Intel Core 5 120 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a decisive sweep: the Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus wins all 17 recorded head-to-head tests, with the Intel Core 5 120 trailing in every category. The largest margin appears in PassMark find prime numbers, where the Ultra 5 250KF Plus scores 452 versus 77, a 83% advantage. That result reflects the raw compute gap between the two processors, and it is not an isolated outlier.

The Cinebench suite tells a consistent story. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the Ultra 5 250KF Plus records 42718 against 18255, a 57.3% lead. The same delta of 57.3% appears across every Cinebench test, including R15 multicore (4305 vs 1840), R15 singlecore (607 vs 259), R20 multicore (17941 vs 7667), R20 singlecore (2532 vs 1082), and R23 singlecore (6030 vs 2577). That uniformity indicates the performance gap is structural rather than workload-specific.

PassMark tests reveal a broader range of deltas. Data encryption shows a 73% gap (41292 vs 11131), floating point math a 71.6% gap (159824 vs 45383), and random string sorting a 68% gap (67209 vs 21499). Extended instructions score 42880 versus 14264, a 66.7% difference. Multithread performance lands at 50146 versus 18597, a 62.9% gap, while physics follows at 3183 versus 1333, a 58.1% difference.

The narrowest margins are still substantial. PassMark integer math shows 123030 versus 60462, a 50.9% lead for the Ultra 5 250KF Plus. Data compression records 553155 versus 219535, a 60.3% gap. The smallest delta in the entire set is PassMark single thread, where the Ultra 5 250KF Plus scores 4698 versus 3595, a 23.5% advantage. Even the closest single-threaded comparison leaves the Core 5 120 behind by nearly a quarter.

The average benchmark scores reinforce the hierarchy: the Ultra 5 250KF Plus averages 66159, while the Core 5 120 averages 25362. The Ultra 5 250KF Plus sits at the 93rd percentile among all CPUs in the database, whereas the Core 5 120 sits at the 77th percentile. The nearest rivals for the Ultra 5 250KF Plus include the Intel Core 9 273PQE (0.1% ahead), the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D (0.4% ahead), the Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus (1% behind), and the AMD EPYC 4465P (1.1% behind). The Core 5 120's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D (0% difference), the Intel Core i7-11700KF (0.2% behind), the Intel Core i5-13400F (0.3% ahead), and the AMD Ryzen 7 7840U (0.3% behind). The two processors occupy completely different competitive tiers.

Architecture Differences

The underlying designs diverge sharply. The Intel Core 5 120 uses Raptor Lake architecture, specifically the Raptor Lake-R refresh, built on Intel's 10 nm process with a die size of 163 mm². The Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus belongs to the Core Ultra Series 2, codenamed Arrow Lake Refresh, fabricated by TSMC on a 3 nm process with a transistor count of 17,800 million and a die size of 243 mm². The process node alone explains much of the efficiency and performance gap.

Core counts differ dramatically. The Core 5 120 provides 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Ultra 5 250KF Plus provides 18 cores and 18 threads. Notably, the Ultra 5 250KF Plus has no hyperthreading: thread count equals core count. The Core 5 120 doubles its threads through simultaneous multithreading. Despite that, the Ultra 5 250KF Plus still wins every multithreaded test by wide margins, because it simply has three times as many physical cores.

Cache hierarchies reflect the generational leap. The Core 5 120 offers 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3. The Ultra 5 250KF Plus offers 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 30 MB of shared L3. The larger per-core caches and the bigger shared L3 give the Ultra 5 250KF Plus a substantial advantage in data-heavy workloads, which is visible in the extended instructions and compression scores.

Clock speeds also favor the Ultra 5 250KF Plus. The Core 5 120 runs at a 2.50 GHz base and 4.50 GHz boost. The Ultra 5 250KF Plus runs at a 4.20 GHz base and 5.30 GHz boost. The combination of higher base clock and higher boost clock, plus the newer process, explains why the single-threaded gap reaches 23.5% even before considering IPC improvements.

Platform support differs as well. The Core 5 120 uses Intel Socket 1700, supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory, and offers PCIe Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes. The Ultra 5 250KF Plus uses Intel Socket 1851, supports DDR5 only, and offers PCIe Gen 5 with 20 CPU lanes. The Ultra 5 250KF Plus also supports ECC memory, while the Core 5 120 does not. Integrated graphics are present on the Core 5 120 as UHD Graphics 730, while the Ultra 5 250KF Plus has no integrated graphics. The Ultra 5 250KF Plus has an unlocked multiplier, the Core 5 120 does not. Memory bandwidth for the Ultra 5 250KF Plus is listed at 115.2 GB/s, while the Core 5 120 has no recorded bandwidth figure in the database.

Where Each One Wins

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus wins every single recorded benchmark category. There is no test in the head-to-head set where the Intel Core 5 120 comes out ahead. That means the use-case split is not about which processor wins specific tasks; it is about which tasks show the largest or smallest gaps.

The Ultra 5 250KF Plus shows its biggest advantages in integer-heavy and encryption workloads. PassMark find prime numbers shows an 83% gap, data encryption shows a 73% gap, and floating point math shows a 71.6% gap. These workloads benefit from the 18 physical cores and the larger cache allocation. The smallest gap is in PassMark single thread at 23.5%, which still favors the Ultra 5 250KF Plus but shows that single-core performance is the closest contest.

The Core 5 120 is not competitive in any recorded metric, but its profile is that of a lower-core-count part with a lower ceiling. Its nearest rivals in the database include the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D and Intel Core i5-13400F, both within 0.3% of its average score. The Ultra 5 250KF Plus, by contrast, sits alongside the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D and Intel Core 9 273PQE. The Core 5 120 belongs to the mid-range desktop segment, while the Ultra 5 250KF Plus operates in the high-end desktop segment.

For workloads that depend on single-threaded responsiveness, the Core 5 120 is merely far behind rather than extremely far behind. For workloads that scale with core count, encryption, compression, or physics simulation, the Ultra 5 250KF Plus is in a different class entirely.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every specification field. The Core 5 120 has 6 cores and 12 threads; the Ultra 5 250KF Plus has 18 cores and 18 threads. Base clocks are 2.50 GHz versus 4.20 GHz. Boost clocks are 4.50 GHz versus 5.30 GHz. TDP is 65 watts versus 125 watts. Sockets are Intel Socket 1700 versus Intel Socket 1851. Process nodes are 10 nm versus 3 nm. Foundries are Intel versus TSMC.

Cache sizes diverge at every level. L1 is 80 KB per core versus 192 KB per core. L2 is 1.25 MB per core versus 3 MB per core. L3 is 18 MB shared versus 30 MB shared. Memory support is DDR4 and DDR5 versus DDR5 only. ECC memory is unsupported on the Core 5 120 and supported on the Ultra 5 250KF Plus. PCIe lanes are 16 versus 20, both Gen 5. Integrated graphics exist on the Core 5 120 as UHD Graphics 730, while the Ultra 5 250KF Plus has none. The multiplier is locked on the Core 5 120 and unlocked on the Ultra 5 250KF Plus. The die size is 163 mm² versus 243 mm², and the transistor count is only recorded for the Ultra 5 250KF Plus at 17,800 million. The Core 5 120 launched on 2025-07-30, while the Ultra 5 250KF Plus launched on 2026-03-10. The launch MSRP for the Core 5 120 is $211; the launch MSRP for the Ultra 5 250KF Plus is $184.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus has 18 cores and 18 threads, compared to the Intel Core 5 120's 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: What is the single-threaded performance difference?

A: In PassMark single thread, the Ultra 5 250KF Plus scores 4698 versus 3595, a 23.5% advantage. In Cinebench R23 singlecore, the scores are 6030 versus 2577, a 57.3% advantage.

Q: Does the Core 5 120 have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, it includes UHD Graphics 730. The Ultra 5 250KF Plus has no integrated graphics.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: Only the Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus supports ECC memory. The Intel Core 5 120 does not list ECC support.

Q: What memory types does each processor support?

A: The Core 5 120 supports DDR4 and DDR5. The Ultra 5 250KF Plus supports DDR5 only.

Q: How does the average benchmark score compare?

A: The Ultra 5 250KF Plus averages 66159, while the Core 5 120 averages 25362. The Ultra 5 250KF Plus sits at the 93rd percentile, the Core 5 120 at the 77th percentile.

The Verdict

The benchmark data points to a single conclusion: the Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus is the stronger processor in every recorded category. It wins all 17 head-to-head tests, holds a 93rd percentile ranking among all CPUs, and averages 66159 in the database. The Intel Core 5 120, with a 77th percentile ranking and an average score of 25362, trails by margins ranging from 23.5% to 83% depending on the workload.

The Ultra 5 250KF Plus is the appropriate choice for users who need maximum multicore throughput. Its 18 physical cores, 30 MB of shared L3, and 5.30 GHz boost clock deliver the highest scores in compression, encryption, physics, and extended instruction workloads. It also offers 20 PCIe Gen 5 lanes, ECC memory support, and an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. The lack of integrated graphics means a discrete GPU is required, but the processor's performance ceiling is far higher.

The Core 5 120 serves a different role. Its 6 cores and 12 threads place it in the same competitive bracket as the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D and Intel Core i5-13400F, both within 0.3% of its average score. It supports DDR4 memory, which allows for lower-cost platform builds, and it includes UHD Graphics 730 for systems without a discrete GPU. Its 65 watt TDP makes it a lower-power option, and its Intel Socket 1700 platform is an older standard.

The choice between these two is not a close call based on the recorded data. The Ultra 5 250KF Plus outperforms the Core 5 120 in every single benchmark test, and the margins are large. The Core 5 120 remains a viable mid-range desktop processor, but the Ultra 5 250KF Plus is in a higher performance class entirely.