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Intel Core i5-1130G7

Intel Core i5-1130G7: A Balance of Power and Battery Life for Ultrabooks

April 2025

The Intel Core i5-1130G7 processor, released in 2020, remains relevant for budget ultrabooks and compact laptops. Despite the emergence of newer generations (such as Meteor Lake and Lunar Lake), this model appeals due to its combination of performance, energy efficiency, and affordability. Let's explore who would benefit from such a CPU in 2025 and what nuances to pay attention to.

Architecture and Manufacturing Process: 10 nm SuperFin and Iris Xe Graphics

Cores, Threads, and Clock Frequencies

The Core i5-1130G7 is built on the Tiger Lake architecture (10 nm SuperFin) — an evolution of Intel's 10-nanometer process with improved transistor density and energy efficiency. It features four cores and eight threads (thanks to Hyper-Threading) operating within the following frequency ranges:

- Base Clock: 1.8 GHz;

- Maximum Turbo Clock: 4.0 GHz (for a single core).

The Willow Cove architecture underlying Tiger Lake has brought a 10–15% increase in IPC (instructions per cycle) compared to Ice Lake (the previous generation). This is particularly noticeable in single-threaded tasks, such as web browsing or office applications.

Integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics

The built-in Iris Xe GPU (80 execution units) is a key advantage of the i5-1130G7. It supports:

- 4K@60 Hz via HDMI 2.0 or DisplayPort;

- Intel Quick Sync technology for accelerated video encoding;

- Gaming at low settings: for example, _Dota 2_ (50–60 FPS at 720p), _CS:GO_ (40–50 FPS at 1080p).

In comparison, previous generations of Intel UHD Graphics barely reached 30 FPS in the same scenarios.

Power Consumption and TDP: 15 W for Thin Devices

The nominal TDP of the processor is 15 W, which is typical for ultrabooks. However, in reality, power can be dynamically adjusted from 7 W to 28 W (via Intel Dynamic Tuning), depending on load and cooling system. For example:

- Idle Mode: frequency reduction to 1 GHz for energy savings;

- When Launching a Game: temporary boost to 4 GHz with stabilization at 2.5–3 GHz thereafter.

Tip: Choose laptops with dual-fan cooling (for instance, the Asus ZenBook 13 UX325) — they are quieter and handle prolonged loads better.

Performance: From Office Work to Casual Gaming

Office Tasks and Multimedia

- Microsoft Office, Browser with 20+ Tabs: the processor operates at 20–30% load, with no stuttering.

- 4K Video in VLC or YouTube: decoding using Iris Xe places almost no load on the CPU.

- Photoshop/Lightroom: photo retouching takes 15% less time compared to the i5-10210U (Comet Lake).

Turbo Mode and Throttling

During short-term loads (launching an application, rendering a PDF), the CPU instantly boosts to 4 GHz. However, in stress tests (e.g., Cinebench R23), after 2–3 minutes, the frequency drops to 2.8–3.2 GHz due to overheating. This is normal for thin laptops, but it's not suitable for video rendering longer than 10–15 minutes.

Gaming

Iris Xe can handle less demanding titles:

- _The Sims 4_ (1080p, medium settings) — 45–50 FPS;

- _Rocket League_ (720p, low settings) — 60 FPS;

- _Stardew Valley_ — stable 60 FPS.

For AAA games, an external graphics card via Thunderbolt 4 (for instance, an RTX 3060 in an eGPU) will be necessary.

Use Cases: Who is the i5-1130G7 Suitable For?

1. Students — for note-taking, Zoom lectures, and Netflix.

2. Office Workers — working with Excel, PowerPoint, corporate CRMs.

3. Travelers — lightweight laptop (from 1.1 kg) with 8–10 hours of battery life.

4. Casual Gamers — games like _Among Us_ or _Minecraft_.

Not Suitable For:

- Video editors for 4K footage (better to get a laptop with Ryzen 7 or Core i7 + discrete graphics);

- Engineers working with AutoCAD (not enough cores for complex calculations).

Battery Life: Up to 10 Hours in Power-Saving Mode

With a battery capacity of 50–60 Wh (typical for ultrabooks), the i5-1130G7 provides:

- 8–10 hours — web browsing, text editors (50% brightness, Wi-Fi on);

- 5–6 hours — watching YouTube at 1080p;

- 3–4 hours — gaming or video editing.

Power-saving Technologies:

- Intel Speed Shift — instant transition between P-states;

- Adaptive Brightness — automatic screen brightness adjustment;

- Connected Standby — background tasks (email, messengers) running in sleep mode.

Comparison with Competitors

AMD Ryzen 5 5500U (Zen 2)

- Pros of AMD: 6 cores/12 threads, better in multi-threaded tasks (rendering, code compilation).

- Cons: Weaker Vega 7 graphics (20–30% slower than Iris Xe), lacks Thunderbolt 4.

Apple M1

- Pros of Apple: Twice the battery life, more powerful in single-core (1700+ in Geekbench 6).

- Cons: Limited compatibility with Windows programs, more expensive (laptops starting at $999).

Intel Core i5-1235U (Alder Lake, 2023)

- Pros: 10 cores (2 P-cores + 8 E-cores), higher performance in multitasking.

- Cons: Pricier by $150–200 with similar Iris Xe graphics.

Pros and Cons of Core i5-1130G7

✔️ Strengths:

- Best-in-class integrated graphics;

- Support for Thunderbolt 4 and Wi-Fi 6;

- Optimal price for ultrabooks ($800–$1000).

❌ Weaknesses:

- Only 4 cores (Ryzen 5 5500U offers 6);

- Heat generation under prolonged load;

- Less energy-efficient compared to Apple M1.

Laptop Selection Recommendations

1. Device Type: ultrabook or convertible (e.g., HP Spectre x360 13).

2. Screen: IPS panel with a resolution of no less than Full HD.

3. RAM: 16 GB LPDDR4X (8 GB may be insufficient for Windows 11 and Chrome).

4. Storage: SSD NVMe 512 GB (do not go for less than 256 GB).

5. Ports: 2x Thunderbolt 4 for connecting monitors and peripherals.

Examples of 2025 Models:

- Acer Swift 3 (SF314-59): $849, 14" FHD, 16 GB RAM, 512 GB SSD.

- Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i: $899, 13.3" OLED, touchscreen.

Final Conclusion

The Intel Core i5-1130G7 is a solid choice for those seeking a lightweight laptop with performance to spare for the next 3–4 years. It is ideal for office work, studying, and entertainment, but not designed for professional heavy tasks. Key advantages include Iris Xe graphics, support for modern standards, and an affordable price. If you're looking for a device that offers "no compromises" for everyday use, this processor is worth considering, especially in models with good cooling systems and ample battery capacity.

Basic

Label Name

Intel

Platform

Mobile

Launch Date

September 2020

Model Name

The Intel processor number is just one of several factors - along with processor brand, system configurations, and system-level benchmarks - to be considered when choosing the right processor for your computing needs.

i5-1130G7

Code Name

Tiger Lake

CPU Specifications

Total Cores

Cores is a hardware term that describes the number of independent central processing units in a single computing component (die or chip).

Total Threads

Where applicable, Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology is only available on Performance-cores.

Max Turbo Frequency

Max Turbo Frequency is the maximum single-core frequency at which the processor is capable of operating using Intel® Turbo Boost Technology and, if present, Intel® Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0 and Intel® Thermal Velocity Boost. Frequency is typically measured in gigahertz (GHz), or billion cycles per second.

4.00 GHz

Intel Turbo Boost Technology

Intel® Turbo Boost Technology dynamically increases the processor's frequency as needed by taking advantage of thermal and power headroom to give you a burst of speed when you need it, and increased energy efficiency when you don’t.

2.0

Intel Hyper-Threading Technology

Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology (Intel® HT Technology) delivers two processing threads per physical core. Highly threaded applications can get more work done in parallel, completing tasks sooner.

Yes

L3 Cache

8 MB

CPU Socket

The socket is the component that provides the mechanical and electrical connections between the processor and motherboard.

FCBGA1598

Technology

Lithography refers to the semiconductor technology used to manufacture an integrated circuit, and is reported in nanometer (nm), indicative of the size of features built on the semiconductor.

10 nm SuperFin

TDP

15 W

Max. Operating Temperature

Junction Temperature is the maximum temperature allowed at the processor die.

100°C

Instruction Set

The instruction set is a hard program stored inside the CPU that guides and optimizes CPU operations. With these instruction sets, the CPU can run more efficiently. There are many manufacturers that design CPUs, which results in different instruction sets, such as the 8086 instruction set for the Intel camp and the RISC instruction set for the ARM camp. x86, ARM v8, and MIPS are all codes for instruction sets. Instruction sets can be extended; for example, x86 added 64-bit support to create x86-64. Manufacturers developing CPUs that are compatible with a certain instruction set need authorization from the instruction set patent holder. A typical example is Intel authorizing AMD, enabling the latter to develop CPUs compatible with the x86 instruction set.

64-bit

Microprocessor PCIe Revision

Gen 4

Memory Specifications

Memory Type

Intel® processors come in four different types: Single Channel, Dual Channel, Triple Channel, and Flex Mode. Maximum supported memory speed may be lower when populating multiple DIMMs per channel on products that support multiple memory channels.

LPDDR4x-4267

Max Memory Size

Max memory size refers to the maximum memory capacity supported by the processor.

32 GB

Memory Channels

The number of memory channels refers to the bandwidth operation for real world application.

Bus Speed

2 GT/s

ECC Memory Supported

ECC Memory Supported indicates processor support for Error-Correcting Code memory. ECC memory is a type of system memory that can detect and correct common kinds of internal data corruption. Note that ECC memory support requires both processor and chipset support.

GPU Specifications

Integrated Graphics Model

An integrated GPU refers to the graphics core that is integrated into the CPU processor. Leveraging the processor's powerful computational capabilities and intelligent power efficiency management, it delivers outstanding graphics performance and a smooth application experience at a lower power consumption.

Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics

Graphics Frequency

Graphics max dynamic frequency refers to the maximum opportunistic graphics render clock frequency (in MHz) that can be supported using Intel® HD Graphics with Dynamic Frequency feature.

1.10 GHz

DirectX Support

DirectX* Support indicates support for a specific version of Microsoft’s collection of APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) for handling multimedia compute tasks.

12.1

Execution Units

The Execution Unit is the foundational building block of Intel’s graphics architecture. Execution Units are compute processors optimized for simultaneous Multi-Threading for high throughput compute power.

Max Resolution (HDMI)

Max Resolution (HDMI) is the maximum resolution supported by the processor via the HDMI interface (24bits per pixel & 60Hz). System or device display resolution is dependent on multiple system design factors; actual resolution may be lower on your system.

4096x2304@60Hz

Max Resolution (DP)

Max Resolution (DP) is the maximum resolution supported by the processor via the DP interface (24bits per pixel & 60Hz). System or device display resolution is dependent on multiple system design factors; actual resolution may be lower on your system.

7680x4320@60Hz

Max Resolution (eDP - Integrated Flat Panel)

Max Resolution (Integrated Flat Panel) is the maximum resolution supported by the processor for a device with an integrated flat panel (24bits per pixel & 60Hz). System or device display resolution is dependent on multiple system design factors; actual resolution may be lower on your device.

4096x2304@60Hz

Number of Displays Supported

Graphics Output

Graphics Output defines the interfaces available to communicate with display devices.

eDP 1.4b | MIPI-DSI 2.0 | DP 1.4 | HDMI 2.0b

Miscellaneous

Intel Deep Learning Boost (Intel DL Boost) on CPU

A new set of embedded processor technologies designed to accelerate AI deep learning use cases. It extends Intel AVX-512 with a new Vector Neural Network Instruction (VNNI) that significantly increases deep learning inference performance over previous generations.

Yes

Intel Image Processing Unit

6.0

Intel Virtualization Technology (VT-x)

Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x) allows one hardware platform to function as multiple “virtual” platforms. It offers improved manageability by limiting downtime and maintaining productivity by isolating computing activities into separate partitions.

Yes

Intel Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)

Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d) continues from the existing support for IA-32 (VT-x) and Itanium® processor (VT-i) virtualization adding new support for I/O-device virtualization. Intel VT-d can help end users improve security and reliability of the systems and also improve performance of I/O devices in virtualized environments.

Yes

Intel Standard Manageability (ISM)

Intel® Standard Manageability is the manageability solution for Intel vPro® Essentials platforms and is a subset of Intel® AMT with out-of-band management over Ethernet and Wi-Fi, but no KVM or new life cycle management features.

Intel® SSE4.1 | Intel® SSE4.2 | Intel® AVX2 | Intel® AVX-512

Cache

CPU Cache is an area of fast memory located on the processor. Intel® Smart Cache refers to the architecture that allows all cores to dynamically share access to the last level cache.

8 MB Intel® Smart Cache

Intel AES New Instructions

Intel® AES New Instructions (Intel® AES-NI) are a set of instructions that enable fast and secure data encryption and decryption. AES-NI are valuable for a wide range of cryptographic applications, for example: applications that perform bulk encryption/decryption, authentication, random number generation, and authenticated encryption.

Yes

Intel High Definition Audio

Yes

Intel Volume Management Device (VMD)

Intel® Volume Management Device (VMD) provides a common, robust method of hot plug and LED management for NVMe-based solid state drives.

Yes

Intel Boot Guard

Intel® Device Protection Technology with Boot Guard helps protect the system’s pre-OS environment from viruses and malicious software attacks.

Yes

Intel Clear Video HD Technology

Intel® Clear Video HD Technology, like its predecessor, Intel® Clear Video Technology, is a suite of image decode and processing technologies built into the integrated processor graphics that improve video playback, delivering cleaner, sharper images, more natural, accurate, and vivid colors, and a clear and stable video picture. Intel® Clear Video HD Technology adds video quality enhancements for richer color and more realistic skin tones.

Yes

Intel VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)

Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT), also known as Second Level Address Translation (SLAT), provides acceleration for memory intensive virtualized applications. Extended Page Tables in Intel® Virtualization Technology platforms reduces the memory and power overhead costs and increases battery life through hardware optimization of page table management.

Yes

Intel Control-Flow Enforcement Technology

CET - Intel Control-flow Enforcement Technology (CET) helps protect against the misuse of legitimate code snippets through return-oriented programming (ROP) control-flow hijacking attacks.

Yes

Intel OS Guard

Yes

OpenGL Support

OpenGL (Open Graphics Library) is a cross-language, multi-platform API (Application Programming Interface) for rendering 2D and 3D vector graphics.

4.6

OpenCL Support

OpenCL (Open Computing Language) is a multi-platform API (Application Programming Interface) for heterogeneous parallel programming.

3.0

Intel Quick Sync Video

Intel® Quick Sync Video delivers fast conversion of video for portable media players, online sharing, and video editing and authoring.

Yes

Benchmarks

Geekbench 6

Single Core Score

1510

Geekbench 6

Multi Core Score

4755

Geekbench 5

Single Core Score

1119

Geekbench 5

Multi Core Score

3589

Passmark CPU

Single Core Score

2451

Passmark CPU

Multi Core Score

8641

Compared to Other CPU

Geekbench 6 Single Core

Xeon W-3323

1633 +8.1%

Core i7-7700K

1563 +3.5%

Core i5-1130G7

1510

Xeon W-3225

1453 -3.8%

Core i9-10900T

1408 -6.8%

Geekbench 6 Multi Core

Xeon D-2177NT

5398 +13.5%

Xeon E-2134

5047 +6.1%

Core i5-1130G7

4755

Xeon X5690

4495 -5.5%

Core i7-4770K

4196 -11.8%

Geekbench 5 Single Core

Celeron G6900E

1178 +5.3%

Xeon W-3323

1147 +2.5%

Core i5-1130G7

1119

Ryzen 9 4900HS

1103 -1.4%

Core i9-8950HK

1076 -3.8%

Geekbench 5 Multi Core

Core i5-11300H

3866 +7.7%

Xeon Platinum 8180M

3721 +3.7%

Core i5-1130G7

3589

Core i5-9500E

3449 -3.9%

Xeon E-2124

3321 -7.5%

Passmark CPU Single Core

Xeon W-11555MLE

2542 +3.7%

Core i7-1265UE

2499 +2%

Core i5-1130G7

2451

Pentium Gold G5620

2424 -1.1%

Ryzen 5 2600X

2387 -2.6%

Passmark CPU Multi Core

Core i5-9400

9492 +9.8%

Xeon E5-2643 v2

9134 +5.7%

Core i5-1130G7

8641

Ryzen 5 PRO 3400GE

8291 -4.1%

Xeon D-2712T

7990 -7.5%