Intel Core 5 120 vs Intel Core 5 213PTE Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The head-to-head benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Core 5 213PTE wins every single recorded test. Across 17 comparison points, the Core 5 120 does not secure a single victory. This is not a close contest with split results; the 213PTE holds a decisive advantage in every workload category measured.

The use-case split is therefore straightforward. The Core 5 213PTE is the stronger processor for all compute-intensive tasks. Its wins span Cinebench render tests (both multicore and singlecore), PassMark math operations (integer, floating point, prime number finding), data compression, encryption, extended instruction workloads, physics simulation, random string sorting, and multithreaded throughput. The only area where the Core 5 120 narrows the gap is single-threaded PassMark performance, where the 213PTE leads by just 3.3%. In every other test, the margin ranges from 11.7% to 51%.

The Core 5 120, by contrast, has no benchmark category where it outperforms its rival. Its role would be limited to scenarios where the 213PTE's advantages are not required, but the recorded data does not support any specific workload where the 120 comes out ahead. The 213PTE's percentile ranking of 83 versus the 120's percentile of 77 reinforces this positioning. The 213PTE sits higher in the overall CPU distribution, and its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-12700 and AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D, while the 120's nearest rivals cluster around the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D and Intel Core i5-13400F.

Architecture Differences

The two processors share several foundational traits but diverge in key structural details. Both use Intel's 10 nm process node, both are manufactured by Intel, both support DDR4 and DDR5 memory, both run on a dual-channel memory bus, both provide PCIe Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes, and both integrate UHD Graphics 730. Neither has an unlocked multiplier.

The Core 5 120 uses Raptor Lake architecture with the Raptor Lake-R codename and belongs to the Core 5 (Raptor Lake Refresh) generation. It packs 6 cores and 12 threads. Its L1 cache is 80 KB per core, L2 is 1.25 MB per core, and L3 is 18 MB shared. The die size is 163 mm². Base clock is 2.50 GHz with a boost clock of 4.50 GHz. TDP is 65 watts. ECC memory is not supported. The memory bandwidth figure is not recorded for this part.

The Core 5 213PTE uses Bartlett Lake architecture with the Bartlett Lake codename and belongs to the Core 5 (Bartlett Lake) generation. It has 8 cores and 16 threads. Its L1 cache is also 80 KB per core, but L2 rises to 2 MB per core, and L3 expands to 24 MB shared. Base clock is lower at 2.10 GHz, while boost clock is higher at 5.20 GHz. TDP is 45 watts, 20 watts below the 120. ECC memory is supported, a feature absent on the 120. The 213PTE also records a memory bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s, a figure not listed for the 120. Die size is not recorded for the 213PTE.

The core count difference is the most significant structural gap. Two additional cores and four additional threads directly explain much of the multicore performance delta. The larger L2 and L3 caches also contribute to the 213PTE's advantage in cache-sensitive workloads. The lower TDP despite higher boost clock indicates a more efficient design or different power delivery characteristics. The ECC support and recorded memory bandwidth further separate the two parts.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The data shows a consistent pattern of the 213PTE leading by varying margins across all 17 tests. The smallest margin appears in PassMark single-threaded tests, where the 213PTE scores 3718 versus 3595 for the 120, a 3.3% difference. Both the single_thread and singlethread entries record the same scores, confirming the result.

Cinebench tests show a uniform gap around 16%. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the 213PTE scores 2192 against 1840, a 16.1% lead. The R15 singlecore result is 309 versus 259, also 16.2%. R20 multicore shows 9135 versus 7667 (16.1%), R20 singlecore shows 1289 versus 1082 (16.1%), R23 multicore shows 21751 versus 18255 (16.1%), and R23 singlecore shows 3070 versus 2577 (16.1%). The consistency across all six Cinebench iterations indicates a stable performance advantage rather than a workload-specific anomaly.

PassMark tests reveal larger disparities in compute-heavy workloads. Floating point math shows the 213PTE at 71722 versus 45383, a 36.7% lead. Integer math runs 93109 versus 60462, a 35.1% margin. Physics simulation scores 2199 versus 1333, a 39.4% gap. Prime number finding is the largest relative difference: 157 versus 77, a 51% lead. These math-heavy tests benefit disproportionately from the additional cores and higher boost clock.

Data and memory-oriented tests also favor the 213PTE. Data compression scores 261083 versus 219535, a 15.9% difference. Data encryption runs 14413 versus 11131, a 22.8% gap. Extended instructions show 16146 versus 14264, an 11.7% margin, the smallest non-single-thread difference. Random string sorting delivers 30106 versus 21499, a 28.6% lead. The multithreaded PassMark score is 25590 versus 18597, a 27.3% advantage.

The overall average benchmark score reinforces the picture: the 213PTE averages 32924 across all recorded tests, while the 120 averages 25362. That is a 29.7% difference in average score. The 213PTE's nearest rival, the Intel Core i7-12700, sits within 0.1% of its average, while the 120's closest competitor, the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D, matches its 25365 average almost exactly.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core 5 213PTE has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core 5 120 has 6 cores and 12 threads. The 213PTE has two additional cores and four additional threads.

Q: How does the boost clock compare between the two?

A: The Intel Core 5 213PTE boosts to 5.20 GHz, while the Intel Core 5 120 boosts to 4.50 GHz. The 213PTE has a 0.70 GHz higher boost clock despite a lower base clock of 2.10 GHz versus 2.50 GHz.

Q: Does the Intel Core 5 213PTE support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the Intel Core 5 213PTE supports ECC memory. The Intel Core 5 120 does not support ECC memory. Both support DDR4 and DDR5 in dual-channel configuration.

Q: What is the largest performance gap in the benchmark data?

A: The largest gap is in PassMark find prime numbers, where the Intel Core 5 213PTE scores 157 versus 77 for the Intel Core 5 120, a 51% difference. Floating point math shows the second largest gap at 36.7%.

Q: What is the smallest performance gap?

A: The smallest gap is in PassMark single-threaded tests, where the Intel Core 5 213PTE scores 3718 versus 3595 for the Intel Core 5 120, a 3.3% difference. This is the only test with a margin below 10%.

Q: How do the two processors rank against all CPUs in the database?

A: The Intel Core 5 213PTE ranks in the 83rd percentile, while the Intel Core 5 120 ranks in the 77th percentile. The 213PTE's average benchmark score of 32924 places it near the Intel Core i7-12700, while the 120's 25362 places it near the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D.

Specification Differences

The table below lists only the fields where the two processors differ, based on the recorded specifications.

| Specification | Intel Core 5 120 | Intel Core 5 213PTE |

|---|---|---|

| Architecture | Raptor Lake | Not recorded |

| Codename | Raptor Lake-R | Bartlett Lake |

| Generation | Core 5 (Raptor Lake Refresh) | Core 5 (Bartlett Lake) |

| Cores | 6 | 8 |

| Threads | 12 | 16 |

| Base Clock | 2.50 GHz | 2.10 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.50 GHz | 5.20 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 45 W |

| Die Size | 163 mm² | Not recorded |

| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core) | 2 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 18 MB (shared) | 24 MB (shared) |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not recorded | 76.8 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

| Release Date | 2025-07-30 | 2026-03-08 |

| Launch MSRP | $211 | $221 |

| Part Number | SA35V | SA4QM |

| Percentile vs All CPUs | 77 | 83 |

| Average Benchmark Score | 25362 | 32924 |

Shared specifications include the Intel 10 nm process node, Intel as foundry, L1 cache of 80 KB per core, DDR4 and DDR5 memory support, dual-channel memory bus, PCIe Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes, UHD Graphics 730 integrated graphics, Desktop market segment, Active production status, and a locked multiplier. Both use Intel Socket 1700. The 213PTE's launch MSRP is $221, ten dollars higher than the 120's $211, and its release date is later. The 213PTE achieves a higher percentile ranking and a substantially higher average benchmark score despite a lower TDP, indicating a performance-per-watt advantage in the recorded data.