AMD Ryzen Embedded 9600X vs Intel Core 5 120HL Comparison

FAQ

Q: What are the core and thread counts for the AMD Ryzen Embedded 9600X and the Intel Core 5 120HL?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded 9600X has 6 cores and 12 threads. The Intel Core 5 120HL has 12 cores and 16 threads.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded 9600X boosts up to 5.40 GHz, while the Intel Core 5 120HL reaches a maximum of 4.70 GHz.

Q: What is the thermal design power (TDP) difference between the two?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded 9600X has a TDP of 65 watts, whereas the Intel Core 5 120HL has a lower TDP of 45 watts.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen Embedded 9600X supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core 5 120HL does not support ECC memory.

Q: Which processor uses a smaller manufacturing process?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded 9600X is built on a 4 nm process by TSMC. The Intel Core 5 120HL uses a 10 nm process from Intel.

Q: What are the release dates for these two processors?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded 9600X was released on October 6, 2025. The Intel Core 5 120HL was released on April 7, 2024.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen Embedded 9600X belongs to the 9000 series and uses the Granite Ridge codename, which is built on the Zen 5 microarchitecture. It is manufactured by TSMC on a 4 nm process node. The chip contains 8,315 million transistors on a die size of 70.6 mm². In contrast, the Intel Core 5 120HL uses the Raptor Lake architecture with the Raptor Lake-PS codename. It is fabricated by Intel on a 10 nm process node, and the database does not list transistor count or die size for this part.

The cache configurations differ substantially between the two processors. The AMD Ryzen Embedded 9600X provides 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 cache per core, and 32 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel Core 5 120HL also has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, but it doubles the L2 allocation to 2 MB per core. However, its shared L3 cache is only 18 MB, which is 14 MB less than the AMD part.

Memory support also separates the two. The AMD Ryzen Embedded 9600X supports DDR5 memory only, with a dual-channel memory bus and a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. The Intel Core 5 120HL supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory over a dual-channel bus, but the database does not provide a memory bandwidth figure for it. ECC memory is supported on the AMD processor but not on the Intel processor.

The PCI Express capabilities are another divergence. The AMD Ryzen Embedded 9600X offers Gen 5 with 24 lanes from the CPU. The Intel Core 5 120HL provides Gen 4 with only 8 lanes from the CPU. Integrated graphics also differ: the AMD part uses Radeon Graphics, while the Intel part integrates Iris Xe Graphics with 80 execution units.

Socket compatibility is distinct as well. The AMD Ryzen Embedded 9600X uses AMD Socket AM5, and the Intel Core 5 120HL uses Intel Socket 1700. The AMD processor has an unlocked multiplier, allowing overclocking, whereas the Intel processor has a locked multiplier. The production status for both is listed as active.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data for head-to-head benchmarks between the AMD Ryzen Embedded 9600X and the Intel Core 5 120HL is empty. Similarly, the win counts for each processor are both zero. The average benchmark score for each is also zero, and the percentile versus all CPUs is identical at 50 for both.

Because the benchmark database contains no measured performance results for either processor, no direct numerical comparisons can be made from the recorded data. The absence of scores means that conclusions about relative speed or efficiency cannot be drawn from benchmark outcomes. The data only permits comparisons based on architectural specifications and listed features.

The Intel Core 5 120HL has a launch MSRP of $279, which is recorded in the database. The AMD Ryzen Embedded 9600X does not have a launch MSRP listed.

Without benchmark scores, the only quantitative performance indicators are the clock speeds and core counts. The AMD Ryzen Embedded 9600X has a base clock of 3.90 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. The Intel Core 5 120HL has a base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. The AMD part therefore has a 1.30 GHz higher base clock and a 0.70 GHz higher boost clock.

The core count favors the Intel part, which has 12 cores compared to 6 cores for the AMD part. The thread count also favors Intel, with 16 threads versus 12 threads. However, the AMD processor has a smaller process node (4 nm versus 10 nm), a larger L3 cache (32 MB versus 18 MB), and support for PCIe Gen 5 with 24 lanes versus PCIe Gen 4 with 8 lanes.

The Verdict

The data shows two processors with different design priorities. The AMD Ryzen Embedded 9600X emphasizes clock speed and modern platform features. Its boost clock of 5.40 GHz is higher than the Intel part by 0.70 GHz, and its base clock of 3.90 GHz is higher by 1.30 GHz. The 4 nm process node from TSMC indicates a more advanced manufacturing technology compared to the 10 nm node used by Intel. The AMD part also provides a larger L3 cache (32 MB versus 18 MB) and supports ECC memory, which the Intel part does not.

The Intel Core 5 120HL focuses on core count and power efficiency. It has twice the number of cores (12 versus 6) and 4 more threads (16 versus 12) than the AMD part. Its TDP of 45 watts is 20 watts lower than the AMD part's 65 watts, suggesting lower power draw. The Intel part also supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, offering flexibility in memory choice, while the AMD part is limited to DDR5.

For workloads that depend on high clock speeds, the AMD Ryzen Embedded 9600X appears more suitable based on the recorded clock data. For workloads that scale with core count, the Intel Core 5 120HL appears more suitable. The Intel part also has a recorded launch MSRP of $279, which is the only pricing information available.

The database does not include benchmark scores for either processor, so the verdict rests on the specification differences. The AMD part is likely better for single-threaded or lightly threaded tasks due to its higher clocks. The Intel part is likely better for multi-threaded tasks due to its higher core and thread counts. The AMD part's support for ECC memory may appeal to certain embedded or reliability-focused applications, while the Intel part's lower TDP may suit power-constrained environments.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specification fields. The AMD Ryzen Embedded 9600X has 6 cores, while the Intel Core 5 120HL has 12 cores. The thread counts are 12 for AMD and 16 for Intel. The base clock is 3.90 GHz for AMD and 2.60 GHz for Intel. The boost clock is 5.40 GHz for AMD and 4.70 GHz for Intel.

The TDP is 65 watts for AMD and 45 watts for Intel. The socket types are AMD Socket AM5 for the AMD part and Intel Socket 1700 for the Intel part. The process node is 4 nm for AMD (TSMC) and 10 nm for Intel (Intel foundry). The codenames are Granite Ridge for AMD and Raptor Lake-PS for Intel. The generations are Ryzen Embedded (Zen 5, Granite Ridge) for AMD and Core 5 (Raptor Lake-PS) for Intel.

The L2 cache is 1 MB per core for AMD and 2 MB per core for Intel. The L3 cache is 32 MB shared for AMD and 18 MB shared for Intel. The L1 cache is 80 KB per core for both. The memory support is DDR5 for AMD and DDR4 plus DDR5 for Intel. The memory bandwidth is 89.6 GB/s for AMD and not listed for Intel. ECC memory is supported on AMD but not on Intel.

The PCIe version is Gen 5 for AMD and Gen 4 for Intel. The PCIe lanes are 24 for AMD and 8 for Intel. The integrated graphics are Radeon Graphics for AMD and Iris Xe Graphics 80EU for Intel. The multiplier is unlocked for AMD and locked for Intel. The release date is October 6, 2025 for AMD and April 7, 2024 for Intel. The part numbers are 100-000001405E for AMD and SRPFR for Intel. The launch MSRP is not listed for AMD and is $279 for Intel.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen Embedded 9600X wins in clock speed. Its base clock of 3.90 GHz and boost clock of 5.40 GHz are higher than the Intel part's 2.60 GHz base and 4.70 GHz boost. This suggests an advantage in scenarios where raw clock speed matters, such as single-threaded applications or latency-sensitive workloads.

The AMD part also wins on manufacturing process. The 4 nm node is smaller than Intel's 10 nm node, which typically indicates higher transistor density and potentially better power efficiency per unit of performance. The AMD part also has a larger L3 cache at 32 MB versus 18 MB, which may improve performance in workloads that benefit from larger cache footprints.

The AMD processor supports ECC memory, which the Intel part does not. This makes the AMD part more suitable for applications where data integrity is critical, such as certain server or embedded environments. The AMD part also provides PCIe Gen 5 with 24 lanes, which is a newer and faster interface compared to Intel's PCIe Gen 4 with 8 lanes.

The Intel Core 5 120HL wins on core count. It has 12 cores and 16 threads, compared to 6 cores and 12 threads for the AMD part. This gives it a clear advantage in multi-threaded workloads that can use many cores, such as parallel rendering, compilation, or virtualization.

The Intel part also wins on power efficiency as indicated by TDP. Its 45 watt TDP is lower than the AMD part's 65 watt TDP, suggesting it may be easier to cool and more suitable for power-constrained designs. The Intel part supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, which may be beneficial for systems that already have DDR4 memory or need the flexibility of either standard.

The Intel part has a recorded launch MSRP of $279, which is the only price data available. The AMD part has no launch MSRP in the database. The Intel part also has an earlier release date of April 7, 2024, compared to October 6, 2025 for the AMD part, indicating it has been available for a longer period.

The Intel part uses Intel Socket 1700, which is a common platform, while the AMD part uses AMD Socket AM5. The Intel part has a locked multiplier, which prevents overclocking, whereas the AMD part has an unlocked multiplier, which allows overclocking if the rest of the platform supports it.