AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D vs Intel Core 5 120 Comparison

AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D vs Intel Core 5 120

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data records a decisive overall victory for the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D, which wins 8 of the 11 shared tests, with the Intel Core 5 120 taking 3. The most striking result is in the passmark_find_prime_numbers test, where the AMD part scores 221 against Intel’s 77, a massive 187% advantage. This is not a small margin; it indicates a fundamental difference in how the two architectures handle this specific workload, likely related to the AMD chip’s larger cache and memory subsystem.

The AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D also dominates in multi-threaded and memory-intensive tasks. In passmark_multithread, it scores 25047 versus 18597, a 34.7% lead, which is a substantial gap for two processors with the same core and thread count. The passmark_physics test shows an even larger discrepancy: AMD scores 2779 while Intel manages only 1333, a 108.5% difference. This suggests the AMD part maintains higher sustained performance under complex, parallel computational loads. The data encryption test also favors AMD heavily, with a score of 15797 versus 11131, a 41.9% advantage, and the extended instructions test shows a 43.4% lead for AMD (20455 vs 14264).

In integer math, the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D scores 70774 against Intel’s 60462, a 17.1% win. Data compression also goes to AMD, 271649 versus 219535, a 23.7% margin. Random string sorting, a test sensitive to memory latency and cache performance, sees AMD score 32999 versus Intel’s 21499, a 53.5% advantage. This pattern reinforces the interpretation that the AMD processor’s large shared L3 cache provides a major benefit in tasks that repeatedly access the same data.

The Intel Core 5 120 claims its wins in single-threaded and floating-point workloads, though by much smaller margins. In passmark_single_thread, Intel scores 3595 against AMD’s 3494, a 2.8% lead. The passmark_floating_point_math test goes to Intel as well, 45383 versus 43594, a 3.9% advantage. These are narrow victories, indicating that Intel holds a slight edge in raw per-core frequency-driven performance, but the AMD chip is never far behind. The overall picture from the head-to-head data is that the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D delivers a substantially stronger all-around benchmark profile, with its wins in multi-threaded and cache-sensitive tests far outweighing Intel’s modest single-thread and floating-point advantages.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different platforms. The AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D uses the Raphael codename from the Zen 4 architecture, fabricated on a 5 nm process at TSMC. The Intel Core 5 120 uses Raptor Lake-R from the Raptor Lake Refresh generation, built on Intel’s 10 nm process. This process difference is directly visible in the recorded die sizes: the AMD chip measures 71 mm² with 11,270 million transistors, while the Intel die is much larger at 163 mm². The manufacturing process and design choices explain much of the performance divergence seen in the benchmarks.

Cache configuration is the most significant architectural split. The AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D carries 96 MB of shared L3 cache, a massive pool that benefits workloads with high data reuse. The Intel Core 5 120 has only 18 MB of shared L3, a 78 MB deficit. Per-core L1 and L2 caches also differ: AMD provides 64 KB L1 and 1 MB L2 per core, while Intel provides 80 KB L1 and 1.25 MB L2 per core. Despite Intel’s larger per-core caches, the AMD chip’s enormous L3 advantage appears to dominate in the benchmark results, particularly in the compression, physics, and prime number tests.

Memory support also differs. The AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D supports only DDR5 with a dual-channel bus and a recorded memory bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s. The Intel Core 5 120 supports both DDR4 and DDR5, also dual-channel, but no memory bandwidth figure is recorded in the database. ECC memory support is present on the AMD part but absent on the Intel part. PCIe connectivity differs as well: the AMD processor offers Gen 5 with 24 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel processor offers Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only).

The integrated graphics differ: the AMD chip uses Radeon Graphics, while the Intel chip uses UHD Graphics 730. Both processors have the same core count of 6 and thread count of 12, and both have a TDP of 65. The AMD part has a base clock of 4.00 GHz and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz, while the Intel part has a base clock of 2.50 GHz and the same boost clock of 4.50 GHz. The sockets are incompatible: AMD uses Socket AM5, Intel uses Socket 1700. Neither processor is multiplier-unlocked, and both are desktop parts in active production.

The Verdict

The recorded data clearly favors the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D for any user whose workload benefits from large caches and strong multi-threaded performance. Its 96 MB L3 cache is the likely driver behind the 187% win in prime number finding, the 108.5% win in physics, and the 53.5% win in random string sorting. The AMD chip also delivers a 34.7% lead in multithread and a 41.9% lead in encryption, making it the stronger choice for content creation, data processing, and scientific workloads. The Intel Core 5 120 is the better pick only for users who prioritize the slight single-thread advantage, 2.8% in the recorded passmark_single_thread test, and the 3.9% edge in floating-point math. Those margins are small, and they come with substantial deficits elsewhere. The data shows the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D as the more capable processor across the majority of tested scenarios, with a higher average benchmark score of 44573 compared to Intel’s 25362, and a better percentile rank of 89 versus 77. The Intel part does have a lower launch MSRP of $211 compared to AMD’s $269, but on raw benchmark performance, the AMD chip is in a different class.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D records an average benchmark score of 44573, while the Intel Core 5 120 records 25362.

Q: How large is the L3 cache difference?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D has 96 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Intel Core 5 120 has 18 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: Which processor wins in single-thread performance?

A: The Intel Core 5 120 scores 3595 in the passmark_single_thread test, which is 2.8% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D’s score of 3494.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D supports only DDR5, while the Intel Core 5 120 supports both DDR4 and DDR5.

Q: What is the largest single benchmark margin between the two?

A: In the passmark_find_prime_numbers test, the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D scores 221 versus the Intel Core 5 120’s 77, a 187% advantage.

Q: Are both processors the same in core and thread count?

A: Yes, both have 6 cores and 12 threads, and both have a TDP of 65.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D wins in the majority of recorded workloads, and the margins are often large. It is the clear choice for multi-threaded applications: the 34.7% lead in passmark_multithread and the 108.5% lead in passmark_physics show that it sustains high throughput across all cores. For data-heavy tasks, the 96 MB L3 cache delivers a 23.7% win in data compression and a 53.5% win in random string sorting. Encryption and extended instruction workloads also favor AMD by 41.9% and 43.4% respectively. Integer math goes to AMD by 17.1%, and prime number finding is dominated by AMD with a 187% margin. Any workload that involves large datasets, repeated data access, or parallel processing will show a significant benefit from the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D.

The Intel Core 5 120 wins only in three recorded tests: passmark_single_thread, passmark_singlethread (the same result), and passmark_floating_point_math. The single-thread margins are 2.8% (3595 vs 3494), and the floating-point margin is 3.9% (45383 vs 43594). These are the only areas where the Intel chip demonstrates an advantage, and they are narrow. The Intel part may be preferred in legacy applications that rely heavily on single-core speed or in specific floating-point simulation tasks, but the data does not show any other area of superiority. For general desktop use, the AMD chip’s wins in compression, encryption, and multithread are far more relevant to everyday performance.

Specification Differences

The recorded specifications show the following differences between the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D and the Intel Core 5 120. The AMD part uses the Raphael codename from the Zen 4 architecture, while the Intel part uses Raptor Lake-R from the Raptor Lake Refresh generation. The AMD processor is built on a 5 nm process at TSMC with a die size of 71 mm² and 11,270 million transistors. The Intel processor is built on a 10 nm process at Intel with a die size of 163 mm² and no transistor count recorded.

The cache configurations differ significantly: AMD has 64 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 96 MB shared L3. Intel has 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and 18 MB shared L3. Base clocks differ: AMD runs at 4.00 GHz, Intel at 2.50 GHz. Both boost to 4.50 GHz. Memory support differs: AMD supports only DDR5 with a recorded bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s and ECC support; Intel supports DDR4 and DDR5 with no recorded bandwidth and no ECC support. PCIe lanes differ: AMD offers 24 lanes of Gen 5 (CPU only), Intel offers 16 lanes of Gen 5 (CPU only). The integrated graphics differ: AMD uses Radeon Graphics, Intel uses UHD Graphics 730. The sockets differ: AMD uses Socket AM5, Intel uses Socket 1700. The release dates differ: AMD was released on 2025-11-11, Intel on 2025-07-30. The launch MSRP differs: AMD is $269, Intel is $211. Both have 6 cores, 12 threads, a 65 TDP, and are not multiplier-unlocked.