Intel Core 5 120 vs Qualcomm Snapdragon X1E-84-100 Comparison

The Verdict

The Intel Core 5 120 and the Qualcomm Snapdragon X1E-84-100 occupy entirely different segments of the processor market, and the recorded data makes their respective roles clear. The Intel part is a desktop processor with a 77th percentile ranking among all CPUs, an average benchmark score of 25,362, and a full suite of measured results across Cinebench and Passmark workloads. The Qualcomm part, by contrast, has no benchmark scores in the database, an average score of 0, and a 50th percentile ranking, which places it in the middle of the field based solely on its specifications rather than any measured performance.

For users who need a desktop processor with proven, quantifiable performance, the Intel Core 5 120 is the only choice supported by benchmark data. Its 6 cores and 12 threads, combined with a boost clock of 4.50 GHz, deliver measurable results in multi-threaded and single-threaded workloads. The Qualcomm Snapdragon X1E-84-100, with its 12 cores and 12 threads, is a mobile processor with a 35 watt TDP and a 4.20 GHz boost clock, but the absence of recorded benchmarks means no performance comparison can be made from the database. The data shows that the Intel part is actively measured and ranked, while the Qualcomm part remains unverified in the database.

The launch MSRP for the Intel Core 5 120 is $211, and it is currently active in production. The Qualcomm part has no launch MSRP recorded. For anyone building a desktop system on Intel Socket 1700, the Core 5 120 delivers a complete package with integrated graphics, DDR4 and DDR5 memory support, and PCIe Gen 5 lanes. For a mobile device, the Snapdragon X1E-84-100 offers a lower TDP and a 4 nm process node, but its performance cannot be quantified from the available data.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core 5 120 uses the Raptor Lake architecture, specifically the Raptor Lake-R codename, and is built on a 10 nm process node at Intel's foundry. It features 6 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz. The thermal design power is 65 watts, and it uses the Intel Socket 1700. The cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3 cache. The die size is 163 mm². Memory support includes both DDR4 and DDR5 in a dual-channel configuration, and the processor provides PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU. Integrated graphics are handled by the UHD Graphics 730. The release date is recorded as July 30, 2025.

The Qualcomm Snapdragon X1E-84-100 uses the Oryon codename and is part of the Snapdragon X (Elite) generation. It is built on a 4 nm process node at TSMC. The processor has 12 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 4.20 GHz. The TDP is 35 watts, and it uses the Qualcomm BGA 2073 socket. The cache layout differs substantially: 288 KB of L1 per core, 12 MB of L2 per module, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. Memory support is limited to LPDDR5X in a dual-channel configuration, with a recorded memory bandwidth of 135.2 GB/s. PCIe support is Gen 4 with 12 lanes from the CPU. Integrated graphics come from the Adreno X1-85. The release date is April 23, 2024.

The architectural split is stark. The Intel part is a desktop-oriented, higher-power processor with a larger process node and a conventional core count. The Qualcomm part is a mobile-oriented, lower-power processor with a smaller process node and a higher core count, but with no benchmark results to demonstrate its capabilities. The cache designs also differ: Intel uses a shared L3 of 18 MB, while Qualcomm uses a module-based L2 of 12 MB per module and a smaller 6 MB shared L3. Neither processor supports ECC memory, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 5 120 wins in every measurable category because it is the only processor in this comparison with benchmark scores. In Cinebench R23, it scores 18,255 in multi-core and 2,577 in single-core. In Cinebench R20, the scores are 7,667 multi-core and 1,082 single-core. Cinebench R15 shows 1,840 multi-core and 259 single-core. Passmark results include a multi-thread score of 18,597, a single-thread score of 3,595, and a physics score of 1,333. The data compression test reaches 219,535, while data encryption scores 11,131. Extended instructions score 14,264, floating point math scores 45,383, integer math scores 60,462, and random string sorting scores 21,499. The find prime numbers test scores 77, which is a modest result.

The Qualcomm Snapdragon X1E-84-100 has no recorded wins because it has no recorded benchmarks. Its advantage, if any, must be inferred from its specifications. It has a lower TDP of 35 watts compared to 65 watts for Intel, which suggests longer battery life in mobile devices. Its 4 nm process node is smaller than Intel's 10 nm node, which typically indicates better power efficiency per transistor. The LPDDR5X memory support with 135.2 GB/s bandwidth is a specific capability, and the higher base clock of 3.80 GHz exceeds Intel's 2.50 GHz base clock. However, none of these specification advantages translate into a measured benchmark win.

The use-case split based on the data is therefore one-sided. For desktop workloads such as rendering in Cinebench, encryption, integer math, or physics simulations, the Intel Core 5 120 delivers quantified performance. For mobile workloads where power draw is critical, the Qualcomm part offers a lower TDP, but its performance remains unverified. The database shows no head-to-head benchmark results and zero wins for either processor, so the only defensible conclusion is that Intel has all the measured wins by default.

FAQ

Q: What is the average benchmark score for the Intel Core 5 120?

A: The Intel Core 5 120 has an average benchmark score of 25,362, and it ranks in the 77th percentile among all CPUs.

Q: Does the Qualcomm Snapdragon X1E-84-100 have any benchmark scores in the database?

A: No, the Snapdragon X1E-84-100 has no recorded benchmark scores, an average benchmark score of 0, and a percentile rank of 50.

Q: How many cores and threads does each processor have?

A: The Intel Core 5 120 has 6 cores and 12 threads. The Qualcomm Snapdragon X1E-84-100 has 12 cores and 12 threads.

Q: What are the cache sizes for each processor?

A: The Intel Core 5 120 has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3. The Qualcomm Snapdragon X1E-84-100 has 288 KB of L1 per core, 12 MB of L2 per module, and 6 MB of shared L3.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core 5 120 has a boost clock of 4.50 GHz, which is higher than the Qualcomm Snapdragon X1E-84-100's boost clock of 4.20 GHz. However, the Qualcomm part has a higher base clock of 3.80 GHz compared to Intel's 2.50 GHz.

Q: What memory types are supported by each processor?

A: The Intel Core 5 120 supports DDR4 and DDR5 in a dual-channel configuration. The Qualcomm Snapdragon X1E-84-100 supports LPDDR5X in a dual-channel configuration, with a memory bandwidth of 135.2 GB/s.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database contains no head-to-head benchmark results for these two processors, and the wins count is zero for both. This absence of direct comparison data means the analysis must rely solely on the Intel Core 5 120's individual benchmark scores, since the Qualcomm Snapdragon X1E-84-100 has no scores to compare.

The Intel Core 5 120's Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 18,255 indicates strong multi-threaded rendering capability. Its single-core score of 2,577 in the same test shows a solid per-thread performance. In Cinebench R20, the multi-core score drops to 7,667 and single-core to 1,082, while Cinebench R15 shows 1,840 multi-core and 259 single-core. These scores, when taken together, demonstrate consistent scaling across different Cinebench versions.

In the Passmark suite, the Intel part shows its strengths in different areas. The multi-thread score of 18,597 and the integer math score of 60,462 indicate robust computational throughput. Floating point math scores 45,383, while extended instructions reach 14,264. Data compression scores 219,535, which is a high number relative to the other Passmark tests, and data encryption scores 11,131. The physics score of 1,333 and the random string sorting score of 21,499 complete the picture. The find prime numbers score of 77 is the lowest metric, suggesting that this particular workload is not a strong point for the architecture.

For the Qualcomm Snapdragon X1E-84-100, there are no recorded scores to walk through. The nearest rivals for the Intel part include the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D with an average score of 25,365 and a delta of 0 percent, the Intel Core i7-11700KF with an average score of 25,423 and a delta of -0.2 percent, the Intel Core i5-13400F with an average score of 25,292 and a delta of 0.3 percent, and the AMD Ryzen 7 7840U with an average score of 25,432 and a delta of -0.3 percent. These deltas show that the Intel Core 5 120 is effectively tied with its nearest competitors, with differences of less than one percent in either direction. The Qualcomm part has no nearest rivals listed, which further underscores its lack of measured standing in the database.

The biggest wins in this comparison are the Intel part's benchmark scores themselves, since they exist at all. The Qualcomm part's only advantages are its lower TDP and its higher base clock, but neither of these is validated by any performance metric. The data confirms that the Intel Core 5 120 is a measured, ranked processor, while the Qualcomm Snapdragon X1E-84-100 is a specification-only entry with no performance record.