AMD Ryzen 5 3501U vs Intel Core 5 120 Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U is a mobile processor built for efficiency, while the Intel Core 5 120 is a desktop processor built for throughput. The benchmark data shows a complete sweep: the Intel Core 5 120 wins all 11 head-to-head comparisons, making the analysis less about which chip is faster and more about how the Intel part achieves its dominance and where the AMD chip still holds relevance.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 5 120 wins every recorded benchmark in the database. Its largest margins come in workloads that scale with core count and memory bandwidth. In passmark_extended_instructions, the Intel part scores 14264 against 3274 for the AMD, a 77% advantage. This test typically reflects AVX and other SIMD workloads, where the Intel chip's newer architecture and higher thread count provide a substantial edge.

The gap narrows somewhat in single-threaded work. The Intel Core 5 120 scores 3595 in passmark_single_thread, while the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U scores 2136, a 40.6% difference. This is the smallest delta in the entire comparison, suggesting that per-core performance is the closest metric between the two, though the Intel chip still holds a clear lead.

For the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U, there are no benchmark wins to highlight. Its role in the data is as a baseline: a 4-core, 4-thread mobile part with a 15W TDP that sits at the 69th percentile of all CPUs. The Intel Core 5 120, by contrast, reaches the 77th percentile. The AMD chip's average benchmark score is 14320, which places it within 1% of rivals like the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2546 (14336) and the Intel Core 7 160UL (14232). The Intel Core 5 120's average score of 25362 puts it in direct competition with the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D (25365) and the Intel Core i7-11700KF (25423).

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U uses the Picasso architecture, based on Zen+, built on a 12 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It packs 4,940 million transistors into a 210 mm² die. The Intel Core 5 120 uses Raptor Lake, specifically the Raptor Lake-R refresh, on a 10 nm process from Intel, with a die size of 163 mm².

Core counts differ fundamentally. The AMD chip has 4 cores and 4 threads, meaning no simultaneous multithreading. The Intel chip has 6 cores and 12 threads, doubling its logical thread count. This alone explains much of the multithreaded performance gap. The AMD chip's base clock is 2.10 GHz with a boost of 3.70 GHz, while the Intel chip runs at 2.50 GHz base and 4.50 GHz boost.

Cache hierarchies are also different. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U has 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3. The Intel Core 5 120 has 80 KB of L1 per core, a much larger 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3. The Intel chip's 4.5x larger L3 cache is a significant factor in its data-heavy benchmark wins.

Memory support diverges as well. The AMD chip supports only DDR4 on a dual-channel bus with a recorded bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The Intel chip supports both DDR4 and DDR5 on a dual-channel bus, with no bandwidth figure recorded in the database. PCIe generation differs: the AMD chip uses Gen 3, while the Intel chip uses Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes.

The integrated graphics also differ. The AMD chip uses Radeon Vega 8, while the Intel chip uses UHD Graphics 730. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier. The AMD part is marked as mobile with an AMD Socket FP5, while the Intel part is desktop with an Intel Socket 1700. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $211.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more threads?

A: The Intel Core 5 120 has 12 threads from 6 cores. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U has 4 threads from 4 cores.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two?

A: The largest delta is in passmark_extended_instructions, where the Intel Core 5 120 leads by 77%. It scores 14264 against the AMD chip's 3274.

Q: Does the AMD chip win any benchmark?

A: No. The Intel Core 5 120 wins all 11 head-to-head comparisons in the database, from data compression to floating point math.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U averages 14320, while the Intel Core 5 120 averages 25362. The Intel part also has a higher percentile ranking, at 77 versus 69 for the AMD chip.

Q: Are these processors in the same market segment?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U is classified as Mobile, while the Intel Core 5 120 is classified as Desktop.

Q: What memory types does each support?

A: The AMD chip supports DDR4 only. The Intel chip supports both DDR4 and DDR5.

Specification Differences

The specifications that differ between the two parts are numerous and fundamental. Core and thread counts are the most obvious: 4 cores and 4 threads for the AMD, 6 cores and 12 threads for the Intel. Clock speeds follow, with the AMD chip at 2.10 GHz base and 3.70 GHz boost, versus 2.50 GHz base and 4.50 GHz boost for the Intel chip.

Power draw is a major differentiator. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U has a TDP of 15 watts, while the Intel Core 5 120 has a TDP of 65 watts. This 50-watt gap reflects their intended environments: thin-and-light laptops versus desktop towers.

Process node and foundry differ: the AMD chip is on 12 nm at GlobalFoundries, the Intel chip on 10 nm at Intel. Die size goes to the Intel part, which is smaller at 163 mm² versus 210 mm². The AMD chip uses 4,940 million transistors; no transistor count is recorded for the Intel part.

Cache allocations are distinct. The AMD chip has 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3. The Intel chip has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3.

Memory support diverges in both type and bandwidth. The AMD chip only takes DDR4 with a recorded 38.4 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel chip takes DDR4 and DDR5, with no bandwidth figure recorded. PCIe also differs: Gen 3 for AMD, Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes for Intel.

The integrated graphics units are different: Radeon Vega 8 for AMD, UHD Graphics 730 for Intel. Socket types are incompatible: AMD Socket FP5 versus Intel Socket 1700. Release dates also differ, though the database records the AMD chip as being released later. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $211, while no MSRP is recorded for the AMD part.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core 5 120's dominance is consistent across every test, but the margins vary by workload. The largest gap is in passmark_extended_instructions at 77%, where the Intel chip scores 14264 to the AMD's 3274. This test likely stresses AVX2 and other vector instructions, and the Intel chip's newer architecture plus 8 extra threads makes the outcome lopsided.

The smallest gap is in passmark_single_thread, where the Intel chip scores 3595 against 2136, a 40.6% delta. This indicates that per-core IPC is closer than the other metrics suggest, even though the Intel chip still holds a comfortable lead.

Data compression shows the Intel chip at 219535 versus 87380, a 60.2% advantage. Encryption is closer in percentage terms: the Intel chip scores 11131 against 5580, a 49.9% lead. Random string sorting shows the Intel chip at 21499 against 10414, a 51.6% advantage.

Integer math goes to the Intel chip at 60462 versus 26321, a 56.5% lead. Floating point math is a 72% gap, with the Intel chip scoring 45383 against 12707. Finding prime numbers shows the Intel chip at 77 against 21, a 72.7% delta. Physics simulation shows the Intel chip at 1333 against 483, a 63.8% lead.

The multithread score is particularly telling. The Intel Core 5 120 scores 18597 against the AMD's 7071, a 62% difference. This reflects the thread count disparity: 12 threads versus 4. The AMD chip's lack of SMT means it cannot extract extra work from its 4 cores, while the Intel chip's 6 cores with Hyper-Threading effectively double its logical capacity.

The data shows a processor designed for a different purpose. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U, with its 15W TDP, is built for battery life and modest workloads in mobile chassis. The Intel Core 5 120, with its 65W TDP and desktop socket, is built for sustained performance in a powered environment. The benchmark results confirm this: the Intel chip wins every test, often by wide margins, and posts an average score 77% higher. The AMD chip, meanwhile, sits near the 69th percentile of all CPUs, competitive with other low-power parts but not in the same performance class as the Intel desktop offering.