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Intel Core i5-1235U

Intel Core i5-1235U: A Versatile Processor for Mobility and Performance

March 2025

Laptop processors have long ceased to be a compromise between power and battery life. The Intel Core i5-1235U is a prime example of a modern chip that combines the hybrid Alder Lake architecture, energy efficiency, and sufficient performance for most tasks. Let's explore who this CPU is suited for, how it performs in real-life scenarios, and what to pay attention to when purchasing a device based on it.

Architecture and Process Technology: Hybrid Approach and Iris Xe Graphics

Hybrid P-Core and E-Core

The Core i5-1235U is built on the Alder Lake architecture (Intel 7 process technology, previously known as 10nm Enhanced SuperFin). It includes 2 performance cores (P-Core) with Hyper-Threading support (4 threads) and 8 efficient cores (E-Core) without multi-threading. In total, there are 10 cores and 12 threads.

- P-Cores operate at a base frequency of 1.3 GHz but can reach 4.4 GHz in Turbo Boost mode. They handle resource-intensive tasks such as rendering, video encoding, and running heavy applications.

- E-Cores function at frequencies up to 3.3 GHz and are optimized for background processes like system updates, music streaming, and messaging app operations.

This division allows for battery savings without sacrificing system responsiveness. For instance, while editing a document in Word, P-cores activate for instant responses, while E-cores manage cloud synchronization.

Iris Xe Graphics: More Than Just Office Use

The integrated GPU Iris Xe (96 EU) supports DirectX 12, 4K displays, and AI acceleration technologies. In gaming, it shows modest but practical results:

- CS:GO — 60–70 FPS at 1080p with low settings;

- Fortnite — 45–50 FPS at 720p;

- Genshin Impact — 30–35 FPS (720p, minimum settings).

For less demanding projects and cloud gaming (such as Xbox Cloud Gaming), this is sufficient. However, by 2025, Iris Xe struggles with new AAA titles even at minimum settings.

Power Consumption and TDP: A Balance Between Power and Battery Life

The nominal TDP of the processor is 15 W, but in turbo mode, consumption can reach up to 55 W. However, ultrabooks typically have cooling systems designed for 25–30 W, limiting runtime at maximum frequencies.

Energy-Saving Technologies:

- Intel Dynamic Tuning 3.0 — automatically switches between performance and power-saving modes based on workload.

- Speed Shift — instantly adjusts core frequencies to reduce latency.

- Deep Learning Boost — accelerates AI tasks (such as noise suppression in Zoom) with minimal energy consumption.

In practice, this means that in “Battery Saver” mode, a laptop with an i5-1235U can last up to 10–12 hours while web surfing, but during active video rendering, that time drops to 2–3 hours.

Performance: Real Tests and Turbo Mode

Office and Multimedia

- Geekbench 6: 1860 (Single-Core), 5735 (Multi-Core). For comparison, the Core i5-1135G7 (2020) scored 1450/4300.

- Running 30 tabs in Chrome + YouTube 4K: the processor maintains stability without overheating (temperature up to 65°C).

- Adobe Photoshop (2025): processing RAW photos takes 20% less time than the previous generation.

Gaming and Turbo Mode

In gaming, Turbo Boost activates P-cores at 4.4 GHz, but after 10–15 minutes, the frequency drops to 3.8–4.0 GHz due to overheating. For example, in Rocket League (1080p, medium settings), FPS remains around 50–55, but after 20 minutes, it decreases to 40–45.

Advice: For stable gaming, choose laptops with dual-fan cooling, such as MSI Modern 14 or Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 Pro.

Usage Scenarios: Who Is the i5-1235U Suitable For?

1. Students and Office Workers — fast document editing, Zoom conferencing, multitasking.

2. Digital Artists — drawing in Photoshop, light 3D modeling in Blender.

3. Travelers — compact ultrabooks weighing from 1.2 kg with long battery life.

4. Casual Gamers — games like Dota 2 or Stardew Valley.

Comparison with Competitors

AMD Ryzen 5 7530U

- Pros: 6 Zen 3 cores, better multi-threading (Geekbench Multi-Core ~6100), integrated Vega 7 graphics.

- Cons: Lower Single-Core (1700), no Thunderbolt 4 support.

- Price: Laptops starting from $650 (e.g., HP Envy x360 13).

Apple M2

- Pros: record battery life (up to 18 hours), cool operation.

- Cons: limited compatibility with Windows software, high price (laptops starting from $1100).

Intel Core i5-1235U vs. Previous Generations

- Single-Core performance is 25% higher than the i5-1135G7;

- Power consumption is 15% lower than the i5-11300H.

Pros and Cons

Strengths:

- Ideal for thin laptops;

- Supports Thunderbolt 4 and Wi-Fi 6E;

- Good price (devices from $700).

Weaknesses:

- Limited power headroom for rendering;

- Heating under prolonged loads;

- Iris Xe graphics becoming outdated for modern games.

Laptop Selection Recommendations

1. Type of Device: ultrabooks (Acer Swift 5), business laptops (Dell Latitude 5430).

2. Cooling: at least 1 fan + copper heat pipes.

3. Display: IPS matrix with 300 nits brightness and 1080p+ resolution.

4. Ports: 2x Thunderbolt 4, HDMI 2.0, USB-A.

Examples of 2025 Models:

- Asus ZenBook 14 UX425 ($799): weight 1.1 kg, battery life 13 hours.

- Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11 ($1299): premium build, moisture protection.

Final Conclusion

The Intel Core i5-1235U is an optimal choice for those seeking a balance between mobility and performance. It is suitable for:

- Work: office tasks, web development, light design.

- Study: online courses, working with graphs and presentations.

- Entertainment: streaming, older games, multimedia consumption.

Key Benefits:

- Modern architecture with hybrid cores;

- Support for current connectivity standards;

- Affordable price in the ultrabook segment.

If you don't need extreme power for 3D rendering or 4K gaming, the i5-1235U will be a reliable companion for the next 3–4 years.

Basic

Label Name

Intel

Platform

Mobile

Launch Date

February 2022

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.

i5-1235U

Code Name

Alder 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.

Performance-cores

Efficient-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.

4.40 GHz

Performance-core Max Turbo Frequency

Maximum P-core turbo frequency derived from Intel® Turbo Boost Technology.

4.40 GHz

Efficient-core Max Turbo Frequency

Maximum E-core turbo frequency derived from Intel® Turbo Boost Technology.

3.30 GHz

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

12 MB

CPU Socket

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

FCBGA1744

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.

Intel 7

TDP

15 W

Processor Base Power

The time-averaged power dissipation that the processor is validated to not exceed during manufacturing while executing an Intel-specified high complexity workload at Base Frequency and at the junction temperature as specified in the Datasheet for the SKU segment and configuration.

15 W

Maximum Turbo Power

The maximum sustained (>1s) power dissipation of the processor as limited by current and/or temperature controls. Instantaneous power may exceed Maximum Turbo Power for short durations (<=10ms). Note: Maximum Turbo Power is configurable by system vendor and can be system specific.

55 W

Max. Operating Temperature

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

100°C

Number of PCI Express Lanes

A PCI Express (PCIe) lane consists of two differential signaling pairs, one for receiving data, one for transmitting data, and is the basic unit of the PCIe bus. Max # of PCI Express Lanes is the total number of supported lanes.

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.

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 Size

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

64 GB

Memory Channels

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

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 eligible

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.

1.20 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.

4096 x 2304 @ 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.

7680 x 4320 @ 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.

4096 x 2304 @ 120Hz

Number of Displays Supported

Graphics Output

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

eDP 1.4b | DP 1.4a | HDMI 2.1

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 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

Execute Disable Bit

Execute Disable Bit is a hardware-based security feature that can reduce exposure to viruses and malicious-code attacks and prevent harmful software from executing and propagating on the server or network.

Yes

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.

12 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 Hardware Shield Eligibility

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 QuickAssist Software Acceleration

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 Flex Memory Access

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

1860

Geekbench 6

Multi Core Score

5735

Geekbench 5

Single Core Score

1444

Geekbench 5

Multi Core Score

5846

Passmark CPU

Single Core Score

3235

Passmark CPU

Multi Core Score

13495

Compared to Other CPU

Geekbench 6 Single Core

Core i9-13900TE

2053 +10.4%

Core i7-11850H

1964 +5.6%

Core i5-1235U

1860

Core i7-1260P

1738 -6.6%

Core i7-9700K

1662 -10.6%

Geekbench 6 Multi Core

Xeon E-2186G

6522 +13.7%

Ryzen 7 5825U

6178 +7.7%

Core i5-1235U

5735

Xeon E5-2637 v4

5435 -5.2%

Core i5-11500T

5098 -11.1%

Geekbench 5 Single Core

Core i3-13100E

1585 +9.8%

Ryzen 9 5980HX

1515 +4.9%

Core i5-1235U

1444

Pentium 8505

1377 -4.6%

Ryzen Embedded V3C18I

1323 -8.4%

Geekbench 5 Multi Core

Ryzen 5 5500

6436 +10.1%

Xeon Silver 4110

6063 +3.7%

Core i5-1235U

5846

Core i7-6800K

5537 -5.3%

EPYC 7643

5266 -9.9%

Passmark CPU Single Core

Core i5-12400T

3382 +4.5%

Ryzen 7 7735H

3310 +2.3%

Core i5-1235U

3235

Xeon W-1290

3193 -1.3%

Ryzen 3 PRO 5350G

3101 -4.1%

Passmark CPU Multi Core

Core i7-9700K

14501 +7.5%

Xeon E-2186G

13955 +3.4%

Core i5-1235U

13495

Xeon E5-4627 v4

12969 -3.9%

Xeon E5-2687W v2

12230 -9.4%