CPU Comparison
Intel Core i3-1215U (IPU) vs Intel Core i3-1220P
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i3-1215U (IPU) is a variant of the standard i3-1215U that includes an integrated Infrastructure Processing Unit (IPU) for offloading network and storage I/O tasks from the main CPU cores.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Identical CPU performance to the 1215U for office tasks. The IPU may provide a subtle advantage in network-heavy productivity scenarios.
The 8 E-cores handle background multitasking exceptionally well, making the system feel responsive during heavy multi-tab browsing.
Gaming
Same as the standard 1215U—not designed for gaming.
The Iris Xe 64EU graphics can handle older or lightweight games at low settings, but this is not a gaming processor.
Virtualization
Same 8-thread limitation as the 1215U. The IPU could potentially assist with network I/O in virtualized environments.
The high E-core count provides decent throughput for containerized or VM workloads, though P-core limited tasks will be slower.
Efficiency
The IPU can improve efficiency by offloading I/O processing, potentially reducing P-core wake-ups during network activity.
Excellent power efficiency for a 10-core chip. The 28 W base power and E-core dominance allow for long battery life in thin laptops.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No dedicated AI acceleration
- The IPU is not an NPU and does not accelerate AI workloads
- Same CPU inference capability as the standard 1215U
- No dedicated NPU
- 10 cores provide some CPU inference capability but it is not optimized for AI
- Not recommended for AI development or training
Content Creation
Gaming
- Not designed for gaming
- Identical graphics capability to the standard 1215U
- IPU provides no gaming benefit
- Iris Xe 64EU is vastly superior to UHD Graphics 730 but still not a gaming GPU
- Can play esports titles like League of Legends and CS2 at 1080p low
- Modern AAA games will require low settings and may still struggle
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- IPU offloads I/O tasks from CPU cores
- Identical CPU and graphics performance to the 1215U
- No power penalty over the standard variant
- Enterprise-grade I/O consistency
- Same broad memory and PCIe support
Cons
- No CPU performance benefit over the standard 1215U
- IPU benefit is invisible in standard consumer workloads
- Likely carries a price premium over the standard 1215U
- Limited driver and documentation visibility
- Not marketed or available through consumer channels
- Same 8-thread limitation for CPU workloads
Pros
- Excellent multi-tasking capability thanks to 8 E-cores
- Low 28 W power draw enables good battery life in thin laptops
- Iris Xe 64EU graphics are significantly better than desktop i3 iGPU
- 10 cores provide strong multi-threaded specs for the price tier
- Handles everyday web and office tasks with ease
Cons
- Only 2 P-cores severely limit single-threaded and active workload performance
- E-cores cannot match P-core performance in demanding applications
- 28 W base power limits sustained performance in thermally constrained chassis
- Not suitable for serious content creation or heavy productivity
- E-core heavy design can cause inconsistent performance in poorly threaded applications
Competitors & Alternatives
Intel Core i3-1215U (IPU)
- AMD Ryzen 3 5300URival
Budget Mobile
- AMD Ryzen 5 5500URival
Mainstream Mobile
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i3-1215URival
Standard Mobile
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-1235URival
Mid-Range Mobile
- Intel Core i3-1215U (IPU)Rival
Enterprise Mobile
- Intel Core i5-1235U (IPU variant)Alt
If enterprise features are needed, the i5 IPU variant offers more CPU performance.
- AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5650UAlt
AMD's PRO series offers enterprise manageability features as an alternative approach.
Newer Raptor Lake generation with better P-core performance if IPU is not essential.
Compare head-to-head- Intel vPro-enabled i5-1245UAlt
Full vPro platform may be more valuable than IPU alone for enterprise manageability.
Intel Core i3-1220P
- AMD Ryzen 5 5500URival
Thin-and-Light Mobile
- AMD Ryzen 5 6600URival
Zen 3+ Mobile
- AMD Ryzen 7 5700URival
High-Core Mobile
- Compare head-to-headApple M1Rival
ARM Thin-and-Light
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-1235URival
Mainstream U-Series
Adds 2 more P-cores (4P+8E) for dramatically better active workload performance at a slight price premium.
Compare head-to-head
Our Verdict on Each
Functionally identical to the standard i3-1215U in CPU and graphics performance, but the addition of the IPU makes it specifically valuable for enterprise deployments where network I/O offloading, manageability, and security processing are priorities.
Best for: Enterprise IT procurement where managed laptops with IPU offloading capabilities are specified by organizational policy.
Read the full reviewThe i3-1220P maximizes core count on a budget by using 8 E-cores, delivering excellent multitasking for thin-and-light laptops but falling short in single-threaded tasks compared to processors with more P-cores.
Best for: The i3-1220P is not a standalone purchase but a component integrated into laptops. When shopping for a thin-and-light laptop in 2022-2023, a machine with the 1220P offers a good balance of everyday performance and battery life for web browsing, office work, and media consumption. However, be aware that the 2 P-cores will limit performance in CPU-intensive applications like video editing or heavy compiling. If your laptop budget allows, stepping up to an i5-1240P or i5-12500P provides 4 P-cores and significantly better sustained performance for a modest price increase.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core i3-1215U (IPU) or Intel Core i3-1220P?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core i3-1220P comes out ahead with a score of 6.8/10. 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 i3-1215U (IPU) or Intel Core i3-1220P?
For gaming, the Intel Core i3-1220P leads with a gaming performance score of 40/100 among Intel Core i3-1215U (IPU) and Intel Core i3-1220P.
Which uses less power?
The Intel Core i3-1215U (IPU) has the lowest rated TDP. Power draw across these chips: Intel Core i3-1215U (IPU) (15 W), Intel Core i3-1220P (28 W).
Do Intel Core i3-1215U (IPU) and Intel Core i3-1220P use the same socket?
Yes — all of these CPUs use the BGA 1744 socket, so they share compatible motherboards.
Which has more cores?
The Intel Core i3-1220P has the most cores. Core counts: Intel Core i3-1215U (IPU) (6 cores), Intel Core i3-1220P (10 cores).
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Intel Core i3-1220P posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i3-1220P (11,500). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.