AMD Ryzen Embedded 9950X vs Intel Core 5 120 Comparison

FAQ

Q: How does the AMD Ryzen Embedded 9950X compare to the Intel Core 5 120 in core and thread counts?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded 9950X features 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Intel Core 5 120 has 6 cores and 12 threads. This gives the AMD part a 10-core and 20-thread advantage.

Q: What are the base and boost clock speeds of each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded 9950X runs at a base clock of 4.30 GHz and boosts up to 5.70 GHz. The Intel Core 5 120 operates at a base clock of 2.50 GHz with a boost clock of 4.50 GHz.

Q: Which processor has a higher TDP?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded 9950X has a TDP of 170, whereas the Intel Core 5 120 has a TDP of 65.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen Embedded 9950X supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core 5 120 does not.

Q: What is the manufacturing process for each chip?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded 9950X is built on a 4 nm process at TSMC. The Intel Core 5 120 uses a 10 nm process at Intel.

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score and percentile ranking?

A: The Intel Core 5 120 has an average benchmark score of 25362 and ranks in the 77th percentile among all CPUs. The AMD Ryzen Embedded 9950X has an average benchmark score of 0 and ranks in the 50th percentile, as no benchmark data is recorded for it in the database.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen Embedded 9950X belongs to the Ryzen Embedded generation built on Zen 5 architecture, codenamed Granite Ridge. It is manufactured on a 4 nm process at TSMC, with a transistor count of 16,630 million spread across a dual-chiplet design with a die size of 2x 70.6 mm². The Intel Core 5 120 uses the older Raptor Lake architecture, specifically Raptor Lake Refresh, built on a 10 nm process at Intel with a monolithic die size of 163 mm².

Cache organization differs significantly. The AMD part provides 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 cache per core, and 64 MB of L3 cache. The Intel part also has 80 KB of L1 cache per core but offers 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core and only 18 MB of shared L3 cache. This gives the AMD processor a substantially larger total cache footprint, particularly in L3 capacity, which benefits workloads with large working sets.

Memory support diverges as well. The AMD Ryzen Embedded 9950X supports DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration with a recorded memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. The Intel Core 5 120 supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, but no memory bandwidth figure is recorded for it in the database. The AMD chip also includes ECC memory support, a feature absent from the Intel part.

PCIe connectivity differs in lane count. The AMD processor provides Gen 5 with 28 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel processor provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics also differ: the AMD part uses Radeon Graphics, whereas the Intel part uses UHD Graphics 730.

The AMD processor has an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel Core 5 120 is locked. The AMD part is listed as a Desktop segment product with a release date of 2025-10-06, while the Intel part also targets the Desktop segment with a release date of 2025-07-30. The AMD part number is 100-000001277E, and the Intel part number is SA35V.

Where Each One Wins

Benchmark results in the database only cover the Intel Core 5 120, so wins for that processor are drawn directly from its recorded scores. The AMD Ryzen Embedded 9950X has no recorded benchmark data, meaning its potential advantages in multi-threaded workloads must be inferred from its 16 cores, 32 threads, higher clock speeds, and larger cache, though no direct measurement is available.

The Intel Core 5 120 demonstrates strength in single-threaded performance. Its Cinebench R15 single-core score of 259, Cinebench R20 single-core score of 1082, and Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2577 indicate solid per-core efficiency from its Raptor Lake Refresh architecture. In PassMark tests, it achieves a single-thread score of 3595.

For multi-threaded tasks, the Intel chip records a Cinebench R15 multi-core score of 1840, Cinebench R20 multi-core score of 7667, and Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 18255. Its PassMark multi-thread score is 18597. These figures place the Intel Core 5 120 in the 77th percentile overall, with an average benchmark score of 25362. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D with an average score of 25365 and a delta of 0, the Intel Core i7-11700KF at 25423 with a delta of -0.2, the Intel Core i5-13400F at 25292 with a delta of 0.3, and the AMD Ryzen 7 7840U at 25432 with a delta of -0.3.

The AMD Ryzen Embedded 9950X, by contrast, has no benchmark scores recorded, so no direct wins can be assigned to it. Its hardware profile suggests it targets embedded workloads requiring high core counts, large L3 cache, ECC memory, and extensive PCIe lanes, but the database contains no measurements to confirm performance in those areas.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every major specification field.

• Cores: AMD Ryzen Embedded 9950X has 16 cores; Intel Core 5 120 has 6 cores.
• Threads: AMD Ryzen Embedded 9950X has 32 threads; Intel Core 5 120 has 12 threads.
• Base Clock: AMD Ryzen Embedded 9950X runs at 4.30 GHz; Intel Core 5 120 runs at 2.50 GHz.
• Boost Clock: AMD Ryzen Embedded 9950X boosts to 5.70 GHz; Intel Core 5 120 boosts to 4.50 GHz.
• TDP: AMD Ryzen Embedded 9950X is rated at 170; Intel Core 5 120 is rated at 65.
• Socket: AMD Ryzen Embedded 9950X uses AMD Socket AM5; Intel Core 5 120 uses Intel Socket 1700.
• Codename: AMD Ryzen Embedded 9950X is Granite Ridge; Intel Core 5 120 is Raptor Lake-R.
• Architecture: AMD Ryzen Embedded 9950X is Zen 5; Intel Core 5 120 is Raptor Lake.
• Process Node: AMD Ryzen Embedded 9950X is 4 nm; Intel Core 5 120 is 10 nm.
• Foundry: AMD Ryzen Embedded 9950X uses TSMC; Intel Core 5 120 uses Intel.
• Transistors: AMD Ryzen Embedded 9950X has 16,630 million; Intel Core 5 120 has no recorded figure.
• Die Size: AMD Ryzen Embedded 9950X is 2x 70.6 mm²; Intel Core 5 120 is 163 mm².
• L2 Cache: AMD Ryzen Embedded 9950X has 1 MB per core; Intel Core 5 120 has 1.25 MB per core.
• L3 Cache: AMD Ryzen Embedded 9950X has 64 MB; Intel Core 5 120 has 18 MB (shared).
• Memory Support: AMD Ryzen Embedded 9950X supports DDR5; Intel Core 5 120 supports DDR4 and DDR5.
• Memory Bandwidth: AMD Ryzen Embedded 9950X has 89.6 GB/s; Intel Core 5 120 has no recorded figure.
• ECC Memory: AMD Ryzen Embedded 9950X supports ECC; Intel Core 5 120 does not.
• PCIe: AMD Ryzen Embedded 9950X has Gen 5, 28 lanes (CPU only); Intel Core 5 120 has Gen 5, 16 lanes (CPU only).
• Integrated Graphics: AMD Ryzen Embedded 9950X uses Radeon Graphics; Intel Core 5 120 uses UHD Graphics 730.
• Multiplier Unlocked: AMD Ryzen Embedded 9950X is unlocked; Intel Core 5 120 is locked.
• Release Date: AMD Ryzen Embedded 9950X released 2025-10-06; Intel Core 5 120 released 2025-07-30.
• Launch MSRP: Intel Core 5 120 has a launch MSRP of $211; AMD Ryzen Embedded 9950X has no recorded launch MSRP.
• Part Number: AMD Ryzen Embedded 9950X is 100-000001277E; Intel Core 5 120 is SA35V.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

No head-to-head benchmark records exist in the database for these two processors. The AMD Ryzen Embedded 9950X has an empty benchmarks array, so no direct comparison scores are available. The Intel Core 5 120 has a full set of benchmark results, but without corresponding AMD measurements, a side-by-side numerical comparison cannot be constructed.

What the data does show is the Intel Core 5 120's performance envelope in absolute terms. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 18255 and single-core score of 2577 indicate a processor that sits comfortably in the upper-mid range of desktop CPUs. Its PassMark single-thread score of 3595 and multi-thread score of 18597 reinforce that positioning. The average benchmark score of 25362 places it in the 77th percentile, with nearest rivals within a narrow band: the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D is 0% apart, the Intel Core i7-11700KF is 0.2% behind, the Intel Core i5-13400F is 0.3% ahead, and the AMD Ryzen 7 7840U is 0.3% behind.

In specific PassMark sub-tests, the Intel Core 5 120 records 219535 for data compression, 11131 for data encryption, 14264 for extended instructions, 77 for find prime numbers, 45383 for floating point math, 60462 for integer math, 1333 for physics, and 21499 for random string sorting. These figures define the Intel part's measured behavior across a range of computational patterns.

The AMD Ryzen Embedded 9950X, lacking any recorded benchmark scores, cannot be positioned against these numbers. Its specifications point to a design with far more parallel capacity: 16 cores versus 6, 32 threads versus 12, a base clock 1.80 GHz higher, and a boost clock 1.20 GHz higher. The 64 MB L3 cache versus 18 MB and the 89.6 GB/s memory bandwidth versus no recorded figure further suggest an advantage in data-heavy multi-threaded scenarios, but the database does not contain measurements to quantify that advantage.

The absence of head-to-head data means any performance ranking between these two parts remains unverified. The Intel Core 5 120 has a complete benchmark profile and a high percentile rank. The AMD Ryzen Embedded 9950X is an active product with a robust hardware specification but no recorded performance metrics, leaving its relative standing undefined in the database.