Intel Core 5 120 vs Intel Core 9 273PQE Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core 9 273PQE wins every single benchmark in the comparison, a clean sweep with 17 wins and zero for the Intel Core 5 120. The scale of the advantage varies dramatically by workload type, and the data reveals where the Core 9 273PQE's additional resources translate into the largest performance gaps.

The largest deltas appear in PassMark math and encryption workloads. In floating point math, the Core 9 273PQE scores 125,546 against 45,383 for the Core 5 120, a delta of 63.9%. Integer math shows a similar pattern: 164,629 versus 60,462, a 63.3% gap. Extended instructions follow at 38,743 versus 14,264, a 63.2% difference. Data encryption sees the Core 9 273PQE at 29,636 against 11,131, a 62.4% gap, while data compression shows 585,752 versus 219,535, a 62.5% delta. These are the workloads where the Core 9 273PQE's doubled core count and larger cache pool deliver their biggest relative gains.

Cinebench multi-core results confirm the same story with slightly smaller margins. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Core 9 273PQE scores 3,950 versus 1,840, a 53.4% delta. R20 multi-core shows 16,459 against 7,667, also 53.4%. R23 multi-core continues the pattern: 39,190 versus 18,255, again 53.4%. The consistency of that percentage across all three Cinebench versions is striking; it indicates the multi-core advantage is stable regardless of the rendering workload version.

Single-core performance tells a more nuanced story. The Core 9 273PQE still wins, but the margins shrink considerably. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Core 9 273PQE scores 5,532 against 2,577 for the Core 5 120, a 53.4% delta that matches the multi-core gap. However, PassMark single-thread shows a much tighter race: 4,573 versus 3,595, a delta of only 21.4%. This is the closest head-to-head result in the entire dataset. The PassMark physics test also shows a relatively smaller gap at 51.6%, with scores of 2,754 and 1,333. PassMark multithread lands at 46,107 versus 18,597, a 59.7% delta, while random string sorting shows 53,167 versus 21,499, a 59.6% gap, and find prime numbers sits at 198 versus 77, a 61.1% delta.

The Core 9 273PQE's average benchmark score of 66,099 places it at the 93rd percentile of all CPUs in the database. The Core 5 120's average score of 25,362 sits at the 77th percentile. The nearest rivals for the Core 9 273PQE include the Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus at 66,159 (0.1% ahead), the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D at 65,914 (0.3% behind), the Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus at 66,855 (1.1% ahead), and the AMD EPYC 4465P at 66,925 (1.2% ahead). The Core 5 120's nearest rivals are much closer in score: the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D at 25,365 (0% delta), the Intel Core i7-11700KF at 25,423 (0.2% behind), the Intel Core i5-13400F at 25,292 (0.3% ahead), and the AMD Ryzen 7 7840U at 25,432 (0.3% behind).

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel design lineages. The Core 5 120 uses Raptor Lake architecture with the Raptor Lake-R codename, part of the Core 5 (Raptor Lake Refresh) generation. The Core 9 273PQE uses the Bartlett Lake codename and belongs to the Core 9 (Bartlett Lake) generation. Both are built on Intel's 10 nm process node and manufactured by Intel, but the silicon designs diverge significantly.

Core configuration is the most obvious difference. The Core 5 120 has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Core 9 273PQE doubles that to 12 cores and 24 threads. Clock speeds follow the same direction: the Core 5 120 runs at a 2.50 GHz base clock and 4.50 GHz boost, while the Core 9 273PQE runs at 3.40 GHz base and 5.90 GHz boost. Both processors have locked multipliers, so neither offers user-controlled overclocking.

Cache hierarchies share the same per-core L1 design at 80 KB per core, but diverge at L2 and L3. The Core 5 120 has 1.25 MB of L2 per core and 18 MB of shared L3. The Core 9 273PQE has 2 MB of L2 per core and 36 MB of shared L3, exactly double the L3 capacity. The die size for the Core 5 120 is 163 mm², while no die size figure is recorded for the Core 9 273PQE.

Power and thermal characteristics differ substantially. The Core 5 120 has a TDP of 65 watts, while the Core 9 273PQE is rated at 125 watts. Both use Intel Socket 1700, support DDR4 and DDR5 memory in dual-channel configuration, and provide PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The Core 9 273PQE has a recorded memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s; no memory bandwidth figure is recorded for the Core 5 120. The Core 9 273PQE supports ECC memory, while the Core 5 120 does not.

Integrated graphics differ as well. The Core 5 120 includes UHD Graphics 730, while the Core 9 273PQE steps up to UHD Graphics 770. Both are desktop market segment parts with active production status. The Core 5 120 was released on 2025-07-30, and the Core 9 273PQE followed on 2026-03-08. The launch MSRP for the Core 5 120 is $211, and the launch MSRP for the Core 9 273PQE is $589.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Core 9 273PQE outperforms the Intel Core 5 120 in every recorded test. The smallest margin is 21.4% in PassMark single-thread, and the largest is 63.9% in floating point math. No workload category in the dataset favors the Core 5 120.

The Core 9 273PQE's 93rd percentile standing places it among the top processors in the database, with nearest rivals including the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D and Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus. The Core 5 120's 77th percentile places it in mid-range territory, competing with the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D and Intel Core i5-13400F. The 40,737 point gap in average benchmark score (66,099 versus 25,362) reflects the substantial difference in core count, clock speed, and cache capacity.

The single-thread result deserves attention. While the Core 9 273PQE wins PassMark single-thread by only 21.4%, the Cinebench R23 single-core gap is 53.4%. The discrepancy suggests the PassMark single-thread test does not scale with the Core 9 273PQE's higher boost clock as much as the Cinebench workload does. Even so, the Core 5 120 never closes the gap in any test.

The Core 5 120 is a 65-watt, 6-core processor with 18 MB of L3 cache and a 4.50 GHz boost clock. The Core 9 273PQE is a 125-watt, 12-core processor with 36 MB of L3 cache and a 5.90 GHz boost clock. Every architectural advantage sits with the Core 9 273PQE.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core 5 120 | Intel Core 9 273PQE |

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

| Cores | 6 | 12 |

| Threads | 12 | 24 |

| Base clock | 2.50 GHz | 3.40 GHz |

| Boost clock | 4.50 GHz | 5.90 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 125 W |

| Codename | Raptor Lake-R | Bartlett Lake |

| Generation | Core 5 (Raptor Lake Refresh) | Core 9 (Bartlett Lake) |

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

| L3 cache | 18 MB (shared) | 36 MB (shared) |

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

| ECC memory | No | Yes |

| Integrated graphics | UHD Graphics 730 | UHD Graphics 770 |

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

| Launch MSRP | $211 | $589 |

Shared specifications include Intel Socket 1700, 10 nm process node, DDR4 and DDR5 memory support, dual-channel memory bus, PCIe Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes, 80 KB L1 cache per core, locked multipliers, desktop market segment, and active production status.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core 9 273PQE has 12 cores and 24 threads, while the Intel Core 5 120 has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: How much faster is the Intel Core 9 273PQE in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Core 9 273PQE scores 39,190 versus 18,255 for the Core 5 120, a 53.4% delta in favor of the Core 9 273PQE.

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

A: The smallest gap is in PassMark single-thread, where the Core 9 273PQE scores 4,573 against 3,595, a 21.4% delta.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?

A: Yes, both support DDR4 and DDR5 in dual-channel configuration. The Core 9 273PQE also supports ECC memory, while the Core 5 120 does not.

Q: What are the clock speed differences?

A: The Core 5 120 has a 2.50 GHz base clock and 4.50 GHz boost clock. The Core 9 273PQE has a 3.40 GHz base clock and 5.90 GHz boost clock.

Q: Which processor has a higher benchmark percentile?

A: The Core 9 273PQE is at the 93rd percentile of all CPUs, while the Core 5 120 is at the 77th percentile.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 9 273PQE wins every benchmark category recorded in the database. There is no test in the dataset where the Intel Core 5 120 takes the lead. The question is not which processor wins, but where the Core 9 273PQE's advantage is largest and smallest.

The Core 9 273PQE is strongest in floating point math, integer math, extended instructions, data compression, and data encryption, all with deltas between 62.4% and 63.9%. These workloads benefit most from the doubled core count and doubled L3 cache. Rendering workloads in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core all show consistent 53.4% gaps, indicating that the multi-core advantage carries over directly to rendering tasks.

The Core 9 273PQE's smallest advantage is in PassMark single-thread at 21.4%. This is the only test where the gap drops below 50%, which means lightly threaded applications see the smallest relative improvement. The Core 5 120's higher per-core efficiency relative to its lower clock speed keeps it closer in these scenarios, but it still loses.

The Core 5 120's 65-watt TDP and lower launch MSRP of $211 position it as the lower-power option in this comparison. The Core 9 273PQE's 125-watt TDP and $589 launch MSRP reflect its higher performance ceiling. For workloads that use many threads, large data sets, or heavy math operations, the Core 9 273PQE delivers roughly two to three times the throughput. For single-threaded tasks, the Core 9 273PQE still leads, but the margin is modest enough that the Core 5 120 remains competitive in that specific scenario.