AMD Ryzen 7 5700 vs Intel Core 5 120 Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 7 5700 and Intel Core 5 120 are two desktop processors aimed at similar mainstream workloads, yet they deliver distinctly different performance profiles. Benchmark data shows the AMD Ryzen 7 5700 winning 13 of the 17 head-to-head comparisons, while the Intel Core 5 120 takes the remaining 4. The Ryzen 7 5700’s average benchmark score of 25,517 places it at the 78th percentile of all CPUs, marginally ahead of the Core 5 120’s average of 25,362 at the 77th percentile. These figures put both processors in a tight overall performance bracket, but the distribution of wins across specific tasks reveals important differences in workload suitability.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher multi-threaded performance score in Cinebench R23?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 5700 scores 20,655 in Cinebench R23 multicore, which is 13.1% higher than the Intel Core 5 120’s score of 18,255.

Q: Does the Intel Core 5 120 win any benchmark categories?

A: Yes, the Intel Core 5 120 wins 4 head-to-head tests: PassMark single-thread (3,595 vs 3,296), PassMark physics (1,333 vs 984), and PassMark find prime numbers (77 vs 58), with the single-thread result appearing twice.

Q: What is the largest performance margin between the two processors?

A: The largest margin is in PassMark data encryption, where the AMD Ryzen 7 5700 scores 20,096 compared to the Intel Core 5 120’s 11,131, a difference of 80.5%.

Q: How do the two processors compare in overall average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 5700 has an average benchmark score of 25,517, while the Intel Core 5 120 averages 25,362. This puts the Ryzen 7 5700 slightly ahead, with its nearest rival being the Intel Xeon D-2752TER at a -0.1% delta.

Q: Which processor has a higher core count?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 5700 has 8 cores and 16 threads, whereas the Intel Core 5 120 has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: Are both processors currently in production?

A: Yes, both the AMD Ryzen 7 5700 and the Intel Core 5 120 have an active production status.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 7 5700 is built on the Zen 3 architecture with the Cezanne codename, manufactured on a 7 nm process by TSMC. It features 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. The Intel Core 5 120 uses the Raptor Lake architecture (Raptor Lake-R codename) on Intel’s 10 nm process, with 6 cores and 12 threads, a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz. These architectural differences are reflected in cache configurations: the Ryzen 7 5700 has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of L3 cache, while the Core 5 120 has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3 cache.

The memory support also diverges significantly. The Ryzen 7 5700 supports only DDR4 memory with a dual-channel bus and a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, plus ECC memory support. The Core 5 120 supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory with a dual-channel bus, but does not support ECC memory. In terms of PCIe, the AMD chip offers Gen 3 with 20 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel chip provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The Core 5 120 includes integrated UHD Graphics 730, whereas the Ryzen 7 5700 has no integrated graphics. The Ryzen 7 5700 has an unlocked multiplier, while the Core 5 120 is locked. Process node sizes differ at 7 nm for AMD versus 10 nm for Intel, and the die sizes measure 180 mm² for the Ryzen and 163 mm² for the Core 5.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The AMD Ryzen 7 5700 dominates multi-threaded workloads across the Cinebench suite. In Cinebench R15 multicore, it scores 2,082 versus 1,840, a 13.2% advantage. This pattern holds in R20 (8,675 vs 7,667) and R23 (20,655 vs 18,255), both showing a 13.1% lead. Single-core Cinebench results follow the same trend: the Ryzen 7 5700 leads by 13.1% in R15 (293 vs 259), R20 (1,224 vs 1,082), and 13.2% in R23 (2,916 vs 2,577). The consistency of these margins suggests a fundamental per-clock advantage for the AMD architecture in rendering-style tasks.

PassMark results show even larger gaps in several specialized workloads. The Ryzen 7 5700 wins data compression with a score of 316,699 against 219,535, a 44.3% margin. Data encryption shows the biggest divergence at 80.5% (20,096 vs 11,131). Extended instructions favor the AMD chip by 53.8% (21,945 vs 14,264), and random string sorting by 54.1% (33,138 vs 21,499). Integer math sees a 49% advantage for the Ryzen 7 5700 (90,091 vs 60,462), while floating-point math is closer but still leads by 13.3% (51,427 vs 45,383). The PassMark multithread score confirms the overall trend with a 30.7% lead (24,303 vs 18,597).

The Intel Core 5 120’s wins are fewer but notable. In PassMark single-thread, it scores 3,595 against 3,296, an 8.3% advantage. PassMark physics shows a 26.2% lead for Intel (1,333 vs 984), and find prime numbers favors Intel by 24.7% (77 vs 58). These results indicate that the Core 5 120 has a distinct edge in certain single-core and physics-based calculations, despite losing the overall benchmark count.

The Verdict

The data clearly favors the AMD Ryzen 7 5700 for users whose workloads are dominated by multi-threaded processing, data compression, encryption, and integer math. Its 13.1–13.2% lead across all Cinebench versions, combined with 44.3–80.5% advantages in PassMark data tasks, makes it the stronger choice for content creation, database operations, and general productivity. The Intel Core 5 120, meanwhile, is the better option for workloads that rely on single-thread responsiveness or specific physics calculations, as evidenced by its 8.3% PassMark single-thread win and 26.2% physics lead. However, the Core 5 120’s wins are fewer and its overall average score is lower (25,362 vs 25,517). For a balanced desktop processor, the AMD Ryzen 7 5700 offers a more comprehensive performance package, with the Intel chip only being preferable in narrow use cases involving high-frequency single-core tasks.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specifications. The AMD Ryzen 7 5700 has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core 5 120 has 6 cores and 12 threads. Base clocks differ significantly: 3.70 GHz for the AMD versus 2.50 GHz for the Intel, though boost clocks are closer at 4.60 GHz and 4.50 GHz respectively. The AMD chip uses the AM4 socket, while the Intel chip uses Socket 1700. Process nodes vary with the AMD at 7 nm and the Intel at 10 nm. Cache layouts differ in L1 (64 KB vs 80 KB per core), L2 (512 KB vs 1.25 MB per core), and L3 (16 MB vs 18 MB shared). Memory support sees the AMD limited to DDR4, while the Intel supports DDR4 and DDR5. ECC memory is supported by the AMD but not the Intel. PCIe capabilities differ with the AMD offering Gen 3 with 20 lanes versus the Intel’s Gen 5 with 16 lanes. The Intel includes integrated UHD Graphics 730, which the AMD lacks. The AMD has an unlocked multiplier; the Intel is locked. The die sizes are 180 mm² for the AMD and 163 mm² for the Intel, and the AMD processor contains 10,700 million transistors (the Intel’s transistor count is not listed). The AMD’s launch MSRP is $179, while the Intel’s is $211.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 7 5700 is the clear victor in multi-threaded rendering, data compression, encryption, extended instruction sets, integer math, floating-point math, and random string sorting. Its 30.7% lead in PassMark multithread makes it suitable for video editing, 3D rendering, and any task that can utilize its 16 threads. The 80.5% encryption advantage points to strong performance in security-related workloads, while the 44.3% compression win benefits archiving and file management tasks. The Ryzen 7 5700’s 13.1–13.2% Cinebench leads make it the recommended choice for creative professionals using CPU-based renderers.

The Intel Core 5 120 wins in PassMark single-thread, physics, and prime number finding. Its 8.3% single-thread advantage suggests better responsiveness in lightly-threaded applications like older games or certain office software. The 26.2% physics win indicates potential for specific simulation or gaming physics workloads. The 24.7% lead in prime number finding points to advantages in certain mathematical or scientific computations. However, given that these wins represent only 4 of 17 benchmarks, the Intel chip’s strengths are narrower. Users prioritizing maximum single-core performance or running specific physics-based simulations may prefer the Core 5 120, but for all-around desktop computing, the AMD Ryzen 7 5700’s broader dominance across 13 benchmarks makes it the more versatile processor.