AMD Ryzen AI 7 445 vs Intel Core 5 120UL Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI 7 445 records an average benchmark score of 26936, placing it in the 79th percentile of all CPUs. The Intel Core 5 120UL averages 13594, which puts it in the 68th percentile.

Q: What is the core and thread configuration of each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI 7 445 has 6 cores and 12 threads. The Intel Core 5 120UL has 10 cores and 12 threads, meaning the Intel part has more physical cores but both deliver the same thread count.

Q: Which architecture does each CPU use?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI 7 445 uses the Zen 5 architecture on a 4 nm process from TSMC, codenamed Gorgon Point. The Intel Core 5 120UL is based on Raptor Lake architecture on a 10 nm process from Intel, codenamed Raptor Lake-PS.

Q: How do the two compare in single-threaded Cinebench R23 performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI 7 445 scores 1806 in Cinebench R23 single-core, which is 42.7% ahead of the Intel Core 5 120UL's score of 1266.

Q: Does the Intel Core 5 120UL win any benchmark in the head-to-head comparison?

A: No. The head-to-head data shows 15 benchmark wins for the AMD Ryzen AI 7 445 and 0 wins for the Intel Core 5 120UL.

Q: What memory types does each CPU support?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI 7 445 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X memory with ECC support. The Intel Core 5 120UL supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory but does not support ECC.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen AI 7 445 is built on Zen 5 architecture using a 4 nm process from TSMC, while the Intel Core 5 120UL uses Raptor Lake architecture on Intel's 10 nm process. This process difference is substantial: the AMD chip uses a smaller node, which typically allows for better power efficiency and higher transistor density. The AMD processor is part of the Ryzen AI 400 generation, specifically the Gorgon Point codename, while the Intel part belongs to the Raptor Lake-PS family.

Core counts differ significantly. The AMD chip uses 6 cores with 12 threads, while the Intel chip packs 10 cores with 12 threads. Despite having fewer physical cores, the AMD part matches the thread count, which indicates it relies on simultaneous multithreading across all its cores. The Intel part achieves 12 threads from 10 cores, meaning some cores are likely configured without hyperthreading.

Cache layouts also diverge. Both processors have 80 KB of L1 cache per core. The AMD chip has 1 MB of L2 cache per core, while the Intel chip has 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core. The L3 cache is a major difference: the AMD Ryzen AI 7 445 has 4 MB of L3 cache, whereas the Intel Core 5 120UL has 12 MB of shared L3 cache. This gives Intel a threefold advantage in L3 capacity, which can help in workloads that repeatedly access larger data sets.

PCIe connectivity differs as well. The AMD processor offers Gen 4 with 14 CPU lanes, while the Intel part provides Gen 4 with only 8 CPU lanes. The AMD chip also integrates a Radeon 840M graphics solution, while the Intel chip includes Iris Xe Graphics with 80 execution units.

The AMD processor supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X memory with ECC enabled, and its memory bandwidth is rated at 89.6 GB/s. The Intel part supports both DDR4 and DDR5 but lacks ECC support, and its memory bandwidth is not recorded in the database. The Intel chip uses Socket 1700, while the AMD chip uses AMD Socket FP8. The AMD part has a TDP of 28 watts, while the Intel part is rated at 15 watts. Both CPUs have the same 4.60 GHz boost clock, but the AMD chip starts at a 2.00 GHz base clock versus 1.30 GHz for Intel.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous. The AMD Ryzen AI 7 445 outperforms the Intel Core 5 120UL in every single recorded test. The AMD chip wins all 15 head-to-head benchmarks, with no wins recorded for the Intel part. The average benchmark score for AMD is 26936, nearly double the Intel score of 13594.

The AMD processor sits in the 79th percentile of all CPUs, while the Intel chip sits in the 68th percentile. Looking at nearest rivals, the AMD Ryzen AI 7 445 performs nearly identically to the Intel Core i7-1370P (0.1% difference), the AMD Ryzen 5 7545U (0.3% difference), and the AMD Ryzen 7 5700G (-0.4% difference). The Intel Core 5 120UL, on the other hand, is closest to the Intel Core i3-12100F (0.7% difference) and the Intel Core 3 N355 (0.8% difference), which are much lower-tier parts.

The choice depends entirely on the user's requirements. For anyone prioritizing raw performance, the AMD Ryzen AI 7 445 is the clear pick from the data. It delivers substantially higher scores across compute, encryption, compression, and single-thread workloads. The Intel Core 5 120UL offers a lower TDP of 15 watts versus 28 watts, which could matter in thermally constrained systems, but the performance gap is so large that this advantage carries limited weight. The Intel part also supports DDR4 memory, which may be useful in existing systems, but the AMD chip's performance lead is decisive across the board.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specification fields. The AMD Ryzen AI 7 445 uses 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Core 5 120UL uses 10 cores and 12 threads. Base clocks differ: the AMD chip runs at 2.00 GHz, the Intel chip at 1.30 GHz. Both boost to 4.60 GHz.

TDP ratings differ, with AMD at 28 watts and Intel at 15 watts. The AMD processor uses AMD Socket FP8, while the Intel chip uses Intel Socket 1700. Manufacturing nodes differ: AMD uses 4 nm from TSMC, Intel uses 10 nm from its own foundry. The AMD architecture is Zen 5 with the Gorgon Point codename, while Intel uses Raptor Lake with the Raptor Lake-PS codename.

Cache specifications differ. Both have 80 KB L1 per core. The AMD chip has 1 MB L2 per core, while Intel has 1.25 MB L2 per core. L3 cache is 4 MB for AMD versus 12 MB shared for Intel. Memory support differs: AMD supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X with ECC, while Intel supports DDR4 and DDR5 without ECC. The AMD memory bandwidth is measured at 89.6 GB/s, while Intel's is not recorded.

PCIe lane counts differ: AMD provides Gen 4 with 14 CPU lanes, Intel provides Gen 4 with 8 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics differ: AMD uses Radeon 840M, Intel uses Iris Xe Graphics 80EU. The AMD processor has a recorded part number of 100-000001935, while Intel's part number is listed as unknown. Neither processor has a launch MSRP recorded in the database, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The AMD Ryzen AI 7 445 dominates every recorded benchmark against the Intel Core 5 120UL. In Cinebench R15 multicore, AMD scores 1723 against Intel's 904, a 90.6% advantage. In Cinebench R15 single-core, AMD scores 254 versus 127, a 100% difference. The Cinebench R23 results are closer but still heavily favor AMD: 10590 versus 8974 in multicore (18% ahead) and 1806 versus 1266 in single-core (42.7% ahead).

The PassMark suite shows even larger gaps in some tests. The biggest single margin is in extended instructions, where AMD scores 15826 versus Intel's 5203, a 204.2% difference. Data compression shows AMD at 215812 versus 109090, a 97.8% gap. Random string sorting favors AMD at 23488 versus 13610, a 72.6% difference, matching the single-thread margin where AMD scores 3591 versus 2080.

Other PassMark tests show consistent AMD advantages. Floating point math: 39362 versus 26311, a 49.6% lead. Integer math: 58332 versus 38060, a 53.3% lead. Multithread: 18115 versus 10558, a 71.6% lead. Data encryption: 10519 versus 7685, a 36.9% lead. Physics: 976 versus 807, a 20.9% lead. Find prime numbers: 56 versus 47, a 19.1% lead.

The smallest performance gap is in Cinebench R23 multicore at 18%, while the largest is in extended instructions at 204.2%. Even in the closest test, the AMD chip is nearly a fifth faster. Across all 15 head-to-head benchmarks, the AMD Ryzen AI 7 445 records zero losses. The Intel Core 5 120UL does not win a single test.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen AI 7 445 wins in every measured category, so the use-case split is straightforward. The AMD chip is superior in single-threaded workloads, which matter for everyday responsiveness, application launch times, and lightly threaded software. The Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1806 versus 1266 confirms a 42.7% advantage that will be felt in any program that relies on one or two threads.

For multi-threaded work, the AMD chip leads by 18% in Cinebench R23 multicore and by 71.6% in PassMark multithread. Compression and encryption workloads, which are common in data processing and file management, show AMD ahead by 97.8% and 36.9% respectively. Extended instruction workloads, relevant for modern media encoding and scientific code, show the largest gap at 204.2%.

The Intel Core 5 120UL does have attributes that could suit specific use cases, though not reflected in benchmark wins. Its 10-core configuration provides more physical cores, which may benefit certain scheduling scenarios. Its 15-watt TDP is lower than AMD's 28 watts, making it potentially more suitable for passive or low-power cooling setups. The Intel chip supports DDR4 memory, which could allow reuse of existing memory modules in a desktop build. Its 12 MB of shared L3 cache is triple the AMD chip's 4 MB, which could help in cache-sensitive workloads, though the benchmark data shows this does not translate into measured performance wins.

The Intel part also targets the desktop segment with Socket 1700, while the AMD chip is a mobile processor on Socket FP8. For users building a desktop system, the Intel chip's platform compatibility might be a consideration. However, the recorded data shows no performance scenario where the Intel Core 5 120UL comes out ahead. Every benchmark result in the database, from Cinebench to PassMark, favors the AMD Ryzen AI 7 445.