Intel Core i7-1355U vs Intel Core Ultra 5 245HX vs Intel Core i5-1345U

Intel Core i7-1355U

The Intel Core i7-1355U is a high-end mobile CPU for thin and light laptops based on the Alder Lake architecture (Raptor Lake-U / RPL-U series). It was announced in early 2023 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 1.7 to 5 GHz on the performance cluster and 1.2 to 3.7 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. The CPU supports "Essentials" vPro management features. Compared to the P-series (28W) or H-series (45W), the 15W TDP may limit the sustained performance.

Performance

Thanks to the high clock speed, the Core i7-1355U should perform slightly better than the older core i7-1265U (up to 4.8 GHz). The faster i7 like the i7-1365U models offer only higher clock rates (and a faster iGPU).

Architecture

The integrated memory controller supports various memory types up to LPDDR5-6400. 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 still only supports PCIe 4.0 x8 for a GPU and two PCIe 4.0 x4 for SSDs.

The integrated graphics card is based on the Xe-architecture and offers all 96 EUs (Execution Units) operating at up to 1.3 GHz.

Power consumption

This Core i7 CPU is rated at a TDP of 15W (base power, PL1) and a maximum turbo power of 55W (PL2). The RPL-U processors are built in a further improved Intel 7 process (10nm SuperFin) that allows higher clock rates.

Intel Core Ultra 5 245HX

The Intel Core Ultra 5 245HX is a fast mid-range mobile CPU for gaming notebooks based on the Arrow Lake architecture. It offers 20 cores consisting of 6 of the 8 fast performance cores with up to 5.1 GHz and 8 of the 16 smaller efficiency cores with up to 4.5 GHz clock speed. The CPU can access 24 MB L2 cache and 26 MB L3 cache and is specified with a TDP of 55 watts.

The SoC integrates a small dedicated NPU called AI Boost with 13 TOPS (Int8) and optionally supports vPro Enterprise. The integrated memory controller supports up to 192 GB DDR5-6400 (dual channel, ECC optional). The integrated GPU (iGPU) is a small graphics card called Intel Graphics, which offers three of the four Xe cores with 300 - 1900 MHz.

Performance - High End

Thanks to the improved IPC of the cores (especially the efficiency cores), the CPU should be just before or at the level of the Raptor Lake Core i9-14500HX (6 + 8 cores, max 5 / 3.5 GHz). This makes the CPU very suitable for demanding tasks such as high-end gaming (2024 games) and content creation.

Production - TSMC and Foveros

The Arrow Lake-HX chips are based on the desktop Arrow Lake-S chips and are composed of several chiplets. The CPU part is manufactured at TSMC in the modern N3B (3nm) process, the GPU also comes from TSMC in the N5P process. The SoC and I/O tile are manufactured in the TSMC N6 process. The base tile is manufactured by Intel in the 22nm process and carries the individual chiplets thanks to Fovero's 3D packaging.

Intel Core i5-1345U

The Intel Core i5-1345U is a mid-range mobile CPU for thin and light laptops based on the Alder Lake architecture (Raptor Lake-U / RPL-U series). It was announced in early 2023 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 1.6 to 4.7 GHz on the performance cluster and 1.2 to 3.5 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. The CPU supports "Enterprise" vPro management features. Compared to the P-series (28W) or H-series (45W), the 15W TDP may limit the sustained performance.

Performance

Thanks to the similar clock speed, the Core i5-1345U is very similar to the older Core i7-1255U (+100 MHz P-Cores base clock rate). The faster i7 like the i7-1365U models offer only higher clock rates (and a faster iGPU).

Architecture

The integrated memory controller supports various memory types up to LPDDR5-6400. 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 still only supports PCIe 4.0 x8 for a GPU and two PCIe 4.0 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 1.25 GHz.

Power consumption

This Core i5 CPU is rated at a TDP of 15W (base power, PL1) and a maximum turbo power of 55W (PL2). The RPL-U processors are built in a further improved Intel 7 process (10nm SuperFin) that allows higher clock rates.