Core i7-1265U vs Core i5-1240U

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 i7-1265U

#184

Core Ultra 7 266V

MSRP: $520|Avg: $520

126%

#185

Ryzen 7 5825C

MSRP: $400|Avg: $400

123%

#187

Core Ultra 9 288V

MSRP: $600|Avg: $600

114%

#188

Core i7-10870H

MSRP: $417|Avg: N/A

114%

#198

Core i7-1265U

MSRP: N/A|Avg: N/A

100%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Per Dollar Core i5-1240U

#153

Core i7-1370P

MSRP: $438|Avg: $280

105%

#158

Core i9-13900H

MSRP: $617|Avg: N/A

103%

#161

Core Ultra 7 268V

MSRP: $450|Avg: $400

101%

#162

Core Ultra 7 256V

MSRP: $450|Avg: $350

100%

#164

Core i5-1240U

MSRP: N/A|Avg: N/A

100%

#167

Core Ultra 7 258V

MSRP: $450|Avg: $400

97%

#169

Core i7-1280P

MSRP: $482|Avg: $482

96%

#173

Core Ultra 5 238V

MSRP: $454|Avg: $454

93%

#176

Core i9-13900HK

MSRP: $697|Avg: N/A

90%

#178

Core i7-1360P

MSRP: $480|Avg: $280

89%

#179

Core i7-1260P

MSRP: $432|Avg: $432

89%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Comparison

About PassMark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

🚀 Performance Leadership

Performance Trade-off: The Core i7-1265U leads in gaming performance. However, the Core i5-1240U is the stronger candidate for professional workloads, offering 0.8% greater multi-core processing power.

Insight	Core i7-1265U	Core i5-1240U
Gaming	✅ Superior gaming performance	❌ Lower 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 (Alder Lake-U (2022) / Intel 7 nm)

💎 Value Proposition

Insight	Core i7-1265U	Core i5-1240U
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 i7-1265U Benchmark Check

Core i5-1240U Benchmark Check

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-1265U and Core i5-1240U

Core i7-1265U

The Core i7-1265U 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 1.8 GHz, with boost up to 4.8 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1744. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 13,282 points. Launch price was $149.

Core i5-1240U

The Core i5-1240U 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 4.4 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: 13,387 points. Launch price was $149.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the Core i7-1265U and Core i5-1240U share an identical 10-core/12-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4.8 GHz on the Core i7-1265U versus 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-1240U — a 8.7% clock advantage for the Core i7-1265U (base: 1.8 GHz vs 1.1 GHz). Both are built on the Alder Lake-U (2022) architecture using a Intel 7 nm process. In PassMark, the Core i7-1265U scores 13,282 against the Core i5-1240U's 13,387 — a 0.8% lead for the Core i5-1240U. Both processors carry 12 MB (total) of L3 cache.

Feature	Core i7-1265U	Core i5-1240U
Cores / Threads	10 / 12	10 / 12
Boost Clock	4.8 GHz+9%	4.4 GHz
Base Clock	1.8 GHz+64%	1.1 GHz
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)	12 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	1.25 MB (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm	Intel 7 nm
Architecture	Alder Lake-U (2022)	Alder Lake-U (2022)
PassMark	13,282	13,387
Geekbench 6 Single	—	1,650

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-1265U uses the FCBGA1744 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Core i5-1240U uses FCBGA1781 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i7-1265U	Core i5-1240U
Socket	FCBGA1744	FCBGA1781
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: not specified (Core i7-1265U) / VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-1240U). The Core i5-1240U includes integrated graphics (Iris Xe Graphics 80EU), while the Core i7-1265U requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-1240U targets Thin & Light Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i5-1240U rivals Ryzen 5 5600U.