Intel Core 5 120 vs Intel Core i5-14401E Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 5 120 takes a clean sweep across every recorded benchmark comparison. Out of six head-to-head tests, the Core 5 120 wins all six, with no wins recorded for the Intel Core i5-14401E. The margins are narrow across the board, ranging from 0.4% to 0.6%, which places these two processors in a tightly contested performance class despite their differing database profiles.

The most significant advantage for the Core 5 120 appears in Cinebench R20 single-core, where it leads by 0.6%. That margin, while small, is consistent with its higher boost clock. The Core 5 120 reaches 4.50 GHz, while the i5-14401E boosts to 4.70 GHz. The data shows the Core 5 120 still manages to come out ahead in single-threaded workloads despite the lower boost ceiling, suggesting the silicon binning or firmware behavior favors the newer part.

Multi-threaded tests tell a similar story. The Core 5 120 leads by 0.5% in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multicore runs. Both processors share the same core and thread configuration, 6 cores and 12 threads, so the consistent edge likely stems from differences in cache architecture or memory behavior.

The i5-14401E does not win any category in the recorded head-to-head data. However, its average benchmark score of 5253 sits in a different percentile bracket, 60th versus 77th for the Core 5 120. That discrepancy reflects the limited benchmark set recorded for the i5-14401E, which only includes Cinebench results, while the Core 5 120 carries additional PassMark scores that inflate its aggregate.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i5-14401E boosts to 4.70 GHz, while the Intel Core 5 120 boosts to 4.50 GHz. Both have a base clock of 2.50 GHz.

Q: How do the two processors compare in single-core performance?

A: The Core 5 120 wins all single-core tests. It scores 259 in Cinebench R15, 1082 in R20, and 2577 in R23, versus 258, 1076, and 2564 for the i5-14401E. The largest lead is 0.6% in R20.

Q: Do both processors use the same socket?

A: Yes, both use Intel Socket 1700. They also share the same Raptor Lake architecture and Raptor Lake-R codename.

Q: What is the difference in L3 cache capacity?

A: The Core 5 120 has 18 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i5-14401E has 20 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: Does either processor support ECC memory?

A: The Intel Core i5-14401E supports ECC memory (true), while the Intel Core 5 120 does not (false).

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core 5 120 has an average benchmark score of 25362 and sits in the 77th percentile. The i5-14401E has an average score of 5253 and sits in the 60th percentile, though its score is based on a smaller set of recorded tests.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data covers six Cinebench tests, and the Core 5 120 wins every one of them. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Core 5 120 scores 1840 against 1830 for the i5-14401E, a 0.5% advantage. The single-core R15 run shows 259 versus 258, a 0.4% lead. These are minor deltas, but they repeat consistently across every workload.

Cinebench R20 results follow the same pattern. The Core 5 120 posts 7667 in multicore, edging out the i5-14401E's 7627 by 0.5%. In single-core, the Core 5 120 scores 1082, beating 1076 by 0.6%, the largest margin in the entire comparison.

Cinebench R23, the most demanding of the three render tests, shows the Core 5 120 at 18255 multicore and 2577 single-core. The i5-14401E trails at 18161 and 2564, respectively, with both deltas sitting at 0.5%. The consistency of these margins indicates that the Core 5 120 holds a small but repeatable performance edge across all Cinebench versions, regardless of workload type.

Given the i5-14401E's higher boost clock, the expectation would be a single-core advantage for that part. The data contradicts that expectation. The Core 5 120 wins every single-threaded test by at least 0.4%. This suggests the Core 5 120's firmware or power management delivers better sustained single-core performance, or that the boost clock alone does not determine the outcome in these specific render workloads.

Specification Differences

The two processors share several core specifications. Both have 6 cores, 12 threads, a 2.50 GHz base clock, 65 W TDP, Intel Socket 1700, Raptor Lake architecture, Raptor Lake-R codename, 10 nm process node, Intel as the foundry, DDR4 and DDR5 memory support, dual-channel memory bus, Gen 5 PCIe with 16 lanes, and UHD Graphics 730 integrated graphics. Both are locked processors with no unlocked multiplier.

The differences begin with the boost clock. The i5-14401E reaches 4.70 GHz, 0.20 GHz higher than the Core 5 120's 4.50 GHz. That is the most notable clock-speed gap between the two.

Die size differs substantially. The Core 5 120 measures 163 mm², while the i5-14401E measures 215 mm², a 52 mm² difference. Both use the same 10 nm process and the same architecture, so the larger die on the i5-14401E likely reflects additional physical components or a different die configuration.

L3 cache also differs. The Core 5 120 has 18 MB shared, while the i5-14401E has 20 MB shared, a 2 MB advantage for the older part. L1 and L2 cache are identical: 80 KB per core and 1.25 MB per core, respectively.

ECC memory support is exclusive to the i5-14401E. The Core 5 120 does not support ECC. This matters for systems that require error-correcting memory.

The release dates and market positioning differ as well. The Core 5 120 launched on 2025-07-30 with a launch MSRP of $211. The i5-14401E launched on 2024-06-30 and has no recorded launch MSRP. The Core 5 120 belongs to the Core 5 series, while the i5-14401E belongs to the Core 14th Gen series. Part numbers also differ: SA35V for the Core 5 120 and Q49JSRNJS for the i5-14401E.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on Intel's Raptor Lake architecture with the Raptor Lake-R codename, and both use a 10 nm process node from Intel. They share the same 6-core, 12-thread layout, the same 80 KB L1 cache per core, and the same 1.25 MB L2 cache per core. The integrated graphics are identical as well: UHD Graphics 730.

The architectural divergence appears in the L3 cache. The i5-14401E carries 20 MB of shared L3, while the Core 5 120 has 18 MB. In cache-sensitive workloads, the extra 2 MB could provide a benefit, but the benchmark data does not show the i5-14401E converting that capacity into a win in any recorded test.

Die size differences point to a structural variation between the two parts. The i5-14401E's 215 mm² die is significantly larger than the Core 5 120's 163 mm². Both are fabricated on the same 10 nm node and share the same core count, so the larger die may accommodate additional uncore logic, the larger L3 cache, or ECC memory controller support. The Core 5 120's smaller die suggests a more streamlined implementation.

ECC support represents the clearest functional architectural difference. The i5-14401E includes ECC memory capability, which the Core 5 120 lacks. For workstation or reliability-focused builds, that feature can be decisive, even though it does not appear in the render benchmark results.

The Core 5 120's generation label reads "Core 5 (Raptor Lake Refresh)", while the i5-14401E reads "Core i5 (Raptor Lake Refresh)". Both are refresh parts, but they belong to different naming tiers within Intel's lineup. The Core 5 120's percentile placement, 77th versus 60th for the i5-14401E, reflects its broader benchmark coverage. The i5-14401E's nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon E5-2699A v4 at a 0.1% lower score, the Intel Core i7-11700B at 0.2% higher, the Intel Core i9-10850K at 0.2% higher, and the Intel Core i5-13400T at 0.8% higher. The Core 5 120's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D at parity, the Intel Core i7-11700KF at 0.2% lower, the Intel Core i5-13400F at 0.3% higher, and the AMD Ryzen 7 7840U at 0.3% lower. Those rival clusters reinforce that the Core 5 120 competes in a higher overall performance tier despite the near-identical head-to-head Cinebench results.