AMD Ryzen 7 7840U vs Intel Core 5 120 Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 7 7840U and Intel Core 5 120 present a stark contrast in design philosophy and benchmark behavior. The Ryzen 7 7840U is a mobile processor built on a 4 nm TSMC process with 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Core 5 120 is a desktop part on Intel’s 10 nm process with 6 cores and 12 threads. Despite these differences, both processors sit at the 77th percentile in the global CPU rankings, with average benchmark scores of 25432 for the AMD and 25362 for the Intel. This near-identical overall standing masks a deeply polarized set of results: the AMD wins 10 of the 15 head-to-head tests, while the Intel takes 5, but the margins in each direction are substantial. The data suggests these are not interchangeable parts; they excel in different workloads, and the choice between them depends heavily on the specific application.

The Verdict

The benchmark data points to a clear split: the AMD Ryzen 7 7840U is the dominant choice for compute-heavy, multi-threaded, and data-processing workloads, while the Intel Core 5 120 is the pick for single-threaded performance and specific rendering tasks. The Ryzen 7 7840U’s wins are often by wide margins—58.9% in data encryption, 50.3% in integer math, and 43.2% in extended instructions. Meanwhile, the Core 5 120’s most significant victory is a 30.3% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core, despite having fewer cores and threads. The overall average benchmark scores are nearly tied (25432 vs 25362, a delta of only 0.3%), but this aggregate figure obscures the fact that the two chips are optimized for different types of work. A user prioritizing throughput in encryption, compression, or floating-point calculations would favor the AMD; a user prioritizing Cinebench rendering or peak single-thread response would favor the Intel. The data does not indicate a universal winner, only a context-dependent one.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 7 7840U wins the majority of head-to-head tests, particularly in PassMark’s specialized workloads. Its largest margins come in data encryption (17691 vs 11131, up 58.9%), random string sorting (33757 vs 21499, up 57%), and integer math (90852 vs 60462, up 50.3%). These results indicate a strong advantage in tasks that involve heavy data manipulation, algorithmic processing, and cryptographic operations. The AMD also leads in floating-point math by 14.1%, data compression by 31.5%, and extended instructions by 43.2%. Its multi-thread PassMark score is 33.3% higher (24782 vs 18597), showing a clear edge in general parallel throughput.

The Intel Core 5 120 wins in Cinebench R23, both multi-core (18255 vs 12719, a 30.3% lead) and single-core (2577 vs 1677.5, a 34.9% lead). It also edges out the AMD in PassMark physics (1333 vs 1256, up 5.8%) and PassMark single-thread (3595 vs 3565, up 0.8%). The Intel wins in Cinebench R15 multi-core are reversed, with the AMD taking that test by 8.2%, suggesting that the Intel’s advantage is specific to the R23 version of the benchmark. The pattern is clear: the Intel excels in the Cinebench rendering suite, while the AMD dominates the PassMark suite and the older R15 test.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different architectures. The AMD Ryzen 7 7840U uses the Zen 4 architecture (codenamed Phoenix) on a 4 nm process from TSMC, with 25,000 million transistors on a 178 mm² die. The Intel Core 5 120 uses the Raptor Lake architecture (codenamed Raptor Lake-R) on Intel’s 10 nm process, with a 163 mm² die size. The AMD has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel has 6 cores and 12 threads. The cache configurations also differ: the AMD has 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3, while the Intel has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3. The AMD’s base clock is 3.30 GHz with a boost of 5.10 GHz, whereas the Intel’s base is 2.50 GHz with a boost of 4.50 GHz. The AMD supports only DDR5 memory with dual-channel bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, while the Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5. The AMD has ECC memory support, the Intel does not. The AMD uses 20 PCIe Gen 4 lanes, while the Intel uses 16 PCIe Gen 5 lanes. The AMD is a mobile part on Socket FP8 with a 28 W TDP, while the Intel is a desktop part on Socket 1700 with a 65 W TDP.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 7840U has an average benchmark score of 25432, which is 0.3% higher than the Intel Core 5 120’s score of 25362. Both are at the 77th percentile of all CPUs.

Q: Does the Intel Core 5 120 beat the AMD in multi-core performance?

A: Yes, in Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Intel scores 18255 versus the AMD’s 12719, a 30.3% lead. However, in Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD wins with 1990 against 1840, an 8.2% advantage.

Q: Which processor is better for data encryption?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 7840U is significantly better, scoring 17691 in PassMark data encryption compared to the Intel’s 11131, a 58.9% difference.

Q: What is the core and thread count difference?

A: The AMD has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel has 6 cores and 12 threads. The AMD has two more cores and four more threads.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?

A: No. The AMD supports only DDR5, while the Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5. The AMD has a dual-channel memory bus with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth; the Intel’s bandwidth is not listed.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 7840U has a boost clock of 5.10 GHz, while the Intel Core 5 120 has a boost clock of 4.50 GHz. The AMD’s base clock is also higher at 3.30 GHz versus 2.50 GHz.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest win for the AMD Ryzen 7 7840U is in PassMark data encryption, where it scores 17691 against the Intel’s 11131, a 58.9% lead. This is followed by a 57% advantage in random string sorting (33757 vs 21499) and a 50.3% lead in integer math (90852 vs 60462). The AMD also shows a 43.2% lead in extended instructions (20432 vs 14264) and a 33.3% lead in PassMark multi-thread (24782 vs 18597). In data compression, the AMD wins by 31.5% (288604 vs 219535), and in floating-point math it leads by 14.1% (51767 vs 45383). Even in the prime number test, the AMD edges out the Intel by 3.9% (80 vs 77).

The Intel Core 5 120’s biggest win is in Cinebench R23 single-core, where it scores 2577 against the AMD’s 1677.5, a 34.9% advantage. Its multi-core win in Cinebench R23 is also substantial at 30.3% (18255 vs 12719). In PassMark physics, the Intel leads by 5.8% (1333 vs 1256), and in PassMark single-thread it leads by 0.8% (3595 vs 3565). The AMD wins Cinebench R15 multi-core by 8.2% (1990 vs 1840) and single-core by 1.9% (264 vs 259). The data shows a pattern: the Intel dominates the newer Cinebench R23 tests, while the AMD sweeps the PassMark suite and wins the older R15 tests.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts differ, with the AMD featuring 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel has 6 cores and 12 threads. The base clocks are 3.30 GHz for the AMD and 2.50 GHz for the Intel, with boost clocks of 5.10 GHz and 4.50 GHz respectively. The TDP differs significantly: the AMD is rated at 28 W, the Intel at 65 W. The process nodes are 4 nm for the AMD (TSMC) and 10 nm for the Intel. The socket types are AMD Socket FP8 for the Ryzen and Intel Socket 1700 for the Core 5. The cache layouts differ: the AMD has 64 KB L1 and 1 MB L2 per core with 16 MB shared L3; the Intel has 80 KB L1 and 1.25 MB L2 per core with 18 MB shared L3. Memory support is DDR5 only for the AMD, versus DDR4 and DDR5 for the Intel. The AMD has ECC memory support, the Intel does not. The PCIe configuration is Gen 4 with 20 lanes for the AMD, and Gen 5 with 16 lanes for the Intel. The integrated graphics are Radeon 780M for the AMD and UHD Graphics 730 for the Intel. The release dates differ, with the Intel released on 2025-07-30 and the AMD having no listed release date. The Intel has a launch MSRP of $211; the AMD has no listed launch MSRP. The AMD has a transistor count of 25,000 million, while the Intel’s is not listed. The die sizes are 178 mm² for the AMD and 163 mm² for the Intel.