AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P185 vs Intel Core 5 120UL Comparison

FAQ

Q: How large is the performance gap between the AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P185 and the Intel Core 5 120UL?

A: The AMD part wins all 11 recorded head-to-head benchmark comparisons. Its average benchmark score is 62,839, compared to 13,594 for the Intel part, placing the AMD chip at the 93rd percentile of all CPUs versus the 68th percentile for the Intel chip.

Q: Which processor offers higher single-thread performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P185 scores 3,977 in the PassMark single-thread test, which is 91.2% ahead of the Intel Core 5 120UL's score of 2,080.

Q: What are the core and thread configurations of each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P185 has 12 cores and 24 threads, while the Intel Core 5 120UL has 10 cores and 12 threads.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P185 supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core 5 120UL does not.

Q: How do the two processors compare in memory bandwidth?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P185 has a recorded memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. The Intel Core 5 120UL has no memory bandwidth figure recorded in the database.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P185 boosts to 5.10 GHz, while the Intel Core 5 120UL boosts to 4.60 GHz.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P185 uses the Gorgon Point codename and belongs to the Ryzen AI Embedded generation built on Zen 5 / Zen 5c cores. It is fabricated on a 4 nm process at TSMC with a die size of 233 mm². The Intel Core 5 120UL uses the Raptor Lake architecture with the Raptor Lake-PS codename, built on a 10 nm process at Intel. These process and core design differences explain a substantial portion of the performance disparity seen in the benchmark data.

The AMD processor integrates 12 cores and 24 threads, while the Intel processor provides 10 cores and 12 threads. Both chips use an 80 KB L1 cache per core, but the L2 configuration differs: AMD allocates 1 MB per core, while Intel allocates 1.25 MB per core. The L3 cache also differs, with AMD offering 16 MB and Intel offering 12 MB shared. The AMD chip's 24 threads versus Intel's 12 threads gives it a significant advantage in workloads that scale with thread count, which is reflected in the multithread benchmark results.

Memory support differs as well. The AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P185 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X memory in a dual-channel configuration, with a recorded memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. The Intel Core 5 120UL supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory, also in a dual-channel configuration, but no memory bandwidth figure is recorded for it. ECC memory support is present on the AMD chip but absent on the Intel chip.

The integrated graphics solutions also differ. AMD uses the Radeon 890M, while Intel uses Iris Xe Graphics with 80 execution units. PCIe connectivity differs, with AMD providing 16 CPU-only lanes of Gen 4 and Intel providing 8 CPU-only lanes of Gen 4. The AMD chip uses the AMD Socket FP8, while the Intel chip uses Intel Socket 1700. The AMD part is classified in the mobile market segment, while the Intel part is classified as a desktop processor. Both chips have locked multipliers and are currently in active production.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a dominant performance profile for the AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P185 across every measured workload. The largest margin appears in the PassMark extended instructions test, where AMD scores 26,544 against Intel's 5,203, a 410.2% advantage. This result indicates a major gap in SIMD and specialized instruction throughput, likely stemming from the newer Zen 5 core design and its wider execution resources.

Data compression favors AMD heavily. The AMD chip scores 374,429 versus 109,090 for Intel, a 243.2% difference. Integer math shows a similar pattern: AMD scores 117,832 against 38,060, a 209.6% advantage. Floating-point math also favors AMD, with a score of 70,587 versus 26,311, a 168.3% gap. These arithmetic and compression results suggest that the AMD processor delivers more than double the throughput in heavily computational tasks.

The multithread test shows AMD at 31,817 against Intel's 10,558, a 201.4% lead. This aligns with the core and thread count differences, as the AMD chip has 12 cores and 24 threads versus 10 cores and 12 threads. Random string sorting gives AMD a 198% advantage, with scores of 40,557 versus 13,610. Prime number finding shows AMD at 129 versus 47, a 174.5% gap. Data encryption favors AMD at 19,612 versus 7,685, a 155.2% difference. The physics test shows AMD at 1,772 versus 807, a 119.6% advantage.

The narrowest margin in the dataset is the single-thread test, where AMD scores 3,977 against Intel's 2,080, a 91.2% advantage. Even in this closest comparison, AMD still nearly doubles the Intel result. The consistency of these margins across both single-thread and multithread workloads indicates that the AMD processor holds an advantage not only from additional cores but also from higher per-core performance.

For context on the AMD side, the nearest rivals in the database are the Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX with an average score of 62,738 (0.2% behind AMD), the Intel Core i7-13790F with 63,080 (0.4% ahead), the Intel Core Ultra 7 265HX with 63,173 (0.5% ahead), and the AMD Ryzen AI 9 PRO 465 with 62,498 (0.5% behind). The Intel Core 5 120UL, by contrast, sits near the Intel Core i3-12100F at 13,494 (0.7% behind), the Intel Core 3 N355 at 13,492 (0.8% behind), and the Intel Core i5-9500 at 13,452 (1.1% behind). The Intel chip's closest competitor is the Intel Core 3 304 at 13,745, which is 1.1% ahead. These neighbor comparisons show that the AMD chip competes in a much higher performance tier than the Intel chip.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification category. The AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P185 has 12 cores and 24 threads, while the Intel Core 5 120UL has 10 cores and 12 threads. Base clocks are 2.00 GHz for AMD and 1.30 GHz for Intel. Boost clocks are 5.10 GHz for AMD and 4.60 GHz for Intel. Thermal design power is 28 watts for AMD and 15 watts for Intel.

The process node differs: AMD uses 4 nm at TSMC, while Intel uses 10 nm at its own foundry. The AMD die size is 233 mm², while no die size is recorded for Intel. Cache layouts differ in L2 and L3: AMD has 1 MB L2 per core and 16 MB L3, while Intel has 1.25 MB L2 per core and 12 MB shared L3. L1 cache is the same at 80 KB per core.

Memory support differs, with AMD supporting DDR5 and LPDDR5X and Intel supporting DDR4 and DDR5. Memory bandwidth is recorded at 89.6 GB/s for AMD, with no figure for Intel. ECC memory is supported by AMD but not by Intel. PCIe lane counts differ: AMD provides 16 Gen 4 CPU-only lanes, while Intel provides 8 Gen 4 CPU-only lanes. Integrated graphics differ: AMD uses the Radeon 890M, while Intel uses Iris Xe Graphics with 80 execution units.

Sockets differ, with AMD using AMD Socket FP8 and Intel using Intel Socket 1700. The market segment classification differs, with AMD listed as mobile and Intel as desktop. Release dates differ, with AMD released on February 28, 2026, and Intel released on April 7, 2024. Neither processor has a launch MSRP recorded in the database, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P185 wins every recorded benchmark category, so the use-case split is defined by degree of advantage rather than by which tasks favor one chip over the other. The largest margins are in extended instructions, data compression, integer math, and multithread performance. These results point to workloads involving encryption, compression, scientific computing, and heavily parallel processing as areas where the AMD chip provides the strongest relative benefit. The 410.2% advantage in extended instructions suggests particularly strong performance in code that leverages advanced SIMD or specialized instruction sets.

The single-thread advantage for AMD, while still substantial at 91.2%, is the narrowest gap in the dataset. This means that lightly threaded applications such as legacy software, simple database queries, or single-process workflows see the smallest relative difference between the two processors, although the AMD chip still delivers nearly double the performance. The physics test, with a 119.6% advantage, and the floating-point math test, with a 168.3% advantage, indicate that the AMD chip is better suited to simulation and computational workloads.

The Intel Core 5 120UL's main distinguishing characteristics are its lower 15 watt TDP and its desktop market classification. The recorded data shows it operating in a performance tier near the Intel Core i3-12100F and Intel Core 5 9500, which places it in the 68th percentile of all CPUs. Its 10 cores and 12 threads, along with support for DDR4 and DDR5 memory, make it a more modest option for applications where the higher thread count and bandwidth of the AMD chip are not required. Its use of Intel Socket 1700 and its Raptor Lake architecture also differ from the AMD chip's FP8 socket and Zen 5 design.

The benchmark data does not record any workload where the Intel chip outperforms the AMD chip. The AMD processor's 93rd percentile ranking, average score of 62,839, and 11 head-to-head wins establish it as the stronger performer across all measured categories. The Intel processor's 68th percentile ranking and average score of 13,594 place it in a lower tier, with its nearest rivals all scoring within 1.1% of its average. For use cases that prioritize the lowest power envelope and desktop socket compatibility, the Intel chip offers those traits, but the performance data consistently favors the AMD processor in every recorded test.