CPU Comparison

Intel Core i5-1035G7 vs Core i7-1160G7

A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i5-1035G7 is a premium mobile processor launched in August 2019 as part of the 10th Generation Ice Lake-U family. Fabricated on Intel's 10nm process, it utilizes the Sunny Cove microarchitecture and features four cores and eight threads, delivering robust performance for thin-and-light laptops. With a base clock of 1.2 GHz and a max turbo frequency of 3.7 GHz, it offers snappy responsiveness for everyday tasks and demanding applications. The processor operates at a 15-watt TDP, efficiently balancing power and thermal constraints. A key feature of the G7 variant is the integration of Intel Iris Plus graphics with 64 execution units, providing exceptional graphical performance for an integrated solution, capable of smooth 4K media playback and light gaming. Supporting LPDDR4 memory up to 3733 MT/s and featuring native PCIe Gen 3 and Thunderbolt 3 integration, the i5-1035G7 was designed for high-end ultraportables requiring strong CPU and GPU performance.

Intel · Core i5
Intel Core i5-1035G7
4C / 8T3.7 GHz15 W
8.3
Full review
Top pick
Intel · Core i7
Core i7-1160G7
4C / 8T4.4 GHz15 W
8.6
Full review

The Bottom Line

Overview & Launch

Brand
Intel
Intel
Market
Mobile
Mobile
Segment
Mobile
Mobile
Generation
Core i5 (Sunny Cove-U)
Core i7 (Willow Cove-U)
Launched
2019
2020
Status
Active
End-of-life
Codename
Ice Lake-U
Tiger Lake-U
Series
Core i5
Core i7
Family
10th Generation Core i5
11th Generation Core i7
Predecessor
Intel Core i5-8265U
Intel Core i7-1060G7
Successor
Intel Core i5-1135G7
Intel Core i7-1250U

Specifications Compared

Cores & Clocks
Cores
4
4
Threads
8
8
Base Clock
1.2 GHz
1.2 GHz
Boost Clock
3.7 GHz
4.4 GHz
Cache & Power
L3 Cache
6 MB
12 MB
TDP
15 W
15 W
Architecture
Architecture
Sunny Cove
Tiger Lake-U (Willow Cove)
Process Node
10nm
10nm
Memory
Memory Type
DDR4, LPDDR4
LPDDR4X
Memory Speed
3200 MT/s (DDR4), 3733 MT/s (LPDDR4)
LPDDR4X-4267
Memory Channels
Dual (2)
Dual (2)
Max Memory
64 GB
32 GB
Platform & I/O
Socket
Intel BGA 1526
Intel BGA 1598
PCIe Version
Gen 3
PCIe 4.0
PCIe Lanes
16
4
Integrated GPU
Yes
Yes
Unlocked
No
No

Performance Compared

Productivity

Intel Core i5-1035G7Best90

Excellent performance for multitasking, office work, and web browsing.

Core i7-1160G785

Snappy burst performance handles everyday tasks easily.

Gaming

Intel Core i5-1035G765

The 64-EU graphics can handle e-sports titles and older games at 1080p low settings.

Core i7-1160G7Best70

Good for casual gaming, but thermal throttling in fanless designs limits sustained performance.

Virtualization

Intel Core i5-1035G7Best70

Handles light VMs well, though 4 cores limit heavy workloads.

Core i7-1160G760

Low power limits make running VMs difficult.

Efficiency

Intel Core i5-1035G785

10nm process ensures good battery life in 15W configurations.

Core i7-1160G7Best98

Top-tier efficiency; designed for maximum battery life.

Specialized Performance

AI / ML

Intel Core i5-1035G7Moderate
  • Features DL Boost 1.0
  • Better AI performance than G1 and G4 variants
Core i7-1160G7Fair
  • GNA for audio AI
  • Low power limits restrict heavy AI inference

Content Creation

Intel Core i5-1035G7Good
PhotoshopPremiere Pro (1080p)IllustratorLight 3D Modeling
Core i7-1160G7Fair
Adobe PhotoshopLightroomLight Video Trimming

Gaming

Intel Core i5-1035G7Good for Integrated
  • 64 Execution Units provide strong graphical headroom
  • Capable of 60fps in games like League of Legends
  • Modern AAA titles will require lowest settings and resolution scaling
Core i7-1160G7Good (Integrated)
  • Great for 2D and e-sports titles
  • Will throttle in heavy 3D loads due to fanless chassis
  • Iris Xe provides surprising capability at 7W

Industry Impact

Gaming
Moderate
Low
Workstations
Low
Low
Content Creation
High
Moderate
Virtualization
Moderate
Low

Best CPU by Use Case

Office Applications
Excellent
4K Video Playback
Excellent
Casual Gaming
Very Good
Good
Photo Editing
Very Good
Good
Light Video Editing
Good
Silent Office Work
Excellent
Media Consumption
Excellent
Video Editing
Fair

Target Audience

Gamers
Targeted
Content Creators
Targeted
Targeted
Developers
Targeted
Targeted
Workstation Users
Streamers
Office / Productivity
Targeted
Targeted
Students
Targeted
Targeted

Strengths & Weaknesses

Intel Core i5-1035G7

Pros

  • Top-tier integrated graphics (64 EUs)
  • Good single and multi-core performance
  • 10nm power efficiency
  • Native Thunderbolt 3 support
  • Excellent for casual gaming and media

Cons

  • Soldered to the motherboard
  • Outperformed by Tiger Lake and AMD Ryzen 5000
  • Thermal throttling can limit GPU performance in thin chassis
  • Only supports PCIe Gen 3
Core i7-1160G7

Pros

  • Incredible power efficiency
  • Allows for completely silent, fanless designs
  • Retains 96 EU Iris Xe graphics
  • Excellent burst performance for daily tasks
  • Ultra-thin package size

Cons

  • Very low base clock (1.2 GHz)
  • Will throttle quickly under sustained load without a fan
  • Limited to LPDDR4X memory
  • Expensive and niche market positioning

Competitors & Alternatives

Intel Core i5-1035G7

Core i7-1160G7

Our Verdict on Each

A standout 10nm mobile processor that combined Sunny Cove architecture with 64-EU Iris Plus graphics, setting a new standard for integrated performance.

Best for: Buying a discounted premium used laptop for light gaming and productivity.

Read the full review
Core i7-1160G7Recommended

A remarkably efficient 10nm chip that brings high-end integrated graphics to completely silent, fanless form factors.

Best for: Buying a used premium fanless tablet like the Surface Pro X alternative or Dell XPS 13 2-in-1.

Read the full review

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, Intel Core i5-1035G7 or Core i7-1160G7?

Based on our editorial ratings, the Core i7-1160G7 comes out ahead with a score of 8.6/10. That said, the best choice depends on your workload — check the spec and performance breakdown above for gaming, productivity and efficiency differences.

Which is faster for gaming, Intel Core i5-1035G7 or Core i7-1160G7?

For gaming, the Core i7-1160G7 leads with a gaming performance score of 70/100 among Intel Core i5-1035G7 and Core i7-1160G7.

Do Intel Core i5-1035G7 and Core i7-1160G7 use the same socket?

No. They use different sockets (Intel Core i5-1035G7: Intel BGA 1526, Core i7-1160G7: Intel BGA 1598), so each needs a compatible motherboard.

Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?

The Intel Core i5-1035G7 posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i5-1035G7 (8,200), Core i7-1160G7 (4,000). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.