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Intel Core i7-1260P vs Intel Core i7-1260U: Comparison

What is the difference between Core i7-1260P and Core i7-1260U?

The gap that matters here is l3 cache: Core i7-1260P 18 MB against Core i7-1260U 12 MB, which puts Core i7-1260P 33% ahead. P-core base clock is not the same on both, 2.1 GHz on the Core i7-1260P versus 1.1 GHz on the Core i7-1260U. They differ on e-core base clock too, 1.5 GHz on the Core i7-1260P versus 0.8 GHz on the Core i7-1260U. There is a split on tdp as well, 28 W on the Core i7-1260P versus 9 W on the Core i7-1260U. They differ on configurable tdp floor too, 20 W on the Core i7-1260P versus 9 W on the Core i7-1260U.

Which should you buy, Core i7-1260P or Core i7-1260U?

The Core i7-1260P suits thin-and-light laptops and everyday productivity, though it is not built for gaming laptops and heavy sustained workloads. Buy the Core i7-1260U for ultra-thin laptops and business laptops, though it is not the pick for gaming laptops and heavy sustained workloads. Our rating of the Core i7-1260P (8/10): the Intel Core i7-1260P balances performance and efficiency, a solid pick for mainstream thin-and-light laptops. Our rating of the Core i7-1260U (7.7/10): the Intel Core i7-1260U prioritizes battery life and portability, fitting thin business and everyday laptops rather than performance-first designs.

Where the two are identical

Where they agree, they agree completely, efficiency cores, p-core boost clock, integrated graphics, socket status and product line included, so the decision does not turn on any of those. They match on 12 further specifications as well.

Frequently asked questions

Do the Core i7-1260P and Core i7-1260U differ on total cores?

Yes. Total Cores reads 12 on the Core i7-1260P versus 10 on the Core i7-1260U.

Is the Form Factor the same on the Core i7-1260P and Core i7-1260U?

It is. Both are listed at Laptop, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.

Specs and benchmarks

  • Brand

    Intel Core i7-1260P
    Intel
    Intel Core i7-1260U
    Intel
  • Product Line

    Intel Core i7-1260P
    Core
    Intel Core i7-1260U
    Core
  • Form Factor

    Intel Core i7-1260P
    Laptop
    Intel Core i7-1260U
    Laptop
  • Model Number

    Intel Core i7-1260P
    i7-1260P
    Intel Core i7-1260U
    i7-1260U
  • Codename

    Intel Core i7-1260P
    Alder Lake
    Intel Core i7-1260U
    Alder Lake
  • Release Year

    Intel Core i7-1260P
    2022
    Intel Core i7-1260U
    2022
  • TDP

    Intel Core i7-1260P
    28 W
    Intel Core i7-1260U
    9 W
  • iGPU

    Intel Core i7-1260P
    Intel Iris Xe Graphics
    Intel Core i7-1260U
    Intel Iris Xe Graphics
  • Market Segment

    Intel Core i7-1260P
    Laptop
    Intel Core i7-1260U
    Laptop
  • Microarchitecture

    Intel Core i7-1260P
    Alder Lake
    Intel Core i7-1260U
    Alder Lake
  • Socket

    Intel Core i7-1260P
    FCBGA1744
    Intel Core i7-1260U
    FCBGA1781
  • Socket Status

    Intel Core i7-1260P
    Mature
    Intel Core i7-1260U
    Mature
  • Process Node

    Intel Core i7-1260P
    7 nm
    Intel Core i7-1260U
    7 nm
  • Total Cores

    Intel Core i7-1260P
    12Best
    Intel Core i7-1260U
    10
  • Performance Cores

    Intel Core i7-1260P
    4Best
    Intel Core i7-1260U
    2
  • Efficiency Cores

    Intel Core i7-1260P
    8
    Intel Core i7-1260U
    8
  • Total Threads

    Intel Core i7-1260P
    16Best
    Intel Core i7-1260U
    12
  • SMT Enabled

    Intel Core i7-1260P
    Yes
    Intel Core i7-1260U
    Yes
  • P-Core Base Clock

    Intel Core i7-1260P
    2.1 GHz
    Intel Core i7-1260U
    1.1 GHz
  • P-Core Boost Clock

    Intel Core i7-1260P
    4.7 GHz
    Intel Core i7-1260U
    4.7 GHz
  • E-Core Base Clock

    Intel Core i7-1260P
    1.5 GHz
    Intel Core i7-1260U
    0.8 GHz
  • E-Core Boost Clock

    Intel Core i7-1260P
    3.5 GHz
    Intel Core i7-1260U
    3.3 GHz
  • L3 Cache

    Intel Core i7-1260P
    18 MBBest
    Intel Core i7-1260U
    12 MB-33%
  • Base Power

    Intel Core i7-1260P
    28 W
    Intel Core i7-1260U
    9 W
  • Max Turbo Power

    Intel Core i7-1260P
    64 W
    Intel Core i7-1260U
    29 W
  • Configurable TDP Floor

    Intel Core i7-1260P
    20 W
    Intel Core i7-1260U
    9 W
  • Memory Type

    Intel Core i7-1260P
    DDR5, DDR4, LPDDR5, LPDDR4x
    Intel Core i7-1260U
    LPDDR5, LPDDR4x
  • Max Memory Speed

    Intel Core i7-1260P
    4800 MT/s
    Intel Core i7-1260U
    4800 MT/s
  • Memory Channels

    Intel Core i7-1260P
    2
    Intel Core i7-1260U
    2
  • Max Memory Capacity

    Intel Core i7-1260P
    64 GB
    Intel Core i7-1260U
    64 GB
  • ECC Support

    Intel Core i7-1260P
    No
    Intel Core i7-1260U
    Yes
  • Integrated Graphics

    Intel Core i7-1260P
    Yes
    Intel Core i7-1260U
    Yes
  • iGPU Model

    Intel Core i7-1260P
    Intel Iris Xe Graphics
    Intel Core i7-1260U
    Intel Iris Xe Graphics
  • iGPU Compute Units

    Intel Core i7-1260P
    96
    Intel Core i7-1260U
    64
  • PCIe Generation

    Intel Core i7-1260P
    PCIe 4.0
    Intel Core i7-1260U
    PCIe 4.0
  • PCIe Lanes

    Intel Core i7-1260P
    12
    Intel Core i7-1260U
    10-17%
  • Retail Availability

    Intel Core i7-1260P
    Soldered Only
    Intel Core i7-1260U
    Soldered Only

    Which one should you pick?

    Choose 1260P if you want the higher L3 cache (18 MB vs 12 MB), the higher memory channels (2 vs 2) and the higher PCIe lanes (12 vs 10).

    Choose 1260U if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.

    Verdict

    Intel Core i7-1260P

    8 / 10 Expert Rating

    The Intel Core i7-1260P balances performance and efficiency, a solid pick for mainstream thin-and-light laptops.

    Intel Core i7-1260U

    7.7 / 10 Expert Rating

    The Intel Core i7-1260U prioritizes battery life and portability, fitting thin business and everyday laptops rather than performance-first designs.

    More comparisons in Processors (CPUs)