Intel Core i5-1230U vs Intel Core i7-1250U

Processor comparisons 10-01-2022

   Let's say you can't decide which CPU to buy, you can make a choice after reading the comprehensive tests Intel Core i5-1230U vs Intel Core i7-1250U and decide which is better for games or simple use for streaming, programming, rendering, video editing, machine learning. Here is useful information from many benchmarks or real video editing and streaming tests. A step-by-step analysis of all the specifications, so that it can be easier to read, is summarized in the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of parallel examination in special testing software like MATLAB, Blender, UserBenchmark, Gears 5, SuperPi, Dolphin Emulator, RealBench, PCMark 10, WPrime, Prime95, 3DMark, Handbrake, GeekBench 6, 5.2, PassMark, Blender, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), VeraCrypt, DaVinci Resolve Studio, 7zip, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Furmark, AIDA64.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

Fallout 76
Borderlands 3
Apex Legends
Call of Duty: Warzone and Modern Warfare
Overwatch
Grand Theft Auto V
Valorant
Halo Infinite
Assassin's Creed Valhalla
Fortnite
DOOM: Eternal
Death Stranding
Valheim
Watch Dogs Legion
Rainbow Six Siege
Red Dead Redemption 2
Last Man Standing
Cyberpunk 2077
World of Warcraft: Shadowlands

After looking at the data these benchmarks and videos, you already be able to understand which CPU is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i7-1250U or Intel Core i5-1230U.

Summary benchmark results

As a percentage of the maximum value based on a sample from the entire base of all processors
Processor Benchmark

Core i5-1230U

55%

Core i7-1250U

55%

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i5-1230U

53%

Core i7-1250U

53%

The maximum result in this parameter is 100 percent, which is the performance of the most powerful processor currently available. And it is clear that this is a server processor, on which no one will run games. Because this processor costs several tens of thousands of dollars. Therefore, if you think that the selected CPU has a little game result, just look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the final table below.
List of less popular games in which processors were compared: Microsoft Flight Simulator, Forza Horizon 4, DOTA 2A, Half-Life: Alyx, Monster Hunter World, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), NBA 2K20, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Battlefield V, League of Legends (LOL), Horizon Zero Dawn, Ghostrunner, Control, Metro Exodus, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Hitman 3, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG).

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	94.7	94.9
Valorant	107.6	107.9
Cyberpunk 2077	60.2	60.4
Apex Legends	101.1	101.4
Call of Duty Warzone	80.7	80.9
Overwatch	87.1	87.4
Red Dead Redemption 2	74.2	74.4
DOOM Eternal	53.8	53.9
Warzone	83.9	84.2
Assassin's Creed	90.4	90.6
Valheim	89.3	89.5

The numbers in this table indicate the maximum FPS that was received on the device with the corresponding processor. Depending on the configuration of the computer (RAM size and Video Card) and graphics quality settings (Ultra, Medium, Normal), the results may differ quite significantly. We recommend that you better study the results of the Cinebench, GeekBench and Passmark becnmarks.
The computers participating in the comparisons not only were the equipped with different video cards and different amounts of RAM. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 4K, 2K or FullHD. Therefore, the game benchmark data is approximate. But all video cards met the average system requirements of games. You will get more accurate information about how powerful the processor will be in games, if you get acquainted with the benchmarks that are made with the same video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

Core i5-1230U

435%

Core i7-1250U

454%

To make a finishing choice on which processor is better, you should also consider the generation of its core. It is clear that the newer the generation, the better the performance of the processor in games and benchmarks, as well as its energy efficiency. In this case the Core i7-1250U is more energy efficient than the Core i5-1230U since it has less power consumption: 9W vs. 9W. Power consumption is particularly important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, you must know its TDP. It is necessary to count so that the TDP data specified in the cooler specification is greater than the TDP of the compared processor.

Software benchmarks

For example you want to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for video rendering or video editing, machine learning, programming, streaming, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to achieve maximum efficiency, the CPU includes all cores and threads that it has. You will learn this data from the benchmark tables below. Before you take into account the data from these tests, be sure to find out whether the program that you are going to use on your computer can work in multi-threaded mode. Because there are still many programs that can use only one core to run, and all the advantages of multi-core mode are unused.

Cinebench 23, 20 an 15
The results of this benchmark show Single-threaded and Multi-threaded CPU performance

	Intel Core i5-1230U	Intel Core i7-1250U
Cinbench 15 Single-core	216	225
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	1591	1657
Cinbench 20 Single-core	522	543
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	3613	3762
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1221	1271
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	11909	12401

Passmark
This popular benchmark displays Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	Intel Core i5-1230U	Intel Core i7-1250U
Single-Core	2856	2974
Multi-Core	16672	17361

GeekBench 6, 5.2
This benchmark shows Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	Intel Core i5-1230U	Intel Core i7-1250U
Single-Core	1177	1226
Multi-Core	6538	6808

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the processor release date and overclocking capability will be the most helpful. The later the processor is released, the longer it will last in your computer. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system in the future. The same can be said about overclocking. If the processor can be overclocked, thereby increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain maximum FPS in new games. The economy are obvious! It turns out that there is no longer a need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer.

	Intel Core i5-1230U	Intel Core i7-1250U
Announcement date	January 07, 2022	January 07, 2022
Type	Laptop	Laptop
Socket	FCBGA1744	FCBGA1744
Core name	Alder Lake-U	Alder Lake-U
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	12	12
Turbo Frequency	4.4 MHz	4.6 MHz
Frequency	1 MHz	1 MHz
Cores	10	10
Threads	12	12
Bus rate	8 GT/s	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	10 nm	10 nm
Transistors count	9800 millions	9800 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	9 W	9 W
Memory type	Up to DDR5 4800 MT/s Up to DDR4 3200 MT/s Up to LPDDR5 5200 MT/s Up to LPDDR4x 4267 MT/s	Up to DDR5 4800 MT/s Up to DDR4 3200 MT/s Up to LPDDR5 5200 MT/s Up to LPDDR4x 4267 MT/s
Max. Memory	64 Gb	64 Gb
Memory Frequency
Memory bandwidth	45.8 GB/s	45.8 GB/s
L1 cache
L2 cache
L3 cache	24 MB	24 MB
Overclocking	No	No
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Also keep in mind that high CPU frequency affects battery life through power consumption (relevant for laptops).

Result:
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i5-1230U is better: 0
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i7-1250U is better: 22
However, it should be understood that all the figures in the article above do not mean that taking them into account you should undividedly trust a simple quantitative comparison. Better to watch the testing video and read the reviews of real owners of Intel Core i5-1230U and Intel Core i7-1250U before deciding which processor to buy for gaming and which not.

Intel Core i5-1230U - all data

• Cinebench r15 score
• Cinebench r20 score
• Cinebench r23 score
• GeekBench 6, 5.2 score

• Intel Core i5-1230U specs and review.

Intel Core i7-1250U - all data

• Cinebench r15 score
• Cinebench r20 score
• Cinebench r23 score
• GeekBench 6, 5.2 score

• Intel Core i7-1250U specs and review.