Intel Core 5 120 vs Intel Core 9 273PE Comparison

Intel Core 5 120 and Intel Core 9 273PE are both desktop processors on the Intel Socket 1700 platform, but they occupy very different positions in the performance hierarchy. The Core 5 120 is a 6-core part based on Raptor Lake, while the Core 9 273PE is a 12-core part from the Bartlett Lake family. The benchmark data shows a consistent and substantial performance gap across all tested workloads, with the Core 9 273PE winning all 17 head-to-head comparisons.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Core 9 273PE dominates the Core 5 120 in every recorded benchmark. The largest deltas appear in compute-heavy PassMark tests. In passmark_find_prime_numbers, the Core 9 273PE scores 203 against 77 for the Core 5 120, a 62.1% advantage. Floating point math shows a 57.9% gap, with scores of 107884 and 45383 respectively. Integer math follows closely at 56.6%, with 139410 versus 60462. Physics tests show a 57.3% delta, scoring 3120 against 1333.

Cinebench results are consistently around 41.7% faster for the Core 9 273PE across both single-core and multi-core tests. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Core 9 273PE scores 31288 versus 18255, while single-core shows 4417 versus 2577. Cinebench R20 multi-core records 13140 against 7667, and R15 multi-core records 3153 against 1840. The single-core deltas in Cinebench R15 and R20 are 41.8% and 41.7% respectively.

Memory and data-oriented workloads show a similar pattern. PassMark data compression scores 405885 for the Core 9 273PE against 219535, a 45.9% delta. Data encryption shows a 51% gap, with 22719 versus 11131. Extended instructions tests record 24630 versus 14264, a 42.1% delta. Random string sorting is 52.3% faster at 45098 versus 21499.

The narrowest margin is in PassMark single-thread tests, where the Core 9 273PE scores 3650 against 3595, a 1.5% delta. This is the only benchmark where the two processors are close, indicating that the architectural advantages of the Core 9 273PE are most pronounced in multi-threaded and vectorized workloads. The overall average benchmark score reflects this split: the Core 9 273PE averages 49845, placing it in the 90th percentile of all CPUs, while the Core 5 120 averages 25362, placing it in the 77th percentile.

Architecture Differences

The two processors share the same 10 nm process node, Intel as the foundry, and the same socket. Both support DDR4 and DDR5 memory in dual-channel configuration, and both use PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU. Integrated graphics are identical, with UHD Graphics 730 on both parts. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

The core configuration is the primary differentiator. The Core 5 120 has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Core 9 273PE has 12 cores and 24 threads. The Core 9 273PE therefore doubles the thread count, which directly explains its large multi-threaded advantages. Base clock rates are similar, with the Core 5 120 at 2.50 GHz and the Core 9 273PE at 2.30 GHz, but the boost clock is significantly higher on the Core 9 273PE at 5.70 GHz versus 4.50 GHz.

Cache hierarchies differ as well. Both use 80 KB of L1 cache per core. The L2 cache is 1.25 MB per core on the Core 5 120 and 2 MB per core on the Core 9 273PE. Shared L3 cache is 18 MB on the Core 5 120 and 36 MB on the Core 9 273PE, a doubling of the last-level cache. The Core 9 273PE also supports ECC memory and has a recorded memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, while the Core 5 120 has no ECC support and no memory bandwidth figure in the database.

The Core 5 120 is built on Raptor Lake architecture with the Raptor Lake-R codename and belongs to the Core 5 (Raptor Lake Refresh) generation. The Core 9 273PE uses Bartlett Lake architecture with a Bartlett Lake codename. The die size for the Core 5 120 is 163 mm², while no die size is recorded for the Core 9 273PE. Both parts have a 65 W TDP, so the performance gap comes without an increase in the rated thermal envelope. The Core 5 120 was released on 2025-07-30, while the Core 9 273PE has a release date of 2026-03-08.

Where Each One Wins

The Core 9 273PE wins every benchmark category in the database. Its largest advantages are in multi-threaded and math-intensive workloads. Prime number finding, floating point math, integer math, and physics all show deltas above 56%. These results indicate that the Core 9 273PE is substantially better suited for scientific computing, financial modeling, and other workloads that stress arithmetic units and parallel execution.

Memory and data workloads also favor the Core 9 273PE heavily. Data encryption shows a 51% delta, random string sorting a 52.3% delta, and data compression a 45.9% delta. The larger L3 cache and higher thread count contribute to these results, as does the higher memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. The Core 9 273PE also holds a clear edge in Cinebench multi-core tests, with a 41.7% delta in R23, indicating strong performance in rendering and 3D content creation.

Single-thread performance is the only area where the gap narrows. The PassMark single-thread delta is just 1.5%, with scores of 3650 and 3595. Cinebench single-core tests, however, still show a 41.7% to 41.8% delta, which is a notable divergence between benchmark suites. The PassMark single-thread test appears less sensitive to the architectural differences between the two processors, while Cinebench single-core scales with the higher boost clock of the Core 9 273PE.

The Core 5 120 has no benchmark wins in the head-to-head data. Its role is as a lower-thread-count alternative with the same socket and memory support. For workloads that do not scale with thread count, such as lightly threaded desktop applications, the Core 5 120 remains functional, but the data does not show any category where it outperforms the Core 9 273PE.

The Verdict

The benchmark data makes the performance hierarchy unambiguous. The Core 9 273PE is faster in all 17 recorded head-to-head tests, with average benchmark scores of 49845 versus 25362 for the Core 5 120. The Core 9 273PE sits at the 90th percentile of all CPUs, while the Core 5 120 sits at the 77th percentile. The nearest rivals in the database confirm the positioning: the Core 9 273PE is within 1.1% of the Intel Core i9-13980HX and 0.9% ahead of the Intel Core i5-14600KF, while the Core 5 120 trades places within 0.3% of the Intel Core i5-13400F.

The Core 5 120 has a launch MSRP of $211 and the Core 9 273PE has a launch MSRP of $549. Both parts run at a 65 W TDP, use the same socket, and support the same memory types. The Core 9 273PE additionally supports ECC memory and has a higher boost clock, larger caches, and double the cores and threads.

For workloads that can use more than six cores, the Core 9 273PE is the clear choice based on the recorded data. Its multi-threaded Cinebench scores are roughly 71% higher than the Core 5 120, and its PassMark multithread score is 36810 versus 18597. The Core 5 120 remains an option for single-thread-sensitive applications where the PassMark single-thread gap of 1.5% is not material, but the Cinebench single-core results suggest the Core 9 273PE is also faster there.

The Core 5 120 is suited for configurations where the lower core count and smaller cache are acceptable, and where the 65 W TDP envelope is a constraint. The Core 9 273PE delivers more performance across every measured metric while staying within the same TDP, making it the stronger processor in absolute terms. The choice between them depends on whether the additional cores, cache, and ECC support justify the higher launch MSRP.

FAQ

Q: How much faster is the Intel Core 9 273PE in multi-core workloads?

A: In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Core 9 273PE scores 31288 versus 18255 for the Core 5 120, a 41.7% advantage. PassMark multithread shows a 49.5% delta, with scores of 36810 and 18597.

Q: What is the difference in single-thread performance?

A: PassMark single-thread scores are 3650 for the Core 9 273PE and 3595 for the Core 5 120, a 1.5% delta. Cinebench R23 single-core shows a larger gap, with 4417 versus 2577, a 41.7% delta.

Q: Do both processors use the same socket?

A: Yes, both use Intel Socket 1700. They also share the same 10 nm process node, DDR4 and DDR5 memory support, PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes, and UHD Graphics 730 integrated graphics.

Q: What are the core and thread counts?

A: The Core 5 120 has 6 cores and 12 threads. The Core 9 273PE has 12 cores and 24 threads.

Q: Does the Core 9 273PE support ECC memory?

A: Yes, ECC memory is supported on the Core 9 273PE. The Core 5 120 does not support ECC memory. The Core 9 273PE also has a recorded memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s.

Q: What are the cache sizes for each processor?

A: Both have 80 KB of L1 cache per core. The Core 5 120 has 1.25 MB of L2 per core and 18 MB of shared L3. The Core 9 273PE has 2 MB of L2 per core and 36 MB of shared L3.