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Intel Core i7-1265U vs Intel Core i7-12850HX: Comparison
Core i7-1265U vs Core i7-12850HX: the l3 cache difference
On l3 cache the spread is 52%, Core i7-1265U 12 MB against Core i7-12850HX 25 MB, so Core i7-12850HX takes it. E-core base clock is not the same on both, 1.3 GHz on the Core i7-1265U versus 1.5 GHz on the Core i7-12850HX. Add pcie lanes to that, 10 on the Core i7-1265U versus 20 on the Core i7-12850HX, and the pattern holds. They differ on tdp too, 15 W on the Core i7-1265U versus 55 W on the Core i7-12850HX. There is a split on socket as well, FCBGA1744 on the Core i7-1265U versus FCBGA1964 on the Core i7-12850HX.
Which should you buy, Core i7-1265U or Core i7-12850HX?
The Core i7-1265U suits ultra-thin laptops and business laptops, though it is not the pick for gaming laptops and heavy sustained workloads. Buy the Core i7-12850HX for high-end gaming laptops and mobile content creation, though it is the wrong buy for thin-and-light laptops and battery-life-focused use. Our rating of the Core i7-1265U (7.7/10): the Intel Core i7-1265U prioritizes battery life and portability, fitting thin business and everyday laptops rather than performance-first designs. Our rating of the Core i7-12850HX (8.6/10): the Intel Core i7-12850HX brings desktop-class core counts to a mobile chassis, a strong pick for high-end gaming and creator laptops.
Where the two are identical
Everything else lines up. Efficiency cores, p-core boost clock, e-core boost clock, integrated graphics and socket status read the same on both, so those are not worth weighing. They match on 9 further specifications as well.
Frequently asked questions
Do the Core i7-1265U and Core i7-12850HX differ on total cores?
Yes. Total Cores reads 10 on the Core i7-1265U versus 16 on the Core i7-12850HX.
Is the Product Line the same on the Core i7-1265U and Core i7-12850HX?
It is. Both are listed at Core, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
Brand
- Intel Core i7-1265U
- Intel
- Intel Core i7-12850HX
- Intel
Product Line
- Intel Core i7-1265U
- Core
- Intel Core i7-12850HX
- Core
Form Factor
- Intel Core i7-1265U
- Laptop
- Intel Core i7-12850HX
- Laptop
Model Number
- Intel Core i7-1265U
- i7-1265U
- Intel Core i7-12850HX
- i7-12850HX
Codename
- Intel Core i7-1265U
- Alder Lake
- Intel Core i7-12850HX
- Alder Lake
Release Year
- Intel Core i7-1265U
- 2022
- Intel Core i7-12850HX
- 2022
TDP
- Intel Core i7-1265U
- 15 W
- Intel Core i7-12850HX
- 55 W
iGPU
- Intel Core i7-1265U
- Intel Iris Xe Graphics
- Intel Core i7-12850HX
- Intel UHD Graphics for 12th Gen Intel Processors
Market Segment
- Intel Core i7-1265U
- Laptop
- Intel Core i7-12850HX
- Laptop
Microarchitecture
- Intel Core i7-1265U
- Alder Lake
- Intel Core i7-12850HX
- Alder Lake
Socket
- Intel Core i7-1265U
- FCBGA1744
- Intel Core i7-12850HX
- FCBGA1964
Socket Status
- Intel Core i7-1265U
- Mature
- Intel Core i7-12850HX
- Mature
Process Node
- Intel Core i7-1265U
- 7 nm
- Intel Core i7-12850HX
- 10 nm
Total Cores
- Intel Core i7-1265U
- 10
- Intel Core i7-12850HX
- 16Best
Performance Cores
- Intel Core i7-1265U
- 2
- Intel Core i7-12850HX
- 8Best
Efficiency Cores
- Intel Core i7-1265U
- 8
- Intel Core i7-12850HX
- 8
Total Threads
- Intel Core i7-1265U
- 12
- Intel Core i7-12850HX
- 24Best
SMT Enabled
- Intel Core i7-1265U
- Yes
- Intel Core i7-12850HX
- Yes
P-Core Base Clock
- Intel Core i7-1265U
- 1.8 GHz
- Intel Core i7-12850HX
- 2.1 GHz
P-Core Boost Clock
- Intel Core i7-1265U
- 4.8 GHz
- Intel Core i7-12850HX
- 4.8 GHz
E-Core Base Clock
- Intel Core i7-1265U
- 1.3 GHz
- Intel Core i7-12850HX
- 1.5 GHz
E-Core Boost Clock
- Intel Core i7-1265U
- 3.6 GHz
- Intel Core i7-12850HX
- 3.6 GHz
L3 Cache
- Intel Core i7-1265U
- 12 MB-52%
- Intel Core i7-12850HX
- 25 MBBest
Base Power
- Intel Core i7-1265U
- 15 W
- Intel Core i7-12850HX
- 55 W
Max Turbo Power
- Intel Core i7-1265U
- 55 W
- Intel Core i7-12850HX
- 157 W
Memory Type
- Intel Core i7-1265U
- DDR5, DDR4, LPDDR5, LPDDR4x
- Intel Core i7-12850HX
- DDR5 or DDR4
Max Memory Speed
- Intel Core i7-1265U
- 4800 MT/s
- Intel Core i7-12850HX
- 4800 MT/s
Memory Channels
- Intel Core i7-1265U
- 2
- Intel Core i7-12850HX
- 2
Max Memory Capacity
- Intel Core i7-1265U
- 64 GB
- Intel Core i7-12850HX
- 128 GBBest
ECC Support
- Intel Core i7-1265U
- No
- Intel Core i7-12850HX
- Yes
Integrated Graphics
- Intel Core i7-1265U
- Yes
- Intel Core i7-12850HX
- Yes
iGPU Model
- Intel Core i7-1265U
- Intel Iris Xe Graphics
- Intel Core i7-12850HX
- Intel UHD Graphics
iGPU Compute Units
- Intel Core i7-1265U
- 96
- Intel Core i7-12850HX
- 32
PCIe Generation
- Intel Core i7-1265U
- PCIe 4.0
- Intel Core i7-12850HX
- PCIe 5.0
PCIe Lanes
- Intel Core i7-1265U
- 10-50%
- Intel Core i7-12850HX
- 20
Retail Availability
- Intel Core i7-1265U
- Soldered Only
- Intel Core i7-12850HX
- Soldered Only
Which one should you pick?
Choose 1265U if you want the higher memory channels (2 vs 2).
Choose 12850HX if you want the higher L3 cache (25 MB vs 12 MB) and the higher PCIe lanes (20 vs 10).
Verdict
Intel Core i7-1265U
7.7 / 10 Expert Rating
The Intel Core i7-1265U prioritizes battery life and portability, fitting thin business and everyday laptops rather than performance-first designs.
Intel Core i7-12850HX
8.6 / 10 Expert Rating
The Intel Core i7-12850HX brings desktop-class core counts to a mobile chassis, a strong pick for high-end gaming and creator laptops.