AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D vs Intel Core 5 120 Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D and Intel Core 5 120 are near-perfect statistical twins in aggregate, with the average benchmark score differing by only 0.01% (25365 vs 25362). However, this parity masks a starkly divergent performance profile. The data shows the Ryzen 5 5600X3D dominates in 14 of 17 head-to-head comparisons, including all Cinebench tests and most Passmark workloads, while the Intel Core 5 120 wins decisively in single-threaded Passmark tests and floating-point math. The 5600X3D is the pick for compute-heavy, multi-threaded, and data-processing tasks, whereas the Core 5 120 holds a clear edge in specific single-thread and FPU-bound scenarios. Both CPUs sit at the 77th percentile against all CPUs, with the 5600X3D's launch MSRP of $229 and the Core 5 120's launch MSRP of $211 placing them in the same performance tier.

The Verdict

The benchmark data presents a clear split decision. For users running multi-threaded rendering, data compression, encryption, or physics simulations, the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D is the superior choice by a wide margin. It leads the Core 5 120 by 17.7% in Passmark multithread, 84% in Passmark physics, and 36.3% in data encryption. Conversely, the Intel Core 5 120 is the better option for workloads that rely heavily on single-core responsiveness and floating-point arithmetic, where it leads by 11.3% in Passmark single-thread and 17.4% in floating-point math. The aggregate scores are nearly identical, but the distribution of wins is not. The 5600X3D is a specialized multi-threaded workhorse; the Core 5 120 is a more balanced, single-thread-leaning processor. Given the 5600X3D wins 14 out of 17 tests, it is the recommended default for most productivity and content-creation tasks, while the Core 5 120 should be reserved for users who specifically need its single-thread and FPU strengths. The Core 5 120 is also the only one of the two with integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 730), which could be a deciding factor for systems without a discrete GPU.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different architectures. The AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D uses the Zen 3 architecture, codenamed Vermeer, fabricated on a 7 nm process by TSMC. Its die size is 74 mm². The Intel Core 5 120 uses the Raptor Lake architecture, specifically Raptor Lake-R, on Intel's 10 nm process, with a significantly larger die size of 163 mm². Both CPUs have 6 cores and 12 threads, but their cache hierarchies diverge sharply. The 5600X3D features 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and a massive 96 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core 5 120 has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, but only 18 MB of shared L3 cache. This 78 MB difference in L3 cache is the defining architectural distinction, explaining the 5600X3D's dominance in data-intensive workloads. Clock speeds also differ: the 5600X3D has a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost of 4.40 GHz, while the Core 5 120 has a lower base of 2.50 GHz but a higher boost of 4.50 GHz. The 5600X3D has a TDP of 105 W, compared to the Core 5 120's 65 W. Platform support diverges as well, with the 5600X3D on AMD Socket AM4 supporting DDR4 memory and ECC, while the Core 5 120 uses Intel Socket 1700, supports both DDR4 and DDR5, and does not support ECC. The AMD part offers PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes, while the Intel part offers PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes. The 5600X3D has no integrated graphics, whereas the Core 5 120 includes UHD Graphics 730.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D wins across all Cinebench tests, indicating a clear advantage in rendering and CPU-intensive compute tasks. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 18603 is 1.9% higher than the Core 5 120's 18255. The margin is consistent at 1.8-1.9% across R15, R20, and R23, suggesting a uniform multi-threaded efficiency advantage. The 5600X3D also dominates in Passmark data compression (247365 vs 219535, +12.7%), data encryption (15170 vs 11131, +36.3%), extended instructions (17102 vs 14264, +19.9%), prime number finding (181 vs 77, +135.1%), integer math (65587 vs 60462, +8.5%), multithread (21888 vs 18597, +17.7%), physics (2453 vs 1333, +84%), and random string sorting (24597 vs 21499, +14.4%). These wins point to the 96 MB L3 cache being instrumental in keeping large datasets close to the cores.

The Intel Core 5 120 wins in only three tests, but they are notable. It leads in Passmark single-thread (3595 vs 3187, +11.3%), which aligns with its higher 4.50 GHz boost clock. It also wins in Passmark floating-point math (45383 vs 37464, +17.4%), a significant margin that suggests a different FPU implementation. These two wins indicate that for lightly-threaded tasks and FPU-heavy calculations, the Intel part is faster. The Core 5 120 does not win any Cinebench test, even single-core, where the 5600X3D's 2626 R23 score edges out its 2577.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has a higher aggregate benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D has an average benchmark score of 25365, while the Intel Core 5 120 has 25362. The difference is 0.01%, making them statistically tied.

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D better for multi-threaded workloads?

A: Yes. The 5600X3D wins the Passmark multithread test with a score of 21888 against 18597, a 17.7% advantage. It also wins all Cinebench multi-core tests by 1.9%.

Q: Does the Intel Core 5 120 have any advantages?

A: Yes, it wins in Passmark single-thread (3595 vs 3187, +11.3%) and Passmark floating-point math (45383 vs 37464, +17.4%). It also has integrated UHD Graphics 730, which the 5600X3D lacks.

Q: How do their cache sizes compare?

A: The 5600X3D has 96 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Core 5 120 has 18 MB of shared L3 cache. The 5600X3D also has 512 KB L2 per core, while the Core 5 120 has 1.25 MB per core.

Q: Which CPU supports DDR5 memory?

A: Only the Intel Core 5 120 supports DDR5, along with DDR4. The AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D supports only DDR4 memory.

Q: What is the biggest single benchmark margin between the two?

A: The largest gap is in Passmark find prime numbers, where the 5600X3D scores 181 versus the Core 5 120's 77, a 135.1% difference in favor of AMD.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data reveals a consistent pattern of AMD dominance, punctuated by two significant Intel victories. Starting with the Cinebench suite, the 5600X3D wins all six tests. In Cinebench R15, it scores 1875 multi-core and 264 single-core, versus 1840 and 259 for the Core 5 120, each a 1.9% edge. This pattern repeats in R20 (7813 vs 7667 multi-core, 1102 vs 1082 single-core) and R23 (18603 vs 18255 multi-core, 2626 vs 2577 single-core). The AMD part's advantage is remarkably uniform at 1.8-1.9% across all Cinebench tests, indicating a consistent architectural efficiency gain rather than a workload-specific one.

The Passmark suite tells a more lopsided story. In data compression, the 5600X3D scores 247365 against 219535, a 12.7% win. Data encryption sees a 36.3% gap (15170 vs 11131). Extended instructions show a 19.9% difference (17102 vs 14264). The most extreme result is in find prime numbers, where the 5600X3D's 181 crushes the Core 5 120's 77, a 135.1% margin. Integer math favors AMD by 8.5% (65587 vs 60462). The multithread test shows a 17.7% AMD lead (21888 vs 18597). Physics is another blowout, with the 5600X3D scoring 2453 versus 1333, an 84% difference. Random string sorting shows a 14.4% AMD advantage (24597 vs 21499).

The Intel Core 5 120's wins are concentrated but decisive. In Passmark single-thread, it scores 3595 against 3187, an 11.3% lead. The floating-point math test shows a 17.4% Intel advantage (45383 vs 37464). These are the only two unique tests Intel wins (the single-thread and singlethread entries are identical scores). Notably, the Core 5 120's floating-point win is the second-largest margin in the entire comparison, suggesting a fundamentally different FPU design. The final tally is 14 wins for the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D and 3 for the Intel Core 5 120.