Intel Core 5 120 vs Intel Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor delivers the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus delivers an average benchmark score of 61834, while the Intel Core 5 120 scores 25362. The Ultra 7 270HX Plus sits at the 93rd percentile of all CPUs, compared to the 77th percentile for the Core 5 120.

Q: How does the single-core performance compare between the two?

A: In PassMark single-thread testing, the Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus scores 4764 versus 3595 for the Core 5 120, a 24.5% advantage. The gap widens in Cinebench R23 single-core, where the Ultra 7 270HX Plus scores 5917 against 2577, a 56.4% lead.

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

A: The Intel Core 5 120 uses 6 cores and 12 threads. The Intel Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus uses 20 cores and 20 threads, indicating a different threading approach with no Hyper-Threading on the Ultra part.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus boosts to 5.30 GHz, while the Intel Core 5 120 reaches 4.50 GHz. Base clocks are closer: 2.40 GHz for the Ultra 7 270HX Plus and 2.50 GHz for the Core 5 120.

Q: How do the two processors compare in memory bandwidth?

A: The Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus supports DDR5 memory with a recorded bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s. The Core 5 120 supports both DDR4 and DDR5, but no bandwidth figure is recorded for it in the database.

Q: Which processor has a higher percentile ranking among all CPUs?

A: The Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus ranks at the 93rd percentile, placing it well above the Core 5 120, which ranks at the 77th percentile.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design generations and manufacturing approaches. 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 7 270HX Plus belongs to the Core Ultra Series 2 family with the Arrow Lake-HX Refresh codename, fabricated by TSMC on a 3 nm node with a 243 mm² die and 17,800 million transistors.

Core topology differs substantially. The Core 5 120 implements 6 cores and 12 threads, relying on simultaneous multithreading. The Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus implements 20 cores and 20 threads, a configuration that foregoes multithreading per core in favor of additional physical cores. Cache hierarchies scale accordingly: the Core 5 120 uses 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and 18 MB shared L3. The Ultra 7 270HX Plus uses 192 KB L1 per core, 3 MB L2 per core, and 30 MB shared L3.

Clock behavior also separates the two. The Core 5 120 has a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost of 4.50 GHz. The Ultra 7 270HX Plus has a lower base of 2.40 GHz but a significantly higher boost of 5.30 GHz. Thermal design power runs in the opposite direction: 65 W for the Core 5 120 and 55 W for the Ultra 7 270HX Plus.

Platform integration differs as well. The Core 5 120 uses Intel Socket 1700, targets the desktop market segment, and supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory. The Ultra 7 270HX Plus uses Intel BGA 2114, targets mobile, and supports DDR5 only. PCIe connectivity favors the Ultra part with Gen 5 and 20 lanes versus Gen 5 and 16 lanes on the Core 5 120. Integrated graphics differ: UHD Graphics 730 on the Core 5 120 versus Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU on the Ultra 7 270HX Plus.

The Core 5 120 has a locked multiplier, while the Ultra 7 270HX Plus has an unlocked multiplier. Release dates place the Core 5 120 on 2025-07-30 and the Ultra 7 270HX Plus on 2026-03-16.

The Verdict

The recorded data points to a decisive performance hierarchy. The Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus wins all 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons in the database. Its average benchmark score of 61834 places it in the same performance class as the Intel Core i9-13900KF, which records an average score of 61841 with a 0% delta. The Core 5 120, with an average score of 25362, sits alongside the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D at 25365 and the Intel Core i5-13400F at 25292.

The Core 5 120 is a desktop part on Socket 1700 with 6 cores, 12 threads, and a 65 W TDP. It suits systems built around that socket and platform. The Ultra 7 270HX Plus is a mobile part on BGA 2114 with 20 cores, 20 threads, and a 55 W TDP. Its 30 MB shared L3 cache and 102.4 GB/s memory bandwidth give it a strong foundation for memory-intensive workloads.

The choice depends on the platform requirement. Desktop builders with Socket 1700 boards will use the Core 5 120. Mobile designs with BGA 2114 will use the Ultra 7 270HX Plus. In raw compute terms, the Ultra 7 270HX Plus is the faster processor by every measurement in the database, with a 93rd percentile ranking versus 77th for the Core 5 120.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core 5 120 | Intel Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 6 | 20 |

| Threads | 12 | 20 |

| Base Clock | 2.50 GHz | 2.40 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.50 GHz | 5.30 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 55 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1700 | Intel BGA 2114 |

| Architecture | Raptor Lake | Arrow Lake-HX Refresh |

| Process Node | 10 nm (Intel) | 3 nm (TSMC) |

| Transistors | Not recorded | 17,800 million |

| Die Size | 163 mm² | 243 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 80 KB (per core) | 192 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core) | 3 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 18 MB (shared) | 30 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR5 |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not recorded | 102.4 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 20 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 730 | Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | Yes |

| Part Number | SA35V | SADST |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus dominates every recorded benchmark. The smallest margin appears in PassMark single-thread testing, where the Ultra 7 270HX Plus scores 4764 against 3595 for the Core 5 120, a 24.5% advantage. That remains a substantial lead for a single-threaded workload.

Cinebench results show consistent gaps across the board. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Ultra 7 270HX Plus scores 4224 versus 1840, a 56.4% lead. The single-core R15 test shows 596 versus 259, a 56.5% lead. Cinebench R20 multicore delivers 17603 against 7667, again a 56.4% gap, while R20 single-core shows 2485 versus 1082, a 56.5% gap. Cinebench R23 multicore records 41913 for the Ultra 7 270HX Plus and 18255 for the Core 5 120, a 56.4% difference. R23 single-core shows 5917 versus 2577, a 56.4% gap.

PassMark tests reveal the widest margins. Data encryption shows the largest relative difference: 37813 for the Ultra 7 270HX Plus versus 11131 for the Core 5 120, a 70.6% lead. Floating point math follows at 163567 versus 45383, a 72.3% gap. Find prime numbers records 482 versus 77, an 84% lead, the largest single margin in the dataset. Extended instructions show 39283 versus 14264, a 63.7% gap. Physics testing records 3843 versus 1333, a 65.3% lead. Random string sorting shows 60020 versus 21499, a 64.2% gap. Multithread testing records 48270 versus 18597, a 61.5% lead.

The more moderate gaps still favor the Ultra 7 270HX Plus clearly. Data compression scores 493179 versus 219535, a 55.5% lead. Integer math records 122449 versus 60462, a 50.6% gap, the smallest multicore margin in the dataset. The average benchmark score difference reinforces the pattern: 61834 for the Ultra 7 270HX Plus versus 25362 for the Core 5 120.

The Core 5 120 does not win a single recorded benchmark. Its nearest rivals in the database, the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D at 25365 and the Intel Core i5-13400F at 25292, fall within 0.3% of its average score, confirming that the Core 5 120 competes in the upper mid-range desktop class. The Ultra 7 270HX Plus, by contrast, matches the Intel Core i9-13900KF at 61841 and the Intel Core i9-13900K at 61766, placing it in flagship desktop territory despite its mobile market segment.