AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D vs Intel Core 5 120U Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor achieves the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D records an average benchmark score of 44573, while the Intel Core 5 120U records 17898. The AMD part sits at the 89th percentile of all CPUs, whereas the Intel part sits at the 72nd percentile.

Q: How large is the multithread performance gap between the two chips?

A: In the PassMark multithread test, the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D scores 25047 versus 15042 for the Intel Core 5 120U, a 66.5% advantage for AMD.

Q: Are the two processors close in single-thread performance?

A: They are nearly identical. The AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D scores 3494 in PassMark single-thread, and the Intel Core 5 120U scores 3479, a delta of only 0.4% in favor of AMD.

Q: Which chip offers more L3 cache?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D has 96 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel Core 5 120U has 12 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D has 6 cores and 12 threads. The Intel Core 5 120U has 10 cores and 12 threads.

Q: Does the Intel part support ECC memory?

A: No. The Intel Core 5 120U does not support ECC memory, while the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D does.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design schools. The AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D is a desktop part built on the Raphael codename, using the Zen 4 microarchitecture. It is fabricated on a 5 nm process at TSMC with 11,270 million transistors on a 71 mm² die. The Intel Core 5 120U is a mobile part built on the Raptor Lake-U codename, using the Raptor Lake architecture. It is fabricated on a 10 nm process at Intel.

Core layout is a major distinction. The AMD chip uses 6 full-size cores with simultaneous multithreading, producing 12 threads. The Intel chip uses 10 physical cores but also produces 12 threads, indicating a hybrid arrangement where some cores handle lighter workloads while others handle heavier ones. The AMD chip runs all cores at a base clock of 4.00 GHz and boosts to 4.50 GHz. The Intel part starts at 1.40 GHz base and boosts to 5.00 GHz, a much wider frequency range.

Cache hierarchies differ sharply. The AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D provides 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 96 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel Core 5 120U provides 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and only 12 MB of shared L3. The AMD chip's 96 MB L3 is eight times the Intel part's L3 capacity, a defining feature for workloads that repeatedly access large data sets.

Memory support also diverges. The AMD chip supports DDR5 only, with dual-channel memory and a rated bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s. The Intel chip supports both DDR4 and DDR5, also dual-channel, but no bandwidth figure is recorded in the database. ECC memory is available on the AMD part but not on the Intel part.

PCIe connectivity is another split. The AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D offers Gen 5 with 24 lanes from the CPU. The Intel Core 5 120U offers Gen 4 with 8 lanes from the CPU. Integrated graphics differ as well: the AMD part includes Radeon Graphics, while the Intel part includes Iris Xe Graphics 80EU.

The AMD processor is a desktop part on Socket AM5, released in November 2025. The Intel processor is a mobile part on BGA 1744, released in January 2024. Both are listed as Active in production status, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data shows a clean sweep: the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D wins all 11 head-to-head comparisons against the Intel Core 5 120U. The Intel part does not claim a single victory in any recorded test. This makes the use-case split one-sided, but the magnitude of the wins varies by workload type.

The AMD chip dominates heavily in tasks that stress memory access and parallel execution. In extended instructions, it scores 20455 versus 9299, a 120% advantage. In prime number finding, it scores 221 versus 53, a 317% advantage. In physics simulation, it scores 2779 versus 937, a 196.6% advantage. These results confirm that the large L3 cache and the Zen 4 cores handle data-intensive and physics-style workloads far better.

The Intel part's closest showing comes in single-thread performance, where it trails by only 0.4%. For tasks that depend on one core with minimal memory traffic, the Intel chip is effectively on par with the AMD chip. The Intel part also holds up reasonably in floating-point math, trailing by 21% in that test.

For the Intel Core 5 120U, the strongest case is its much lower thermal envelope. Its TDP is 15 watts versus 65 watts for the AMD chip. That makes it suitable for thin-and-light mobile systems where sustained heavy load is not the primary requirement. But the recorded benchmark data indicates that whenever a workload can use multiple threads or benefit from large cache, the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D pulls far ahead.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D | Intel Core 5 120U |

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

| Cores | 6 | 10 |

| Base Clock | 4.00 GHz | 1.40 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.50 GHz | 5.00 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 15 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM5 | Intel BGA 1744 |

| Codename | Raphael | Raptor Lake-U |

| Generation | Ryzen 5 (Zen 4) | Core 5 (Raptor Lake-U) |

| Process Node | 5 nm | 10 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Transistors | 11,270 million | Not recorded |

| Die Size | 71 mm² | Not recorded |

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

| L2 Cache | 1 MB per core | 1.25 MB per core |

| L3 Cache | 96 MB shared | 12 MB shared |

| Memory Support | DDR5 | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 83.2 GB/s | Not recorded |

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 24 lanes | Gen 4, 8 lanes |

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

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Release Date | 2025-11-11 | 2024-01-07 |

| Launch MSRP | $269 | Not recorded |

| Part Number | 100-000001904 | SRM7P |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The PassMark suite reveals a consistent pattern. The AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D wins every test, but the margins vary dramatically.

The largest gap appears in prime number finding. AMD scores 221 versus Intel's 53, a 317% delta. This test is highly sensitive to cache latency and branch prediction, both strengths of the Zen 4 architecture with its massive 96 MB L3. In physics simulation, AMD scores 2779 versus 937, a 196.6% delta. Physics workloads often iterate over large datasets, again favoring the AMD chip's cache capacity.

Extended instructions show a 120% advantage for AMD, with scores of 20455 versus 9299. This test exercises SIMD and special instruction paths, where the Zen 4 cores are clearly stronger. Random string sorting gives AMD a 73.1% lead, with scores of 32999 versus 19060. Multithread performance shows a 66.5% gap, 25047 versus 15042, despite both chips having 12 threads. The AMD chip's larger cores and higher base clock matter more than the Intel chip's extra physical cores.

Data compression shows a 63.2% advantage for AMD, 271649 versus 166432. Data encryption shows a 51.1% gap, 15797 versus 10453. Integer math gives AMD a 35.4% lead, 70774 versus 52280. Floating-point math is the closest of the heavy workloads, with AMD ahead by 21%, 43594 versus 36026.

The narrowest margin is single-thread performance. AMD scores 3494 and Intel scores 3479, a 0.4% delta. This means that for lightly threaded applications, the two chips are interchangeable in performance. The Intel Core 5 120U's 5.00 GHz boost clock nearly cancels the AMD chip's architectural efficiency at the single-core level.

The average benchmark score difference is substantial. AMD averages 44573, while Intel averages 17898. The nearest rivals for the AMD chip are the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H at 44466 (0.2% behind), the Intel Core i9-13950HX at 44342 (0.5% behind), the AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 at 44309 (0.6% behind), and the Intel Core i5-14600 at 44889 (0.7% ahead). The Intel Core 5 120U's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT at 17891 (0.0% delta), the Intel Core 5 221TE at 17860 (0.2% behind), the AMD Ryzen 5 1600 at 17994 (0.5% ahead), and the Intel Core 7 350 at 17779 (0.7% behind).

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous. The AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D wins all 11 head-to-head benchmark comparisons against the Intel Core 5 120U. The AMD part delivers an average benchmark score that is roughly 2.5 times higher, and it holds the 89th percentile ranking versus the 72nd for Intel.

Buyers who need desktop performance with heavy multithreaded workloads, large data sets, or physics-based calculations should select the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D. Its 96 MB L3 cache and 65 W TDP make it a strong choice for systems where power draw is not the limiting factor. It also supports ECC memory and PCIe Gen 5, which matter for reliability-conscious and storage-heavy builds.

Buyers who need a mobile processor with a 15 W TDP should consider the Intel Core 5 120U. Its single-thread score is within 0.4% of the AMD chip, so everyday lightly threaded tasks will feel similar. The Intel part also supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, offering flexibility for system designers. However, the recorded data shows no benchmark category where the Intel chip wins, so any workload that scales beyond a single thread will favor AMD by a wide margin.

For single-thread responsiveness, the two chips are effectively tied. For everything else, the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D is the clear choice based on the measured results. The Intel Core 5 120U remains a viable low-power mobile option, but its performance ceiling is far below that of the AMD desktop part.