AMD Ryzen AI 5 435G vs Intel Core 5 120 Comparison

FAQ

Q: What are the core and thread counts of the AMD Ryzen AI 5 435G and the Intel Core 5 120?

A: Both processors use 6 cores and 12 threads. The AMD Ryzen AI 5 435G achieves this with its Zen 5 / Zen 5c hybrid arrangement, while the Intel Core 5 120 uses a Raptor Lake design.

Q: How do the two processors compare in boost clock speed?

A: The two chips are identical in boost clock, with both reaching 4.50 GHz. They differ in base clock: the AMD unit runs at 2.00 GHz, while the Intel unit starts at 2.50 GHz.

Q: What is the difference in L3 cache capacity?

A: The Intel Core 5 120 has a significantly larger L3 cache, offering 18 MB shared, whereas the AMD Ryzen AI 5 435G has only 4 MB of L3 cache.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen AI 5 435G supports DDR5 only, while the Intel Core 5 120 supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory.

Q: What is the process node for each processor, and who manufactures it?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI 5 435G uses a 4 nm process from TSMC. The Intel Core 5 120 uses a 10 nm process from Intel's own foundry.

Q: What is the percentile ranking of each CPU in the database?

A: The Intel Core 5 120 ranks in the 77th percentile of all CPUs, while the AMD Ryzen AI 5 435G sits at the 50th percentile. The Intel chip has an average benchmark score of 25,362, while the AMD chip has no recorded benchmark scores.

The Verdict

The data clearly favors the Intel Core 5 120 for any user prioritizing raw benchmark performance. Its 77th percentile ranking versus the AMD Ryzen AI 5 435G's 50th percentile places it substantially higher in the overall performance distribution. The Intel chip also benefits from a much larger 18 MB L3 cache, a higher 2.50 GHz base clock, and support for both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, all of which contribute to its measured benchmark advantage.

The AMD Ryzen AI 5 435G holds a different set of advantages that are not reflected in raw compute scores. It uses a smaller 4 nm TSMC process, supports ECC memory, includes a Radeon 840M integrated GPU, and features an unlocked multiplier. These attributes make it a candidate for systems where power efficiency, error-correcting memory, or overclocking flexibility matter more than the highest possible benchmark output.

For a desktop user who wants the strongest recorded multi-thread and single-thread results, the Intel Core 5 120 is the choice indicated by the data. For a builder who needs ECC memory support, prefers a more modern fabrication node, or wants the ability to adjust the multiplier, the AMD Ryzen AI 5 435G offers capabilities that the Intel part does not.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core 5 120 has a complete set of recorded benchmark scores, while the AMD Ryzen AI 5 435G has none in the database. This means every head-to-head comparison relies on the Intel chip's measured results.

In Cinebench R23, the Intel Core 5 120 scores 18,255 in multi-core and 2,577 in single-core. The Cinebench R20 results show 7,667 multi-core and 1,082 single-core. The Cinebench R15 scores are 1,840 multi-core and 259 single-core. These results establish a consistent baseline across three generations of the Cinebench test.

PassMark results for the Intel chip are extensive. The multi-thread score is 18,597, and the single-thread score is 3,595. Integer math scores 60,462, while floating-point math scores 45,383. Data compression reaches 219,535, data encryption records 11,131, extended instructions score 14,264, and random string sorting hits 21,499. The physics test scores 1,333, and the find prime numbers test scores 77.

The Intel chip's nearest rivals in the database show how tightly grouped this performance tier is. The AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D has an average score of 25,365, essentially identical with a delta of 0%. The Intel Core i7-11700KF scores 25,423, which is 0.2% higher than the Core 5 120. The Intel Core i5-13400F scores 25,292, which is 0.3% lower. The AMD Ryzen 7 7840U scores 25,432, which is 0.3% higher. This places the Core 5 120 in a competitive cluster where differences between adjacent chips are fractions of a percent.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several measurable specifications. The AMD Ryzen AI 5 435G has a base clock of 2.00 GHz, while the Intel Core 5 120 has a base clock of 2.50 GHz. Both share the same 4.50 GHz boost clock and 65 W TDP.

The memory controllers differ significantly. The AMD chip supports only DDR5 memory, while the Intel chip supports both DDR4 and DDR5. The AMD part has a recorded memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s; the Intel part has no memory bandwidth figure in the database. ECC memory support is present on the AMD chip and absent on the Intel chip.

PCIe capabilities differ as well. The AMD Ryzen AI 5 435G provides Gen 4 with 10 lanes from the CPU. The Intel Core 5 120 provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU.

The integrated graphics differ: the AMD chip uses a Radeon 840M, while the Intel chip uses UHD Graphics 730. The AMD part has an unlocked multiplier; the Intel part does not. The socket types are different, with AMD using Socket AM5 and Intel using Socket 1700.

The Intel Core 5 120 has a part number of SA35V and a launch MSRP of $211. The AMD Ryzen AI 5 435G has part number 100-000001158 and no recorded MSRP.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen AI 5 435G belongs to the Ryzen AI 400 generation with the codename Gorgon Point. It uses a hybrid arrangement of Zen 5 and Zen 5c cores, fabricated on a 4 nm process at TSMC. The Intel Core 5 120 belongs to the Core 5 generation with the codename Raptor Lake-R and the architecture name Raptor Lake. It uses a 10 nm process at Intel.

Cache hierarchies show a notable divergence. Both chips allocate 80 KB of L1 cache per core. The AMD chip allocates 1 MB of L2 cache per core, while the Intel chip allocates 1.25 MB per core. The L3 cache is the largest difference: the AMD chip has 4 MB, while the Intel chip has 18 MB. The Intel chip's die size is recorded as 163 mm²; no die size is recorded for the AMD chip.

The Intel chip's larger shared L3 cache and higher per-core L2 allocation likely contribute to its benchmark performance, especially in workloads that benefit from larger resident data sets. The AMD chip's smaller 4 nm process suggests a more densely packed transistor design, although no transistor count is recorded for either chip.

The AMD chip's Zen 5 and Zen 5c core combination represents a heterogeneous core design within a 6-core, 12-thread envelope. The Intel chip uses a homogeneous Raptor Lake architecture. Both are desktop parts, and both are currently marked as active in production.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 5 120 wins in every recorded benchmark category, simply because the AMD Ryzen AI 5 435G has no benchmark scores in the database. The Intel chip's 77th percentile ranking and average score of 25,362 position it well above the AMD chip's 50th percentile.

The Intel part's advantages are practical for everyday desktop computing. Its 2.50 GHz base clock gives it a higher floor for lightly threaded work. The 18 MB L3 cache and support for both DDR4 and DDR5 memory make it flexible for system builders working with existing memory or new builds. Its PCIe Gen 5 support with 16 lanes provides more headroom for high-bandwidth expansion devices. Its benchmark scores place it in the same performance band as the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D, Intel Core i7-11700KF, Intel Core i5-13400F, and AMD Ryzen 7 7840U, with deltas of no more than 0.3% in either direction.

The AMD Ryzen AI 5 435G wins in areas outside the benchmark suite. ECC memory support makes it suited to workloads where data integrity is critical, such as file servers or computation tasks that cannot tolerate silent memory corruption. The unlocked multiplier allows for overclocking, which the locked Intel part does not permit. The 4 nm TSMC process suggests a more modern fabrication approach, which can matter for thermals and power behavior, though no power or thermal measurements are recorded in the database. The 89.6 GB/s memory bandwidth is a recorded figure for the AMD part, while the Intel part has no corresponding number.

For integrated graphics, the AMD chip's Radeon 840M and the Intel chip's UHD Graphics 730 are both listed, but no benchmark scores exist for either GPU in the database, so a performance comparison between them cannot be drawn from the data. The choice between these two processors depends on whether the priority is the Intel chip's measured benchmark dominance and memory flexibility or the AMD chip's ECC support, overclocking freedom, and smaller process node.