Core i5-1230U vs Core 7 160UL

PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

Value Upgrade Path

This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. The Core i5-1230U is positioned at rank #620 in our cost-efficiency ranking, representing a Lower cost-benefit for your build. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.

MSRP is the manufacturer's suggested retail price.•
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.

Performance Per Dollar Core i5-1230U

#608

Atom x5-Z8300

MSRP: $20|Avg: N/A

825%

#609

Atom Z3735G

MSRP: $17|Avg: N/A

813%

#610

Core i5-480M

MSRP: $81|Avg: $77

746%

#611

Core i5-460M

MSRP: $80|Avg: $129

743%

#612

Core i5-2540M

MSRP: $266|Avg: $10

736%

#614

Core i5-450M

MSRP: $32|Avg: $31

711%

#615

Core i3-380M

MSRP: $49|Avg: $25

681%

#616

Core i5-430M

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $33

680%

#617

Core 2 Duo T6600

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $4

662%

#620

Core i5-1230U

MSRP: N/A|Avg: N/A

100%

#622

Athlon II P320

MSRP: $50|Avg: $15

100%

#625

Core 3 N355

MSRP: $300|Avg: $300

98%

#628

Core i5-1335UE

MSRP: $312|Avg: $312

98%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Per Dollar

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Comparison

About PassMark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

🚀 Performance Leadership

Performance Leadership: The Core 7 160UL delivers superior performance across the board. It outperforms the Core i5-1230U in both compute-intensive tasks (0.4% faster) and gaming workloads.

Insight	Core i5-1230U	Core 7 160UL
Gaming	❌ Lower gaming performance	✅ Superior gaming performance
Workstation	❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks	✅ Better multi-core power
Price	Equivalent pricing	Equivalent pricing
Longevity	✨ Modern (Alder Lake-U (2022) / Intel 7 nm)	✨ Modern (Raptor Lake-PS (2024) / 10 nm)

💎 Value Proposition

Insight	Core i5-1230U	Core 7 160UL
Cost Efficiency	❌ Lower cost efficiency	❌ Lower cost efficiency
Upfront Cost	Equivalent pricing	Equivalent pricing

Performance Check

Paired with RTX 4090

To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.

Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.

Core i5-1230U Benchmark Check

Core 7 160UL Benchmark Check

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-1230U and Core 7 160UL

Core i5-1230U

The Core i5-1230U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 23 February 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-U (2022) architecture. It features 10 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 1 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1781. Thermal design power (TDP): 9.5 MB + 12 MB. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 10,995 points. Launch price was $149.

Core 7 160UL

The Core 7 160UL is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 8 April 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Raptor Lake-PS (2024) architecture. It features 10 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 1.8 GHz, with boost up to 5.2 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 11,043 points. Launch price was $149.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the Core i5-1230U and Core 7 160UL share an identical 10-core/12-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-1230U versus 5.2 GHz on the Core 7 160UL — a 16.7% clock advantage for the Core 7 160UL (base: 1 GHz vs 1.8 GHz). The Core i5-1230U uses the Alder Lake-U (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core 7 160UL uses Raptor Lake-PS (2024) (10 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-1230U scores 10,995 against the Core 7 160UL's 11,043 — a 0.4% lead for the Core 7 160UL. Both processors carry 12 MB (total) of L3 cache.

Feature	Core i5-1230U	Core 7 160UL
Cores / Threads	10 / 12	10 / 12
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz	5.2 GHz+18%
Base Clock	1 GHz	1.8 GHz+80%
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)	12 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	1.25 MB (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm-30%	10 nm
Architecture	Alder Lake-U (2022)	Raptor Lake-PS (2024)
PassMark	10,995	11,043
Geekbench 6 Single	1,625	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-1230U uses the FCBGA1781 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Core 7 160UL uses LGA1700 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i5-1230U	Core 7 160UL
Socket	FCBGA1781	LGA1700
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0
Max RAM Speed	LPDDR5-5200	—
Max RAM Capacity	64 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	❌	—
PCIe Lanes	14	—

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-1230U) / not specified (Core 7 160UL). The Core i5-1230U includes integrated graphics (Iris Xe Graphics 80EU), while the Core 7 160UL requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-1230U targets Thin & Light Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i5-1230U rivals Ryzen 5 5600U.