Intel Core 5 120 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 338H Comparison
Intel Core 5 120
Core Ultra 5 338H
PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKS
Analysis: Intel Core 5 120 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 338H
FAQ
Q: Which processor achieved the higher average benchmark score?
A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H recorded an average benchmark score of 33989, placing it in the 84th percentile of all CPUs. The Intel Core 5 120 scored 25362 on average, which places it in the 77th percentile.
Q: How do the two processors compare in Cinebench R23 multi-core performance?
A: The Intel Core 5 120 wins this test with a score of 18255, which is 11.8% higher than the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H's score of 16331. This is one of only two benchmark wins for the Core 5 120.
Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock speed?
A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H has a boost clock of 4.70 GHz, while the Intel Core 5 120 reaches 4.50 GHz. The base clocks differ more substantially, with the Core 5 120 at 2.50 GHz versus the Ultra 5 338H at 1.90 GHz.
Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?
A: The Intel Core 5 120 has 6 cores and 12 threads. The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H has 12 cores and 12 threads. Both processors have the same thread count, but the Ultra 5 338H offers double the physical cores.
Q: What is the difference in TDP between the two processors?
A: The Intel Core 5 120 has a TDP of 65 watts, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H has a TDP of 25 watts. The Ultra 5 338H is the more power-efficient part on paper, despite delivering higher performance in most benchmarks.
Q: Which processor offers larger L1 and L2 caches per core?
A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H has 192 KB of L1 cache and 2.5 MB of L2 cache per core. The Intel Core 5 120 has 80 KB of L1 and 1.25 MB of L2 per core. Both share 18 MB of L3 cache.
Where Each One Wins
The benchmark data splits decisively in favor of the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H, which wins 15 of the 17 head-to-head comparisons. The Ultra 5 338H dominates in PassMark workloads, showing particular strength in encryption (21367 vs 11131, a 47.9% lead), extended instructions (23906 vs 14264, a 40.3% lead), and floating-point math (84067 vs 45383, a 46% lead). It also excels in physics simulation, scoring 2697 versus 1333, a 50.6% advantage. The multi-thread PassMark score of 28717 versus 18597 represents a 35.2% margin, and the single-thread score of 4180 versus 3595 is a 14% lead.
The Ultra 5 338H also wins all three Cinebench tests except R23 multi-core. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 2504 against 1840, a 26.5% advantage. In R20 multi-core, the margin is 24.9% (10213 vs 7667). Single-core results show similar patterns: a 15.1% lead in R15 (305 vs 259) and a 24.9% lead in R20 (1441 vs 1082). Data compression and random string sorting also favor the Ultra 5 338H, with leads of 20.6% and 36.9% respectively.
The Intel Core 5 120 takes the remaining two wins, both in the Cinebench R23 suite. Its multi-core score of 18255 beats the Ultra 5 338H's 16331 by 11.8%. Its single-core score of 2577 versus 2044 represents a much larger 26.1% advantage. These wins indicate that the Core 5 120 maintains an advantage in certain sustained workloads, possibly due to its higher base clock and desktop power envelope.
Architecture Differences
The two processors come from different Intel architectures and target different market segments. The Intel Core 5 120 uses the Raptor Lake architecture on the Raptor Lake-R codename, built on a 10 nm process node. It belongs to the Core 5 generation (Raptor Lake Refresh) and is designed for the desktop segment. The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H uses the Panther Lake architecture on the Panther Lake codename, built on a 3 nm process node. It belongs to the Core Ultra Series 3 generation (Panther Lake-H) and targets the mobile segment.
The process node difference is significant: the 3 nm node used by the Ultra 5 338H represents a substantial shrink from the 10 nm node used by the Core 5 120. Both processors are manufactured by Intel. The die size for the Core 5 120 is recorded at 163 mm², while no die size is listed for the Ultra 5 338H.
Core topology differs notably. The Core 5 120 has 6 cores with 12 threads, indicating hyperthreading support. The Ultra 5 338H has 12 cores with 12 threads, which suggests a hybrid layout without hyperthreading on the additional cores. Cache hierarchy also differs: the Ultra 5 338H has 192 KB L1 and 2.5 MB L2 per core, versus 80 KB L1 and 1.25 MB L2 per core for the Core 5 120. Both processors share 18 MB of L3 cache.
Integrated graphics differ as well. The Core 5 120 uses UHD Graphics 730, while the Ultra 5 338H uses Arc B370. The memory support also diverges: the Core 5 120 supports DDR4 and DDR5, while the Ultra 5 338H supports LPDDR5X with a measured memory bandwidth of 136.5 GB/s.
Specification Differences
The socket types differ completely. The Intel Core 5 120 uses Intel Socket 1700, a desktop socket. The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H uses Intel BGA 2540, a ball-grid array for mobile systems.
PCIe lane counts differ substantially. The Core 5 120 provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The Ultra 5 338H provides Gen 5 with only 4 lanes from the CPU.
Clock speeds are distinct. The Core 5 120 has a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz. The Ultra 5 338H has a base clock of 1.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. The higher boost clock of the Ultra 5 338H does not translate into single-core wins in the R23 suite, where the Core 5 120 leads.
TDP ratings differ by 40 watts. The Core 5 120 is rated at 65 watts, while the Ultra 5 338H is rated at 25 watts. This lower TDP allows the Ultra 5 338H to fit into thin-and-light mobile chassis.
Memory channels are dual-channel for both, but the supported types differ. The Core 5 120 supports DDR4 and DDR5. The Ultra 5 338H supports LPDDR5X. Neither processor supports ECC memory.
The release dates are separated by several months. The Core 5 120 launched on 2025-07-30 with a launch MSRP of $211. The Ultra 5 338H launched on 2026-01-04 with no launch MSRP recorded. Both are currently active production parts.
Head-to-Head Benchmarks
The largest win for the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H comes in the PassMark find prime numbers test. The Ultra 5 338H scores 304 against the Core 5 120's 77, a 74.7% advantage. This indicates a major difference in integer-heavy arithmetic workloads, likely stemming from the higher core count and newer architecture.
Encryption performance shows the second-largest gap. The Ultra 5 338H scores 21367, which is 47.9% higher than the Core 5 120's 11131. This suggests the Panther Lake architecture includes substantially improved cryptographic instruction handling.
Floating-point math also favors the Ultra 5 338H heavily. Its score of 84067 is 46% higher than the Core 5 120's 45383. Physics simulation follows the same trend, with the Ultra 5 338H scoring 2697 versus 1333, a 50.6% margin. Extended instructions show a 40.3% lead for the Ultra 5 338H (23906 vs 14264).
The multi-thread PassMark score gives the Ultra 5 338H a 35.2% lead (28717 vs 18597). Random string sorting shows a 36.9% advantage (34082 vs 21499). Data compression results in a 20.6% lead (276539 vs 219535). Even the smallest PassMark gap, integer math, favors the Ultra 5 338H by 6.9% (64934 vs 60462).
In Cinebench testing, the Ultra 5 338H wins four of six tests. The R15 multi-core score of 2504 beats 1840 by 26.5%. The R20 multi-core score of 10213 beats 7667 by 24.9%. Single-core results show a 15.1% margin in R15 (305 vs 259) and a 24.9% margin in R20 (1441 vs 1082).
The Intel Core 5 120 takes the remaining Cinebench wins. In R23 multi-core, it scores 18255 against 16331, an 11.8% lead. The single-core R23 result is more decisive: 2577 versus 2044, a 26.1% advantage. These R23 results suggest the Core 5 120 excels in specific sustained workloads where its higher base clock and desktop power budget provide an advantage.
The overall data shows a clear pattern. The Ultra 5 338H leads in 15 of 17 comparisons, with an average benchmark score of 33989 versus 25362. This 8627-point difference in average score corresponds to a percentile ranking gap of 7 points (84th vs 77th). The nearest rivals for the Core 5 120 include the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D with an average score of 25365 and the Intel Core i5-13400F at 25292. The Ultra 5 338H's closest competitor is the Intel Core Ultra 7 165H at 34083, which trails by 0.3%, while the Intel Core i7-12800HX at 33875 is 0.3% behind the Ultra 5 338H.