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

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins the majority of the head-to-head benchmark comparisons?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 435G wins 8 of the 11 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, while the Intel Core 5 120 wins 3.

Q: How large is the performance gap in the extended instructions workload?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 435G leads by 31.1% in the passmark_extended_instructions test, scoring 18697 versus 14264 for the Intel Core 5 120.

Q: Which processor is positioned higher in the overall CPU percentile ranking?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 435G sits at the 87th percentile against all CPUs, whereas the Intel Core 5 120 is at the 77th percentile.

Q: Are there any workloads where the Intel Core 5 120 takes a decisive lead?

A: Yes, the Intel Core 5 120 wins the passmark_find_prime_numbers test with a score of 77 versus 55, a delta of 28.6%, and the passmark_physics test with 1333 versus 999, a delta of 25.1%.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 435G records an average benchmark score of 40718, while the Intel Core 5 120 records 25362, a substantial overall margin.

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

A: Yes, both the AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 435G and the Intel Core 5 120 feature 6 cores and 12 threads.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 435G uses the Gorgon Point codename and belongs to the Ryzen AI PRO 400 generation built on the Zen 5 / Zen 5c architecture. It is fabricated by TSMC on a 4 nm process node. The Intel Core 5 120 uses the Raptor Lake-R codename and belongs to the Core 5 (Raptor Lake Refresh) generation based on the Raptor Lake architecture. Intel fabricates this part on a 10 nm process node with a die size of 163 mm². The manufacturing process difference is significant: the AMD part uses a 4 nm node, while the Intel part uses a 10 nm node.

The cache hierarchies differ in the L2 and L3 levels. Both processors share the same L1 cache configuration of 80 KB per core. The AMD part provides 1 MB of L2 per core and 4 MB of L3 cache. The Intel part provides 1.25 MB of L2 per core and 18 MB of shared L3 cache. This gives the Intel processor a substantially larger last-level cache, which can be relevant for workloads with large working sets.

Memory support also diverges. The AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 435G supports DDR5 memory only, with a dual-channel memory bus and a measured memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. It also supports ECC memory. The Intel Core 5 120 supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory on a dual-channel bus, but the database records no memory bandwidth figure for it, and it does not support ECC memory.

The two processors use different sockets. The AMD part fits AMD Socket AM5, while the Intel part fits Intel Socket 1700. PCIe connectivity also differs: the AMD processor offers Gen 4 with 10 lanes from the CPU, while the Intel processor offers Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The integrated graphics differ as well, with the AMD part using Radeon 840M and the Intel part using UHD Graphics 730.

The base clock rates differ, with the AMD part starting at 2.00 GHz and the Intel part starting at 2.50 GHz. Both processors share the same 4.50 GHz boost clock and a 65 W TDP. Both have locked multipliers, and both are listed as Active in production status. The AMD part has a release date of 2026-03-01, while the Intel part has a release date of 2025-07-30.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded head-to-head data shows a broad pattern of AMD wins across most PassMark workloads, with Intel taking a smaller set of specialized wins. The largest AMD victory comes in passmark_extended_instructions, where the Ryzen AI 5 PRO 435G scores 18697 against 14264, a 31.1% advantage. This workload often reflects SIMD and instruction-level efficiency, and the margin here is the steepest in the comparison.

The AMD part also wins passmark_random_string_sorting by a wide margin, scoring 27407 versus 21499, a 27.5% delta. This indicates a strong advantage in sorting and string manipulation tasks. In passmark_data_compression, the AMD processor scores 253484 versus 219535, a 15.5% lead. The AMD part also leads in passmark_multithread with 20285 versus 18597, a 9.1% margin, and in passmark_data_encryption with 12111 versus 11131, an 8.8% margin.

Single-thread performance favors the AMD part as well. The passmark_single_thread test shows 3829 for the AMD processor versus 3595 for the Intel processor, a 6.5% lead. Integer math also goes to AMD, with 63707 versus 60462, a 5.4% margin. These results suggest that the AMD architecture has a consistent efficiency edge across general-purpose integer and memory-heavy workloads.

The Intel Core 5 120 wins three tests. The largest Intel victory is in passmark_find_prime_numbers, where it scores 77 versus 55, a 28.6% margin in favor of Intel. This is a narrow workload that can be sensitive to specific integer operations. The Intel part also wins passmark_physics with 1333 versus 999, a 25.1% lead. In passmark_floating_point_math, the Intel processor scores 45383 versus 43494, a 4.2% margin, its smallest win.

The pattern in the data is clear: the AMD processor dominates in data compression, encryption, extended instructions, random string sorting, multithreaded throughput, and single-thread performance, while the Intel processor shows strength in prime number calculations, physics simulation, and floating-point math. The overall average benchmark score reflects this distribution, with the AMD part at 40718 and the Intel part at 25362.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across several specification fields. The socket is different: AMD Socket AM5 for the Ryzen AI 5 PRO 435G, Intel Socket 1700 for the Core 5 120. The process node differs, with the AMD part at 4 nm from TSMC and the Intel part at 10 nm from Intel. The Intel part has a recorded die size of 163 mm², while the AMD part has no die size recorded.

Cache configurations differ. The AMD part has 1 MB of L2 per core and 4 MB of L3 cache, while the Intel part has 1.25 MB of L2 per core and 18 MB of shared L3 cache. L1 cache is identical at 80 KB per core.

Memory support differs. The AMD part supports DDR5 only, with dual-channel memory and a recorded bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, plus ECC support. The Intel part supports both DDR4 and DDR5, with dual-channel memory, no recorded bandwidth, and no ECC support.

PCIe generation and lane counts differ. The AMD part provides Gen 4 with 10 CPU lanes, while the Intel part provides Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics differ as well: Radeon 840M on the AMD part, UHD Graphics 730 on the Intel part.

The base clock differs, with the AMD part at 2.00 GHz and the Intel part at 2.50 GHz. Both share a 4.50 GHz boost clock and a 65 W TDP. The release dates differ, with the Intel part released on 2025-07-30 and the AMD part on 2026-03-01. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $211, while the AMD part has no launch MSRP recorded. Both have locked multipliers.

The Verdict

The benchmark data indicates that the AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 435G is the stronger overall processor in this comparison. It wins 8 of the 11 head-to-head tests, holds a 15.5% lead in data compression, a 31.1% lead in extended instructions, a 27.5% lead in random string sorting, and a 9.1% lead in multithreaded throughput. Its single-thread score of 3829 also exceeds the Intel part by 6.5%, and its average benchmark score of 40718 is substantially higher than the Intel part's 25362. The AMD processor also ranks at the 87th percentile against all CPUs, compared to the 77th percentile for the Intel part. The AMD part is the clear choice for users prioritizing general-purpose compute, data compression, encryption, and multithreaded applications.

The Intel Core 5 120 is the better option only for a narrow set of workloads. It wins in passmark_find_prime_numbers by 28.6%, passmark_physics by 25.1%, and passmark_floating_point_math by 4.2%. These wins indicate a specific strength in prime number calculations, physics simulation, and floating-point math. The Intel part also has a larger L3 cache at 18 MB versus 4 MB, supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, and offers Gen 5 PCIe with 16 lanes, which may be relevant for platform-level considerations. The Intel part also has a recorded launch MSRP of $211.

The database shows that the Intel part sits close to a different performance tier, with its nearest rival being the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D at a 0% delta and the Intel Core i7-11700KF at a 0.2% delta. The AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 435G, by contrast, sits near the Intel Xeon 6357P at a 0.2% delta and the Intel Core 5 223PE at a 0.3% delta. This positioning confirms that the two processors occupy different performance classes despite identical core and thread counts.

For workloads centered on physics, prime number finding, and floating-point math, the Intel part delivers measurable wins. For everything else in the recorded benchmark suite, the AMD processor delivers a decisive advantage. The choice between the two depends entirely on the target workload profile, but the recorded data favors the AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 435G for most computing tasks.