Intel Core 5 120 vs Intel Core 7 360 Comparison

The Verdict

The recorded data separates these two processors into distinct deployment profiles. The Intel Core 5 120 wins 13 of the 17 head-to-head benchmarks, while the Intel Core 7 360 wins 4. The Core 5 120 is the multi-threaded and all-around compute leader, with an average benchmark score of 25362, placing it in the 77th percentile of all CPUs. The Core 7 360, with an average benchmark score of 18374, sits in the 72nd percentile. The Core 5 120 leads in Cinebench R23 multi-core by 33.9% (18255 versus 13634), a margin that shows its advantage in heavily threaded rendering workloads. The data indicates the Core 5 120 is the choice for desktop workloads where sustained multi-core output matters, such as rendering, compilation, and content creation.

The Core 7 360 presents a different profile. It is a mobile part with a 15 W TDP, whereas the Core 5 120 is a desktop part with a 65 W TDP. Its single-thread PassMark score of 4274 is 15.9% higher than the Core 5 120's 3595, and it counters with a 35.8% lead in PassMark prime number finding (120 versus 77). The Core 7 360 is built on a 3 nm process, uses a single-channel memory bus, and targets low-power mobile systems. The data shows it is not a general performance replacement for the Core 5 120, but it delivers superior single-thread throughput in specific integer workloads. Users constrained by power envelopes or requiring a compact BGA platform would select the Core 7 360; users prioritizing raw compute across multiple cores would select the Core 5 120.

Architecture Differences

The two processors diverge at the platform and silicon level. The Intel Core 5 120 uses the Raptor Lake architecture with the Raptor Lake-R codename, fabricated on Intel's 10 nm process with a die size of 163 mm². It features 6 cores and 12 threads, indicating Hyper-Threading support. Its cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core 7 360 uses the Wildcat Lake codename on a 3 nm process node, also fabricated by Intel, with a smaller cache configuration: 192 KB of L1 per core, 2.5 MB of L2 per core, but only 6 MB of shared L3. The Core 7 360 has 6 cores and 6 threads, meaning no simultaneous multi-threading. The Core 5 120 supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory over a dual-channel bus, while the Core 7 360 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X over a single-channel bus with a recorded memory bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s.

Platform support further separates them. The Core 5 120 uses Intel Socket 1700 and provides PCIe Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes. The Core 7 360 uses Intel BGA 1516 and provides PCIe Gen 4 with 6 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics differ: the Core 5 120 carries UHD Graphics 730, while the Core 7 360 carries Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores. Neither processor supports ECC memory, and neither has an unlocked multiplier. The Core 5 120 was released on 2025-07-30, while the Core 7 360 followed with a release date of 2026-04-15. The Core 5 120's launch MSRP is $211. The Core 7 360's launch MSRP is $426.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core 5 120. It leads in every Cinebench multi-core test, including R23 multi-core with 18255 versus 13634, a 33.9% margin. Its PassMark multithread score of 18597 is 19.6% higher than the Core 7 360's 15544.

Q: Does the Core 7 360 win in any benchmark?

A: Yes. It wins PassMark single-thread with 4274 versus 3595, a 15.9% lead, and PassMark prime number finding with 120 versus 77, a 35.8% lead. It also edges out the Core 5 120 in data encryption, 11164 versus 11131.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Core 5 120 has an average benchmark score of 25362, which places it in the 77th percentile of all CPUs. The Core 7 360 has an average benchmark score of 18374, placing it in the 72nd percentile. The Core 5 120's nearest rival is the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D at 25365, a 0% delta, while the Core 7 360's nearest rival is the Intel Core i3-13100 at 18380, also a 0% delta.

Q: What are the core and thread counts?

A: Both have 6 cores. The Core 5 120 has 12 threads, while the Core 7 360 has 6 threads. The Core 5 120 therefore supports two threads per core, while the Core 7 360 does not.

Q: What memory types do they support?

A: The Core 5 120 supports DDR4 and DDR5 over a dual-channel bus. The Core 7 360 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X over a single-channel bus, with a measured memory bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s.

Q: How do their thermal envelopes differ?

A: The Core 5 120 has a TDP of 65 W and is a desktop processor. The Core 7 360 has a TDP of 15 W and is a mobile processor. This power difference aligns with their respective sockets: Socket 1700 for the Core 5 120 and BGA 1516 for the Core 7 360.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core 5 120 | Intel Core 7 360 |

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

| Cores | 6 | 6 |

| Threads | 12 | 6 |

| Base Clock | 2.50 GHz | 1.50 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.50 GHz | 4.80 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 15 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1700 | Intel BGA 1516 |

| Architecture | Raptor Lake | Wildcat Lake |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 3 nm |

| Die Size | 163 mm² | Not specified |

| L1 Cache | 80 KB (per core) | 192 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core) | 2.5 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 18 MB (shared) | 6 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR5, LPDDR5X |

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Single-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not specified | 59.7 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 4, 6 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 730 | Intel Xe3 Graphics (2 Xe) |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Release Date | 2025-07-30 | 2026-04-15 |

| Part Number | SA35V | SAE3E |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Core 5 120 dominates the Cinebench suite with consistent 33.9% leads across R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests. In R15 multi-core, it scores 1840 against 1374. In R20 multi-core, 7667 against 5726. In R23 multi-core, 18255 against 13634. The single-core Cinebench results follow the same pattern: R15 single-core 259 versus 193, R20 single-core 1082 versus 808, and R23 single-core 2577 versus 1924, each a 33.9% or 34.2% margin. These results indicate that the Core 5 120's higher base clock of 2.50 GHz and dual-thread capability provide a substantial advantage in short and long render workloads.

The PassMark integer math test shows the largest gap of the entire comparison. The Core 5 120 scores 60462, which is 76.6% higher than the Core 7 360's 34238. This result likely reflects the Core 5 120's 12 threads versus 6 threads and its 18 MB L3 cache. Data compression also favors the Core 5 120 heavily: 219535 versus 142877, a 53.7% difference. Extended instructions show a 15.1% lead for the Core 5 120 (14264 versus 12390), and random string sorting shows a 21.9% lead (21499 versus 17636). Floating point math is nearly tied, with the Core 5 120 ahead by only 0.9% (45383 versus 44963). Physics tests give the Core 5 120 a 9.9% edge (1333 versus 1213).

The Core 7 360 wins in PassMark single-thread performance with 4274 versus 3595, a 15.9% margin, which is notable given its lower base clock of 1.50 GHz. Its boost clock of 4.80 GHz, higher than the Core 5 120's 4.50 GHz, supports this result. The prime number finding test shows a 35.8% win for the Core 7 360 (120 versus 77), reinforcing its integer single-thread strength. Data encryption is effectively a tie: the Core 7 360 scores 11164 versus the Core 5 120's 11131, a 0.3% difference.

The overall benchmark distribution is decisive. Of the 17 head-to-head tests, the Core 5 120 wins 13, with the Core 7 360 winning 4. The Core 5 120's wins are concentrated in multi-threaded and memory-sensitive workloads, while the Core 7 360's wins are in single-thread integer operations and encryption. The average benchmark score gap of 6988 points between the two processors, 25362 versus 18374, confirms that the Core 5 120 is the higher-performing part in aggregate. The Core 7 360's strengths are specific and narrow, tied to its single-thread architecture and higher boost clock.