Intel Core 5 120 vs Intel Core i7-11700K Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded head-to-head data shows a decisive overall advantage for the Intel Core i7-11700K, which claims 13 wins against 4 for the Intel Core 5 120 across the 17 compared tests. The margin of victory, however, varies dramatically by workload, revealing a nuanced performance profile rather than a simple sweep.

In the Cinebench suite, the i7-11700K is consistently and decisively ahead. Across all six Cinebench tests, the delta is a uniform 13.2% or 13.5%. The multicore scores show the i7-11700K at 2082 in R15, 8679 in R20, and 20666 in R23, versus 1840, 7667, and 18255 for the Core 5 120. The single-core results follow the same pattern, with the i7-11700K scoring 294, 1225, and 2917 in R15, R20, and R23 respectively, compared to 259, 1082, and 2577 for its rival. This indicates a balanced per-core advantage that scales evenly across both single and multi-threaded workloads, suggesting a fundamental architectural edge in raw instruction throughput.

The PassMark suite tells a more complex story. The i7-11700K posts its largest victories in specialized throughput tests. In random string sorting, it leads by 71%, scoring 36755 against 21499. Extended instructions show a 61% gap (22964 vs 14264). Data compression shows a 47% advantage (322689 vs 219535), and integer math is 42.9% ahead (86390 vs 60462). Data encryption sees a 40.5% lead (15638 vs 11131). These are substantial, workload-specific wins that point to superior execution resources and cache handling for these particular operations.

The Core 5 120, however, fights back in four specific areas. The most striking is PassMark physics, where it leads by 22.1%, scoring 1333 against 1039. This is a significant inversion of the overall trend. It also wins in single-threaded PassMark tests, scoring 3595 versus 3390, a 5.7% margin. In prime number finding, it scores 77 against 66, a 14.3% lead. These wins are notable because they show that in certain latency-sensitive or specialized workloads, the newer architecture can outmaneuver the older, higher-clocked part. The floating-point math test is the closest of the i7-11700K wins, at 12.6% (51119 vs 45383), while multithread shows a 31.2% gap (24408 vs 18597).

The aggregate data confirms the split. The i7-11700K holds an average benchmark score of 25812, placing it at the 78th percentile among all CPUs. The Core 5 120 averages 25362, at the 77th percentile. The average score delta is only about 1.8%, yet the head-to-head deltas range from -22.1% to +71%, underscoring that the average masks extreme workload-specific behavior.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent different Intel generations and design philosophies. The Intel Core i7-11700K is built on Rocket Lake, using a 14 nm process, while the Intel Core 5 120 uses Raptor Lake-R on a 10 nm node. The newer manufacturing process for the Core 5 120 enables a smaller die size of 163 mm², though no die size is recorded for the i7-11700K.

Core and thread counts differ substantially. The i7-11700K offers 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Core 5 120 provides 6 cores and 12 threads. This two-core, four-thread deficit is a primary driver of the i7-11700K’s wins in multithreaded and throughput-heavy benchmarks. The base and boost clocks also favor the i7-11700K, which runs at 3.60 GHz base and 5.00 GHz boost, versus 2.50 GHz base and 4.50 GHz boost for the Core 5 120. The higher clocks contribute to the i7-11700K’s consistent lead in Cinebench single-core tests.

Cache hierarchies present a mixed picture. Both chips share an identical L1 cache of 80 KB per core. The L2 cache, however, is significantly larger on the Core 5 120 at 1.25 MB per core, versus 512 KB per core on the i7-11700K. The L3 cache also favors the newer part, with 18 MB shared against 16 MB shared on the i7-11700K. Despite having more cache, the Core 5 120 still loses in most throughput tests, indicating that raw core count and clock speed are more decisive in the recorded workloads.

Memory support differs. The i7-11700K supports DDR4 only, with a dual-channel bus and a recorded bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. The Core 5 120 supports both DDR4 and DDR5, also on a dual-channel bus, though no bandwidth figure is recorded. The i7-11700K offers PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes from the CPU, while the Core 5 120 provides PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes. The integrated graphics differ as well, with the i7-11700K featuring UHD Graphics 750 and the Core 5 120 featuring UHD Graphics 730.

Power and platform details also diverge. The i7-11700K has a TDP of 125 watts, uses Intel Socket 1200, and has an unlocked multiplier. The Core 5 120 has a TDP of 65 watts, uses Intel Socket 1700, and is locked. The i7-11700K is marked as end-of-life, having been released in March 2021, while the Core 5 120 is active, with a release date in July 2025. Neither supports ECC memory.

The Verdict

The data points to the Intel Core i7-11700K as the stronger overall processor for most compute-heavy tasks. Its 13 head-to-head wins, including every Cinebench test and the majority of PassMark throughput tests, demonstrate a clear advantage in sustained multithreaded rendering and data processing. The uniform 13.2% to 13.5% lead in Cinebench is particularly telling, as it shows the i7-11700K does not merely have more cores; it also executes single-threaded code faster. Users prioritizing video rendering, 3D modeling, or heavy data transformation would find the i7-11700K consistently faster, often by substantial margins of 40% to 70% in specific operations.

The Intel Core 5 120, however, is not without its merits. Its wins in PassMark physics (22.1% ahead), single-thread PassMark (5.7% ahead), and prime number finding (14.3% ahead) suggest it has a superior per-core efficiency in certain latency-sensitive and physics-based calculations. Its lower TDP of 65 watts, versus 125 watts for the i7-11700K, also implies a more power-frugal platform, though no efficiency metrics are recorded. For workloads dominated by physics simulation or specific single-threaded integer operations, the Core 5 120 can outperform its older rival.

The average benchmark scores are close, with the i7-11700K at 25812 and the Core 5 120 at 25362. The percentile ranks are nearly identical at 78 and 77, respectively. This indicates that for a general, mixed workload, the two processors are comparable in overall standing. The choice should hinge on the specific application mix. If the workload is dominated by the i7-11700K’s winning categories, such as data compression, encryption, integer math, or multithreaded rendering, the i7-11700K is the clear choice. If the workload involves physics calculations, prime number searches, or relies heavily on the specific single-threaded PassMark test, the Core 5 120 offers a measurable edge.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-11700K has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core 5 120 has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: How much faster is the i7-11700K in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The i7-11700K scores 20666 against 18255 for the Core 5 120, a lead of 13.2%.

Q: In which test does the Core 5 120 show its largest advantage?

A: The Core 5 120 leads by 22.1% in PassMark physics, scoring 1333 versus 1039 for the i7-11700K.

Q: What is the difference in their average benchmark scores?

A: The i7-11700K has an average benchmark score of 25812, while the Core 5 120 averages 25362.

Q: Which processor supports DDR5 memory?

A: The Intel Core 5 120 supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the i7-11700K supports DDR4 only.

Q: What are the boost clock speeds for each?

A: The i7-11700K boosts to 5.00 GHz, and the Core 5 120 boosts to 4.50 GHz.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-11700K is the definitive winner in multithreaded rendering and content creation. All Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 tests, both single and multicore, favor it by approximately 13%, making it the stronger choice for video encoding, 3D rendering, and photo batch processing. Its dominance in PassMark data compression (47% ahead), integer math (42.9% ahead), and random string sorting (71% ahead) also makes it the preferred part for database operations, financial modeling, and file archiving. Data encryption workloads benefit significantly from the i7-11700K’s 40.5% lead, and its 31.2% advantage in PassMark multithread confirms its suitability for heavily parallelized tasks. The floating-point math test, with a 12.6% lead, also favors the i7-11700K for scientific simulations and numerical analysis.

The Intel Core 5 120 wins in a narrower but distinct set of scenarios. Its 22.1% lead in PassMark physics makes it the better option for physics-based simulation, such as game physics calculations or certain engineering analysis. Its 14.3% advantage in prime number finding suggests a specific strength in cryptographic key generation or mathematical prime testing. The 5.7% lead in PassMark single-thread tests indicates that for purely single-threaded, latency-sensitive applications that resemble that specific test, the Core 5 120 is faster. These wins, coupled with its lower 65-watt TDP, make it a more efficient choice for workloads that are not primarily multithreaded or throughput-heavy. For users running a mixed bag of tasks, the near-identical average scores and percentile ranks (78 vs 77) mean either processor will perform adequately, but the i7-11700K’s larger wins in more numerous categories give it the edge for demanding, sustained workloads.