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Intel Core i7-1250U vs Intel Core i7-1280P: Comparison
What is the difference between Core i7-1250U and Core i7-1280P?
Start with l3 cache, because it is the widest measured gap between them: Core i7-1250U 12 MB against Core i7-1280P 24 MB, 50% in favour of Core i7-1280P. There is a split on e-core boost clock as well, 3.3 GHz on the Core i7-1250U versus 3.6 GHz on the Core i7-1280P. They differ on p-core base clock too, 1.1 GHz on the Core i7-1250U versus 1.8 GHz on the Core i7-1280P. E-core base clock is not the same on both, 0.8 GHz on the Core i7-1250U versus 1.3 GHz on the Core i7-1280P. They differ on tdp too, 9 W on the Core i7-1250U versus 28 W on the Core i7-1280P.
Core i7-1250U vs Core i7-1280P: which one fits your build
Buy the Core i7-1250U for ultra-thin laptops and business laptops, though it is the wrong buy for gaming laptops and heavy sustained workloads. The Core i7-1280P suits thin-and-light laptops and everyday productivity, though it is not the pick for gaming laptops and heavy sustained workloads. Our rating of the Core i7-1250U (7.7/10): the Intel Core i7-1250U prioritizes battery life and portability, fitting thin business and everyday laptops rather than performance-first designs. Our rating of the Core i7-1280P (8/10): the Intel Core i7-1280P balances performance and efficiency, a solid pick for mainstream thin-and-light laptops.
What Core i7-1250U and Core i7-1280P have in common
Everything else lines up. Efficiency cores, integrated graphics, socket status, product line and form factor read the same on both, so those are not worth weighing. They match on 11 further specifications as well.
Frequently asked questions
Do the Core i7-1250U and Core i7-1280P differ on total cores?
Yes. Total Cores reads 10 on the Core i7-1250U versus 14 on the Core i7-1280P.
Is the Release Year the same on the Core i7-1250U and Core i7-1280P?
It is. Both are listed at 2022, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
Brand
- Intel Core i7-1250U
- Intel
- Intel Core i7-1280P
- Intel
Product Line
- Intel Core i7-1250U
- Core
- Intel Core i7-1280P
- Core
Form Factor
- Intel Core i7-1250U
- Laptop
- Intel Core i7-1280P
- Laptop
Model Number
- Intel Core i7-1250U
- i7-1250U
- Intel Core i7-1280P
- i7-1280P
Codename
- Intel Core i7-1250U
- Alder Lake
- Intel Core i7-1280P
- Alder Lake
Release Year
- Intel Core i7-1250U
- 2022
- Intel Core i7-1280P
- 2022
TDP
- Intel Core i7-1250U
- 9 W
- Intel Core i7-1280P
- 28 W
iGPU
- Intel Core i7-1250U
- Intel Iris Xe Graphics
- Intel Core i7-1280P
- Intel Iris Xe Graphics
Market Segment
- Intel Core i7-1250U
- Laptop
- Intel Core i7-1280P
- Laptop
Microarchitecture
- Intel Core i7-1250U
- Alder Lake
- Intel Core i7-1280P
- Alder Lake
Socket
- Intel Core i7-1250U
- FCBGA1781
- Intel Core i7-1280P
- FCBGA1744
Socket Status
- Intel Core i7-1250U
- Mature
- Intel Core i7-1280P
- Mature
Process Node
- Intel Core i7-1250U
- 7 nm
- Intel Core i7-1280P
- 10 nm
Total Cores
- Intel Core i7-1250U
- 10
- Intel Core i7-1280P
- 14Best
Performance Cores
- Intel Core i7-1250U
- 2
- Intel Core i7-1280P
- 6Best
Efficiency Cores
- Intel Core i7-1250U
- 8
- Intel Core i7-1280P
- 8
Total Threads
- Intel Core i7-1250U
- 12
- Intel Core i7-1280P
- 20Best
SMT Enabled
- Intel Core i7-1250U
- Yes
- Intel Core i7-1280P
- Yes
P-Core Base Clock
- Intel Core i7-1250U
- 1.1 GHz
- Intel Core i7-1280P
- 1.8 GHz
P-Core Boost Clock
- Intel Core i7-1250U
- 4.7 GHz
- Intel Core i7-1280P
- 4.80 GHz
E-Core Base Clock
- Intel Core i7-1250U
- 0.8 GHz
- Intel Core i7-1280P
- 1.3 GHz
E-Core Boost Clock
- Intel Core i7-1250U
- 3.3 GHz
- Intel Core i7-1280P
- 3.6 GHz
L3 Cache
- Intel Core i7-1250U
- 12 MB-50%
- Intel Core i7-1280P
- 24 MBBest
Base Power
- Intel Core i7-1250U
- 9 W
- Intel Core i7-1280P
- 28 W
Max Turbo Power
- Intel Core i7-1250U
- 29 W
- Intel Core i7-1280P
- 64 W
Configurable TDP Floor
- Intel Core i7-1250U
- 9 W
- Intel Core i7-1280P
- 20 W
Memory Type
- Intel Core i7-1250U
- LPDDR5, LPDDR4x
- Intel Core i7-1280P
- DDR5 or DDR4
Max Memory Speed
- Intel Core i7-1250U
- 4800 MT/s
- Intel Core i7-1280P
- 4800 MT/s
Memory Channels
- Intel Core i7-1250U
- 2
- Intel Core i7-1280P
- 2
Max Memory Capacity
- Intel Core i7-1250U
- 64 GB
- Intel Core i7-1280P
- 64 GB
ECC Support
- Intel Core i7-1250U
- Yes
- Intel Core i7-1280P
- No
Integrated Graphics
- Intel Core i7-1250U
- Yes
- Intel Core i7-1280P
- Yes
iGPU Model
- Intel Core i7-1250U
- Intel Iris Xe Graphics
- Intel Core i7-1280P
- Intel Iris Xe Graphics
iGPU Compute Units
- Intel Core i7-1250U
- 64
- Intel Core i7-1280P
- 96
PCIe Generation
- Intel Core i7-1250U
- PCIe 4.0
- Intel Core i7-1280P
- PCIe 4.0
PCIe Lanes
- Intel Core i7-1250U
- 10-17%
- Intel Core i7-1280P
- 12
Retail Availability
- Intel Core i7-1250U
- Soldered Only
- Intel Core i7-1280P
- Soldered Only
Which one should you pick?
Choose 1250U if you want the higher memory channels (2 vs 2).
Choose 1280P if you want the higher L3 cache (24 MB vs 12 MB) and the higher PCIe lanes (12 vs 10).
Verdict
Intel Core i7-1250U
7.7 / 10 Expert Rating
The Intel Core i7-1250U prioritizes battery life and portability, fitting thin business and everyday laptops rather than performance-first designs.
Intel Core i7-1280P
8 / 10 Expert Rating
The Intel Core i7-1280P balances performance and efficiency, a solid pick for mainstream thin-and-light laptops.