1255U has an 8.7% lead over the Core i5-1235U.

Blender 3.3 Classroom

• In Blender 3.3, the Core i7-1255U leads again, rendering the scene in 723 seconds. Conversely, the Core i5-1235U took 846 seconds to render the scene.
• The Core i7-1255U rendered the scene 17% faster than the Intel Core i5-1235U.

Similar Comparison: Intel Core i5-1235U Vs AMD Ryzen 5 7520U

Power Consumption

Both CPUs have the same base (12-15W) and boost TDP ratings (55W). Let’s see if there is any difference in their power consumption numbers.

• Idle power consumption: Both CPUs averaged 6.2 watts of power draw when idle.
• Load power consumption: Under load (using the Cinebench R15 multi-core test), the Core i7-1255U averaged 55.6 watts of power consumption. In response, the Core i5-1235U averaged 52.5 watts. So, the Core i5-1235U is 5.9%, approximately more power-efficient under loads.

Related: Core i5 1235U Vs Ryzen 5 7530U

Laptop Prices 

Let’s look at the prices for Core i7-1255U and Core i7-1235U laptops.

Note: The prices have been estimated from Amazon US and are valid as of July 2023. 

• Core i7-1255U: Entry-level laptops using this mobile CPU cost at least $419, while the best-selling options are in the $619-$1100 price bracket. The most premium Core i7-1255U laptops can cost up to $2068.
• Core i5-1235U: The Core i5-1235U laptops start from $289, and the best-selling laptops can cost anywhere between $479 and $799. Additionally, the most expensive Core i5-1235U laptop can set you back by $1199.

Also Read: How Much Is My Gaming PC Worth?

Better Value: Core i7-1255U Vs Core i5-1235U

To summarize the performance and price discussion, let’s figure out which CPU has more value for money. The Core i7-1255U performed 12.4% and 5.2% faster in the multi-core and single-core tests, respectively. It also outperformed the Core i5-1235U in the Blender and 3DMark Time Spy benchmarks.

When it comes to the prices, though, you’ll be paying 44% more for an entry-level Core i7-1255U laptop compared to a Core i5-1235U laptop. The price difference is much greater than the performance difference.

Also, the Core i7-1255U consumed 5.9% more power during the Cinebench R15 stress test. 

All these factors favor the Core i5-1235U, giving it much more value than the Intel Core i7-1255U.

Which One To Go For? 

Let’s conclude this Core i7-1255U vs Core i5-1235U comparison.

While the Core i7-1255U certainly performs better in all the benchmarks, it’s the Core i5-1235U that has more value for money. The two laptop CPUs hardly differ in specifications, yet the Core i7-1255U laptops cost significantly more than the Core i5-1255U ones. 

If you only care about performance, the Core i7-1255U is the better choice, but if you want to save money while sacrificing little performance, the Core i5-1235U is the CPU for you. 

Also Check: Core i7-1255U Vs Core i5-1335U

Pros And Cons 

Pros And Cons: Core i7-1255U vs Core i5-1235U

Shehryar Khan

[Comparisons Expert]

Shehryar Khan, a seasoned PC hardware expert, brings over three years of extensive experience and a deep passion for the world of technology. With a love for building PCs and a genuine enthusiasm for exploring the latest advancements in components, his expertise shines through his work and dedication towards this field. Currently, Shehryar is rocking a custom loop setup for his built.

Get In Touch: shehryar@tech4gamers.com