AMD Ryzen 7 6800H vs Intel Core 5 120 Comparison

The Intel Core 5 120 and AMD Ryzen 7 6800H represent two distinct philosophies in processor design: a desktop-oriented Raptor Lake refresh with high clock speeds versus a mobile-focused Zen 3+ part with more cores and a smaller process node. Benchmark data shows a near-total split in their respective strengths, with the Intel part dominating single-threaded and lightly-threaded workloads, while the AMD chip counters with substantial leads in multi-threaded and data-intensive tasks. With 7 benchmark wins for Intel and 8 for AMD in the head-to-head comparison, the choice between them hinges entirely on the specific application profile.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 5 120 is the clear choice for workloads that depend on raw single-core performance and low-latency response. Its most dramatic victory comes in Cinebench R23 single-core, where it scores 2577 against the AMD's 1542, a 67.1% advantage. This translates directly to snappier application launches, faster spreadsheet recalculations, and better performance in games that rely on a few heavily-threaded cores. The PassMark single-thread score of 3595 versus 3212 (an 11.9% lead) reinforces this picture, as does the Cinebench R15 single-core result of 259 versus 242.5 (a 6.8% win). For physics simulation, the Intel part is 27.4% ahead (1333 vs 1046 in PassMark physics), a metric that often correlates with gaming physics and lightweight simulation workloads.

The AMD Ryzen 7 6800H, by contrast, is the undisputed champion of throughput-oriented tasks. The data shows its 8 cores and 16 threads provide a decisive edge in PassMark integer math, where it scores 85397 versus 60462, a 29.2% lead. Its advantage in data compression is even more pronounced at 293929 versus 219535, a 25.3% margin. The AMD chip also wins in data encryption (18260 vs 11131, a 39% delta) and extended instructions (20114 vs 14264, a 29.1% gap). For multi-threaded rendering, the Cinebench R15 multicore result favors AMD at 2136 versus 1840 (13.9% ahead), though the picture is complicated by the R23 multicore result, which we will examine below. The PassMark multithread score of 23060 versus 18597 (19.4% ahead) confirms AMD's general multi-core superiority in most tests.

Architecture Differences

The two processors diverge fundamentally in their underlying design. The Intel Core 5 120 uses Raptor Lake architecture on a 10 nm process node built by Intel, with a die size of 163 mm². It packs 6 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz. Its cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3 cache. It supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in dual-channel configuration, and offers PCIe Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes. The integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 730, and the chip is designed for the Intel Socket 1700 platform with a 65 W TDP.

The AMD Ryzen 7 6800H uses Zen 3+ architecture (codenamed Rembrandt) on a 6 nm process node fabricated by TSMC, with a larger die size of 208 mm². It provides 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. Its cache configuration is smaller per core: 64 KB of L1, 512 KB of L2, and 16 MB of shared L3. It supports only DDR5 memory (dual-channel) with a specified memory bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s, and offers PCIe Gen 4 with 20 CPU lanes. The integrated graphics are the Radeon 680M, and it fits the AMD Socket FP7 mobile platform with a 45 W TDP. The AMD part is not a desktop chip; its market segment is mobile, while the Intel part is explicitly desktop.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster for single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core 5 120 is decisively faster in single-core tests. It leads by 67.1% in Cinebench R23 single-core (2577 vs 1542), by 6.8% in Cinebench R15 single-core (259 vs 242.5), and by 11.9% in PassMark single-thread (3595 vs 3212).

Q: Does the AMD Ryzen 7 6800H win in all multi-threaded workloads?

A: No. While AMD wins in Cinebench R15 multicore (2136 vs 1840, 13.9% ahead) and PassMark multithread (23060 vs 18597, 19.4% ahead), the Intel Core 5 120 wins Cinebench R23 multicore by a massive 39.4% (18255 vs 13094). This suggests the R23 workload favors Intel's architecture despite AMD having more cores.

Q: What is the difference in core counts and process nodes?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 6800H has 8 cores and 16 threads, built on a 6 nm TSMC process. The Intel Core 5 120 has 6 cores and 12 threads, built on a 10 nm Intel process. Despite having fewer cores, Intel wins several multi-threaded tests.

Q: Which processor has better memory support?

A: The Intel Core 5 120 supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the AMD Ryzen 7 6800H supports only DDR5. Both use dual-channel memory buses. The AMD part specifies a memory bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s; no bandwidth figure is listed for Intel.

Q: How do their integrated graphics compare?

A: The Intel Core 5 120 features UHD Graphics 730, while the AMD Ryzen 7 6800H features Radeon 680M. The FACT PACK provides no benchmark scores for either integrated GPU, so no performance comparison can be made from the data.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 6800H has a higher boost clock at 4.70 GHz, compared to the Intel Core 5 120's 4.50 GHz. However, Intel still wins all single-core benchmark comparisons in the data.

Specification Differences

The specifications where the two processors differ are substantial. The Intel Core 5 120 has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 7 6800H has 8 cores and 16 threads. Intel's base clock is 2.50 GHz versus AMD's 3.20 GHz, and the boost clock is 4.50 GHz versus 4.70 GHz. The TDP differs significantly: 65 W for Intel versus 45 W for AMD. The Intel part uses a 10 nm process from Intel, while the AMD part uses a 6 nm process from TSMC. Die size is 163 mm² for Intel and 208 mm² for AMD.

Cache hierarchies differ per core: Intel has 80 KB L1 and 1.25 MB L2 per core, while AMD has 64 KB L1 and 512 KB L2 per core. Shared L3 is 18 MB for Intel and 16 MB for AMD. Memory support sees Intel accepting both DDR4 and DDR5, while AMD accepts only DDR5; AMD specifies 76.8 GB/s bandwidth, Intel does not list a figure. PCIe support differs: Intel offers Gen 5 with 16 lanes, while AMD offers Gen 4 with 20 lanes. Integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 730 for Intel and Radeon 680M for AMD. The Intel part is desktop, the AMD part is mobile. Intel's launch MSRP is $211; no MSRP is listed for AMD.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The single most lopsided result in the comparison is Cinebench R23 single-core, where the Intel Core 5 120 scores 2577 against the AMD's 1542, a 67.1% advantage. This is not a small margin; it is the kind of gap that makes the Intel part feel categorically faster in any latency-sensitive application. The same test in multicore flips dramatically: Intel wins at 18255 versus 13094, a 39.4% lead. This is counterintuitive given AMD's 8-core count, but the data is unequivocal.

The AMD Ryzen 7 6800H's biggest wins come in PassMark integer math, where it scores 85397 versus 60462, a 29.2% lead. Data encryption shows an even larger percentage gap: 18260 versus 11131, a 39% advantage for AMD. In data compression, AMD leads with 293929 versus 219535, a 25.3% margin. Extended instructions favor AMD at 20114 versus 14264, a 29.1% delta.

The Intel part counters with a 35.1% win in PassMark find prime numbers (77 vs 57) and a 27.4% lead in physics (1333 vs 1046). The PassMark single-thread test gives Intel a 11.9% win (3595 vs 3212). In floating point math, AMD leads modestly at 47989 versus 45383, a 5.4% margin. The multithread PassMark result shows AMD ahead at 23060 versus 18597, a 19.4% lead. Random string sorting goes to AMD at 30668 versus 21499, a 29.9% gap. Cinebench R15 multicore favors AMD at 2136 versus 1840 (13.9% ahead), while R15 single-core favors Intel at 259 versus 242.5 (6.8% ahead).

The overall benchmark averages are nearly identical: the Intel part averages 25362 with a 77th percentile ranking, and the AMD part averages 25201 with a 77th percentile ranking. Intel's closest rival is the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D at a 0% delta, while AMD's closest rival is the Ryzen 7 7735HS at 0.2% delta. The head-to-head win count is 7 for Intel and 8 for AMD, reflecting the fundamental trade-off between single-core speed and multi-core throughput.