Intel Core 5 120 vs Intel Core 7 253PTE Comparison

Intel Core 5 120 and Intel Core 7 253PTE are two desktop processors on the Intel Socket 1700 platform, but the recorded data shows they are positioned far apart in performance. The Core 7 253PTE dominates the benchmark suite, taking 16 of 17 head-to-head tests, while the Core 5 120 manages a single narrow victory. The following analysis breaks down the measured scores, architectural differences, and the use cases each processor best serves.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking pattern in the head-to-head data is the consistency of the Core 7 253PTE's lead. In every Cinebench test, the Core 7 253PTE wins by exactly 14.2%. This uniform delta across R15, R20, and R23, both single-core and multi-core variants, indicates a clock-speed and core-count advantage that scales evenly across rendering workloads. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Core 7 253PTE scores 21276 against 18255 for the Core 5 120. The single-core R23 result shows a similar gap: 3003 versus 2577.

The Passmark suite reveals where the two processors diverge more sharply. The largest margin appears in integer math, where the Core 7 253PTE scores 119552 against 60462, a 49.4% advantage. This is the single biggest percentage win in the entire comparison. Floating point math also shows a substantial gap of 32.5%, with scores of 67209 and 45383 respectively. These two results suggest the Core 7 253PTE is roughly half again as fast in pure arithmetic throughput, a direct consequence of having more physical cores.

Data encryption shows a 28.2% lead for the Core 7 253PTE (15500 versus 11131), while multithreaded Passmark performance is 25.7% higher (25031 versus 18597). Random string sorting favors the Core 7 253PTE by 23.8% (28227 versus 21499), and data compression shows a 20.4% advantage (275828 versus 219535). Extended instructions land at a 16.6% gap (17099 versus 14264). The smaller margins include single-thread performance, where the Core 7 253PTE leads by 5.2% (3794 versus 3595), and prime number finding, where the lead narrows to 6.1% (82 versus 77).

The single test won by the Core 5 120 is Passmark physics, where it scores 1333 against 1318, a 1.1% margin. This is a negligible difference, well within run-to-run variance, and it is the only bright spot for the Core 5 120 across the entire recorded dataset. The average benchmark score tells the same story: the Core 7 253PTE sits at 34962, while the Core 5 120 sits at 25362. The Core 7 253PTE also ranks in the 84th percentile of all CPUs, while the Core 5 120 ranks in the 77th.

Architecture Differences

The two processors share a manufacturing process, both built on Intel's 10 nm node, and both use the Intel Socket 1700. The similarities end there. The Core 5 120 uses the Raptor Lake architecture with the Raptor Lake-R codename and belongs to the Core 5 (Raptor Lake Refresh) generation. The Core 7 253PTE uses the Bartlett Lake architecture and codename, belonging to the Core 7 (Bartlett Lake) generation.

Core counts differ significantly. The Core 5 120 has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Core 7 253PTE has 10 cores and 20 threads. That is a 66.7% increase in core count and a matching increase in thread count. Base clocks tell a different story: the Core 5 120 runs at 2.50 GHz, while the Core 7 253PTE runs at a lower 1.80 GHz. However, the boost clock reverses this, with the Core 7 253PTE reaching 5.40 GHz against 4.50 GHz for the Core 5 120. Thermal design power also differs, with the Core 5 120 rated at 65 W and the Core 7 253PTE rated at 45 W despite having more cores.

Cache configurations are notably different. Both processors use 80 KB of L1 cache per core, but L2 cache jumps from 1.25 MB per core on the Core 5 120 to 2 MB per core on the Core 7 253PTE. Shared L3 cache scales even more dramatically: 18 MB on the Core 5 120 versus 33 MB on the Core 7 253PTE. The die size for the Core 7 253PTE is not recorded, while the Core 5 120 measures 163 mm².

Memory support is identical on paper, with both supporting DDR4 and DDR5 in dual-channel mode, and both using Gen 5 PCIe with 16 CPU lanes. The Core 7 253PTE adds a recorded memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, while the Core 5 120 has no bandwidth figure in the database. ECC memory support is another differentiator: the Core 5 120 does not support ECC, while the Core 7 253PTE does. Both integrate the same UHD Graphics 730, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher multi-core performance in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core 7 253PTE scores 21276 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, which is 14.2% higher than the Core 5 120's 18255.

Q: Is there any benchmark where the Core 5 120 beats the Core 7 253PTE?

A: Yes, in Passmark physics the Core 5 120 scores 1333 versus 1318 for the Core 7 253PTE, a 1.1% margin. This is the only head-to-head win among the 17 recorded tests.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two processors?

A: The largest gap is in Passmark integer math, where the Core 7 253PTE scores 119552 against 60462 for the Core 5 120, a 49.4% advantage.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The Core 7 253PTE supports ECC memory, while the Core 5 120 does not.

Q: How do the core counts compare?

A: The Core 7 253PTE has 10 cores and 20 threads, while the Core 5 120 has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Core 7 253PTE boosts to 5.40 GHz, while the Core 5 120 boosts to 4.50 GHz. The Core 5 120 has a higher base clock at 2.50 GHz versus 1.80 GHz.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear hierarchy. The Core 7 253PTE is the stronger processor in nearly every measurable workload, with leads ranging from 5.2% in single-threaded Passmark to 49.4% in integer math. Its 84th percentile ranking against all CPUs, compared to 77th for the Core 5 120, confirms the performance gap extends beyond this direct comparison. The Core 5 120's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D with a delta of 0% and the Intel Core i5-13400F at 0.3%, placing it in the mid-range desktop segment. The Core 7 253PTE sits alongside the Intel Core i7-13800H and Intel Core i9-12900HX, both at -0.1% delta, which puts it in a higher performance class entirely.

The Core 5 120, with its 6 cores and 12 threads, delivers a baseline of desktop performance that is competitive with its immediate peers. The Core 7 253PTE, with 10 cores and 20 threads, offers roughly double the integer throughput and substantially higher memory bandwidth, making it the choice for workloads that scale with core count. The 1.1% physics win for the Core 5 120 is too small to affect any practical decision. For users selecting between these two on the same socket, the recorded benchmarks show the Core 7 253PTE commanding the higher price tier and delivering proportionally higher performance across the board.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core 5 120 | Intel Core 7 253PTE |

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

| Cores | 6 | 10 |

| Threads | 12 | 20 |

| Base clock | 2.50 GHz | 1.80 GHz |

| Boost clock | 4.50 GHz | 5.40 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 45 W |

| Architecture | Raptor Lake | Bartlett Lake |

| Codename | Raptor Lake-R | Bartlett Lake |

| Generation | Core 5 (Raptor Lake Refresh) | Core 7 (Bartlett Lake) |

| Die size | 163 mm² | Not recorded |

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

| L3 cache | 18 MB (shared) | 33 MB (shared) |

| Memory bandwidth | Not recorded | 89.6 GB/s |

| ECC memory | No | Yes |

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

| Launch MSRP | $211 | $384 |

Where Each One Wins

The Core 7 253PTE wins in all multi-threaded compute tasks, including Cinebench rendering, Passmark multithread, data compression, data encryption, extended instructions, integer math, floating point math, and random string sorting. Its 20 threads give it a decisive edge in any workload that can use more than 12 threads. The 49.4% integer math lead and 32.5% floating point lead make it the pick for number-crunching applications, while the 28.2% encryption advantage suits security-related tasks. The 20.4% compression lead helps with archiving and file handling.

The Core 5 120 wins only in Passmark physics, and by a margin of 1.1%. This is not enough to establish a meaningful use case, and no other benchmark in the recorded data favors it. Both processors share the same integrated graphics and PCIe configuration, so there is no differentiation there. The Core 5 120 does have a 65 W TDP against 45 W for the Core 7 253PTE, which is counterintuitive given the latter's larger core count, but the lower boost clock of the Core 5 120 keeps its single-thread performance behind. For single-threaded workloads, the Core 7 253PTE still leads by 5.2% in Passmark single-thread and by 14.2% in Cinebench R23 single-core. The Core 5 120 is the lower-priced, lower-core-count option, while the Core 7 253PTE is the higher-priced, higher-performance option, and the benchmark data consistently favors the latter.