Intel Core i5-1135G7

The Core i5-1135G7 is primarily found in used laptops, but a processor with the same designation does not imply identical speed. In the tested models, Cinebench R23 results vary by 87%: critical factors include power limit duration, cooling, and memory configuration.

Four Cores and Different Power Limits

The Core i5-1135G7 is a four-core Tiger Lake generation processor supporting eight threads. The nominal power range is 12-28 W, but in turbo mode, some laptops temporarily increase the limit to 40-60 W.

The duration of high-frequency operation depends on power limits and the cooling system's capabilities. During brief loads, models show similar speeds, but when rendering, exporting video, and compiling, laptops with weaker cooling reduce frequencies more quickly.

Four cores limit speed during prolonged rendering, video encoding, and compiling large projects. In a browser and office applications, this shortcoming is less pronounced.

Performance in Specific Laptops

The average score of the Core i5-1135G7 in Cinebench R23 is about 1320 points in single-threaded mode and 4700 points when all cores are loaded. In specific models, multi-threaded results range from 2936 to 5503 points.

PL2 sets a short-term power limit in turbo mode, while PL1 indicates the long-term limit under sustained load.

Single-threaded results differ by only 14%, while multi-threaded results differ by 87%. Therefore, the difference between models will be less noticeable in browsers and office applications than under prolonged load of all cores.

The Acer Swift 3 scores 5503 points, nearly 1.9 times ahead of the TravelMate Spin P4 with a score of 2936. High PL2 does not guarantee high performance after the short turbo mode ends. In long-term tests, PL1, which the laptop can maintain without overheating and frequency drops, is more important.

Iris Xe and Dual-channel Memory

The Core i5-1135G7 features integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics with 80 execution units. Dual-channel memory significantly boosts the bandwidth available to the graphics core.

In single-channel mode, memory bandwidth decreases. As a result, frame rates in games drop, and processing times for tasks accelerated by the integrated graphics increase. In such configurations, the graphics may also be referred to as Intel UHD Graphics.

Iris Xe handles hardware video decoding, outputting to multiple displays, and lightweight gaming. In editing, its capabilities are limited to simple projects. For modern demanding games, performance is already insufficient even at low settings, especially with single-channel memory.

For purchase, it is better to choose a configuration with 16 GB of dual-channel memory, particularly if the modules are soldered and cannot be increased later.

Where Four Cores Are No Longer Enough

For browsing, office applications, video calls, and basic photo processing, four cores are still sufficient.

The processor noticeably loses ground in the following tasks:

• prolonged video export and encoding;
• rendering;
• running multiple virtual machines simultaneously;
• compiling large software projects;
• modern games without a discrete graphics card;
• simultaneous operation of several heavy applications.

Increased power limits reduce task completion times but do not eliminate the limitations of a four-core configuration.

What to Look for When Buying

The Core i5-1135G7 is justified in an inexpensive used laptop but should not significantly increase its price. Before buying, check not only the processor name but also the parameters of the specific model:

• RAM size and operating mode;
• expandability of the memory;
• long-term power limit;
• temperatures and frequencies under load;
• state of the cooling system.

For rendering and other long-duration loads, it's best to look for a model with a stable PL1 of at least 20-25 W. A lower limit is acceptable for an office laptop, but multi-threaded performance will be noticeably weaker.

The Core i5-1135G7 officially supports Windows 11.

Conclusion

The Core i5-1135G7 can be considered for an inexpensive work or study laptop, but only after checking the specific model. For browsing and office applications, its performance is still adequate, and dual-channel memory significantly speeds up Iris Xe.

However, the Core i5-1135G7 index does not reveal what PL1 and memory modes are configured in the laptop. In the tested models, the Cinebench R23 result difference reached 87%. Before purchasing, check the long-term power limit, memory configuration, and performance results under sustained load.