CPU Comparison
Intel Core i7-11390H vs Core i7-1165G7 (IPU)
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i7-11390H is a refreshed 4-core, 8-thread mobile processor offering a 5.0 GHz turbo clock, designed for premium thin-and-light performance laptops.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
The 4.6 GHz all-core boost makes it feel exceptionally snappy in daily tasks.
Unaffected by IPU; maintains 4.7 GHz burst performance.
Gaming
High frame rates in CPU-bound esports titles, limited in modern AAA by 4 cores.
Identical to standard 1165G7; Iris Xe handles 1080p medium gaming well.
Virtualization
4 cores restrict heavy VM usage, but fine for light containerization.
Standard 4-core mobile performance.
Efficiency
28W TDP is well-optimized, though sustaining 5.0 GHz requires good cooling.
IPU is highly efficient, offloading work that would otherwise use CPU power.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- Includes Intel DL Boost
- 4 cores limit local AI inference performance
- GNA for audio AI
- IPU for visual AI tasks like gaze correction
Content Creation
Gaming
- 5.0 GHz boost is excellent for CS:GO and Valorant
- Higher all-core turbo helps maintain frame pacing
- 4 cores will bottleneck in highly threaded games
- 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
- 5.0 GHz single-core boost
- 4.6 GHz all-core turbo is excellent for a 4-core chip
- Iris Xe graphics with 1400 MHz boost
- 20 PCIe 4.0 lanes
Cons
- Only 4 cores and 8 threads
- Locked multiplier
- Niche availability in laptops
- Base clock slightly lower than 11375H
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 i7-11390H
- AMD Ryzen 7 5800URival
Thin-and-Light Mobile
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i7-11375HRival
High-Performance Mobile
- Compare head-to-headApple M1Rival
ARM Mobile
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600URival
Thin-and-Light Mobile
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i7-11800HRival
High-Performance Mobile
Newer 12th Gen architecture with better multi-core performance.
Compare head-to-head- Intel Core i5-11320HAlt
A budget-friendly 4-core alternative with very close single-core performance.
- Intel Core i7-1165G7Alt
Better power efficiency for purely ultraportable use.
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
Essentially a slightly tuned i7-11375H, offering excellent single-threaded performance but showing its age with only 4 cores.
Best for: Finding a thin-and-light laptop with excellent single-core snappiness
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 i7-11390H 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 i7-11390H or Core i7-1165G7 (IPU)?
For gaming, the Intel Core i7-11390H leads with a gaming performance score of 85/100 among Intel Core i7-11390H and Core i7-1165G7 (IPU).
Do Intel Core i7-11390H 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 Intel Core i7-11390H posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i7-11390H (11,500), Core i7-1165G7 (IPU) (4,500). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.