Intel Arc G3 EXTREME vs Intel Core 5 120 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark comparison between the Intel Arc G3 EXTREME and the Intel Core 5 120 is decisively lopsided. Across the 17 recorded head-to-head tests, the Arc G3 EXTREME claims 15 wins, while the Core 5 120 takes just 2. The overall average benchmark score tells the same story: the Arc G3 EXTREME posts 36,699 against the Core 5 120's 25,362, a gap that places the Arc in the 85th percentile of all CPUs versus the Core 5's 77th percentile.

The largest single win for the Arc G3 EXTREME comes in PassMark's find prime numbers test, where it scores 248 against 77, a 222.1% advantage. This is not a marginal lead; it is a dominant one. Data encryption shows a similarly massive gap, with the Arc G3 EXTREME at 23,881 versus 11,131, a 114.5% delta. Floating point math follows at 91.5% ahead, with scores of 86,929 and 45,383 respectively. These three tests alone establish the Arc G3 EXTREME as the clear leader in compute-heavy workloads.

The multicore and physics tests reinforce this pattern. PassMark multithread scores 30,659 for the Arc G3 EXTREME versus 18,597 for the Core 5 120, a 64.9% lead. PassMark physics shows 2,515 against 1,333, an 88.7% delta. Random string sorting goes 37,331 to 21,499, a 73.6% edge. Extended instructions deliver 24,017 versus 14,264, a 68.4% advantage. Data compression completes the sweep of PassMark workloads, with the Arc G3 EXTREME ahead by 39.9% at 307,094 versus 219,535.

The Cinebench results add nuance. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Arc G3 EXTREME wins 2,192 to 1,840, a 19.1% margin. In R20 multicore, it wins 10,945 to 7,667, a 42.8% margin. The single-core R20 test also goes to the Arc G3 EXTREME, 1,545 to 1,082, again a 42.8% delta. Cinebench R15 single-core is closer, with the Arc G3 EXTREME ahead just 3.1% at 267 versus 259.

The Core 5 120's two wins come in the newer Cinebench R23 suite, and they are substantial. In R23 multicore, the Core 5 120 scores 18,255 against the Arc G3 EXTREME's 14,655, a 19.7% lead. In R23 single-core, it scores 2,577 versus 1,862, a 27.7% advantage. PassMark single-thread is the only other test where the two are relatively close in percentage terms: the Arc G3 EXTREME leads 4,293 to 3,595, a 19.4% delta, though it still wins.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel families and target different form factors. The Intel Arc G3 EXTREME is a mobile part built on Panther Lake architecture, fabricated on Intel's 3 nm process. It uses the Intel BGA 2540 socket and carries a 25 W TDP. The Intel Core 5 120 is a desktop chip based on Raptor Lake architecture (specifically Raptor Lake-R), built on a 10 nm process, using the Intel Socket 1700, and rated at 65 W TDP.

Core configurations differ sharply. The Arc G3 EXTREME has 14 cores and 14 threads, meaning it runs without hyperthreading. The Core 5 120 has 6 cores and 12 threads, relying on simultaneous multithreading to reach its thread count. The Arc G3 EXTREME's base clock is 1.90 GHz with a boost of 4.70 GHz. The Core 5 120 starts higher at 2.50 GHz base but boosts lower to 4.50 GHz.

Cache hierarchies also diverge. The Arc G3 EXTREME carries 192 KB of L1 per core and 2.5 MB of L2 per core, with 18 MB of shared L3. The Core 5 120 has 80 KB of L1 per core and 1.25 MB of L2 per core, also with 18 MB of shared L3. Both share the same total L3 capacity, but the Arc G3 EXTREME provides larger per-core L1 and L2 allocations, which can benefit workloads with high per-thread cache demands.

Memory support differs by platform. The Arc G3 EXTREME supports LPDDR5X memory over a dual-channel bus, delivering 136.5 GB/s of bandwidth. The Core 5 120 supports both DDR4 and DDR5, also dual-channel, though the database does not record a bandwidth figure for it. PCIe connectivity favors the Core 5 120 in lane count: it offers Gen 5 with 16 lanes, while the Arc G3 EXTREME offers Gen 5 with only 4 lanes. Integrated graphics also differ, with the Arc G3 EXTREME using the Arc B390 and the Core 5 120 using UHD Graphics 730. Neither part supports ECC memory, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

The die size for the Core 5 120 is recorded at 163 mm². No die size is recorded for the Arc G3 EXTREME. The Core 5 120 has a launch MSRP of $211. The Arc G3 EXTREME has no recorded launch MSRP.

Where Each One Wins

The Arc G3 EXTREME is the stronger all-round performer in the recorded data. Its wins span every PassMark category except none, and it dominates in encryption, prime number finding, floating point math, and multithreaded throughput. The 114.5% encryption lead and the 222.1% prime number lead indicate that this chip handles cryptographic and integer-heavy workloads with far greater efficiency. The 91.5% floating point advantage points to strong math throughput, useful for scientific or financial calculations. The 64.9% multithread lead and 88.7% physics lead suggest it is better suited to rendering or simulation tasks that scale across cores. The 39.9% data compression lead and 73.6% random string sorting lead indicate a clear edge in data processing and sorting workloads.

The Core 5 120 wins only in Cinebench R23, both multicore and single-core. The R23 single-core result is notable: 2,577 versus 1,862 is a 27.7% lead, the largest single-core margin in the entire comparison. This suggests that the Core 5 120 has a meaningful advantage in lightly threaded workloads that rely on high per-core performance, particularly in the R23 rendering engine. Its R23 multicore win at 18,255 versus 14,655, a 19.7% margin, shows that even with fewer cores, its higher base clock and multithreading allow it to outrun the Arc G3 EXTREME in this specific test.

However, the Core 5 120's wins are isolated. In every other multicore test, including Cinebench R15, R20, and all PassMark multithreaded tests, the Arc G3 EXTREME leads. The single-core picture is also mixed: the Arc G3 EXTREME wins PassMark single-thread by 19.4%, and Cinebench R15 and R20 single-core tests by 3.1% and 42.8% respectively. Only in R23 does the Core 5 120 flip the single-core result.

The data shows that the Arc G3 EXTREME is the better choice for workloads that stress many cores, cryptography, floating point math, and data manipulation. The Core 5 120 is the better choice specifically for Cinebench R23-style rendering, where its architecture and clock behavior produce higher scores despite the core deficit.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Arc G3 EXTREME has 14 cores and 14 threads. The Intel Core 5 120 has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: How do they compare in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The Intel Core 5 120 wins, scoring 18,255 against the Arc G3 EXTREME's 14,655, a 19.7% lead.

Q: What is the biggest performance gap in the comparison?

A: The largest delta is in PassMark find prime numbers, where the Arc G3 EXTREME scores 248 versus 77, a 222.1% advantage.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?

A: No. The Arc G3 EXTREME supports LPDDR5X with 136.5 GB/s bandwidth. The Core 5 120 supports DDR4 and DDR5, with no bandwidth figure recorded.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Arc G3 EXTREME boosts to 4.70 GHz. The Core 5 120 boosts to 4.50 GHz.

Q: What is the market segment for each processor?

A: The Arc G3 EXTREME is a mobile processor. The Core 5 120 is a desktop processor.

The Verdict

The Intel Arc G3 EXTREME is the dominant performer in this comparison. It wins 15 of 17 head-to-head tests, holds a higher average benchmark score (36,699 versus 25,362), and sits in a higher performance percentile (85th versus 77th). Its advantages are largest in compute-heavy, multithreaded, and data-processing workloads, where it leads by margins ranging from 17.7% to 222.1%. For users who prioritize encryption, floating point math, prime number finding, data compression, and overall multithreaded throughput, the Arc G3 EXTREME is the clear choice.

The Intel Core 5 120 has a narrower but real set of strengths. Its Cinebench R23 results, both multicore and single-core, beat the Arc G3 EXTREME by substantial margins. The 27.7% single-core lead in R23 is the largest single-core advantage recorded in this comparison. For workloads that resemble the R23 rendering test, particularly those sensitive to per-core performance in that engine, the Core 5 120 delivers better results.

The data does not support a general recommendation for the Core 5 120 outside of its R23 wins. The Arc G3 EXTREME leads in every other recorded benchmark, including all other single-core tests. The Arc G3 EXTREME also comes with a much larger core count, a more advanced 3 nm process node, and a significantly lower TDP at 25 W versus 65 W. The Core 5 120 offers more PCIe lanes (16 versus 4) and a recorded launch MSRP of $211, but the benchmark record shows that the Arc G3 EXTREME delivers superior performance across nearly the entire test suite.