AMD Ryzen 5 7533HS vs Intel Core 5 120 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Core 5 120 wins every single recorded comparison. Across all 17 head-to-head tests, the AMD Ryzen 5 7533HS trails by margins ranging from 3.7% to 38.7%. This is not a close contest; the Intel part is consistently faster in both single-threaded and multi-threaded workloads.

The largest gaps appear in floating-point and physics workloads. In PassMark floating point math, the Ryzen 5 7533HS scores 27,800 against the Intel Core 5 120's 45,383, a 38.7% deficit. PassMark physics shows a similar 38.4% gap, with scores of 821 versus 1,333. Prime number finding also heavily favors Intel: 77 versus 48, a 37.7% difference. These three tests indicate that the Intel processor holds a substantial advantage in compute-intensive mathematical operations.

Cinebench results reinforce the same conclusion. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Intel Core 5 120 scores 18,255 while the AMD Ryzen 5 7533HS scores 12,342, a 32.4% lead for Intel. The single-core R23 test shows the same 32.4% delta, with scores of 2,577 versus 1,742. Cinebench R15 and R20, both single-core and multi-core variants, all show exactly the same 32.4% advantage for Intel, which points to a consistent architectural performance gap rather than workload-specific quirks.

The narrower margins offer some perspective. PassMark data encryption shows only a 3.7% difference (11,131 versus 10,718), the closest result in the entire comparison. Integer math is also relatively tight at 16% (60,462 versus 50,800), and random string sorting shows a 17.8% gap (21,499 versus 17,669). These smaller deltas indicate that the AMD chip is more competitive in integer-heavy and encryption workloads, though it still loses every contest.

PassMark multi-thread and extended instructions follow the broader trend. The Intel part scores 18,597 versus 14,520 in multi-thread, a 21.9% lead, and 14,264 versus 11,219 in extended instructions, a 21.3% lead. Data compression shows a 23.2% advantage for Intel (219,535 versus 168,692), while single-thread performance sits at 3,595 versus 2,740, a 23.8% gap. The aggregate picture: the Intel Core 5 120 delivers roughly a quarter to a third more performance in most workloads, with the widest margins in floating-point-heavy tasks.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design lineages. The AMD Ryzen 5 7533HS uses the Zen 3+ architecture, codenamed Rembrandt-R, built on a 6 nm process at TSMC. The Intel Core 5 120 uses Raptor Lake, specifically Raptor Lake-R, built on Intel's 10 nm process. Both parts have 6 cores and 12 threads, so the thread count is identical, but the underlying implementations diverge sharply.

Cache configurations differ in both size and organization. The AMD chip provides 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. The Intel chip offers 80 KB of L1 per core, a much larger 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3. The Intel part therefore has more L1 and L2 per core, plus 2 MB more shared L3, which helps explain its consistent lead in cache-sensitive workloads.

Clock speeds tell a similar story. The AMD Ryzen 5 7533HS has a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. The Intel Core 5 120 has a lower base clock of 2.50 GHz but a higher boost clock of 4.50 GHz. The higher boost ceiling on the Intel part contributes to its single-thread advantage, while the higher AMD base clock does not compensate in the recorded benchmarks.

Memory support also differs. The AMD chip supports only DDR5, while the Intel chip supports both DDR4 and DDR5. Both use dual-channel memory buses. The AMD part lists a memory bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s; the Intel part has no bandwidth figure recorded in the database. Neither processor supports ECC memory.

PCIe connectivity is another differentiator. The AMD Ryzen 5 7533HS offers PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes from the CPU. The Intel Core 5 120 offers PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The AMD part provides more lanes, but the Intel part provides a newer PCIe generation, which matters for high-bandwidth devices such as modern GPUs and NVMe storage.

The integrated graphics solutions are distinct as well. The AMD chip uses a Radeon 660M, while the Intel chip uses UHD Graphics 730. Both are integrated into their respective processors, but the database records no direct graphics benchmarks for either, so any comparison of iGPU performance would be speculative.

Market positioning and platform differ fundamentally. The AMD Ryzen 5 7533HS is a mobile processor on AMD Socket FP7, listed with a 35 W TDP. The Intel Core 5 120 is a desktop processor on Intel Socket 1700, listed with a 65 W TDP. The AMD chip belongs to the 7000 series, while the Intel chip has no series designation but is part of the Raptor Lake Refresh generation. The AMD part's die size is 208 mm²; the Intel part's die size is 163 mm². The AMD part's part number includes both FP7 and FP7r2 variants; the Intel part's part number is SA35V.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core 5 120 wins every multi-core test. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 18,255 versus 12,342 for the AMD Ryzen 5 7533HS, a 32.4% lead. PassMark multi-thread shows 18,597 versus 14,520, a 21.9% advantage.

Q: How do the single-core scores compare?

A: The Intel Core 5 120 leads by 32.4% in Cinebench R23 single-core (2,577 versus 1,742) and by 23.8% in PassMark single-thread (3,595 versus 2,740). The Intel part's higher 4.50 GHz boost clock, versus 4.40 GHz on the AMD chip, supports this result.

Q: What is the closest benchmark result between the two?

A: PassMark data encryption shows the smallest gap. The Intel Core 5 120 scores 11,131 and the AMD Ryzen 5 7533HS scores 10,718, a 3.7% difference. This is the only test where the margin drops below 10%.

Q: Do both processors have the same core and thread counts?

A: Yes, both have 6 cores and 12 threads. The performance differences therefore come from architecture, clocks, cache, and platform, not from core or thread counts.

Q: What is the TDP difference?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7533HS is rated at 35 W and is a mobile processor. The Intel Core 5 120 is rated at 65 W and is a desktop processor. The higher TDP on the Intel part aligns with its higher performance in all recorded tests.

Q: Which processor supports PCIe Gen 5?

A: The Intel Core 5 120 supports PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The AMD Ryzen 5 7533HS supports PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes from the CPU. The Intel part has the newer PCIe generation, while the AMD part offers more lanes.

The Verdict

The data shows a decisive win for the Intel Core 5 120. It wins all 17 head-to-head benchmarks, with an average benchmark score of 25,362 versus 19,364 for the AMD Ryzen 5 7533HS. The Intel part also sits in the 77th percentile of all CPUs, while the AMD part sits in the 73rd percentile. The nearest rivals for the Intel Core 5 120 include the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D and the Intel Core i7-11700KF, with average scores within 0.3% of its own, which indicates that the Intel Core 5 120 slots into a familiar desktop performance tier. The nearest rivals for the AMD Ryzen 5 7533HS include the Intel Core Ultra 5 226V and the Intel Core i7-8700K, with average scores within 0.7%, placing the AMD chip in a lower performance class.

The AMD Ryzen 5 7533HS is not without merit. Its 35 W TDP makes it suited to mobile platforms, and its 76.8 GB/s memory bandwidth is a concrete specification. But the benchmark record does not show a single workload where it outperforms the Intel Core 5 120. The closest it comes is data encryption, where the 3.7% gap is the narrowest recorded. For any user choosing between these two based on measured performance, the Intel Core 5 120 is the stronger processor. The AMD part's advantages are platform-level (mobile socket, lower TDP) rather than performance-level.

The Intel Core 5 120 also benefits from a higher boost clock (4.50 GHz versus 4.40 GHz), larger per-core L2 cache (1.25 MB versus 512 KB), more shared L3 (18 MB versus 16 MB), and PCIe Gen 5 support. These architectural advantages are consistent with the benchmark outcomes. The AMD part's 6 nm process and TSMC foundry do not translate into a performance edge in the recorded data. The verdict from the measurements is clear: choose Intel for performance, and choose AMD only if the mobile form factor and lower TDP are the deciding factors.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 5 7533HS | Intel Core 5 120 |

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

| Base clock | 3.30 GHz | 2.50 GHz |

| Boost clock | 4.40 GHz | 4.50 GHz |

| TDP | 35 W | 65 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FP7 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Process node | 6 nm | 10 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Die size | 208 mm² | 163 mm² |

| L1 cache (per core) | 64 KB | 80 KB |

| L2 cache (per core) | 512 KB | 1.25 MB |

| L3 cache (shared) | 16 MB | 18 MB |

| Memory support | DDR5 | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory bandwidth | 76.8 GB/s | Not recorded |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 20 Lanes | Gen 5, 16 Lanes |

| Integrated graphics | Radeon 660M | UHD Graphics 730 |

| Market segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Release date | 2024-08-31 | 2025-07-30 |

| Launch MSRP | Not recorded | $211 |

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 5 120 wins every benchmark category in the database. Its largest margins come in floating-point math (38.7% ahead), physics (38.4% ahead), and prime number finding (37.7% ahead). These are compute-heavy workloads that benefit from the Intel part's higher boost clock, larger cache hierarchy, and higher 65 W TDP. The Intel part also leads by 32.4% across all Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 tests, covering both single-core and multi-core rendering workloads. For users running CPU-bound desktop applications, rendering tasks, or numerical simulations, the Intel Core 5 120 is the clear choice.

The AMD Ryzen 5 7533HS has no benchmark wins, but its strengths lie outside the measured tests. As a mobile processor with a 35 W TDP on AMD Socket FP7, it is designed for laptops and compact systems where power draw matters more than peak performance. Its 76.8 GB/s memory bandwidth is a recorded specification that the Intel part lacks, and its PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes provides more CPU-attached lanes than the Intel part's 16 lanes. The AMD chip also uses a 6 nm TSMC process, which is a smaller node than Intel's 10 nm process, though this does not produce a performance advantage in the recorded data.

The narrowest Intel win, data encryption at 3.7%, suggests that the AMD chip is least disadvantaged in encryption-type workloads. Users with workloads that are heavily encryption-bound may find the gap acceptable, especially if the mobile form factor and lower TDP are priorities. However, for every other test in the database, the margin is at least 16%, and in many cases exceeds 30%. The use-case split is therefore not about which processor is faster in any workload, but about platform requirements: the AMD Ryzen 5 7533HS serves mobile systems with lower power envelopes, while the Intel Core 5 120 serves desktop systems that can accommodate a 65 W TDP and benefit from the substantial performance lead it delivers.