AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 435 vs Intel Core 5 120UL Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark database presents a decisive picture: the AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 435 wins all 11 recorded head-to-head comparisons against the Intel Core 5 120UL. The AMD processor's average benchmark score of 37762 places it in the 86th percentile of all CPUs, while the Intel part scores 13594 on average, sitting in the 68th percentile. The nearest rivals for the AMD chip, such as the AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P132 and Intel Core 5 211E, have average scores within 0.4% of its result, indicating the Ryzen AI 5 PRO 435 is positioned among efficient mid-range mobile parts. The Intel Core 5 120UL, by contrast, aligns with desktop processors like the Intel Core i3-12100F and Intel Core 3 N355, with delta percentages under 1.1%. For workloads prioritizing raw computation speed, the AMD part is the clear choice. The Intel part serves systems where its lower thermal envelope is the primary constraint, though it delivers substantially less performance in every measured category.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 435 uses the Zen 5 architecture on a 4 nm TSMC process node, built under the Gorgon Point codename. It belongs to the Ryzen AI PRO 400 generation, which employs both Zen 5 and Zen 5c cores. Its integrated graphics are the Radeon 840M. The Intel Core 5 120UL is based on Raptor Lake architecture on a 10 nm Intel process node, under the Raptor Lake-PS codename. It uses the Iris Xe Graphics 80EU for integrated graphics.

The AMD part features 6 cores with 12 threads, while the Intel part has 10 cores with 12 threads. Both have the same L1 cache at 80 KB per core. The L2 cache differs: AMD provides 1 MB per core, Intel provides 1.25 MB per core. The L3 cache shows a significant divergence: AMD has only 4 MB total, while Intel has 12 MB shared. The AMD chip supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X memory with ECC capability, while the Intel chip supports DDR4 and DDR5 without ECC. PCIe lane counts differ as well, with AMD offering Gen 4 with 14 lanes (CPU only) and Intel offering Gen 4 with 8 lanes (CPU only). The AMD processor uses the AMD Socket FP8, while the Intel part uses Intel Socket 1700. The AMD processor is classified as a mobile segment part, whereas the Intel processor is classified as a desktop segment part.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

All 11 recorded benchmark comparisons show the AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 435 ahead of the Intel Core 5 120UL. The largest margin appears in the PassMark extended instructions test, where AMD scores 16724 versus Intel's 5203, a delta of 221.4%. This indicates a massive advantage in workloads using advanced instruction sets. The data compression test shows AMD at 232803 against Intel's 109090, a 113.4% lead. The random string sorting test gives AMD 24936 versus Intel's 13610, a 83.2% difference. The multithread test shows AMD at 19091 versus Intel's 10558, an 80.8% lead. The single-thread test results are similarly lopsided: AMD scores 3757, Intel scores 2080, a delta of 80.6%. Integer math shows AMD at 60879 versus Intel's 38060, a 60% advantage. Floating point math gives AMD 41114 versus Intel's 26311, a 56.3% lead. Data encryption shows AMD at 11267 versus Intel's 7685, a 46.6% difference. Physics tests show AMD at 995 versus Intel's 807, a 23.3% lead. The smallest margin is in the find prime numbers test, where AMD scores 57 and Intel scores 47, a 21.3% difference.

The consistency of these results across varied workloads suggests the AMD processor's advantage is not confined to one niche. Every category, from encryption to physics to sorting, favors the AMD part. The Intel processor's Cinebench scores are recorded separately: R15 multicore 904, R15 singlecore 127, R20 multicore 3769, R20 singlecore 531, R23 multicore 8974, and R23 singlecore 1266. These numbers are not directly compared in the head-to-head table, but they provide context for the Intel part's performance profile. The database does not contain equivalent Cinebench results for the AMD processor, so no cross-format comparison is possible.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specifications. The AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 435 has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Core 5 120UL has 10 cores and 12 threads. The base clock differs: AMD runs at 2.00 GHz, Intel at 1.30 GHz. The boost clock is closer: AMD reaches 4.50 GHz, Intel reaches 4.60 GHz. The thermal design power (TDP) differs substantially: AMD is rated at 28 watts, Intel at 15 watts. The process node differs: AMD uses 4 nm, Intel uses 10 nm. The foundry differs: AMD uses TSMC, Intel uses Intel.

Cache configurations differ: AMD has 4 MB of L3 cache, Intel has 12 MB shared. The L2 cache per core is 1 MB for AMD and 1.25 MB for Intel. Memory support differs: AMD supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X, Intel supports DDR4 and DDR5. ECC memory is supported on AMD but not on Intel. Memory bandwidth is recorded for AMD at 89.6 GB/s, while no bandwidth figure is recorded for Intel. PCIe lanes differ: AMD has 14 lanes, Intel has 8 lanes. The integrated graphics differ: AMD uses Radeon 840M, Intel uses Iris Xe Graphics 80EU. The sockets differ: AMD uses Socket FP8, Intel uses Socket 1700. The market segment differs: AMD is mobile, Intel is desktop. Release dates differ: AMD is dated 2026-01-04, Intel is dated 2024-04-07. The production status for both is active. Neither processor has a recorded launch MSRP or an unlocked multiplier.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher single-thread score?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 435 scores 3757 in the PassMark single-thread test, while the Intel Core 5 120UL scores 2080. The AMD part leads by 80.6%.

Q: How does the multithread performance compare?

A: The AMD processor scores 19091 in the PassMark multithread test, versus 10558 for the Intel processor. This gives AMD an 80.8% advantage.

Q: Does the Intel processor have more cores?

A: Yes, the Intel Core 5 120UL has 10 cores, while the AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 435 has 6 cores. Both processors have 12 threads.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 435 supports ECC memory. The Intel Core 5 120UL does not support ECC memory.

Q: What is the TDP difference?

A: The AMD processor has a TDP of 28 watts, while the Intel processor has a TDP of 15 watts. The Intel part is rated for lower power consumption.

Q: Which processor has a higher percentile ranking?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 435 is in the 86th percentile of all CPUs, while the Intel Core 5 120UL is in the 68th percentile.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 435 wins in every recorded benchmark category. The most significant wins come in extended instructions, with a 221.4% lead, and data compression, with a 113.4% lead. These results make the AMD part suitable for computationally intensive tasks such as encryption, data processing, and floating-point workloads. The AMD processor also wins in memory bandwidth, with a recorded 89.6 GB/s, and supports ECC memory, which can benefit data integrity in certain applications. The AMD part's higher TDP of 28 watts suggests it can sustain higher sustained performance, though the database does not record power draw during sustained loads.

The Intel Core 5 120UL has no benchmark wins in the head-to-head data. Its strengths are structural rather than performance-based. It has a lower TDP of 15 watts, which could suit thermally constrained designs. It has more cores (10 versus 6), though this does not translate into higher multithread performance in the recorded data. It has a larger L3 cache at 12 MB versus 4 MB, and it supports DDR4 memory in addition to DDR5, which may offer platform flexibility. The Intel part's boost clock is slightly higher at 4.60 GHz versus 4.50 GHz, but single-thread scores contradict that advantage. The Intel processor's Cinebench R23 scores (8974 multicore, 1266 singlecore) are recorded in the database, but no equivalent AMD Cinebench scores exist for direct comparison.

The recorded data provides no evidence of a workload where the Intel Core 5 120UL outperforms the AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 435. All 11 head-to-head wins belong to AMD. The Intel part's lower power envelope and additional cores may make it a candidate for specific embedded or low-power desktop configurations, but the benchmark results show the AMD processor delivering higher performance across encryption, compression, math, physics, and sorting tasks. The AMD processor's nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P132, has an average score within 0.1%, indicating the Ryzen AI 5 PRO 435 sits at the top of its immediate performance class. The Intel processor's nearest rival, the Intel Core i3-12100F, is within 0.7%, showing the Intel part competes with older desktop quad-core designs rather than modern efficient processors.