CPU Comparison

Core i5-12500TE vs Core i7-1185G7E

A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i5-12500TE is a 6-core, 12-thread embedded desktop processor optimized for industrial, kiosk, and edge computing applications. Featuring a 35W base TDP, it delivers reliable performance in thermally constrained environments. It boasts a max turbo frequency of 4.3 GHz and integrates UHD Graphics 770, supporting up to 4 displays natively. Built on the LGA 1700 socket, it supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory alongside PCIe Gen 5, providing modern I/O for industrial designs that require long-term availability and stable, predictable compute performance.

Intel · Core i5
Core i5-12500TE
6C / 12T4.3 GHz35 W
8.4
Full review
Top pick
Intel · Core i7
Core i7-1185G7E
4C / 8T4.4 GHz15 W
8.5
Full review

The Bottom Line

Overview & Launch

Brand
Intel
Intel
Market
Desktop Embedded
Embedded
Segment
Desktop Embedded
Embedded
Generation
12th Gen
11th Generation Core i7
Launched
2022
2020
Status
Active
Active
Codename
Alder Lake-S
Tiger Lake-U
Series
Core i5
Core i7
Family
Alder Lake
11th Gen
Predecessor
Intel Core i5-11500TE
Intel Core i7-8665UE
Successor
Intel Core i7-1370PE

Specifications Compared

Cores & Clocks
Cores
6
4
Threads
12
8
Base Clock
1.9 GHz
1.8 GHz
Boost Clock
4.3 GHz
4.4 GHz
Cache & Power
L3 Cache
18 MB
12 MB
TDP
35 W
15 W
Architecture
Architecture
Alder Lake-S
Willow Cove
Process Node
Intel 7 (10nm)
10nm
Memory
Memory Type
DDR4, DDR5
DDR4, LPDDR4X
Memory Speed
DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200
DDR4-3200, LPDDR4X-4267
Memory Channels
Dual (2)
Dual (2)
Max Memory
256 GB
64 GB
Platform & I/O
Socket
LGA 1700
BGA 1449
PCIe Version
PCIe 5.0
PCIe 4.0
PCIe Lanes
20
4
Integrated GPU
Yes
Yes
Unlocked
No
No

Performance Compared

Productivity

Core i5-12500TEBest85

Consistent and reliable for dedicated workloads and data processing.

Core i7-1185G7E80

Snappy single-thread performance handles specific industrial applications efficiently.

Gaming

Core i5-12500TEBest70

Not for gaming, but iGPU handles 3D UI rendering smoothly.

Core i7-1185G7E65

Not intended for gaming, but Iris Xe can handle basic visualization loads easily.

Virtualization

Core i5-12500TEBest75

6 cores handle lightweight edge hypervisors effectively.

Core i7-1185G7E65

Adequate for lightweight edge virtualization tasks.

Efficiency

Core i5-12500TE94

Excellent performance per watt for always-on embedded devices.

Core i7-1185G7EBest95

15W TDP ensures excellent performance per watt for embedded devices.

Specialized Performance

AI / ML

Core i5-12500TEFair
  • Intel DL Boost for AI inference
  • Suitable for edge AI tasks
Core i7-1185G7EGood
  • DLBoost accelerates AI tasks
  • IPU 6.0 not present on this specific SKU
  • Suitable for edge AI inference

Content Creation

Core i5-12500TELimited
AutoCAD (2D/Basic 3D)SolidWorks (Light)UI RenderingMedia Playback
Core i7-1185G7EGood
Industrial VisualizationLocal Media DecodingEdge Rendering

Gaming

Core i5-12500TEFair
  • UHD 770 is adequate for UI rendering
  • Not designed for 3D gaming
  • Supports legacy display interfaces
Core i7-1185G7EN/A
  • Not targeted at gaming
  • Graphics capable of basic 3D rendering
  • Dependent on memory configuration

Industry Impact

Gaming
None
None
Workstations
Low
Low
Content Creation
Low
Low
Virtualization
High
Moderate

Best CPU by Use Case

Digital Signage Controller
Excellent
Industrial HMI
Excellent
Edge Data Collection
Good
Medical Cart PC
Excellent
Micro Server
Good
Edge AI Inference
Good
Medical Imaging
Excellent
Digital Signage
Excellent
Industrial Control
Excellent
Retail Kiosks
Excellent

Target Audience

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

Strengths & Weaknesses

Core i5-12500TE

Pros

  • Long embedded lifecycle
  • UHD 770 graphics (4 displays)
  • LGA 1700 socket
  • Low 35W base TDP
  • PCIe 5.0 support

Cons

  • Premium embedded pricing
  • Hard to find retail
  • Lower clocks than consumer 65W parts
  • Locked multiplier
  • Not for gaming
Core i7-1185G7E

Pros

  • 15-year extended lifecycle support
  • Low 15W base TDP
  • Excellent single-thread performance
  • Iris Xe 96EU graphics
  • 10nm SuperFin efficiency

Cons

  • Only 4 cores
  • Low base clock (1.8 GHz)
  • Limited PCIe lanes (4x)
  • Not suitable for consumer builds

Competitors & Alternatives

Core i5-12500TE

  • AMD Ryzen 5 5600GE

    Embedded Desktop

    Rival
  • Intel Core i5-12500E

    Embedded Desktop

    Rival
  • AMD Ryzen Embedded V1500B

    Embedded

    Rival
  • Intel Core i7-12700TE

    Embedded Desktop

    Rival
  • NXP Layerscape

    Edge Computing

    Rival
  • Intel Core i5-12500T
    Alt

    Cheaper consumer alternative if embedded lifecycle is not required.

  • AMD Ryzen 5 5600G
    Alt

    Good alternative with strong integrated graphics.

  • Lower cost and lower power for simpler embedded tasks.

    Compare head-to-head

Core i7-1185G7E

  • AMD Ryzen Embedded V2718E

    Embedded

    Rival
  • Intel Core i7-10700TE

    Embedded

    Rival
  • AMD Ryzen Embedded R2544

    Embedded

    Rival
  • Intel Atom x6425E

    Embedded

    Rival
  • NVIDIA Jetson Orin Nano

    Edge AI

    Rival
  • Lower cost embedded alternative.

    Compare head-to-head
  • AMD Ryzen Embedded V2546
    Alt

    More cores for edge workloads.

  • Intel Core i7-1185G7
    Alt

    Consumer version with higher base TDP.

  • Intel Xeon D-2700
    Alt

    Server-class edge features.

Our Verdict on Each

Core i5-12500TERecommended

A robust embedded processor with excellent multi-display capability and long-term availability for mission-critical systems.

Best for: Designing an industrial system requiring long-life components and multi-display output.

Read the full review
Core i7-1185G7ERecommended

An excellent embedded processor combining 10nm efficiency, strong single-thread performance, and long-term availability for critical infrastructure.

Best for: Designing medical, retail, or industrial equipment requiring long-term availability.

Read the full review

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, Core i5-12500TE or Core i7-1185G7E?

Based on our editorial ratings, the Core i7-1185G7E 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, Core i5-12500TE or Core i7-1185G7E?

For gaming, the Core i5-12500TE leads with a gaming performance score of 70/100 among Core i5-12500TE and Core i7-1185G7E.

Which uses less power?

The Core i7-1185G7E has the lowest rated TDP. Power draw across these chips: Core i5-12500TE (35 W), Core i7-1185G7E (15 W).

Do Core i5-12500TE and Core i7-1185G7E use the same socket?

No. They use different sockets (Core i5-12500TE: LGA 1700, Core i7-1185G7E: BGA 1449), so each needs a compatible motherboard.

Which has more cores?

The Core i5-12500TE has the most cores. Core counts: Core i5-12500TE (6 cores), Core i7-1185G7E (4 cores).

Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?

The Core i5-12500TE posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Core i5-12500TE (12,800), Core i7-1185G7E (5,800). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.