AMD Ryzen 7 5700U vs Intel Core 5 120U Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 5700U has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core 5 120U has 10 cores and 12 threads. The AMD part relies on symmetric multithreading to reach 16 threads, whereas the Intel part uses a hybrid arrangement that results in fewer total threads despite more physical cores.

Q: What is the difference in boost clock speed?

A: The Intel Core 5 120U boosts to 5.00 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen 7 5700U boosts to 4.30 GHz. The Intel part also has a lower base clock of 1.40 GHz compared to the AMD's 1.80 GHz base.

Q: Which processor wins in multi-core rendering tests?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 5700U wins in Cinebench R23 multi-core with a score of 8650 versus 6659 for the Intel Core 5 120U, a 29.9% advantage. It also leads in Cinebench R15 multi-core by 28.6% (1480 versus 1150.5).

Q: Which processor wins in single-core tests?

A: The Intel Core 5 120U wins decisively in single-core workloads. In Cinebench R23 single-core it scores 1756.5 versus 1258 for the AMD, a 28.4% lead. In Geekbench single-core, the Intel leads by 26% (1727 versus 1278).

Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen 7 5700U supports DDR4 only, while the Intel Core 5 120U supports both DDR4 and DDR5. Both use a dual-channel memory bus, but the AMD lists a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s while the Intel entry does not list a bandwidth figure.

Q: Which processor has the larger L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core 5 120U has 12 MB of shared L3 cache, while the AMD Ryzen 7 5700U has 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel part also has a larger L1 cache per core (80 KB versus 64 KB) and a larger L2 cache per core (1.25 MB versus 512 KB).

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 7 5700U is built on TSMC's 7 nm process and uses the Zen 2 architecture under the Lucienne codename. It belongs to the 5000 series and houses 9,800 million transistors on a 156 mm² die. The Intel Core 5 120U, by contrast, uses Intel's 10 nm process with the Raptor Lake architecture under the Raptor Lake-U codename.

The core configurations differ substantially. AMD provides 8 full cores with 16 threads, giving symmetric multi-threading across all cores. Intel provides 10 cores but only 12 threads, indicating a mix of performance and efficiency cores typical of the Raptor Lake-U lineup. This explains why the Intel part has more physical cores yet fewer threads than the AMD part.

Cache hierarchies also diverge. The AMD part allocates 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3. The Intel part allocates 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3. The larger per-core caches and bigger L3 pool on the Intel side reflect a different design philosophy aimed at feeding a higher boost clock.

Memory support differs as well. AMD lists DDR4 support only, while Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5. Both run dual-channel memory. The AMD part lists a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s; the Intel part does not have a bandwidth figure in the database. The AMD processor connects via PCIe Gen 3 with 12 CPU lanes, while the Intel processor uses PCIe Gen 4 with 8 CPU lanes.

Integrated graphics also differ. AMD includes Radeon Graphics with 512 shader processors, while Intel includes Iris Xe Graphics with 80 execution units. Both are mobile parts with a 15 W TDP. The AMD socket is AMD Socket FP6, the Intel socket is Intel BGA 1744. The AMD processor was released in January 2021, the Intel processor in January 2024. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear split by workload type. For multi-threaded rendering and compute, the AMD Ryzen 7 5700U is the stronger choice. It wins Cinebench R23 multi-core by 29.9% and Cinebench R15 multi-core by 28.6%. It also leads in PassMark multithread by 3.9%, integer math by 14.8%, data compression by 31.5%, data encryption by 20.1%, extended instructions by 45.4%, and random string sorting by 23.9%.

For single-thread responsiveness and single-core performance, the Intel Core 5 120U is the better pick. It wins Cinebench R23 single-core by 28.4%, Cinebench R15 single-core by 23.3%, Geekbench single-core by 26%, PassMark single-thread by 26.4%, physics by 33.6%, find prime numbers by 45.3%, and floating-point math by 8%.

The Intel part also wins Geekbench multi-core by 9.6% (5888 versus 5323), a notable exception to the AMD's multi-thread dominance. Users who prioritize Python-style single-thread latency, spreadsheet responsiveness, or physics simulation should favor the Intel part. Users who render videos, compress large files, encrypt data, or run extended instruction workloads should favor the AMD part.

Both processors sit at the 72nd percentile among all CPUs in the database. The AMD part has a slightly higher average benchmark score of 18176 versus 17898 for the Intel part, a difference of about 1.5%. The AMD's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-1365U at 18177 (0% delta) and the Intel Core 5 315 at 18188 (-0.1% delta). The Intel Core 5 120U's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT at 17891 (0% delta) and the Intel Core 7 350 at 17779 (0.7% delta).

Specification Differences

The following fields differ between the two processors:

• Cores: AMD 8, Intel 10
• Threads: AMD 16, Intel 12
• Base clock: AMD 1.80 GHz, Intel 1.40 GHz
• Boost clock: AMD 4.30 GHz, Intel 5.00 GHz
• Socket: AMD Socket FP6 versus Intel BGA 1744
• Architecture: Zen 2 versus Raptor Lake
• Codename: Lucienne versus Raptor Lake-U
• Generation: Ryzen 7 (Zen 2 Lucienne) versus Core 5 (Raptor Lake-U)
• Process node: 7 nm (TSMC) versus 10 nm (Intel)
• Transistors: 9,800 million versus not listed
• Die size: 156 mm² versus not listed
• L1 cache: 64 KB per core versus 80 KB per core
• L2 cache: 512 KB per core versus 1.25 MB per core
• L3 cache: 8 MB shared versus 12 MB shared
• Memory support: DDR4 versus DDR4 and DDR5
• Memory bandwidth: 51.2 GB/s versus not listed
• PCIe: Gen 3, 12 lanes versus Gen 4, 8 lanes
• Integrated graphics: Radeon Graphics 512SP versus Iris Xe Graphics 80EU
• Part number: 100-000000371 versus SRM7P
• Release date: 2021-01-11 versus 2024-01-07

Both processors share a 15 W TDP, dual-channel memory bus, no ECC support, mobile market segment, active production status, no unlocked multiplier, and no launch MSRP listed in the database.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head comparison covers 17 benchmark entries, with the AMD Ryzen 7 5700U winning 8 and the Intel Core 5 120U winning 9. The largest AMD victory comes in PassMark extended instructions, where the AMD scores 13519 against 9299 for the Intel part, a 45.4% advantage. The largest Intel victory comes in PassMark find prime numbers, where the Intel scores 53 against 29, a 45.3% advantage.

In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the AMD wins 8650 to 6659, a 29.9% margin. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD wins 1480 to 1150.5, a 28.6% margin. These are substantial wins for a 15 W mobile part and indicate that the AMD's 16 threads scale well across all cores in rendering workloads.

In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Intel wins 1756.5 to 1258, a 28.4% margin. The same pattern appears in Cinebench R15 single-core (245 versus 188, a 23.3% margin) and Geekbench single-core (1727 versus 1278, a 26% margin). The Intel's 5.00 GHz boost clock appears to deliver consistent single-thread advantages.

Geekbench multi-core goes to the Intel part by 5888 to 5323, a 9.6% margin. This is the only multi-thread benchmark where Intel wins, suggesting that Geekbench's workload mix favors the Intel core layout despite the thread count disadvantage.

PassMark data compression heavily favors AMD: 218853 versus 166432, a 31.5% margin. PassMark data encryption also favors AMD: 12549 versus 10453, a 20.1% margin. PassMark integer math favors AMD by 14.8% (60037 versus 52280). PassMark random string sorting favors AMD by 23.9% (23608 versus 19060). PassMark multithread favors AMD by a narrow 3.9% (15623 versus 15042).

PassMark floating-point math favors Intel by 8% (36026 versus 33151). PassMark physics strongly favors Intel by 33.6% (937 versus 622). PassMark single-thread favors Intel by 26.4% (3479 versus 2560), and the duplicate PassMark singlethread entry shows the same numbers.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 7 5700U wins in workloads that stress sustained multi-core throughput and integer-heavy operations. Data compression, data encryption, extended instructions, integer math, and random string sorting all go to the AMD part, with margins ranging from 14.8% to 45.4%. The Cinebench multi-core results confirm that the AMD's 16 threads scale effectively for rendering. Users who compress archives, encrypt data, run SIMD-heavy code, or render with CPU-based engines should prefer the AMD part. Its 8 MB L3 cache and 51.2 GB/s memory bandwidth appear sufficient to feed these workloads.

The Intel Core 5 120U wins in single-thread latency and floating-point workloads. The single-core wins across Cinebench R15, Cinebench R23, Geekbench, and PassMark are consistent, with margins between 23.3% and 28.4%. The physics benchmark shows a 33.6% Intel advantage, and find prime numbers shows a 45.3% Intel advantage, indicating strong integer throughput on a single thread as well. Floating-point math favors Intel by 8%. The Intel part also wins Geekbench multi-core by 9.6%, which makes it the better choice for workloads that resemble Geekbench's mixed multi-thread pattern.

The overall win count is nearly even: 8 for AMD, 9 for Intel. The average benchmark score favors AMD slightly, 18176 versus 17898. Both sit at the 72nd percentile among all CPUs. The choice between them depends entirely on whether the workload is multi-threaded and integer-heavy or single-threaded and latency-sensitive. For a 15 W mobile processor line, the AMD part offers better raw multi-core throughput, while the Intel part offers better per-thread performance and a higher boost ceiling.