Intel Core i7-12700 vs Intel Core i5-1235U

Intel Core i7-12700

The Intel Core i7-12700F is a fast eight-core desktop processor based on the Alder Lake architecture, which was introduced in November 2021. The processor offers a base clock of 3.3 GHz and reaches up to 4.9 GHz in Turbo. In the same way, the Intel Core i7-12700K the Core i7-12700F is based on a hybrid architecture of 8P and 4E cores. The innovations of the Alder Lake-S processor compared to Rocket Lake, together with the smaller 10 nm manufacturing process, are clearly noticeable. The Intel Core i7-12700 does not offer a free multiplier, which means that overclocking is not possible.

Performance

Compared to the Intel Core i7-11700 , performance has been increased with a better IPC. The additional e-cores are also clearly noticeable in multi-threaded applications. Overall, this provides a noticeable performance boost, which also has an effect on all application areas. The 4 E-Cores provide the P-Cores with significantly more power. If all requirements are met, Intel Turbo Boost 3.0can increase the clock rate of the P-Cores to up to 4.9 GHz. The E-cores also offer a turbo and clock up to 3.6 GHz.

Graphics unit

The Intel Core i7-12700 is a processor with an integrated graphics unit. However, with the Intel UHD Graphics 770 there is only a simple iGPU which is only suitable for office use.

Power consumption

The TDP of the Intel Core i7-12700 is 65 watts, with the option to consume up to 180 watts in Turbo mode. If all restrictions are deactivated in the BIOS, the PL2 value can be achieved permanently. However, a high-quality and powerful cooling unit should be used for this.

Intel Core i5-1235U

The Intel Core i5-1235U is a mid-range mobile CPU for thin and light laptops based on the Alder Lake architecture. It was announced in early 2022 and offers 2 performance cores (P-cores, Golden Cove architecture) and 8 efficient cores (E-cores, Gracemont architecture). The P-cores support Hyper-Threading leading to 12 supported threads when combined with the E-cores. The clock rate ranges from 1.3 to 4.4 GHz on the performance cluster and 0.9 to 3.3 GHz on the efficient cluster. The performance of the E-cores should be similar to old Skylake cores (compare to the Core i7-6700HQ). All cores can use up to 12 MB L3 cache. Compared to the i5-1245U, the 1235U offers lower base clock speeds and only "Essentials" vPro management features. Compared to the P-series (28W) or H-series (45W), the 15W TDP may limit the sustained performance.

Performance

The average 1235U in our database is in the same league as the Ryzen 5 PRO 5650U and also, surprisingly enough, the i7-1250U and the i7-1260U, as far as multi-thread benchmark scores are concerned. This is a very respectable result, as of mid 2023.

Thanks to its decent cooling solution and a long-term CPU power limit of 27 W, the Beelink SEi12 is among the fastest systems built around the 1235U that we know of. It can be twice as fast in CPU-bound workloads as the slowest system featuring the same chip in our database, as of August 2023.

Architecture

The integrated memory controller supports various memory types up to DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200, LPDDR5-5200, and LPDDR4x-4267. The Thread Director (in hardware) can support the operating system to decide which thread to use on the performance or efficient cores for the best performance. For AI tasks, the CPU also integrates GNA 3.0 and DL Boost (via AVX2). Quick Sync in version 8 is the same as in the Rocket Lake CPUs and supports MPEG-2, AVC, VC-1 decode, JPEG, VP8 decode, VP9, HEVC, and AV1 decode in hardware. The CPU only supports PCIe 4.0 (x8 for a GPU and two x4 for SSDs).

The integrated graphics card is based on the Xe-architecture and offers 80 of the 96 EUs (Execution Units) operating at up to 1.2 GHz.

Power consumption

This ULV processor has a Base power consumption of 15 W (also known as the long-term power limit), with 55 W being its maximum Intel-recommended Turbo power consumption. Both values are too high to allow for passively cooled designs.

Core i5-1235U is manufactured on Intel's fourth-gen 10 nm process marketed as Intel 7 for decent, as of mid-2022, energy efficiency.