Core i7-1260U
VS
Xeon W-1250

Core i7-1260U vs Xeon W-1250

Intel

Core i7-1260U

10 Cores12 Thrd9.5 WWMax: 4.7 GHz2022
VS
Intel

Xeon W-1250

6 Cores12 Thrd80 WWMax: 4.7 GHz2020

Performance Spectrum - CPU

About PassMark

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. 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 i7-1260U

#179
Core i7-1260P
MSRP: $432|Avg: $432
120%
#184
Core Ultra 7 266V
MSRP: $520|Avg: $520
116%
#185
Ryzen 7 5825C
MSRP: $400|Avg: $400
114%
#187
Core Ultra 9 288V
MSRP: $600|Avg: $600
106%
#188
Core i7-10870H
MSRP: $417|Avg: N/A
106%
#194
Core i7-1260U
MSRP: N/A|Avg: N/A
100%
Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Per Dollar Xeon W-1250

#210
EPYC 8224P
MSRP: $855|Avg: $1048
111%
#214
Xeon 6521P
MSRP: $1250|Avg: $1250
108%
#215
Xeon E-2456
MSRP: N/A|Avg: $289
108%
#218
Xeon Gold 5512U
MSRP: $1230|Avg: N/A
105%
#219
Xeon D-1733NT
MSRP: $300|Avg: $300
103%
#220
Xeon 6520P
MSRP: $1295|Avg: $1295
103%
#221
Xeon Gold 6314U
MSRP: $2977|Avg: N/A
102%
#222
Xeon E-2478
MSRP: $568|Avg: $269
102%
#223
Xeon W-1390
MSRP: $494|Avg: $400
101%
#225
Xeon W-1250
MSRP: $285|Avg: $333
100%
#226
EPYC 9135
MSRP: $1214|Avg: $95
99%
#227
Xeon E-2378
MSRP: $362|Avg: $562
98%
#228
Xeon w3-2525
MSRP: $609|Avg: $800
98%
#230
Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX
MSRP: $1337|Avg: $368
97%
#232
EPYC 7282
MSRP: $650|Avg: $199
97%
#233
Xeon w5-2545
MSRP: $889|Avg: $1100
96%
#234
Xeon W-1250P
MSRP: $311|Avg: $311
96%
#237
Xeon w3-2535
MSRP: $739|Avg: $800
94%
#239
EPYC 7313P
MSRP: $913|Avg: $824
94%
#240
Ryzen 7 PRO 1700
MSRP: $329|Avg: $60
93%
Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Comparison

About PassMark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

🚀 Performance Leadership

Use Case Distinction: This is a comparison between a Professional Workstation processor ($333) and a Consumer Desktop CPU. The Xeon W-1250 is engineered for massive parallel workloads (rendering, scientific simulations), offering significantly higher core counts.
InsightCore i7-1260UXeon W-1250
Gaming
Balanced gaming performance
Balanced gaming performance
Workstation
Weaker in multi-core tasks
Better multi-core power
Price
More affordable ($0)
⚠️ Higher cost ($333)
Longevity
✨ Modern (Alder Lake-U (2022) / Intel 7 nm)
✨ Modern (Legacy / 14 nm)

💎 Value Proposition

The Core i7-1260U ($0), however, is optimized for mixed workloads and gaming. For most users, it offers superior single-thread performance and responsiveness at a fraction of the cost ($333 less, 100% cheaper), making it the better choice for daily use and gaming.
InsightCore i7-1260UXeon W-1250
Cost Efficiency
Lower cost efficiency
Lower cost efficiency
Upfront Cost
More affordable ($0)
⚠️ Higher cost ($333)

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.

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-1260U and Xeon W-1250

Intel

Core i7-1260U

The Core i7-1260U 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 1.1 GHz, with boost up to 4.7 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: 13,614 points. Launch price was $149.

Intel

Xeon W-1250

The Xeon W-1250 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 4.7 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB Intel® Smart Cache. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1200. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2666. Passmark benchmark score: 13,671 points. Launch price was $800.

Processing Power

The Core i7-1260U packs 10 cores / 12 threads, while the Xeon W-1250 offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Core i7-1260U has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.7 GHz on the Core i7-1260U versus 4.7 GHz on the Xeon W-1250 — identical boost frequencies (base: 1.1 GHz vs 3.3 GHz). The Core i7-1260U is built on the Alder Lake-U (2022) architecture. In PassMark, the Core i7-1260U scores 13,614 against the Xeon W-1250's 13,671 — a 0.4% lead for the Xeon W-1250. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i7-1260U vs 12 MB Intel® Smart Cache on the Xeon W-1250.

FeatureCore i7-1260UXeon W-1250
Cores / Threads
10 / 12+67%
6 / 12
Boost Clock
4.7 GHz
4.7 GHz
Base Clock
1.1 GHz
3.3 GHz+200%
L3 Cache
12 MB (total)
12 MB Intel® Smart Cache
L2 Cache
1.25 MB (per core)
Process
Intel 7 nm-50%
14 nm
Architecture
Alder Lake-U (2022)
PassMark
13,614
13,671
Cinebench R23 Multi
8,381
Geekbench 6 Single
2,294
Geekbench 6 Multi
8,140
🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-1260U uses the FCBGA1781 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Xeon W-1250 uses LGA1200 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

FeatureCore i7-1260UXeon W-1250
Socket
FCBGA1781
LGA1200
PCIe Generation
PCIe 5.0+67%
PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed
DDR5-4800
Max RAM Capacity
64 GB
RAM Channels
2
ECC Support
PCIe Lanes
14
🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i7-1260U) / not specified (Xeon W-1250). The Core i7-1260U includes integrated graphics (Iris Xe Graphics (96 EU)), while the Xeon W-1250 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-1260U targets Productivity. Direct competitor: Core i7-1260U rivals Core i7-1165G7.

FeatureCore i7-1260UXeon W-1250
Integrated GPU
Yes
IGPU Model
Iris Xe Graphics (96 EU)
Unlocked
No
AVX-512
No
Virtualization
VT-x, VT-d, EPT
Target Use
Productivity