Intel Core 5 120 vs Intel Core 5 223PE Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a decisive sweep for the Intel Core 5 223PE across every single benchmark in the comparison. The Intel Core 5 120 does not claim a single win in any of the 17 head-to-head tests. The margins are substantial and consistent, indicating a clear performance hierarchy between these two desktop processors.

Starting with the Cinebench suite, the Core 5 223PE delivers dominant multi-core results. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 2666 against 1840 for the Core 5 120, a 31% advantage. The gap holds steady across newer versions of the test: Cinebench R20 multi-core shows 11111 versus 7667, and Cinebench R23 multi-core shows 26455 versus 18255, both also 31% ahead. Single-core performance follows the same pattern, with the Core 5 223PE posting 376 versus 259 in R15 single-core, 1568 versus 1082 in R20 single-core, and 3734 versus 2577 in R23 single-core, each roughly 31% higher.

PassMark tests reinforce the trend with even larger deltas in some workloads. The biggest single gap appears in the find prime numbers test, where the Core 5 223PE scores 159 against 77 for the Core 5 120, a 51.6% advantage. Extended instructions also show a wide spread: 24672 versus 14264, a 42.2% lead. Floating point math favors the Core 5 223PE by 40.7%, scoring 76468 against 45383. Integer math shows a 39.4% gap, with 99819 versus 60462.

Memory and data-oriented tasks continue the pattern. Data compression scores 346623 for the Core 5 223PE versus 219535 for the Core 5 120, a 36.7% lead. Data encryption shows 18448 against 11131, a 39.7% advantage. Random string sorting delivers 35798 versus 21499, a 39.9% gap. The multi-thread PassMark score favors the Core 5 223PE by 40.2%, at 31124 versus 18597, and physics testing shows a 46.5% lead, with 2493 versus 1333.

The narrowest margin appears in PassMark single-thread testing, where the Core 5 223PE leads by 14.8%, scoring 4219 versus 3595. Even this smallest gap is substantial, but it confirms that the Core 5 223PE does not merely scale better with more cores; its per-thread performance is also meaningfully higher. Overall, benchmark results indicate the Core 5 223PE outperforms the Core 5 120 in every measured workload, with advantages ranging from roughly 15% to over 50% depending on the test.

Where Each One Wins

Given the complete sweep in the head-to-head data, the use-case split is straightforward. The Intel Core 5 223PE wins in every scenario that the benchmarks cover. There is no workload category in the recorded data where the Intel Core 5 120 comes out ahead.

For heavily parallel workloads, such as rendering, video encoding, and scientific computation, the Core 5 223PE shows its strength. Multi-core Cinebench scores are 31% higher across R15, R20, and R23, and the PassMark multi-thread score is 40.2% higher. The 8-core, 16-thread configuration of the Core 5 223PE, compared to 6 cores and 12 threads on the Core 5 120, explains much of this advantage.

Single-threaded applications, including many games and lightly threaded productivity tools, also favor the Core 5 223PE. The 14.8% lead in PassMark single-thread and the 31% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core indicate that the Core 5 223PE has both higher clock speeds and better per-core efficiency in the recorded measurements. The boost clock difference, 5.20 GHz versus 4.50 GHz, aligns with these results.

Data-heavy tasks such as compression, encryption, and sorting all show the Core 5 223PE ahead by margins between 36.7% and 39.9%. The larger L3 cache, 24 MB versus 18 MB, and the higher L2 cache per core likely contribute to these gains. Mathematical workloads, including integer math, floating point math, and prime number finding, show the largest deltas, with the Core 5 223PE leading by 39.4% to 51.6%.

The Intel Core 5 120 does not win anywhere in the benchmark data. Its only potential advantage lies outside measured performance, such as the lower launch MSRP, but the performance record is unambiguous. For any user selecting between these two based on the database results, the Core 5 223PE is the stronger choice in all tested applications.

FAQ

Q: How much faster is the Intel Core 5 223PE in multi-core workloads?

A: The Core 5 223PE is 31% ahead in all three Cinebench multi-core tests (R15, R20, and R23) and 40.2% ahead in the PassMark multi-thread test. The scores are 2666 versus 1840 in R15, 11111 versus 7667 in R20, 26455 versus 18255 in R23, and 31124 versus 18597 in PassMark multi-thread.

Q: Is the single-core performance difference as large as the multi-core gap?

A: No, the single-core gap is smaller. In PassMark single-thread, the Core 5 223PE leads by 14.8%, scoring 4219 versus 3595. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the gap is 31%, with 3734 versus 2577. The single-core advantage is still clear, but it is narrower than the multi-core margin.

Q: Which CPU has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core 5 223PE has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Intel Core 5 120 has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two in any benchmark?

A: The largest gap is in the PassMark find prime numbers test, where the Core 5 223PE scores 159 against 77 for the Core 5 120, a 51.6% advantage.

Q: Do both CPUs support the same memory types?

A: Yes, both support DDR4 and DDR5 memory in dual-channel configuration. The Core 5 223PE has a recorded memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s; the Core 5 120 does not have a recorded bandwidth figure.

Q: How do these CPUs compare to their nearest rivals in the database?

A: The Core 5 120 has an average benchmark score of 25362, which places it near the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D (25365, 0% delta), Intel Core i7-11700KF (25423, -0.2%), Intel Core i5-13400F (25292, 0.3%), and AMD Ryzen 7 7840U (25432, -0.3%). The Core 5 223PE has an average score of 40585, near the Intel Core 7 253PE (40557, 0.1%), Intel Xeon 6357P (40630, -0.1%), Intel Core Ultra X7 368H (40518, 0.2%), and AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 435G (40718, -0.3%).

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several core specifications. The Intel Core 5 120 uses 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Core 5 223PE uses 8 cores and 16 threads. Base clock speeds are 2.50 GHz for the Core 5 120 and 2.90 GHz for the Core 5 223PE. Boost clocks are 4.50 GHz and 5.20 GHz respectively. Both have a 65 W TDP and use Intel Socket 1700.

Cache configurations differ notably. The Core 5 120 has 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core and 18 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core 5 223PE has 2 MB of L2 cache per core and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. Both have 80 KB of L1 cache per core. The die size of the Core 5 120 is recorded as 163 mm²; no die size is recorded for the Core 5 223PE.

Memory support is identical in type, with both supporting DDR4 and DDR5 in dual-channel mode. However, the Core 5 223PE has a recorded memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, while no bandwidth figure is listed for the Core 5 120. ECC memory support differs: the Core 5 120 does not support ECC, while the Core 5 223PE does.

Both processors use PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU and both integrate UHD Graphics 730. Neither has an unlocked multiplier. The launch MSRP for the Core 5 120 is $211, and for the Core 5 223PE it is $232. The part numbers are SA35V for the Core 5 120 and SA4QF for the Core 5 223PE.

Architecture Differences

The two CPUs come from different architectural families. The Intel Core 5 120 is based on Raptor Lake, specifically the Raptor Lake-R refresh generation. The Intel Core 5 223PE uses the Bartlett Lake codename, with its generation listed as Bartlett Lake. Both are manufactured by Intel on a 10 nm process node.

Core organization differs beyond the core and thread counts. The Core 5 223PE has a larger L2 cache per core at 2 MB, versus 1.25 MB on the Core 5 120, and a larger shared L3 cache at 24 MB versus 18 MB. These cache differences, combined with the higher base and boost clocks, explain the consistent benchmark advantage of the Core 5 223PE.

The Bartlett Lake part adds ECC memory support, which the Raptor Lake part lacks. This makes the Core 5 223PE suitable for lightly error-tolerant or reliability-focused desktop builds. The memory bandwidth figure of 89.6 GB/s for the Core 5 223PE, absent for the Core 5 120, further distinguishes the memory subsystem.

Release dates differ by several months. The Core 5 120 has a release date of 2025-07-30, while the Core 5 223PE is dated 2026-03-08. Both are currently marked as Active in production status and target the desktop market segment. The integrated graphics are the same UHD Graphics 730 on both parts, and both use the same PCIe Gen 5, 16-lane configuration.

The Verdict

The benchmark data makes the choice clear for most users. The Intel Core 5 223PE outperforms the Intel Core 5 120 in every recorded test, with margins ranging from 14.8% in PassMark single-thread to 51.6% in prime number finding. It achieves this with more cores, higher clocks, larger caches, and ECC memory support, all within the same 65 W TDP and same socket.

Users who need maximum multi-threaded performance for rendering, encoding, or compilation should select the Core 5 223PE. Its 31% lead across all Cinebench multi-core tests and 40.2% lead in PassMark multi-thread represent substantial time savings in long-running jobs. Users who prioritize single-thread responsiveness in applications that use one or two cores will also prefer the Core 5 223PE, as its 14.8% to 31% single-core advantage covers those workloads.

The Intel Core 5 120 does retain one advantage in the recorded data: its launch MSRP of $211 is lower than the $232 of the Core 5 223PE. For builds where every dollar matters and the workload is light enough that the performance gap does not cause noticeable delays, the Core 5 120 remains a functional choice. It also offers a smaller die size at 163 mm², which does not affect user-visible performance but may influence manufacturing considerations.

However, the performance-per-dollar analysis from the database strongly favors the Core 5 223PE. The average benchmark score of the Core 5 223PE is 40585, compared to 25362 for the Core 5 120, an improvement of roughly 60% for a launch MSRP increase of $21. The Core 5 223PE also ranks in the 87th percentile of all CPUs, versus the 77th percentile for the Core 5 120.

For any user with workloads that exercise multiple cores, the Core 5 223PE is the recommended pick based on the recorded measurements. For users who primarily run lightly threaded tasks and want to minimize upfront cost, the Core 5 120 is acceptable, but the data shows no performance scenario where it wins. The choice rests on whether the $21 launch MSRP difference justifies the consistent 15% to 50% performance advantage of the Core 5 223PE.