Core i7-1260P Vs Intel Core i7-1255U: We Tested Both

Intel’s Hybrid Core architecture did wonders for them as their 12th Gen lineup provided comprehensive performance improvements over the 11th Gen CPUs. In this article, I’ll compare the Core i7-1260P vs Core i7-1255U. The former is rated “P” for power efficiency, while the latter is rated “U” for ultra-power efficiency, and I’ll focus on finding the better one for you.

Key Takeaways

To start, the Core i7-1260P performed 26.3% better in multi-core applications and was 5.2% faster in single-core applications.
The Core i7-1260P proved 8.8% more power-consuming under load than the Core i7-1255U.
Price-wise, the Core i7-1260P laptops range from $681-$4909, while the Core i7-1255U laptops cost between $489 and $4629. Overall, the Core i7-1255U has more value than the Core i7-1260P.

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Comparison Table

Let’s compare the specifications of the two CPUs to trace the similarities and differences.

Mobile CPU	Core i7-1260P	Core i7-1255U
Architecture	Hybrid Core	Hybrid Core
Codename	Alder Lake-P	Alder Lake-U
Instruction Set	x86-64	x86-64
Processing Node	Intel 7 (10nm ESF)	Intel 7 (10nm ESF)
Socket	BGA-1744	BGA-1744
No. of Cores	12 (4P + 8E)	10 (2P + 8E)
No. of Threads	16 (8 + 8)	12 (4 + 8)
Base Clock	2.1GHz (P-cores) 1.5GHz (E-cores)	1.7GHz (P-cores) 1.2GHz (E-cores)
Boost Clock	4.7GHz (P-cores) 3.4GHz (E-cores)	4.7GHz (P-cores) 3.5GHz (E-cores)
L1 Cache	80KB per core	80KB per core
L2 Cache	1280KB per core	1280KB per core
L3 Cache	18MB (shared)	12MB (shared)
Memory Support	DDR5 up to 4800 MT/s DDR4 up to 3200 MT/s LPDDR5 up to 5200 MT/s LPDDR4x up to 4267 MT/s	DDR5 up to 4800 MT/s DDR4 up to 3200 MT/s LPDDR5 up to 5200 MT/s LPDDR4x up to 4267 MT/s
Memory Size	Up to 64GB	Up to 64GB
PCIe Revision	4.0	4.0
No. of PCIe Lanes	20	20
Overclocking Support	No	No
Integrated Graphics	Intel Iris Xe G7 Graphics	Intel Iris Xe G7 Graphics
GPU Base Clock	300MHz	300MHz
GPU Boost Clock	1400MHz	1250MHz
No. of Shaders	768	768
No. of TMUs	48	48
No. of ROPs	24	24
No. of Execution Units	96	96
iGPU Theoretical Performance	1.69 TFLOPs	1.69 TFLOPs
Total Graphics Power	15W	15W
CPU Max Operating Temperature	100°C	100°C
CPU Base Power	20-28W (configurable)	12-15W (configurable)
CPU Boost Power	64W	55W
Price Range (July 2023)	$681-$4909	$489 to $4629
Launch Date	February 23, 2022	February 23, 2022

Also Learn: PC Chipsets Explained

Architectural Differences

Core/Thread Counts: Starting off, the Core i7-1260P has 12 cores with 4 P-cores and 8 E-cores. The Core i7-1255U halves the number of P-cores, totaling 10 cores. As for the thread counts, the Core i7-1260P has 16 while the Core i7-1255U has 12.
Clock Speeds: The Core i7-1260P boasts higher base frequencies, with 2.1GHz for the P-cores and 1.5GHz for the E-cores. In contrast, the Core i7-1255U clocks 1.7GHz on the P-cores and 1.2GHz on the E-cores. As for boost frequencies, the Core i7-1255U adds an extra 100MHz to the E-core frequency, equaling 3.5GHz.
Cache: Although both CPUs have the same L1 and L2 cache per core capacities, the Core i7-1260P has more overall cache (1.1MB L1, 10MB L2). This is because it has two extra cores. As for the L3 cache, the Core i7-1260P has an 18MB pool compared to the 12MB of the Core i7-1255U.
TDP: The Core i7-1255U is more power-efficient, as evident by the U suffix. It has a configurable base TDP of 12-15 watts compared to 20-28 watts of the Core i7-1260P. Additionally, it can draw up to 55 watts on boost frequencies, while the Core i7-1260P can draw as much as 64 watts.

Similar Article: Core i7-12700H Vs Core i7-1255U

Performance: Core i7-1260P Vs Core i7-1255U

Next, here are the performance benchmarks for the two CPUs.

Cinebench R23

The Core i7-1260P started proceedings with a win in the Cinebench R23 test. It scored 9746 points compared to 8342 scored by the Core i7-1255U.
In the single-core test, the Core i7-1260P scored 1745 points, 4.8% ahead of the Intel Core i7-1255U.

Geekbench 5

The next test is Geekbench 5, in which the Core i7-1260P accumulated 9214 multi-core points. In response, the Core i7-1255U scored 7402 points.
Moving on to the single-core scores, the Core i7-1255U has another narrow win with 1779 points over 1655 points of its rival.

Also Read: HP Envy vs Pavilion

Geekbench 6

In Geekbench 6, the Core i7-1260P continues its dominance with 9648 points in the multi-core test. The Intel Core i7-1255U only managed 6662 points, trailing by 44.8%.
As for the single-core benchmark, the Core i7-1260P recorded 2271 points compared to 1993 of the Core i5-1255U.

Passmark

The next test is Passmark, in which the Core i7-1260P notched up 17282 multi-core points. In comparison, the Core i7-1255U scored 13905 points, 24.2% behind.
Here, the Core i7-1255U took the lead with 3382 single-core points, leading by nearly 1%.

Another Comparison: Core i7-1255U Vs Core i7-1165G7

Summing Up The Multi-Core And Single-Core Performance

Let’s look at the average multi-core and single-core scores across the four tests.

Multi-core Performance: The Intel Core i7-1260P averaged 11472 points compared to 9077 points across the four tests. Thus, on average, the Core i7-1260P is 26.3% faster in multi-core applications.
Single-core Performance: In the single-core tests, the Core i7-1260P averaged 2286 points whereas the Core i7-1255U averaged 2173 points. This makes the Core i7-1260P roughly 5.2% faster than the Core i7-1255U in single-core applications.

Learn: How To Benchmark Your Gaming PC/Laptop

Average Power Consumption

Here’s a look at the average power consumption figures at idle and under load.

Reminder: Regarding base TDP, the Core i7-1260P is rated at 20-28 watts, while the Core i7-1255U is rated at 12-15W. As for boost power draw, the Core i7-1260P is rated 64 watts over 55 watts of the Core i7-1255U.

Power consumption, stress and idle — Average power consumption (Image by Tech4Gamers)

Idle power consumption: On average, the Core i7-1260P consumed 7 watts while the Intel Core i5-1255U used 6.2 watts.
Load power consumption: During the Cinebench R15 multi-core stress test, the Core i7-1260P averaged 60.5 watts while the averaged 55.6 watts. So, the Core i7-1255U is approximately 8.8% more power-efficient under loads.
The Intel Core i7-1255U used 0.6 watts more than it was rated for, while the Core i7-1260P remained under its boost TDP rating.

Read: How To Lower CPU Temperature

Laptop Prices

Next, we’ll go over the laptop prices for the two CPUs.

Core i7-1260P: Firstly, you can land a Core i7-1260P laptop for as little as $681. If you’re looking for top-selling laptops, your range should be between $824 and $1899. Lastly, if you’re looking for the most premium options, expect to pay up to $4909.
Core i7-1255U: As for the Core i7-1255U, entry-level laptops start at $489, while the best-sellers are in the $619-$1100 bracket. The most expensive Intel Core i7-1255U laptops can cost a maximum of $4909.

Better Value: Core i7-1255U Vs Core i7-1260P

We can now determine the better value CPU. The Core i7-1260P performed 26.3% faster in multi-core tests and 5.2% in single-core tests. Regarding the price difference, entry-level Core i7-1260P laptops cost 39.2% more than Core i7-1255U laptops. On top of this price difference, the Intel Core i7-1260P consumed 8.8% more power under stress.

As the price difference is bigger than the performance difference, and the Core i7-1260P also consumes more power, we conclude that the Core i7-1255U is the better CPU regarding value.

Also Check: How Much Is My PC Worth?

Final Thoughts

You have reached the end of this Core i7-1260P vs Core i7-1255U comparison. After thoroughly comparing the two CPUs, I’ve found that the Core i7-1260P is better performance-wise. However, the Core i7-1255U unarguably provides better value than the Core i7-1255U.

The Core i7-1260P has two extra P-cores and better clock speeds, giving it better multi-core performance. However, there is little difference between the two CPUs in terms of single-core performance. In the end, the Intel Core i7-1260P costs too much in comparison, making it the unideal choice in this comparison.

I hope this guide has been helpful. Similarly, if you’re looking to build a PC, check out this guide.

Pros And Cons

CPU	Pros	Cons
Core i7-1260P	Better overall performance More P-cores More L3 cache	Mediocre value More power-consuming
Core i7-1255U	Better value Relatively impressive power efficiency	Lags behind in performance

Pros And Cons: Core i7-1260P vs Core i7-1255U

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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

Core i7-1260P Vs Intel Core i7-1255U: We Tested Both

Comparison Table

Architectural Differences