AMD Ryzen 3 7320C vs Intel Core 5 120UL Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark database records 17 head-to-head comparisons between these two processors, and the results show a clear overall leader: the Intel Core 5 120UL wins 13 of them, while the AMD Ryzen 3 7320C takes 4. The Intel chip's command in Cinebench tests is consistent and decisive. Across all six Cinebench runs (R15, R20, and R23, each in single-core and multi-core), the Intel part wins with the same 21.7% margin in every multi-core test and a 22% margin in the Cinebench R15 single-core test. Specifically, the Intel Core 5 120UL scores 904 versus 708 in Cinebench R15 multi-core, 3769 versus 2950 in R20 multi-core, and 8974 versus 7025 in R23 multi-core. In single-core Cinebench, the Intel chip records 127 versus 99 in R15, 531 versus 416 in R20, and 1266 versus 991 in R23.

The PassMark suite tells a more nuanced story. The AMD Ryzen 3 7320C posts its largest win in data compression, scoring 144465 against Intel's 109090, a 32.4% advantage. It also wins random string sorting (16973 versus 13610, up 24.7%) and both single-thread tests, where it scores 2439 against Intel's 2080, a 17.3% lead. The Intel Core 5 120UL counters with substantial wins in several compute-heavy PassMark workloads: floating point math (26311 versus 14071, a 46.5% gap), find prime numbers (47 versus 18, a 61.7% gap), and data encryption (7685 versus 5443, a 29.2% gap). Intel also leads in extended instructions (5203 versus 3663, up 29.6%), integer math (38060 versus 32247, up 15.3%), physics (807 versus 500, up 38%), and the PassMark multithread score (10558 versus 8265, up 21.7%).

Overall average benchmark scores place the AMD part at 14277 and the Intel part at 13594, which reflects the AMD chip's strong showings in the workloads it wins, despite losing the majority of tests. The AMD processor sits at the 69th percentile of all CPUs in the database, while the Intel chip sits at the 68th percentile, a negligible overall ranking difference. The nearest rivals for the AMD part include the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U (0.3% lower avg score), Intel Core 7 160UL (0.3% higher), and AMD Ryzen Embedded V2546 (0.4% lower). For the Intel part, the closest competitors are the Intel Core i3-12100F (0.7% higher), Intel Core 3 N355 (0.8% higher), and Intel Core i5-9500 (1.1% higher).

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design lineages. The AMD Ryzen 3 7320C is built on the Zen 2 architecture, specifically the Mendocino codename, manufactured on a 6 nm process by TSMC. It is part of AMD's 7000 series and uses the AMD Socket FT6. The Intel Core 5 120UL uses the Raptor Lake architecture, codename Raptor Lake-PS, on a 10 nm process from Intel's own foundry, and fits the Intel Socket 1700.

Core counts differ sharply. The AMD part has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Intel part has 10 cores and 12 threads. Clock speeds reflect different strategies: the AMD chip has a base clock of 2.40 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz, whereas the Intel chip has a much lower base clock of 1.30 GHz but a higher boost clock of 4.60 GHz. Both are rated at 15 W TDP, but the Intel part is classified as a Desktop segment processor while the AMD part is classified as Mobile.

Cache hierarchies are also distinct. The AMD processor provides 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel processor offers 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache, three times the L3 capacity of the AMD chip. The die size for the AMD part is 100 mm², while the Intel die size is not recorded in the database.

Memory support diverges as well. The AMD Ryzen 3 7320C supports LPDDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, with a recorded memory bandwidth of 88.0 GB/s. The Intel Core 5 120UL supports both DDR4 and DDR5 in dual-channel mode, but no memory bandwidth figure is recorded. Neither processor supports ECC memory. PCIe connectivity differs: the AMD chip provides Gen 3 with 4 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel chip provides Gen 4 with 8 lanes (CPU only).

Integrated graphics also differ. The AMD part integrates Radeon 610M graphics, while the Intel part integrates Iris Xe Graphics with 80 execution units. Both processors are currently marked as Active in production status. The AMD chip was released on May 22, 2023, and the Intel chip on April 7, 2024. Neither has a recorded launch MSRP in the database, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

The Verdict

The data points to the Intel Core 5 120UL as the stronger overall processor for the majority of workloads. Its Cinebench results are uniformly ahead by roughly 21.7% in multi-core and single-core tests, and its PassMark wins cover math-heavy, encryption, and physics workloads. Users whose tasks involve rendering, compilation, or other multi-threaded compute will find the Intel chip consistently faster, with the largest margin in floating point math (46.5% ahead) and prime number finding (61.7% ahead).

The AMD Ryzen 3 7320C is not without its own territory. It wins decisively in data compression (32.4% ahead), random string sorting (24.7% ahead), and single-thread PassMark (17.3% ahead). Its overall average benchmark score is actually higher than the Intel chip's (14277 versus 13594), which suggests that the workloads it wins are significant in the database's weighting. For single-threaded responsiveness and data compression tasks, the AMD part is the better pick.

The percentile rankings are nearly identical (69th for AMD, 68th for Intel), so neither chip is in a different performance class overall. The choice comes down to workload composition. The Intel Core 5 120UL is the safer recommendation for general compute, especially anything that scales with cores and threads. The AMD Ryzen 3 7320C is preferable for compression-heavy workflows and scenarios where single-thread PassMark performance matters more than multi-thread Cinebench scores. The Intel chip's higher thread count (12 versus 8) and larger L3 cache (12 MB versus 4 MB) align with its multi-threaded wins, while the AMD chip's higher base clock (2.40 GHz versus 1.30 GHz) may explain its single-thread PassMark advantage.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher Cinebench R23 multi-core score?

A: The Intel Core 5 120UL scores 8974 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, while the AMD Ryzen 3 7320C scores 7025, a 21.7% advantage for Intel.

Q: In which test does the AMD Ryzen 3 7320C show its largest win?

A: The AMD part's biggest win is in PassMark data compression, where it scores 144465 versus Intel's 109090, a 32.4% lead.

Q: What is the difference in thread counts?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 7320C has 8 threads, while the Intel Core 5 120UL has 12 threads.

Q: Does the Intel Core 5 120UL support faster PCIe?

A: Yes, the Intel chip provides PCIe Gen 4 with 8 lanes (CPU only), while the AMD chip provides PCIe Gen 3 with 4 lanes (CPU only).

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core 5 120UL has a boost clock of 4.60 GHz, compared to the AMD Ryzen 3 7320C's 4.10 GHz.

Q: How does the L3 cache compare?

A: The Intel Core 5 120UL has 12 MB of shared L3 cache, while the AMD Ryzen 3 7320C has 4 MB of shared L3 cache.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 5 120UL is the clear winner in all Cinebench tests, covering both single-core and multi-core scenarios. Its PassMark wins include data encryption, extended instructions, find prime numbers, floating point math, integer math, multithread, and physics. This makes it the stronger choice for scientific computing, encryption workloads, and any application that leverages many threads or heavy arithmetic.

The AMD Ryzen 3 7320C wins in PassMark data compression, random string sorting, and both single-thread PassMark tests (single_thread and singlethread, which record identical scores). These wins point toward workloads involving data compression utilities, text processing, or lightly threaded applications where the AMD chip's higher base clock and single-thread PassMark performance give it an edge.

It is notably the AMD chip's average benchmark score (14277) exceeds the Intel chip's (13594) despite losing 13 of 17 head-to-head tests. This suggests that the AMD part's wins, particularly the 32.4% margin in data compression, carry significant weight in the database's overall scoring. Users who know their workloads favor compression or single-thread PassMark tasks will find the AMD part competitive, while users with mixed or multi-thread-heavy workloads should expect the Intel part to finish ahead.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 3 7320C | Intel Core 5 120UL |

| --- | --- | --- |

| Cores | 4 | 10 |

| Threads | 8 | 12 |

| Base Clock | 2.40 GHz | 1.30 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.10 GHz | 4.60 GHz |

| Socket | AMD Socket FT6 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Architecture | Zen 2 | Raptor Lake |

| Codename | Mendocino | Raptor Lake-PS |

| Process Node | 6 nm | 10 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Die Size | 100 mm² | Not recorded |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 80 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 512 KB (per core) | 1.25 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 4 MB (shared) | 12 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | LPDDR5 | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 88.0 GB/s | Not recorded |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 4 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 4, 8 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon 610M | Iris Xe Graphics 80EU |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Release Date | May 22, 2023 | April 7, 2024 |

| ECC Memory | No | No |

| Unlocked Multiplier | No | No |