Intel Core 5 120 vs Intel Core Ultra 7 356H Comparison

The Intel Core 5 120 and the Intel Core Ultra 7 356H represent two distinct design philosophies from the same manufacturer, one aimed at a desktop environment and the other at high-performance mobile computing. The Core 5 120 uses the Raptor Lake architecture on the Intel Socket 1700 platform, while the Core Ultra 7 356H is built on the newer Panther Lake architecture for mobile devices. The database shows a clear performance hierarchy, with the Core Ultra 7 356H winning 16 of the 17 recorded head-to-head benchmark comparisons. The sole victory for the Core 5 120 comes in a single-core test, which complicates the overall picture.

The Verdict

The data places these processors in different performance tiers. The Core Ultra 7 356H records a 77th percentile ranking among all CPUs, while the Core 5 120 sits at the 87th percentile. This percentile gap shows that the mobile chip, despite its lower thermal design power, outclasses the desktop part in the majority of recorded workloads.

The average benchmark score reinforces this separation. The Core Ultra 7 356H posts an average score of 41215, while the Core 5 120 lands at 25362. This represents a substantial margin that appears across nearly every test category. The nearest rivals for each part confirm their respective neighborhoods: the Core 5 120 trades blows with the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D and Intel Core i5-13400F, while the Core Ultra 7 356H sits close to the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X and the Intel Core Ultra 7 366H.

Users should select the Core 5 120 only when the single-core Cinebench R23 result is the primary consideration, as it delivers a 26.3% advantage in that specific test. For any workload involving multiple threads, encryption, compression, or math operations, the Core Ultra 7 356H is the superior part. The mobile processor also offers a higher boost clock of 4.70 GHz compared to the desktop chip's 4.50 GHz, which contributes to its broader win count.

Where Each One Wins

The Core 5 120 wins exactly one test: Cinebench R23 single-core. Its score of 2577 surpasses the Core Ultra 7 356H's 2040, a difference of 26.3%. This result indicates that the desktop processor's Raptor Lake architecture, with its higher base clock of 2.50 GHz and 12 threads across 6 cores, delivers better performance in lightly threaded scenarios that rely on a single core's peak output.

The Core Ultra 7 356H dominates every other measured category. Its 16-core, 16-thread configuration without hyperthreading still provides far more parallel throughput than the 6-core, 12-thread desktop chip. The largest margin appears in PassMark find prime numbers, where the mobile chip scores 327 against 77, a 76.5% advantage. This test measures raw integer calculation throughput, suggesting the Panther Lake architecture's efficiency at sustained computational loads.

In memory-sensitive workloads, the Core Ultra 7 356H again leads. PassMark data compression shows a score of 336177 versus 219535, a 34.7% gap. The mobile processor supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X memory with a bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s, while the desktop chip supports DDR4 and DDR5 without a listed bandwidth figure. The newer memory standard and higher bandwidth likely contribute to this compression advantage.

The floating-point and encryption tests show similar patterns. PassMark floating point math scores 103128 for the mobile chip versus 45383 for the desktop part, a 56% difference. Data encryption scores 26345 versus 11131, a 57.7% gap. These results indicate that the Core Ultra 7 356H is better suited for scientific computation, data processing, and security-related tasks.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations and target different physical formats. The Core 5 120 uses the Raptor Lake architecture, specifically the Raptor Lake-R refresh, on a 10 nm process node from Intel. It fits the Intel Socket 1700 with a die size of 163 mm². The Core Ultra 7 356H uses the Panther Lake architecture on a 3 nm process node, also from Intel's foundry, and mounts on the Intel BGA 2540 socket for mobile applications.

Core and thread counts differ significantly. The desktop part has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the mobile part has 16 cores and 16 threads. The mobile chip lacks hyperthreading, so its thread count equals its core count. Despite this, the sheer number of physical cores gives it a massive parallel advantage.

Cache hierarchies also differ. The Core 5 120 has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, and 18 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core Ultra 7 356H has 192 KB of L1 per core, 2.5 MB of L2 per core, and the same 18 MB of shared L3 cache. The larger per-core caches in the mobile chip allow it to keep more data closer to the execution units, which helps in workloads with repetitive data access patterns.

Memory support divides them further. The Core 5 120 accepts both DDR4 and DDR5, while the Core Ultra 7 356H supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X. The mobile chip lists a memory bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s, a figure absent for the desktop part. PCIe lanes also differ: the desktop chip provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes, while the mobile chip provides Gen 5 with 12 lanes.

Integrated graphics differ as well. The Core 5 120 includes UHD Graphics 730, while the Core Ultra 7 356H includes Intel Xe3 Graphics. The thermal design power tells a story of efficiency: the desktop chip draws 65 watts, while the mobile chip draws only 25 watts. This makes the Core Ultra 7 356H's performance advantage even more notable, as it achieves higher scores while consuming less power.

The release dates and market positioning also separate the parts. The Core 5 120 launched on 2025-07-30 with a launch MSRP of $211. The Core Ultra 7 356H carries no launch MSRP in the database and launched on 2026-01-04. The desktop part is a desktop segment product, while the mobile part targets the mobile segment.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H has 16 cores and 16 threads. The Intel Core 5 120 has 6 cores and 12 threads. The mobile chip's core count is more than double that of the desktop part.

Q: Does the Intel Core 5 120 win any benchmark?

A: Yes. It wins Cinebench R23 single-core with a score of 2577, compared to 2040 for the Core Ultra 7 356H, a 26.3% advantage. This is the only test where the desktop processor leads.

Q: What is the thermal design power difference?

A: The Intel Core 5 120 has a thermal design power of 65 watts. The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H has a thermal design power of 25 watts. The mobile chip achieves higher performance across most benchmarks while drawing less power.

Q: Which processor supports LPDDR5X memory?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X memory with a bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s. The Intel Core 5 120 supports DDR4 and DDR5 but does not list LPDDR5X support or a bandwidth figure.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H has an average benchmark score of 41215. The Intel Core 5 120 has an average benchmark score of 25362. The mobile chip's average score is significantly higher.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H has a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. The Intel Core 5 120 has a boost clock of 4.50 GHz. The mobile chip also has a lower base clock of 1.90 GHz versus 2.50 GHz for the desktop part.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results show a lopsided contest. The Core Ultra 7 356H wins 16 of 17 tests, with the only exception being Cinebench R23 single-core. The magnitude of each victory varies, which provides insight into the strengths of each architecture.

In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Core Ultra 7 356H scores 3055 against 1840 for the Core 5 120. This is a 39.8% difference. The same test in single-core mode shows a narrower gap: 303 versus 259, a 14.5% difference in favor of the mobile chip. Cinebench R20 multicore continues the trend with scores of 12153 and 7667, a 36.9% gap. The single-core R20 test shows a 36.9% difference as well, with scores of 1715 and 1082.

Cinebench R23 multicore presents the closest result in the entire comparison. The Core Ultra 7 356H scores 18395, while the Core 5 120 scores 18255. The difference is only 0.8%. This near-tie suggests that in heavily multithreaded rendering workloads, the two processors approach parity. The single-core R23 test, however, flips the result: the Core 5 120 wins with 2577 against 2040, a 26.3% advantage for the desktop part.

The PassMark suite reveals the mobile chip's dominance in specialized workloads. Data compression scores 336177 for the Core Ultra 7 356H and 219535 for the Core 5 120, a 34.7% gap. Data encryption shows a 57.7% difference: 26345 versus 11131. Extended instructions tests show a 48.9% gap, with scores of 27898 and 14264.

Prime number finding delivers the largest margin. The Core Ultra 7 356H scores 327, while the Core 5 120 scores 77. This 76.5% difference indicates a massive advantage in integer-heavy computational loops. Floating-point math follows with a 56% gap: 103128 versus 45383. Integer math shows a smaller but still significant 27.3% difference: 83111 versus 60462.

Multithreaded PassMark scores continue the pattern. The Core Ultra 7 356H posts 33978 against 18597, a 45.3% difference. Physics scores show a 54% gap: 2895 versus 1333. Random string sorting shows a 47.6% difference: 40990 versus 21499. Single-thread PassMark scores show an 11.7% gap: 4072 versus 3595.

The overall pattern is clear. The Core Ultra 7 356H offers superior performance in nearly every measured category, with particularly large margins in encryption, prime number calculation, and floating-point workloads. The Core 5 120 holds a single advantage in Cinebench R23 single-core, which may matter for specific legacy applications or lightly threaded workloads. The data confirms that the mobile Panther Lake chip is the stronger processor overall, despite its lower power draw and more recent release date.