AMD Ryzen 5 4600G vs Intel Core 5 120U Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark database shows two processors with nearly identical overall standing, but with sharply different performance profiles. The Intel Core 5 120U holds a 72nd percentile rank across all CPUs, while the AMD Ryzen 5 4600G sits at the 71st percentile. The average benchmark scores are close, with the Intel part at 17898 and the AMD part at 17507, a difference of roughly 2.2%. Neither chip dominates the other outright; instead, the data points to two distinct usage scenarios.

The Intel Core 5 120U is the choice for single-thread responsiveness and specific math workloads. It wins 8 of the 19 recorded head-to-head tests, including all single-thread oriented PassMark tests, Cinebench R15 single-core, and Geekbench single-core. The AMD Ryzen 5 4600G wins 11 tests, with decisive margins in multi-threaded Cinebench R23, data compression, and extended instruction workloads. For buyers who prioritize sustained multi-core rendering or compression tasks, the AMD part is clearly superior. For users who need fast single-thread execution, prime number calculations, or floating-point math, the Intel chip leads.

The market segments reinforce the split. The Intel Core 5 120U is a mobile part with a 15 W TDP, while the AMD Ryzen 5 4600G is a desktop part with a 65 W TDP. The database does not support a universal winner. The verdict depends entirely on whether the workload favors the Intel part's per-core efficiency or the AMD part's raw multi-core throughput.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 5 120U takes the single-thread crown across multiple test suites. In Geekbench single-core, it scores 1727 against 1460 for the AMD part, a lead of 18.3%. PassMark single-thread shows 3479 against 2653, a 31.1% advantage. Cinebench R15 single-core also favors Intel, 245 to 193, a 26.9% margin. The Intel chip wins PassMark floating-point math with 36026 versus 29947, a 20.3% edge. It also wins PassMark find prime numbers by a remarkable 65.6%, scoring 53 to 32. PassMark physics goes to Intel as well, 937 to 676, a 38.6% lead. PassMark integer math is a narrow Intel win, 52280 to 50723, just 3.1% ahead.

The AMD Ryzen 5 4600G wins where thread count and sustained multi-core load matter. Cinebench R23 multicore is the largest gap, with AMD scoring 13593 against 6659, a 51% advantage. Cinebench R15 multicore also goes to AMD, 1370 to 1150.5, a 16% lead. Geekbench multicore favors AMD, 6637 to 5888, an 11.3% margin. PassMark data compression is an AMD win at 231426 versus 166432, 28.1% ahead. PassMark data encryption goes to AMD, 13572 to 10453, a 23% edge. PassMark extended instructions strongly favor AMD, 15280 to 9299, a 39.1% gap. PassMark random string sorting goes to AMD, 24246 to 19060, a 21.4% lead. PassMark multithread is a narrower AMD win, 15992 to 15042, a 5.9% margin. Cinebench R20 multicore and single-core both go to AMD, with the multicore score at 5709 versus 5349 (6.3% lead) and the single-core score at 805 versus 755 (6.2% lead). Cinebench R23 single-core also goes to AMD, 1919 to 1756.5, an 8.5% margin.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design philosophies and manufacturing ecosystems. The Intel Core 5 120U uses the Raptor Lake architecture on a 10 nm process fabricated by Intel itself. It has 10 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 1.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. The AMD Ryzen 5 4600G uses the Zen 2 architecture on a 7 nm process fabricated by TSMC. It has 6 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.20 GHz. The AMD part lists 9,800 million transistors on a 156 mm² die; the Intel part does not have transistor or die size figures in the database.

Cache layouts differ substantially. The Intel part has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD part has 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel chip therefore has more per-core L2 and more total L3, while the AMD chip relies on fewer cores with higher base clocks.

Memory support diverges as well. The Intel part supports both DDR4 and DDR5 in a dual-channel configuration. The AMD part supports only DDR4, also dual-channel, with a recorded memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. The Intel part has no memory bandwidth figure in the database. PCIe connectivity differs: the Intel chip offers Gen 4 with 8 CPU lanes, while the AMD chip offers Gen 3 with 20 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics differ, with Intel using Iris Xe Graphics 80EU and AMD using Radeon Vega 7.

The Intel part is a mobile processor on the Intel BGA 1744 socket with a 15 W TDP. The AMD part is a desktop processor on AMD Socket AM4 with a 65 W TDP. The AMD chip has an unlocked multiplier; the Intel chip does not. The Intel part launched in January 2024, while the AMD part launched in July 2020. The AMD part carries a launch MSRP of $154. The Intel part has no launch MSRP recorded. The AMD part is in the 4000 series, while the Intel part has no series designation beyond the Core 5 name.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core 5 120U leads in most single-thread tests. It wins Geekbench single-core by 18.3%, PassMark single-thread by 31.1%, and Cinebench R15 single-core by 26.9%. The AMD Ryzen 5 4600G wins Cinebench R20 single-core by 6.2% and Cinebench R23 single-core by 8.5%.

Q: Which processor is better for multi-threaded rendering?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 4600G wins the major multi-core tests. Cinebench R23 multicore shows a 51% AMD advantage, Cinebench R15 multicore shows a 16% AMD lead, and Geekbench multicore shows an 11.3% AMD lead. The Intel part trails in all three.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?

A: No. The Intel Core 5 120U supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the AMD Ryzen 5 4600G supports only DDR4. Both use dual-channel memory buses.

Q: How do their TDPs compare?

A: The Intel Core 5 120U is rated at 15 W and is a mobile part. The AMD Ryzen 5 4600G is rated at 65 W and is a desktop part. The database does not include any thermal or power consumption measurements beyond these TDP figures.

Q: Which chip has more cores?

A: The Intel Core 5 120U has 10 cores and 12 threads. The AMD Ryzen 5 4600G has 6 cores and 12 threads. Both present 12 threads to the operating system.

Q: Which processor ranks higher in the overall database?

A: The Intel Core 5 120U ranks at the 72nd percentile, and the AMD Ryzen 5 4600G ranks at the 71st percentile. The average benchmark scores are 17898 for Intel and 17507 for AMD.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single win in the comparison belongs to the AMD Ryzen 5 4600G in Cinebench R23 multicore. The AMD part scores 13593 against 6659 for the Intel part, a 51% delta. This is the defining result for the AMD chip and a strong indicator for heavily threaded workloads. Cinebench R15 multicore also shows a clear AMD advantage, 1370 to 1150.5, a 16% lead. Geekbench multicore adds another AMD win, 6637 to 5888, an 11.3% margin.

The Intel Core 5 120U counters with equally decisive wins in specialized tests. PassMark find prime numbers shows the largest Intel margin, 53 to 32, a 65.6% lead. PassMark physics goes to Intel by 38.6%, 937 to 676. PassMark single-thread gives Intel a 31.1% edge, 3479 to 2653. Cinebench R15 single-core favors Intel by 26.9%, 245 to 193. Geekbench single-core is an Intel win by 18.3%, 1727 to 1460. PassMark floating-point math goes to Intel by 20.3%, 36026 to 29947. PassMark integer math is a narrow Intel win, 52280 to 50723, a 3.1% gap.

The AMD part also wins the remaining multi-thread oriented PassMark tests. PassMark data compression is an AMD win by 28.1%, 231426 to 166432. PassMark data encryption goes to AMD by 23%, 13572 to 10453. PassMark extended instructions is a strong AMD win by 39.1%, 15280 to 9299. PassMark random string sorting goes to AMD by 21.4%, 24246 to 19060. PassMark multithread is a closer AMD win, 15992 to 15042, a 5.9% margin.

The Cinebench R20 results are split. AMD wins multicore, 5709 to 5349, a 6.3% lead, and also wins single-core, 805 to 755, a 6.2% lead. Cinebench R23 single-core is another AMD win, 1919 to 1756.5, an 8.5% margin. This means the AMD part holds the majority of the Cinebench and Geekbench suites, while the Intel part dominates the PassMark single-thread and math-specific tests. The final win tally is 11 for AMD and 8 for Intel across the 19 recorded head-to-head tests.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every core specification. The Intel Core 5 120U has 10 cores and 12 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 4600G has 6 cores and 12 threads. Base clocks are 1.40 GHz for Intel and 3.70 GHz for AMD. Boost clocks are 5.00 GHz for Intel and 4.20 GHz for AMD. TDP is 15 W for Intel and 65 W for AMD. The socket is Intel BGA 1744 for the Intel part and AMD Socket AM4 for the AMD part.

Architecture and process node differ completely. Intel uses Raptor Lake on a 10 nm node from Intel's own foundry. AMD uses Zen 2 on a 7 nm node from TSMC. The AMD chip has a recorded transistor count of 9,800 million and a die size of 156 mm², while the Intel chip has neither figure in the database.

Cache structures differ. Intel has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3. AMD has 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3. Memory support shows Intel with DDR4 and DDR5, AMD with DDR4 only. The AMD part has a recorded memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, while the Intel part has none listed. PCIe is Gen 4 with 8 lanes for Intel and Gen 3 with 20 lanes for AMD. Integrated graphics are Iris Xe Graphics 80EU for Intel and Radeon Vega 7 for AMD. The AMD multiplier is unlocked; the Intel multiplier is locked. The AMD part has a launch MSRP of $154; the Intel part has no recorded MSRP.