Intel Core i3-1120G4 vs Intel Core i7-1160G7

Intel Core i3-1120G4

The Intel Core i3-1120G4 is a power-efficient quad-core SoC for laptops and Ultrabooks based on the Tiger Lake-U generation (UP4) that was introduced in September 2020. It integrates four Willow Cove processor cores (8 threads thanks to Hyper-Threading). Each core can clock from 1.1 GHz (base speed) to 3.5 GHz (1 core boost). All cores at once can clock at up to 3 GHz.

Another novelty is the integrated Xe graphics adapter based on the completely new Gen 12 architecture. The i3 integrates the low end UHD Graphics G4 with 48 of the 96 EUs enabled and a clock speed of 400 - 1100 MHz. The GPU and CPU can together use the 8 MB of L3 cache.

Furthermore, Tiger Lake SoCs add PCIe 4 support (4 lanes), AI hardware acceleration, and the partial integration of Thunderbolt 4 / USB 4 and Wi-Fi 6 in the chip.

Performance

While we have not tested a single system built around the 1120G4 as of August 2023, it's fair to expect the chip to be about half as fast as the Core i5-1125G4 (Tiger Lake, 4 cores, 8 threads, up to 3.7 GHz), as far as multi-thread benchmarks are concerned. The 1120G4's low TDP target is slated to limit the chip's real-world Boost clock speeds significantly leading to underwhelming performance and high DPC latencies.

Power consumption

This Core i3 has a default TDP of 7 W to 15 W, the expectation being that laptop manufacturers will go for a higher value in exchange for higher performance. The CPU is built with Intel's third-gen 10 nm process marketed as SuperFin for decent, as of late 2022, energy efficiency.

Intel Core i7-1160G7

The Intel Core i7-1160G7 is a power-efficient quad-core SoC for laptops and Ultrabooks based on the Tiger Lake-U generation (UP4) that was introduced in September 2020. It integrates four Willow Cove processor cores (8 threads thanks to HyperThreading). Each core can clock as a minimum base speed from 900 MHz (at 7 Watt TDP setting) up to 2.1 GHz (15 Watt). The maximum Turbo frequency is always 4.4 GHz and all cores at once can clock at up to 3.6 GHz. At the time of announcement, the i7-1160G7 is the fastest model of UP4 low power series.

Another novelty is the integrated Xe graphics card based on the completely new Gen 12 architecture. It should offer a significantly higher performance compared to the older Iris Plus G7 (Ice Lake). In the i7-1160G7 it uses 96 EUs and clocks at 400 - 1100 MHz. The GPU and CPU can together use the 12 MB of L3 cache.

Furthermore, Tiger Lake SoCs add PCIe 4 support (four lanes), AI hardware acceleration, and the partial integration of Thunderbolt 4 / USB 4 and Wi-Fi 6 in the chip.

Performance

The average 1160G7 in our database is in the same league as the hexa-core Core i7-10810U, as far as multi-thread benchmark scores are concerned.

Thanks to its decent cooling solution and a long-term CPU power limit of 20 W, the ThinkBook 13x G1-20WJ001KGE is among the fastest laptops built around the 1160G7 that we know of. It can be around 30% faster in CPU-bound workloads than the slowest system featuring the same chip in our database, as of August 2023.

Power consumption

This Core i7 processor has a default TDP of 7 W to 15 W, the expectation being that laptop manufacturers will go for a higher value in exchange for higher perormance. This is low enough to allow for passively cooled designs.

The CPU is built with Intel's 3rd generation 10 nm process marketed as SuperFin for decent, as of early 2023, energy efficiency.