Quick Verdict
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.
Overview
Launch
2020
Status
End-of-lifeGeneration
11th Gen
Market
Mobile
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responsiveness for everyday productivity, content consumption, and light creative workloads, though it is now superseded by newer generations.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 Intel Core i5-1145G7 was a workhorse CPU for premium ultrabooks in late 2020. Utilizing the Willow Cove architecture on a 10nm node, it delivers 4 cores and 8 threads with boost speeds up to 4.4 GHz.
Its Iris Xe Graphics G7 (80EU) revolutionized integrated graphics, allowing for light gaming without a discrete GPU. While its 28W TDP provided strong sustained performance, many OEMs limited it to 15W. Now end-of-life, it remains a capable chip for everyday tasks, though modern alternatives offer significantly better multi-core efficiency.
Specifications
Performance
High single-thread performance makes everyday tasks and web browsing feel extremely snappy.
Can run basic VMs for development, but 4 cores limit heavy virtualization workloads.
Iris Xe 80EU allows for playable framerates in older or esports titles at 1080p Low, a massive step up from UHD graphics.
Good efficiency at 15W, though 10nm SuperFin is slightly surpassed by newer nodes.
- •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)
- •Intel DL Boost for INT8
- •GNA 2.0 for background noise cancellation
- •Suitable for consumer AI features like background blur
Architecture
10nm
Process Node
Tiger Lake-U
Codename
4C / 8T
Core Config
8 MB
L3 Cache
28 W
TDP
Architecture Overview
The Core i5-1145G7 utilizes Intel's Willow Cove microarchitecture, a direct successor to Sunny Cove found in Ice Lake. Willow Cove focuses on increasing frequency headroom and expanding cache. The L2 cache was doubled to 1.25 MB per core, and the L3 cache features a redesigned mesh for lower latency. Built on the 10nm SuperFin process, the transistors utilize a new 'Superfin' design that significantly reduces contact resistance, allowing the chip to sustain high boost clocks (up to 4.4 GHz) without excessive power draw. The integrated Iris Xe Graphics G7 with 80 Execution Units marks Intel's most aggressive integrated graphics push to date, incorporating variable rate shading and hardware AV1 decode. The architecture also introduces PCIe 4.0 support to the mobile platform, albeit limited to 4 lanes, which is typically consumed by the primary NVMe SSD. Additionally, Intel GNA 2.0 is integrated to handle audio processing and speech recognition highly efficiently, offloading these tasks from the CPU cores to save battery life.
CPU Design
4 cores, 8 threads, Willow Cove architecture with Hyper-Threading.
Memory Subsystem
Dual-channel DDR4-3200 and LPDDR4X-4267.
PCIe & I/O
4 PCIe 4.0 lanes.
Overclocking
Locked multiplier; OEM controls TDP and power limits.
- Massive IPC and frequency uplift
- Iris Xe 80EU vs basic UHD graphics
- Transition to 10nm SuperFin for better power scaling
- Introduction of PCIe 4.0
Key Highlights
- 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)
- 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
History
The Core i5-1145G7 launched during a critical transitional period for Intel in late 2020. Following the delayed and limited rollout of the 10nm Ice Lake family, Intel needed a product to prove their advanced node was viable for mass production. Tiger Lake was that product, debuting the 10nm SuperFin process and Willow Cove cores.
The 1145G7 targeted premium consumer ultrabooks, aiming to combat AMD's rising Ryzen 4000 series. It brought massive IPC improvements and introduced Iris Xe graphics, fundamentally changing expectations for integrated graphics in thin-and-light laptops. While it struggled to match AMD in raw multi-core counts due to its 4-core limitation, its superior single-thread speed and graphics performance kept Intel competitive in the premium thin-and-light segment.
This launch solidified Intel's 10nm process for consumer products, setting the stage for Alder Lake, though the chip itself has now reached end-of-life status.
Improvements over Previous Generation
- Massive IPC and frequency uplift
- Iris Xe 80EU vs basic UHD graphics
- Transition to 10nm SuperFin for better power scaling
- Introduction of PCIe 4.0
Alternatives & Competitors
Should You Buy It?
Not Recommended for the right buyer
Buying a heavily discounted used laptop from 2021 for basic office work or student needs.
Avoid if…
- Buying a new laptop (12th Gen or newer is significantly better)
- You need to run heavy multi-threaded workloads
- You plan to do 3D rendering or heavy video editing
Use Cases
Interesting Facts
The i5-1145G7 has a base clock of 2.6 GHz, significantly higher than the embedded 1145G7E's 1.5 GHz.
It was one of the first mobile CPUs to feature hardware AV1 media decoding.
The Iris Xe graphics require dual-channel memory to achieve their full potential.
Despite being 11th Gen, it is not compatible with Windows 11's strictest CPU requirements list natively (though it works).
It features a PL2 limit of 52W, allowing massive short boosts in performance.
The die size is exactly 144 mm².
It includes Intel Speed Shift Technology for rapid frequency transitions.
This chip marked Intel's confident return to 10nm for mass-market mobile products.
It supports AVX-512 instructions.
The integrated GNA 2.0 can process audio AI models without waking the CPU.
People Also Ask
Is the i5-1145G7 good for gaming?
It is decent for light 1080p gaming on low settings thanks to its Iris Xe 80EU graphics, but not for heavy modern titles.
What is the difference between i5-1135G7 and i5-1145G7?
The i5-1145G7 has slightly higher clock speeds (100 MHz higher boost) and is essentially a slightly binned version of the 1135G7.
Is i5-1145G7 still good in 2024?
For basic office work, web browsing, and student use, it is still very capable. For heavy workloads, it is outdated.
Does the i5-1145G7 support Thunderbolt 4?
Yes, the 11th Gen Tiger Lake platform natively supports Thunderbolt 4.
Can the i5-1145G7 run Windows 11?
Yes, it fully supports Windows 11 with TPM 2.0 and secure boot capabilities.
What memory does the i5-1145G7 support?
It supports dual-channel DDR4-3200 and LPDDR4X-4267.
How many cores does the i5-1145G7 have?
It has 4 physical cores and 8 threads.
What is the TDP of the i5-1145G7?
The base TDP is 28W, but OEMs often configure it down to 15W for ultrabooks.
Does the i5-1145G7 have vPro?
No, vPro is typically reserved for enterprise variants like the 1145G7E or 1185G7.
Is the i5-1145G7 unlocked?
No, the multiplier is locked.
Frequently Asked Questions
What graphics are in the i5-1145G7?
It features Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 with 80 Execution Units.
Can I overclock the i5-1145G7?
No, the CPU multiplier is locked, though OEMs can adjust power limits.
Does the i5-1145G7 support PCIe 4.0?
Yes, it supports 4 lanes of PCIe 4.0, typically used for the primary SSD.
What is the max turbo frequency of the i5-1145G7?
The maximum single-core turbo frequency is 4.4 GHz.
Does the i5-1145G7 support AV1?
Yes, the integrated Iris Xe graphics support hardware AV1 decoding.
Is the i5-1145G7 good for video editing?
It is adequate for basic 1080p video editing but will struggle with heavy 4K timelines due to having only 4 cores.
What is the L3 cache size of the i5-1145G7?
It has 8 MB of L3 cache.
When was the i5-1145G7 released?
It was released on September 2nd, 2020.
What is the PL2 power limit of the i5-1145G7?
The short-term turbo power limit (PL2) is 52W.
Is the i5-1145G7 still in production?
No, it is marked as end-of-life, having been superseded by 12th Gen Alder Lake.