AMD Ryzen AI 5 440G vs Intel Core 5 120 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a decisive performance advantage for the AMD Ryzen AI 5 440G across the shared benchmark suite. Out of 11 head-to-head comparisons, the AMD part claims 10 wins, while the Intel Core 5 120 takes only one. The magnitude of those victories varies from a near tie to a substantial 44.8% gap, and the pattern is consistent: the AMD chip leads in almost every category that stresses computational throughput.

The largest single advantage appears in extended instruction workloads, where the Ryzen AI 5 440G scores 20648 against 14264 for the Intel Core 5 120, a delta of 44.8%. Random string sorting follows closely with a 44.7% advantage (31106 versus 21499). These two results indicate that the AMD processor handles specialized instruction sets and memory-access-heavy sorting tasks with significantly greater efficiency. Data compression shows a 33.3% lead (292735 versus 219535), reinforcing the idea that the AMD design extracts more work from each clock cycle in algorithmic workloads.

Multi-threaded performance follows the same trend. The passmark_multithread score for the AMD part is 23487, while the Intel chip records 18597, a 26.3% difference. Integer math delivers a 17.8% advantage (71251 versus 60462), and data encryption shows a 22% lead (13585 versus 11131). Prime number finding, a classic latency-sensitive test, favors AMD by 16.9% (90 versus 77). Floating-point math is the closest contest among AMD victories, with only a 0.7% gap (45711 versus 45383), suggesting that both processors have comparable FPU throughput despite their architectural differences.

Single-thread performance also belongs to AMD. The passmark_single_thread score is 4060 for the Ryzen AI 5 440G versus 3595 for the Intel Core 5 120, a 12.9% advantage. That result matters because single-thread speed often dictates responsiveness in lightly threaded applications. The one Intel win is marginal: the physics test shows 1333 for Intel and 1329 for AMD, a 0.3% difference that falls within run-to-run variance. In practical terms, that result is a statistical tie.

The overall average benchmark score reflects this imbalance. The AMD Ryzen AI 5 440G posts an average of 46187, placing it in the 89th percentile of all CPUs in the database. The Intel Core 5 120 averages 25362, sitting in the 77th percentile. The nearest rivals for the AMD part include the Intel Core i9-13900HX (46098, 0.2% lower), the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 (46062, 0.3% lower), and the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 (46030, 0.3% lower). The Intel Core 5 120, by contrast, sits alongside the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D (25365, 0% delta), the Intel Core i7-11700KF (25423, 0.2% higher), and the Intel Core i5-13400F (25292, 0.3% lower). The database places these two processors in entirely different performance tiers, despite both being six-core, twelve-thread desktop parts.

Architecture Differences

The two CPUs share a core count of 6 and a thread count of 12, but the underlying designs diverge sharply. The AMD Ryzen AI 5 440G uses the Gorgon Point codename and belongs to the Ryzen AI 400 generation built on a mix of Zen 5 and Zen 5c cores. The process node is 4 nm, fabricated by TSMC, with a die size of 195 mm². The Intel Core 5 120 uses the Raptor Lake architecture, specifically the Raptor Lake-R refresh, on an Intel 10 nm process with a die size of 163 mm². The Intel part is smaller physically, but the AMD chip uses a denser process.

Cache configurations differ meaningfully. Both allocate 80 KB of L1 per core, but the L2 allocation splits: AMD gives 1 MB per core, while Intel gives 1.25 MB per core. The L3 cache is where the gap widens. The AMD chip has 8 MB total, while the Intel part has 18 MB shared. That larger L3 pool on Intel could help in some workloads, but the benchmark data does not show it translating into wins in the measured tests. The AMD design compensates with higher clock speeds: base clock is 2.00 GHz versus 2.50 GHz for Intel, but boost clock is 4.80 GHz versus 4.50 GHz. The AMD chip boosts higher, and the Zen 5 core architecture appears to extract more instructions per clock.

Memory support is another differentiator. The AMD Ryzen AI 5 440G supports DDR5 only, across a dual-channel bus, with a recorded memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. The Intel Core 5 120 supports both DDR4 and DDR5, also dual-channel, but no bandwidth figure is recorded in the database. The AMD part also supports ECC memory, while the Intel part does not. For memory-heavy workloads, the AMD chip has a defined bandwidth advantage, and the ECC support positions it for stability-sensitive environments.

PCIe connectivity differs as well. The AMD processor provides Gen 4 with 12 lanes from the CPU, while the Intel processor provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes. That gives Intel a wider and faster PCIe interface, which matters for discrete GPUs and high-speed storage, though the integrated graphics comparison flips the story. The AMD chip includes a Radeon 840M, while the Intel chip uses UHD Graphics 730. The integrated graphics capability is not directly benchmarked in this dataset, but the Radeon part is generally positioned for more demanding visual workloads.

Socket compatibility is a major practical split. The AMD Ryzen AI 5 440G uses AMD Socket AM5 and has an unlocked multiplier. The Intel Core 5 120 uses Intel Socket 1700 and has a locked multiplier. The AMD part is a newer platform entry with a release date of 2026-02-28, while the Intel chip launched earlier on 2025-07-30. The Intel part has a recorded launch MSRP of $211, while no launch MSRP is listed for the AMD part.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen AI 5 440G wins in the categories that define general-purpose compute. Data compression, encryption, integer math, floating-point math, extended instructions, prime number finding, random string sorting, and single-thread performance all go to AMD. The multi-thread benchmark also goes to AMD by a wide margin. For users running CPU-bound productivity tasks, compilation workloads, or scientific calculations, the recorded data consistently favors the AMD chip.

The Intel Core 5 120 wins only the physics test, and that by a negligible 0.3% margin. That result is effectively noise. The Intel part does offer advantages outside the benchmark suite, however. It supports DDR4 memory, which can lower platform costs for users with existing memory kits, and its Gen 5 PCIe with 16 lanes provides more headroom for expansion. The larger 18 MB L3 cache could benefit certain cache-sensitive workloads, though none of the recorded tests demonstrate that advantage. The smaller die size of 163 mm² versus 195 mm² also suggests the Intel chip may have a lower manufacturing footprint, though the database does not record power draw measurements beyond the 65 W TDP for both parts.

The Intel part has a locked multiplier, while the AMD part is unlocked, so users seeking overclocking flexibility will find the AMD chip more accommodating. The AMD chip also supports ECC memory, which is relevant for servers or workstations where data integrity is paramount. The Intel chip's dual memory support (DDR4 and DDR5) offers more upgrade-path flexibility, but the AMD chip's higher recorded bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s gives it a performance edge in memory-bound tasks.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous. The AMD Ryzen AI 5 440G outperforms the Intel Core 5 120 in 10 of 11 shared tests, with an average score of 46187 versus 25362. That is an 82% higher average score, and the percentile rankings confirm the gap: 89th percentile for AMD versus 77th percentile for Intel. The AMD chip leads by 33.3% in data compression, 44.8% in extended instructions, 26.3% in multi-thread, and 12.9% in single-thread. The only Intel win is a 0.3% physics margin that carries no practical significance.

For workloads that rely on raw CPU throughput, encryption, compression, sorting, or single-thread responsiveness, the AMD Ryzen AI 5 440G is the clear choice based on the recorded data. Its higher boost clock (4.80 GHz versus 4.50 GHz), newer 4 nm process, and Zen 5 core architecture deliver measurable wins across every major compute category. The Intel Core 5 120 does offer DDR4 support, Gen 5 PCIe with 16 lanes, and a larger 18 MB L3 cache, but none of those features translate into benchmark victories in this dataset.

The Intel part does have a lower launch MSRP of $211, while no launch MSRP is recorded for the AMD part. That price difference may matter to buyers, but the performance gap is substantial enough that the AMD chip justifies its position in the higher percentile tier. The AMD part also offers ECC memory support and an unlocked multiplier, both of which are absent on the Intel part. For users who prioritize measured performance, the database points squarely at the AMD Ryzen AI 5 440G.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI 5 440G averages 46187, while the Intel Core 5 120 averages 25362. The AMD part sits in the 89th percentile of all CPUs, and the Intel part sits in the 77th percentile.

Q: How many head-to-head benchmark wins does each CPU have?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI 5 440G wins 10 out of 11 shared tests. The Intel Core 5 120 wins only the physics test, with a 0.3% margin (1333 versus 1329).

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two?

A: The extended instructions test shows the largest gap, with the AMD chip scoring 20648 versus 14264 for Intel, a 44.8% advantage. Random string sorting is close behind at 44.7% (31106 versus 21499).

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

A: Yes, both have 6 cores and 12 threads. However, the AMD chip uses a 4 nm TSMC process with a boost clock of 4.80 GHz, while the Intel chip uses a 10 nm Intel process with a boost clock of 4.50 GHz.

Q: What memory options does each CPU support?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI 5 440G supports DDR5 only, with dual-channel memory and a recorded bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. The Intel Core 5 120 supports both DDR4 and DDR5, also dual-channel, but no bandwidth figure is recorded. The AMD part also supports ECC memory, which the Intel part does not.

Q: What is the PCIe configuration for each processor?

A: The AMD chip provides PCIe Gen 4 with 12 lanes from the CPU. The Intel chip provides PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The Intel part also has an unlocked multiplier, while the AMD part is unlocked for overclocking.