Intel Core 5 120 vs Intel Core i9-14901KE Comparison

The Verdict

The recorded data positions these two Intel processors in distinctly different tiers. The Intel Core 5 120 has a complete benchmark profile, with an average benchmark score of 25362, placing it in the 77th percentile of all CPUs in the database. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D with an average score of 25365, a delta of 0 percent, and the Intel Core i7-11700KF with an average score of 25423, a delta of -0.2 percent. The Core 5 120 also sits 0.3 percent above the Intel Core i5-13400F, which scores 25292, and 0.3 percent below the AMD Ryzen 7 7840U, which scores 25432. This means the Core 5 120 trades blows with a group of established mid-range and previous-generation high-end parts.

The Intel Core i9-14901KE presents a different case. The database shows no recorded benchmarks for this chip, and its average benchmark score is listed as 0, with a percentile ranking of 50. There are also no nearest rivals recorded. Without measurement data, the database cannot substantiate any performance claims for the i9-14901KE. The Core 5 120 is the only one of the two with verified performance numbers.

For users who require validated performance data, the Core 5 120 is the only choice with measurable results. The i9-14901KE offers higher specifications, but the absence of benchmark scores means its performance remains unquantified in the database. The data shows that the Core 5 120 delivers a proven level of performance, while the i9-14901KE lacks any recorded evidence of its capabilities.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock in the database?

A: The Intel Core i9-14901KE has a boost clock of 5.80 GHz, while the Intel Core 5 120 has a boost clock of 4.50 GHz.

Q: How does the Core 5 120 compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Core 5 120 scores 25362 on average, which is within 0.3 percent of the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D (25365), the Intel Core i7-11700KF (25423, delta -0.2 percent), the Intel Core i5-13400F (25292, delta 0.3 percent), and the AMD Ryzen 7 7840U (25432, delta -0.3 percent).

Q: Does the i9-14901KE have any benchmark scores recorded?

A: No. The database lists an empty benchmarks array for the i9-14901KE, an average benchmark score of 0, and no nearest rivals.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The Core 5 120 has 6 cores and 12 threads. The i9-14901KE has 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?

A: Yes, both the Core 5 120 and the i9-14901KE support DDR4 and DDR5 memory with a dual-channel memory bus.

Q: Which processor has ECC memory support?

A: The i9-14901KE supports ECC memory, while the Core 5 120 does not.

Architecture Differences

Both processors share the same fundamental architecture: Raptor Lake, with the codename Raptor Lake-R, manufactured by Intel on a 10 nm process node. The generation field for both is listed as Raptor Lake Refresh, with the Core 5 120 in the Core 5 family and the i9-14901KE in the Core 14th Gen series.

The die size differs significantly. The Core 5 120 has a die size of 163 mm², while the i9-14901KE has a die size of 257 mm². This larger die on the i9-14901KE corresponds to its higher core count.

Cache configurations differ in the L2 and L3 levels. Both processors have an L1 cache of 80 KB per core. The Core 5 120 has an L2 cache of 1.25 MB per core and an L3 cache of 18 MB shared. The i9-14901KE has an L2 cache of 2 MB per core and an L3 cache of 36 MB shared. The i9-14901KE therefore holds twice the shared L3 cache of the Core 5 120.

The integrated graphics differ as well. The Core 5 120 uses UHD Graphics 730, while the i9-14901KE uses UHD Graphics 770. Both processors use the Intel Socket 1700 and support PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU.

ECC memory support is another distinction. The i9-14901KE supports ECC memory, while the Core 5 120 does not. The multiplier on the i9-14901KE is unlocked, whereas the Core 5 120 has a locked multiplier.

Specification Differences

The following specification fields differ between the two processors:

• Cores: The Core 5 120 has 6 cores; the i9-14901KE has 8 cores.
• Threads: The Core 5 120 has 12 threads; the i9-14901KE has 16 threads.
• Base Clock: The Core 5 120 has a base clock of 2.50 GHz; the i9-14901KE has a base clock of 3.80 GHz.
• Boost Clock: The Core 5 120 has a boost clock of 4.50 GHz; the i9-14901KE has a boost clock of 5.80 GHz.
• TDP: The Core 5 120 has a TDP of 65; the i9-14901KE has a TDP of 125.
• Die Size: The Core 5 120 has a die size of 163 mm²; the i9-14901KE has a die size of 257 mm².
• L2 Cache: The Core 5 120 has 1.25 MB per core; the i9-14901KE has 2 MB per core.
• L3 Cache: The Core 5 120 has 18 MB shared; the i9-14901KE has 36 MB shared.
• Integrated Graphics: The Core 5 120 uses UHD Graphics 730; the i9-14901KE uses UHD Graphics 770.
• ECC Memory: The Core 5 120 does not support ECC; the i9-14901KE supports ECC.
• Multiplier Unlocked: The Core 5 120 has a locked multiplier; the i9-14901KE has an unlocked multiplier.
• Release Date: The Core 5 120 was released on 2025-07-30; the i9-14901KE was released on 2024-06-30.
• Launch MSRP: The Core 5 120 has a launch MSRP of $211; the i9-14901KE has no recorded launch MSRP.
• Part Number: The Core 5 120 is SA35V; the i9-14901KE is Q49DSRNJC.
• Benchmarks: The Core 5 120 has a full set of recorded scores; the i9-14901KE has none.
• Average Benchmark Score: The Core 5 120 has an average of 25362; the i9-14901KE has an average of 0.
• Percentile vs All CPUs: The Core 5 120 is in the 77th percentile; the i9-14901KE is in the 50th percentile.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database contains no head-to-head benchmark entries for these two processors, and the wins counter shows 0 for both. The i9-14901KE has no individual benchmark scores recorded at all, so a direct comparison of test results is impossible.

The Core 5 120 has a complete set of Cinebench and PassMark scores. In Cinebench R23, the Core 5 120 scores 18255 in multi-core and 2577 in single-core. In Cinebench R20, it scores 7667 multi-core and 1082 single-core. In Cinebench R15, it scores 1840 multi-core and 259 single-core.

PassMark results for the Core 5 120 include a multi-thread score of 18597 and a single-thread score of 3595, which appears twice in the database under slightly different test names (passmark_single_thread and passmark_singlethread). The integer math test scores 60462, floating point math scores 45383, and data compression scores 219535. Data encryption scores 11131, extended instructions score 14264, and find prime numbers scores 77. Random string sorting scores 21499, and the physics test scores 1333.

The absence of i9-14901KE benchmark data means the database cannot provide any comparative analysis of performance between these two processors. The Core 5 120's scores place it in the 77th percentile overall, and its closest rivals are all within 0.3 percent of its average score, indicating a tight cluster of mid-range performance. The i9-14901KE, with its 8 cores, 16 threads, and higher clock speeds, would logically be expected to outperform the Core 5 120 based on specifications, but no measured evidence supports this expectation in the database.

The specification gap is substantial. The i9-14901KE offers 2 more cores, 4 more threads, a base clock 1.30 GHz higher, a boost clock 1.30 GHz higher, double the L3 cache, and a TDP of 125 versus 65. These are significant architectural advantages on paper. However, the database records no benchmark results to confirm how these specifications translate into actual performance. The Core 5 120, by contrast, has verified scores across multiple test suites, giving it a measurable performance profile that the i9-14901KE lacks entirely.

For the Core 5 120, the nearest rival data shows a performance plateau among its competitors. The AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D, Intel Core i7-11700KF, Intel Core i5-13400F, and AMD Ryzen 7 7840U all fall within a 0.6 percent total spread of the Core 5 120's average score. This indicates that the Core 5 120 delivers performance consistent with its peer group, neither leading nor trailing by any meaningful margin. The i9-14901KE cannot be positioned within this context because no data exists to place it.