CPU Comparison

Intel Core i5-1135G7 vs Intel Core i3-1115G4

A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i5-1135G7 is a 4-core, 8-thread mobile processor launched in September 2020. Built on the 10nm SuperFIN process, it utilizes the Willow Cove microarchitecture. Designed for thin-and-light laptops, it operates at a 15W TDP with a base clock of 1.5 GHz and a turbo boost up to 4.2 GHz. It features the highly capable Iris Xe Graphics G7 with 80 Execution Units, bringing significant gaming and media improvements to the ultrabook segment.

Top pick
Intel · Core i5
Intel Core i5-1135G7
4C / 8T4.2 GHz15 W
8.5
Full review
Intel · Core i3
Intel Core i3-1115G4
2C / 4T4.1 GHz15 W
5
Full review

The Bottom Line

Overview & Launch

Brand
Intel
Intel
Market
Mobile
Mobile
Segment
Mobile
Mobile
Generation
11th Gen (Tiger Lake-U)
11th Generation
Launched
2020
2020
Status
End-of-life
Active
Codename
Tiger Lake-U
Tiger Lake-U
Series
Core i5
Core i3
Family
11th Generation
Tiger Lake
Predecessor
Core i5-1035G1
Intel Core i3-10110U
Successor
Core i5-1235U
Intel Core i3-1215U

Specifications Compared

Cores & Clocks
Cores
4
2
Threads
8
4
Base Clock
1.5 GHz
2.2 GHz
Boost Clock
4.2 GHz
4.1 GHz
Cache & Power
L3 Cache
8 MB
6 MB
TDP
15 W
15 W
Architecture
Architecture
Tiger Lake (Willow Cove)
Tiger Lake-U
Process Node
10 nm
10nm (SuperFin)
Memory
Memory Type
DDR4, LPDDR4X
DDR4, LPDDR4X
Memory Speed
DDR4-3200, LPDDR4X-4267
LPDDR4X-3733
Memory Channels
Dual (2)
Dual (2)
Max Memory
64 GB
64 GB
Platform & I/O
Socket
Intel BGA 1449
BGA 1449
PCIe Version
PCIe 4.0
PCIe 4.0
PCIe Lanes
4
4
Integrated GPU
Yes
Yes
Unlocked
No
No

Performance Compared

Productivity

Intel Core i5-1135G7Best85

Snappy performance for everyday office tasks and multitasking.

Intel Core i3-1115G448

Handles word processing and spreadsheets effortlessly, but heavily multitasked office environments will expose the 2-core limitation.

Gaming

Intel Core i5-1135G7Best75

Capable of playing e-sports titles and older games at 1080p thanks to Iris Xe graphics.

Intel Core i3-1115G418

The Iris Xe iGPU can handle older or 2D indie games at low settings, but modern AAA titles are unplayable.

Virtualization

Intel Core i5-1135G7Best60

Can handle light virtualization but is limited by 4 cores.

Intel Core i3-1115G420

2 cores and 4 threads are insufficient for running anything beyond a single, very lightweight virtual machine.

Efficiency

Intel Core i5-1135G7Best90

Excellent power efficiency due to the 10nm SuperFIN process.

Intel Core i3-1115G482

The configurable 12W-28W TDP range allows OEMs to tune it for excellent battery life in thin chassis designs.

Specialized Performance

AI / ML

Intel Core i5-1135G7Good
  • DLBoost and GNA 2.0 provide solid AI acceleration for background blur and noise cancellation.
Intel Core i3-1115G4Minimal
  • No dedicated NPU
  • AVX-512 provides some acceleration for specific vector math workloads
  • Not intended for AI development or inference

Content Creation

Intel Core i5-1135G7Good
PhotoshopLightroomPremiere Pro (1080p)Basic 3D Modeling
Intel Core i3-1115G4Minimal
Light Image CroppingBasic Document Editing

Gaming

Intel Core i5-1135G7Good
  • Iris Xe 80EU allows for smooth e-sports gaming.
  • Performance scales heavily with dual-channel memory.
  • Not suitable for modern AAA gaming at high settings.
Intel Core i3-1115G4Poor
  • Lacks the core count and GPU power for modern gaming
  • Can manage basic e-sports titles like League of Legends at 720p/1080p low
  • Memory bandwidth limitations heavily cap iGPU performance

Industry Impact

Gaming
Moderate
Negligible
Workstations
Low
Negligible
Content Creation
Moderate
Negligible
Virtualization
Low
Negligible

Best CPU by Use Case

Light 1080p Gaming
Good
Office Productivity
Excellent
Web Browsing
Excellent
Excellent
Photo Editing
Very Good
Video Conferencing
Excellent
Office Applications
Very Good
1080p Video Playback
Excellent
Light Photo Editing
Adequate
Gaming
Poor

Target Audience

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

Strengths & Weaknesses

Intel Core i5-1135G7

Pros

  • Excellent single-core performance
  • Massive leap in integrated graphics (Iris Xe 80EU)
  • Great power efficiency
  • Supports fast LPDDR4X-4267 memory
  • Includes PCIe 4.0 for fast storage

Cons

  • Limited to 4 cores
  • Integrated graphics still weaker than entry-level discrete GPUs
  • Soldered onto the motherboard (BGA package)
  • Replaced quickly by 12th Gen P-series and U-series
Intel Core i3-1115G4

Pros

  • High 4.1 GHz boost clock for snappy single-thread tasks
  • Modern Iris Xe-LP integrated graphics
  • Low 15W TDP enables thin, quiet laptops
  • AVX-512 instruction set support
  • Efficient 10nm SuperFin manufacturing process

Cons

  • Only 2 cores and 4 threads severely limit multitasking
  • 6MB L3 cache is small for modern workloads
  • Only 4 direct CPU PCIe 4.0 lanes
  • No DDR5 or LPDDR5 support
  • BGA package prevents any upgrades

Competitors & Alternatives

Intel Core i5-1135G7

Intel Core i3-1115G4

  • AMD Ryzen 3 5300U

    Mobile

    Rival
  • AMD Ryzen 3 3250U

    Mobile

    Rival
  • Apple M1

    Mobile

    Rival
    Compare head-to-head
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c Gen 2

    Mobile

    Rival
  • MediaTek Kompanio 500T

    Mobile

    Rival
  • Offers 4 cores and 8 threads, doubling the multitasking capability with only a small power increase.

    Compare head-to-head
  • AMD Ryzen 5 5500U
    Alt

    Provides 6 Zen 2 cores and 12 threads, vastly superior multi-core performance.

  • 12th-gen successor featuring 2 P-Cores and 4 E-Cores for much better background task handling.

    Compare head-to-head
  • Apple M1 (base)
    Alt

    Far superior performance per watt and unmatched battery life in a similar power class.

  • AMD Ryzen 3 5400U
    Alt

    6 cores at a competitive price point, offering much better long-term usability.

Our Verdict on Each

A breakthrough mobile chip that brought console-like integrated graphics to thin-and-light laptops, though limited to 4 cores.

Best for: Buying a mid-range ultrabook for everyday use and light gaming.

Read the full review

A capable entry-level mobile processor for basic tasks, hindered by its 2-core limit but benefiting from strong single-core speeds and a modern iGPU architecture.

Best for: Purchasing a highly discounted budget laptop for basic school or office work where no heavy multitasking is required.

Read the full review

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, Intel Core i5-1135G7 or Intel Core i3-1115G4?

Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core i5-1135G7 comes out ahead with a score of 8.5/10. 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 i5-1135G7 or Intel Core i3-1115G4?

For gaming, the Intel Core i5-1135G7 leads with a gaming performance score of 75/100 among Intel Core i5-1135G7 and Intel Core i3-1115G4.

Do Intel Core i5-1135G7 and Intel Core i3-1115G4 use the same socket?

No. They use different sockets (Intel Core i5-1135G7: Intel BGA 1449, Intel Core i3-1115G4: BGA 1449), so each needs a compatible motherboard.

Which has more cores?

The Intel Core i5-1135G7 has the most cores. Core counts: Intel Core i5-1135G7 (4 cores), Intel Core i3-1115G4 (2 cores).

Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?

The Intel Core i5-1135G7 posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i5-1135G7 (0). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.