Intel Core 3 201TE vs Intel Core 5 120U Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head benchmark data for these two processors is entirely one-sided. The Intel Core 5 120U has recorded scores across every benchmark in the database, while the Intel Core 3 201TE has no benchmark entries at all. This means the Core 5 120U holds a 19 to 0 win advantage in direct comparisons, and the database records zero wins for the Core 3 201TE.

The Core 5 120U's Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 6659 places it in a strong position among mobile processors. Its single-core Cinebench R23 result of 1756.5 shows a healthy balance between lightly threaded and heavily threaded workloads. In Cinebench R20, the Core 5 120U scores 5349 multi-core and 755 single-core. The older Cinebench R15 test yields 1150.5 multi-core and 245 single-core. The progression from R15 to R23 shows consistent scaling across the three generations of the Cinebench suite.

Geekbench results for the Core 5 120U are similarly robust, with a multi-core score of 5888 and a single-core score of 1727. These numbers place the processor in the 72nd percentile of all CPUs in the database, which indicates that it outperforms a substantial majority of recorded processors. Its average benchmark score of 17898 further reinforces this position.

The Core 5 120U's nearest rivals in the database provide context for its performance. The AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT has an average score of 17891, which is essentially identical to the Core 5 120U's 17898, representing a delta of 0 percent. The Intel Core 5 221TE scores 17860, putting it just 0.2 percent behind the Core 5 120U. The AMD Ryzen 5 1600 records 17994, meaning the Core 5 120U trails it by 0.5 percent. The Intel Core 7 350 scores 17779, which is 0.7 percent behind the Core 5 120U. These deltas show the Core 5 120U sitting in a tight cluster of comparable processors, with the largest gap among its nearest rivals being less than one percent.

PassMark results for the Core 5 120U cover a range of specific workloads. The multi-thread score is 15042, while the single-thread score is 3479. Integer math produces 52280, floating point math produces 36026, and extended instructions produce 9299. Data compression scores 166432, data encryption scores 10453, and random string sorting scores 19060. The physics test yields 937, and the find prime numbers test yields 53. These varied results indicate that the Core 5 120U is well suited to both arithmetic-heavy and memory-access-heavy tasks, though the prime number finding score is notably lower than the other PassMark components.

Because the Core 3 201TE has no recorded benchmark scores, the database cannot provide any comparative performance deltas between the two processors. The Core 3 201TE has a percentile ranking of 50, meaning it falls at the midpoint of all CPUs in the database, but this ranking is not accompanied by any specific test results. The Core 5 120U, by contrast, has a percentile ranking of 72, placing it well above the midpoint. The data shows a clear performance hierarchy, with the Core 5 120U being the only processor in this comparison with measurable benchmark output.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core 5 120U has an average benchmark score of 17898. The Intel Core 3 201TE has an average benchmark score of 0, as no benchmark results are recorded for it in the database.

Q: How does the Core 5 120U compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Core 5 120U's closest rival is the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT, which has an average score of 17891 and a delta of 0 percent. The Intel Core 5 221TE is 0.2 percent behind, the AMD Ryzen 5 1600 is 0.5 percent ahead, and the Intel Core 7 350 is 0.7 percent behind.

Q: What is the Core 5 120U's best Cinebench result?

A: The highest Cinebench score for the Core 5 120U is 6659 in the Cinebench R23 multi-core test. Its Cinebench R23 single-core score is 1756.5.

Q: Does the Core 3 201TE support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the Core 3 201TE has ECC memory support. The Core 5 120U does not support ECC memory.

Q: What is the Core 5 120U's PassMark single-thread score?

A: The Core 5 120U records a PassMark single-thread score of 3479. The same score appears for both the "single_thread" and "singlethread" test entries.

Q: Which processor has the higher percentile ranking?

A: The Core 5 120U is in the 72nd percentile of all CPUs in the database. The Core 3 201TE is in the 50th percentile.

The Verdict

The recorded data points decisively toward the Intel Core 5 120U as the stronger performer. The Core 5 120U has 19 benchmark scores in the database, covering Cinebench, Geekbench, and PassMark tests. The Core 3 201TE has zero benchmark scores. The Core 5 120U sits in the 72nd percentile of all CPUs, while the Core 3 201TE sits at the 50th percentile. The average benchmark score of 17898 for the Core 5 120U is matched only by its nearest rivals, all of which are within 0.7 percent, showing that this processor competes at the level of desktop processors like the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT and the AMD Ryzen 5 1600.

For a mobile platform, the Core 5 120U delivers a balanced profile. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 6659 and single-core score of 1756.5 indicate strong performance in both multi-threaded rendering and single-threaded responsiveness. The Geekbench multi-core score of 5888 and single-core score of 1727 corroborate this. The PassMark results, particularly the integer math score of 52280 and floating point math score of 36026, show that the processor handles computational workloads efficiently.

The Core 3 201TE, by contrast, offers no measurable benchmark data. Its 50th percentile ranking suggests it sits at the database midpoint, but without test scores, there is no evidence of its practical performance. The processor does have a higher TDP of 45 watts compared to the Core 5 120U's 15 watts, which indicates it is designed for a desktop socket with more power available, but this does not translate into recorded performance advantages. The Core 3 201TE also supports ECC memory, which the Core 5 120U does not, making it a potential choice for systems requiring error-correcting memory. However, based strictly on benchmark output, the Core 5 120U is the only processor in this comparison with demonstrated performance.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across several key specifications. The Core 3 201TE has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Core 5 120U has 10 cores and 12 threads. The base clock of the Core 3 201TE is 2.90 GHz, compared to 1.40 GHz for the Core 5 120U. The boost clock of the Core 3 201TE is 4.60 GHz, while the Core 5 120U boosts to 5.00 GHz. The TDP of the Core 3 201TE is 45 watts, and the Core 5 120U has a TDP of 15 watts.

The socket types are entirely different. The Core 3 201TE uses Intel Socket 1700, while the Core 5 120U uses Intel BGA 1744. The market segments also differ: the Core 3 201TE is a desktop processor, and the Core 5 120U is a mobile processor. The Core 3 201TE supports PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the Core 5 120U supports PCIe Gen 4 with 8 lanes (CPU only). Memory bandwidth is listed at 76.8 GB/s for the Core 3 201TE, while the Core 5 120U has no recorded memory bandwidth figure.

The integrated graphics differ as well. The Core 3 201TE uses UHD Graphics 730, and the Core 5 120U uses Iris Xe Graphics 80EU. The Core 3 201TE supports ECC memory, but the Core 5 120U does not. The release dates are different: the Core 3 201TE was released on 2025-01-12, and the Core 5 120U was released on 2024-01-07. The Core 3 201TE has a launch MSRP of $134, while the Core 5 120U has no recorded launch MSRP. Both processors have locked multipliers, and both are currently active in production.

Architecture Differences

The Core 3 201TE is based on the Bartlett Lake codename and belongs to the Core 3 (Bartlett Lake) generation. The Core 5 120U is based on the Raptor Lake architecture with the codename Raptor Lake-U and belongs to the Core 5 (Raptor Lake-U) generation. Both processors use a 10 nm process node and are manufactured by Intel. The die size of the Core 3 201TE is 163 mm², while the Core 5 120U has no recorded die size.

The cache configurations are identical in structure. Both processors have 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core. Both have 12 MB of shared L3 cache. Despite having different core counts, the shared L3 cache is the same size, which means the Core 5 120U's 10 cores share the same 12 MB pool as the Core 3 201TE's 4 cores. The per-core L1 and L2 sizes are also the same, but the total per-core cache budget is the same regardless of core count.

The memory support is the same for both: DDR4 and DDR5, with a dual-channel memory bus. The Core 3 201TE supports ECC memory, while the Core 5 120U does not. The PCIe implementation differs significantly: the Core 3 201TE uses PCIe Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes, while the Core 5 120U uses PCIe Gen 4 with 8 CPU lanes. This reflects the desktop versus mobile positioning, with the desktop part offering more lanes and newer generation support.

The integrated graphics architectures are different. The Core 3 201TE integrates UHD Graphics 730, while the Core 5 120U integrates Iris Xe Graphics 80EU. The Iris Xe branding indicates a more capable graphics solution with execution units, though the database does not record specific graphics benchmark scores for either processor. The production status for both is active, and both are Intel parts, but the architecture generations are distinct. The Core 5 120U's Raptor Lake-U architecture is designed for low-power mobile systems, evidenced by its 15 watt TDP and BGA socket. The Core 3 201TE's Bartlett Lake architecture, with its 45 watt TDP and Socket 1700, targets desktop systems where power draw is less constrained.