Intel Core i5-1230U vs Intel Core i7-1255U

Processor comparisons   10-01-2022
   For example you are thinking about choosing a processor, you will be able to make a decision by looking at the Intel Core i5-1230U vs Intel Core i7-1255U tests and see which is better for games or normal use for machine learning, rendering, programming, video editing, streaming. Here you can find useful information from several benchmarks or real streaming and video editing tests. A careful analysis of all the technical characteristics, to make it easier to read, is made by the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of parallel examination in synthetic type tests such as 3DMark, VeraCrypt, SuperPi, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), UserBenchmark, RealBench, Furmark, Handbrake, GeekBench 6, 5.2, WPrime, DaVinci Resolve Studio, 7zip, Blender, Blender, AIDA64, PCMark 10, Prime95, PassMark, MATLAB, Dolphin Emulator, Gears 5, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark.
   Gaming performance of CPUs in:

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

After looking at the data of parallel benchmarks and videos, you can already make an informed decision about which CPU is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i7-1255U 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 i7-1255U

55%

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i5-1230U

53%

Core i7-1255U

54%

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

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	94.7	95.1
Valorant	107.6	108.1
Cyberpunk 2077	60.2	60.5
Apex Legends	101.1	101.6
Call of Duty Warzone	80.7	81.0
Overwatch	87.1	87.5
Red Dead Redemption 2	74.2	74.6
DOOM Eternal	53.8	54.0
Warzone	83.9	84.3
Assassin's Creed	90.4	90.8
Valheim	89.3	89.7

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 comparing not only were the equipped with different amounts of RAM and different video cards. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 2K, 4K 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 compare it in one assembly with the video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

Core i5-1230U

435%

Core i7-1255U

278%

To make a finishing choice on which processor is better, you should also consider the generation of its core. The newer the processor generation, the better its performance in games and benchmarks, as well as its energy efficiency. In this case the Core i5-1230U is more energy efficient than the Core i7-1255U since it has less power consumption: 9W vs. 15W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, you need to know its TDP. You need to buy a cooler that has the TDP data specified in the specification was greater than the TDP of the compared processor.

Software benchmarks

If you want to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for streaming, programming, video editing or video rendering, machine learning, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to achieve maximum performance, the CPU uses all threads and cores that it has. You will learn this data from the benchmark tables below. Before using the data from these tests, be sure to check whether the program you are going to use on your computer supports multi-threaded mode. Since there are still many programs that use only one core to run, and all the advantages of multi-core mode turns out to be unnecessary.
Cinebench 23, 20 an 15
The results of this benchmark show Single-threaded and Multi-threaded CPU performance

	Intel Core i5-1230U	Intel Core i7-1255U
Cinbench 15 Single-core	216	230
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	1591	1691
Cinbench 20 Single-core	522	554
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	3613	3839
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1221	1297
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	11909	12654

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

	Intel Core i5-1230U	Intel Core i7-1255U
Single-Core	2856	3035
Multi-Core	16672	17715

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

	Intel Core i5-1230U	Intel Core i7-1255U
Single-Core	1177	1251
Multi-Core	6538	6947

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the processor release date and overclocking capability will be the most helpful. The newer the processor, the longer it will last you. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system later. The same benefits from the presence of overclocking. When the processor can be overclocked, increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain maximum FPS even in the newest games. The savings are obvious! Accordingly, you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer.

	Intel Core i5-1230U	Intel Core i7-1255U
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	4.7 MHz
Frequency	1 MHz	1.7 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	15 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. Here Core i7-1255U is 41% better than Core i5-1230U in terms of CPU frequency. 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: 1
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i7-1255U is better: 23
Although it should be understood that all the number in the table above do not mean that you should be guided entirely by them and trust a simple comparison of these figures. Be sure to watch the testing video and read the opinion of real owners of Intel Core i5-1230U and Intel Core i7-1255U before making a selection 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 i7-1255U - all data

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

• Intel Core i7-1255U specs and review.