CPU Comparison
Intel Core i5-1145G7 vs Core i7-1165G7 (IPU)
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i5-1145G7 is a standard consumer mobile processor released in late 2020 as part of the 11th Gen Tiger Lake lineup. Built on the 10nm SuperFin process, it features 4 cores and 8 threads based on the Willow Cove microarchitecture. Designed primarily for thin-and-light laptops, it operates at a base frequency of 2.6 GHz and can boost up to 4.4 GHz. The chip features a 28W default TDP, though it is often configured lower by OEMs to fit 15W ultrabook thermal limits. It integrates Iris Xe Graphics G7 with 80 Execution Units, delivering a massive leap in integrated graphical performance compared to previous generations, enabling smooth 1080p gaming and rapid hardware video encoding. With 8MB of L3 cache and support for PCIe 4.0 (though limited to 4 lanes), it offered excellent single-threaded responsiveness for everyday productivity, content consumption, and light creative workloads, though it is now superseded by newer generations.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
High single-thread performance makes everyday tasks and web browsing feel extremely snappy.
Unaffected by IPU; maintains 4.7 GHz burst performance.
Gaming
Iris Xe 80EU allows for playable framerates in older or esports titles at 1080p Low, a massive step up from UHD graphics.
Identical to standard 1165G7; Iris Xe handles 1080p medium gaming well.
Virtualization
Can run basic VMs for development, but 4 cores limit heavy virtualization workloads.
Standard 4-core mobile performance.
Efficiency
Good efficiency at 15W, though 10nm SuperFin is slightly surpassed by newer nodes.
IPU is highly efficient, offloading work that would otherwise use CPU power.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- Intel DL Boost for INT8
- GNA 2.0 for background noise cancellation
- Suitable for consumer AI features like background blur
- GNA for audio AI
- IPU for visual AI tasks like gaze correction
Content Creation
Gaming
- Can play CS:GO, Valorant, and League of Legends at 1080p
- Driver support is mature
- Performance heavily depends on laptop memory configuration (dual-channel is essential)
- Identical gaming performance to standard 1165G7
- Great for 1080p medium settings
- Requires fast dual-channel memory
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- Excellent single-thread performance for everyday tasks
- Iris Xe 80EU provides best-in-class integrated graphics at launch
- Good power efficiency for battery life
- Hardware AV1 video decoding
- Native Thunderbolt 4 support (via platform)
Cons
- Only 4 cores and 8 threads limits multi-threaded headroom
- Limited to 4 PCIe 4.0 lanes
- End-of-life status means no further BIOS/feature updates
- Does not support ECC memory
- Surpassed by 12th Gen Alder Lake-U in efficiency and performance
Pros
- Dedicated IPU 6.0 improves webcam quality drastically
- Offloads video processing from CPU
- Excellent single-core speed
- Powerful Iris Xe integrated graphics
- Supports MIPI camera sensors
Cons
- Performance is identical to standard 1165G7 for non-camera tasks
- Only 4 cores
- Requires OEM to actually wire a MIPI camera to the IPU to be useful
- End-of-life platform
Competitors & Alternatives
Intel Core i5-1145G7
- AMD Ryzen 5 5500URival
Consumer Mobile
- AMD Ryzen 7 4700URival
Consumer Mobile
- Compare head-to-headApple M1Rival
Consumer Mobile
- Intel Core i7-1165G7Rival
Consumer Mobile
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2Rival
Consumer Mobile
12th Gen successor with hybrid architecture (P+E cores) offering better multi-core performance.
Compare head-to-headSlightly lower clocks but nearly identical performance, often found in cheaper laptops.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 5 5600UAlt
Superior Zen 3 architecture with more cores and better battery life.
A newer 12th gen i3 that matches or beats this i5 in multi-core while being cheaper.
Compare head-to-head
Core i7-1165G7 (IPU)
- AMD Ryzen 7 4800URival
Mobile
- Compare head-to-headApple M1Rival
Mobile
- Intel Core i7-1185G7Rival
Mobile
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-1135G7Rival
Mobile
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2Rival
Mobile
Better efficiency and more cores, though IPU integration continues.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 7 5800UAlt
Superior multi-core performance for heavy workloads.
- Intel Core i7-1165G7Alt
Standard version performs identically if IPU isn't needed.
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600UAlt
Great budget alternative with solid multi-core performance.
Our Verdict on Each
A solid 11th gen mobile chip that brought significant IPC and graphics improvements to ultrabooks. However, it is now end-of-life and surpassed by 12th, 13th, and 14th Gen alternatives.
Best for: Buying a heavily discounted used laptop from 2021 for basic office work or student needs.
Read the full reviewA highly capable mobile CPU that distinguishes itself with dedicated image processing hardware, perfect for the modern remote-work laptop.
Best for: Buying a used premium laptop specifically for remote work and high-quality video calls.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core i5-1145G7 or Core i7-1165G7 (IPU)?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Core i7-1165G7 (IPU) comes out ahead with a score of 8.9/10. 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 i5-1145G7 or Core i7-1165G7 (IPU)?
For gaming, the Core i7-1165G7 (IPU) leads with a gaming performance score of 78/100 among Intel Core i5-1145G7 and Core i7-1165G7 (IPU).
Do Intel Core i5-1145G7 and Core i7-1165G7 (IPU) use the same socket?
Yes — all of these CPUs use the Intel BGA 1449 socket, so they share compatible motherboards.
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Core i7-1165G7 (IPU) posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i5-1145G7 (0), Core i7-1165G7 (IPU) (4,500). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.