AMD Ryzen 5 1600 vs Intel Core 5 120U Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 1600 and Intel Core 5 120U occupy the same performance tier in the aggregate data, with average benchmark scores of 17,994 and 17,898 respectively, placing the Intel part 0.5% behind. Both chips sit at the 72nd percentile of all CPUs, and their nearest rival lists are nearly mirror images of each other, with the AMD part edging out the Intel part by 0.5% in their direct comparison. Despite this near-identical overall standing, the benchmark breakdown reveals two very different processors with opposite strengths, making the choice between them entirely dependent on the workload.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 5 120U dominates the overall benchmark count, winning 14 of the 17 head-to-head comparisons, while the AMD Ryzen 5 1600 manages only 3 wins. However, the AMD victories are concentrated in specific memory and compression tasks. The Ryzen 5 1600 wins data compression with a score of 172,053 against 166,432 for the Intel part, a 3.4% margin. It also leads in data encryption at 11,683 versus 10,453, an 11.8% advantage, and random string sorting at 20,240 versus 19,060, a 6.2% edge. These are workloads that stress memory access patterns and algorithmic throughput rather than raw clock speed.

The Intel Core 5 120U claims every other benchmark category, with its largest margins coming in single-threaded and floating-point work. The gap is particularly stark in Cinebench R23 single-core, where Intel scores 1,756.5 against AMD's 915, a 47.9% difference. In passmark single-thread, the Intel part scores 3,479 versus 2,066, another 40.6% gap. The Intel chip also wins multi-threaded tests, but by much smaller margins, such as 2.9% in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 1.9% in Cinebench R15 multi-core. This split suggests the AMD processor retains a niche in memory-sensitive, compression-heavy tasks, while the Intel processor is broadly superior for general computing, especially anything latency-bound.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies and eras. The AMD Ryzen 5 1600 uses the Zen architecture on a 14 nm process from GlobalFoundries, fabricated with 4,800 million transistors on a 213 mm² die. It is a desktop part with a 65 W TDP, built for the AMD Socket AM4 platform. The Intel Core 5 120U uses the Raptor Lake architecture on Intel's 10 nm process, is a mobile part with a 15 W TDP, and is soldered to the Intel BGA 1744 socket. The AMD chip has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel chip has 10 cores and 12 threads, with the Intel part achieving its thread count through a mix of performance and efficiency cores, a design detail not present in the older AMD part.

Cache layouts differ significantly. The AMD Ryzen 5 1600 has 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel Core 5 120U has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3. The AMD part has a larger total L3, which may explain its edge in data compression tasks. Memory support also diverges: the AMD chip supports only DDR4 in dual-channel mode with 42.7 GB/s of bandwidth, while the Intel chip supports both DDR4 and DDR5 in dual-channel, though its memory bandwidth is not listed. The AMD processor supports ECC memory, while the Intel one does not. PCIe connectivity differs as well, with AMD providing Gen 3 with 16 lanes and Intel providing Gen 4 with 8 lanes.

The most striking feature difference is integrated graphics. The AMD Ryzen 5 1600 has no integrated graphics, requiring a discrete GPU, while the Intel Core 5 120U includes Iris Xe Graphics with 80 execution units. The AMD chip has an unlocked multiplier, making it overclockable, while the Intel chip is locked. The AMD part launched in April 2017 with a launch MSRP of $219, while the Intel part launched in January 2024 with no listed MSRP. Both are listed as active in production.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The single-core results are where the Intel Core 5 120U establishes its most decisive advantages. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Intel part scores 1,756.5 against 915 for the AMD Ryzen 5 1600, a 47.9% lead. The Cinebench R15 single-core test shows a similar 40% gap, with Intel at 245 and AMD at 147. Geekbench single-core gives Intel a 37.2% edge at 1,727 versus 1,085. These margins reflect the Intel chip's 5.00 GHz boost clock compared to the AMD chip's 3.60 GHz boost clock, a 1.4 GHz difference that shows up clearly in latency-bound workloads.

Multi-threaded results are much closer, suggesting the AMD chip's older design still competes when all cores are active. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, Intel scores 6,659 versus AMD's 6,468, a 2.9% margin. Cinebench R15 multi-core gives Intel 1,150.5 against 1,129, a 1.9% edge. Geekbench multi-core shows Intel at 5,888 versus 5,558, a 5.6% lead. Passmark multi-thread gives Intel a larger 18.4% advantage at 15,042 versus 12,270. The Intel chip's wins in floating-point math (36,026 versus 21,402, a 40.6% gap) and integer math (52,280 versus 41,470, a 20.7% gap) indicate its architecture handles compute-heavy tasks far more efficiently.

The AMD Ryzen 5 1600's wins are narrower but consistent in its three categories. Data compression at 172,053 versus 166,432 is a 3.4% edge. Data encryption at 11,683 versus 10,453 is an 11.8% advantage. Random string sorting at 20,240 versus 19,060 is a 6.2% lead. These results suggest the AMD chip's larger 16 MB L3 cache and possibly its memory controller provide a benefit for workloads that repeatedly access the same data sets.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ on nearly every specification tracked. The AMD Ryzen 5 1600 has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Core 5 120U has 10 cores and 12 threads. Base clocks are 3.20 GHz for AMD and 1.40 GHz for Intel. Boost clocks are 3.60 GHz for AMD and 5.00 GHz for Intel. TDP ratings are 65 W for AMD and 15 W for Intel. The AMD chip uses the AM4 socket, while the Intel chip uses BGA 1744.

Process technology differs: AMD uses 14 nm from GlobalFoundries, while Intel uses 10 nm from its own foundry. The AMD chip has 4,800 million transistors on a 213 mm² die; the Intel chip has no listed transistor count or die size. L1 cache is 96 KB per core for AMD and 80 KB per core for Intel. L2 cache is 512 KB per core for AMD and 1.25 MB per core for Intel. L3 cache is 16 MB shared for AMD and 12 MB shared for Intel.

Memory support shows AMD limited to DDR4 while Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5. Both use dual-channel memory, but only AMD lists a memory bandwidth figure of 42.7 GB/s. ECC memory is supported by AMD but not by Intel. PCIe lanes are 16 Gen 3 lanes for AMD and 8 Gen 4 lanes for Intel. The AMD chip has no integrated graphics, while the Intel chip includes Iris Xe Graphics 80EU. The AMD part has an unlocked multiplier; the Intel part is locked. The AMD release date is April 2017, while Intel's is January 2024.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has higher single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core 5 120U wins all single-core benchmarks by large margins, including a 47.9% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core (1,756.5 vs 915) and a 40.6% lead in passmark single-thread (3,479 vs 2,066).

Q: Are the two processors closely matched overall?

A: Yes, their average benchmark scores are nearly identical, with AMD at 17,994 and Intel at 17,898, a 0.5% difference. Both occupy the 72nd percentile of all CPUs.

Q: In which tests does the AMD Ryzen 5 1600 win?

A: The AMD chip wins three tests: data compression (172,053 vs 166,432), data encryption (11,683 vs 10,453), and random string sorting (20,240 vs 19,060).

Q: What is the core and thread count difference?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 1600 has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Core 5 120U has 10 cores and 12 threads.

Q: Does the Intel chip include integrated graphics?

A: Yes, the Intel Core 5 120U includes Iris Xe Graphics with 80 execution units, while the AMD Ryzen 5 1600 has no integrated graphics.

Q: Which chip supports ECC memory?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 1600 supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core 5 120U does not.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear split based on workload and platform requirements. The Intel Core 5 120U is the superior processor for the vast majority of tasks, winning 14 of 17 benchmarks. Its single-core advantage is overwhelming, with margins between 37.2% and 47.9% across different tests, making it the obvious choice for any application that benefits from high clock speeds or low latency. The Intel chip also leads in multi-threaded workloads, albeit by smaller margins ranging from 1.9% to 18.4%, and it includes integrated graphics, which the AMD chip lacks entirely.

The AMD Ryzen 5 1600 retains a narrow but real advantage in exactly three areas: data compression, data encryption, and random string sorting. These wins, ranging from 3.4% to 11.8%, point to workloads that favor its larger 16 MB L3 cache and possibly its memory architecture. The AMD chip also supports ECC memory and has an unlocked multiplier, features absent from the Intel part, which may matter for specific professional or enthusiast use cases.

For a mobile or low-power system, the Intel Core 5 120U is the only viable option given its 15 W TDP and BGA 1744 socket, compared to the AMD chip's 65 W desktop design. For a desktop build where overclocking and ECC support are priorities, and where the workload is dominated by compression and encryption tasks, the AMD Ryzen 5 1600 holds a measurable edge. The benchmark data shows that while the Intel part wins more tests, the AMD part wins the tests that matter most for its specific niche, and the overall scores are close enough that the decision should rest on platform compatibility and workload mix rather than raw performance averages.