AMD Ryzen Embedded 9700X vs Intel Core 5 120 Comparison

FAQ

Q: How does the AMD Ryzen Embedded 9700X compare to the Intel Core 5 120 in core count?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded 9700X has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core 5 120 has 6 cores and 12 threads. The AMD part also has a higher base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz, compared to Intel's 2.50 GHz base and 4.50 GHz boost.

Q: Which processor uses a smaller manufacturing process?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded 9700X is built on a 4 nm process by TSMC, while the Intel Core 5 120 uses a 10 nm process from Intel. The AMD chip also has a much smaller die size at 70.6 mm² versus Intel's 163 mm².

Q: What memory types does each processor support?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded 9700X supports DDR5 only, with dual-channel memory and 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel Core 5 120 supports both DDR4 and DDR5, also dual-channel, but its memory bandwidth is not recorded in the database.

Q: Does either processor support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the AMD Ryzen Embedded 9700X supports ECC memory. The Intel Core 5 120 does not support ECC.

Q: What PCIe versions and lane counts do these CPUs provide?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded 9700X provides PCIe Gen 5 with 24 lanes (CPU only). The Intel Core 5 120 provides PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only).

Q: What is the launch MSRP of the Intel Core 5 120?

A: The launch MSRP of the Intel Core 5 120 is $211. The AMD Ryzen Embedded 9700X has no launch MSRP recorded in the database.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen Embedded 9700X belongs to the 9000 series and uses the Granite Ridge codename, built on the Zen 5 architecture. It is manufactured on a 4 nm process at TSMC, with 8,315 million transistors packed into a 70.6 mm² die. The Intel Core 5 120 uses the Raptor Lake Refresh architecture with the Raptor Lake-R codename, produced on Intel's 10 nm process with a 163 mm² die size.

Cache organization differs significantly between the two. Both allocate 80 KB of L1 cache per core, but the AMD part has 1 MB of L2 per core, while Intel provides 1.25 MB of L2 per core. The AMD chip's shared L3 cache totals 32 MB, whereas the Intel chip's shared L3 cache is 18 MB. This larger L3 pool on AMD can benefit workloads that repeatedly access a working set larger than 18 MB.

The AMD processor integrates Radeon Graphics, while the Intel processor includes UHD Graphics 730. Both are desktop-class parts with active production status. The AMD chip has an unlocked multiplier, enabling overclocking, while the Intel chip's multiplier is locked.

Memory support is another key architectural split. AMD supports only DDR5 in a dual-channel configuration, with a recorded bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5, also dual-channel, but the database does not record its bandwidth figure. ECC memory is available on the AMD part but not on the Intel part.

PCIe connectivity also differs: AMD provides 24 CPU-only lanes of Gen 5, while Intel provides 16 CPU-only lanes of Gen 5. This gives the AMD processor more headroom for multiple expansion devices or high-speed storage.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 5 120 has recorded benchmark scores across Cinebench, PassMark, and other tests, while the AMD Ryzen Embedded 9700X has no benchmark entries in the database. This means the analysis of wins is based entirely on the Intel part's recorded performance and its position among rivals.

The Intel Core 5 120 sits at the 77th percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 25,362. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D at 25,365 (0% delta), the Intel Core i7-11700KF at 25,423 (-0.2% delta), the Intel Core i5-13400F at 25,292 (+0.3% delta), and the AMD Ryzen 7 7840U at 25,432 (-0.3% delta). This places the Core 5 120 in a tight cluster where small single-digit percentage differences separate it from several competing parts.

For workloads measured by the recorded benchmarks, the Intel chip shows particular strength in multi-threaded rendering: its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 18,255 and R20 multi-core score of 7,667 indicate solid sustained throughput. Single-thread performance is also respectable, with R23 single-core at 2,577 and R20 single-core at 1,082.

The PassMark suite reveals where the Intel chip excels. Its integer math score of 60,462 and floating-point math score of 45,383 demonstrate strong general compute. Data compression at 219,535 and random string sorting at 21,499 show capability in data manipulation tasks. The extended instructions score of 14,264 indicates good SIMD throughput.

The AMD Ryzen Embedded 9700X, despite having no recorded benchmarks, offers architectural advantages that would likely matter in specific use cases: more cores and threads (8/16 versus 6/12), higher clocks, larger L3 cache, ECC support, and more PCIe lanes. The database does not quantify these advantages, so they remain qualitative.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen Embedded 9700X | Intel Core 5 120 |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 8 | 6 |

| Threads | 16 | 12 |

| Base clock | 3.80 GHz | 2.50 GHz |

| Boost clock | 5.50 GHz | 4.50 GHz |

| Process node | 4 nm | 10 nm |

| Die size | 70.6 mm² | 163 mm² |

| Transistors | 8,315 million | Not recorded |

| L2 cache | 1 MB per core | 1.25 MB per core |

| L3 cache | 32 MB shared | 18 MB shared |

| Memory support | DDR5 only | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory bandwidth | 89.6 GB/s | Not recorded |

| ECC memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 24 | Gen 5, 16 |

| Integrated graphics | Radeon Graphics | UHD Graphics 730 |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM5 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Multiplier unlocked | Yes | No |

| Launch MSRP | Not recorded | $211 |

| Release date | 2025-10-06 | 2025-07-30 |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

Direct head-to-head benchmark comparisons between these two processors are not available in the database. The AMD Ryzen Embedded 9700X has no recorded benchmark scores, so no direct wins can be attributed to either side.

The Intel Core 5 120 has a full suite of recorded results. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 18,255 and single-core score of 2,577 place it in a competitive position. The R20 scores of 7,667 multi-core and 1,082 single-core reinforce this. The older R15 test shows 1,840 multi-core and 259 single-core.

PassMark results for the Intel chip include: multithread at 18,597, single-thread at 3,595, physics at 1,333, integer math at 60,462, floating-point math at 45,383, extended instructions at 14,264, data compression at 219,535, data encryption at 11,131, find prime numbers at 77, and random string sorting at 21,499.

The average benchmark score of 25,362 for the Intel chip places it at the 77th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D, scores 25,365, a delta of exactly 0%. The Intel Core i7-11700KF scores 25,423, which is 0.2% higher than the Core 5 120. The Intel Core i5-13400F scores 25,292, which is 0.3% lower. The AMD Ryzen 7 7840U scores 25,432, which is 0.3% higher.

These delta values are small, indicating that the Intel Core 5 120 performs essentially on par with these four rivals. A 0.3% difference translates to roughly 70 to 140 points in average score, which is within run-to-run variance for most benchmark suites.

Because the AMD Ryzen Embedded 9700X has no recorded scores, the database cannot substantiate any performance advantage for it. The architectural differences described earlier remain the only basis for differentiation, and they are not backed by measured results.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear split based on available evidence. The Intel Core 5 120 has verified benchmark performance across multiple suites, with an average score of 25,362 and a 77th percentile ranking. It matches or nearly matches several established rivals: the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D at 0% delta, the Intel Core i7-11700KF at -0.2%, the Intel Core i5-13400F at +0.3%, and the AMD Ryzen 7 7840U at -0.3%.

The AMD Ryzen Embedded 9700X lacks recorded benchmarks, so its performance cannot be confirmed from the database. However, its specifications suggest different strengths: 8 cores versus 6, higher boost clock (5.50 GHz versus 4.50 GHz), a larger 32 MB L3 cache versus 18 MB, ECC memory support, and 24 PCIe Gen 5 lanes versus 16.

For a builder needing verified performance data, the Intel Core 5 120 is the only one of the two with measured results. It delivers solid multi-threaded and single-threaded performance in Cinebench and PassMark tests, and its launch MSRP of $211 provides a known reference point.

For a builder prioritizing architectural features, the AMD Ryzen Embedded 9700X offers more cores, more threads, higher clocks, more cache, ECC support, and more PCIe lanes. These are tangible specification advantages, but they come without any recorded benchmark evidence in the database.

The choice rests on whether verified benchmark data or raw specifications matter more. The Intel part provides the former; the AMD part offers the latter. Neither processor shows a measured edge over the other in the database, since no head-to-head results exist. The Intel chip's percentile rank and rival deltas indicate it performs in line with a group of capable mid-range desktop CPUs, while the AMD chip's specifications point to potential advantages in multi-threaded and memory-heavy workloads that remain unquantified.