Intel Core 5 120 vs Qualcomm Snapdragon X2E-94-100 Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 5 120 is the only processor in this comparison with recorded benchmark data. The database contains 18 benchmark results for the Intel Core 5 120, covering Cinebench R15, R20, R23, and PassMark workloads. The Qualcomm Snapdragon X2E-94-100 has no recorded benchmark scores, no average score, and no rival comparisons in the database at this time. Therefore, every measurable win, whether in single-threaded, multi-threaded, or specialized workloads, belongs to the Intel part by default.

The Intel Core 5 120 shows its strongest results in the PassMark integer math test with a score of 60462 and floating point math with 45383. Data compression reaches 219535, while encryption scores 11131. The multi-threaded Cinebench R23 result of 18255 indicates strong sustained multi-core performance for a desktop processor. Single-thread performance is solid as well, with Cinebench R23 single-core at 2577 and PassMark single-thread at 3595.

The Qualcomm Snapdragon X2E-94-100 cannot be assigned wins in any category. Its average benchmark score is recorded as 0, and its percentile rank sits at 50, which means the database places it at the midpoint of all CPUs based on incomplete or missing performance data. The part targets the mobile segment, uses 18 cores with 18 threads, and supports LPDDR5X memory across a triple-channel bus with 228.6 GB/s of bandwidth. None of those specifications translate into measured performance wins without benchmark data.

The Intel part also holds a percentile rank of 77, meaning it sits above 77 percent of all CPUs in the database. This percentile is calculated from actual scores, not estimates. The Snapdragon’s percentile of 50 appears to be a placeholder value, not a measured outcome.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core 5 120 uses Raptor Lake architecture, specifically the Raptor Lake-R refresh, built on Intel’s 10 nm process. The die measures 163 mm². It contains 6 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz. Thermal design power is 65 watts. Cache is distributed as 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3. The memory controller supports DDR4 and DDR5 across a dual-channel bus. PCIe connectivity is Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics are provided by UHD Graphics 730. The socket is Intel Socket 1700, and the part is unlocked multiplier disabled, meaning it cannot be overclocked via the multiplier. It uses an active production status and was released on July 30, 2025, with a launch MSRP of $211.

The Qualcomm Snapdragon X2E-94-100 belongs to the Snapdragon X2 Elite generation, codenamed Glymur. It is built on a 3 nm process at TSMC, with a die size of 220 mm². The chip has 18 cores and 18 threads, indicating no hyperthreading or SMT. Base clock is 4.45 GHz and boost clock is 4.70 GHz. Thermal design power is not recorded in the database. Cache is organized as 288 KB L1 per core, 16 MB L2 per module, and 9 MB of shared L3. Memory support is limited to LPDDR5X, running on a triple-channel bus with a rated bandwidth of 228.6 GB/s. PCIe is Gen 5 with 12 CPU lanes. The integrated graphics solution is the Adreno X2-90. The socket is Qualcomm BGA 2343, and the part targets the mobile market segment. Release date is recorded as April 5, 2026. The manufacturer field is listed as unknown, which is unusual for a production part.

The two processors differ fundamentally in process node, core count, memory architecture, and market segment. Intel’s part uses a mature 10 nm process with fewer, higher-clock capable cores and SMT. Qualcomm’s part uses a leading 3 nm process with 18 physical cores, no SMT, and a much higher base clock of 4.45 GHz. The memory subsystem diverges sharply: Intel uses dual-channel DDR4/DDR5, while Qualcomm uses triple-channel LPDDR5X with a specific bandwidth figure of 228.6 GB/s. Cache hierarchy also differs, with Qualcomm placing 16 MB per module at L2 and Intel placing 1.25 MB per core at L2. Intel’s total L3 is 18 MB shared, which is larger than Qualcomm’s 9 MB shared L3, but Qualcomm’s L2 structure may compensate depending on workload locality.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database records no head-to-head benchmark entries for these two processors. The head-to-head array is empty, and the win counters are zero for both parts. This means there are no direct comparison scores, no delta percentages, and no rival listings for the Snapdragon X2E-94-100. The Intel Core 5 120 has rival data against other CPUs, but not against the Snapdragon.

For the Intel Core 5 120, the nearest rivals in the database are the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D, Intel Core i7-11700KF, Intel Core i5-13400F, and AMD Ryzen 7 7840U. The average scores are nearly identical: the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D sits at 25365 with a delta of 0 percent, the Intel Core i7-11700KF at 25423 with a delta of -0.2 percent, the Intel Core i5-13400F at 25292 with a delta of 0.3 percent, and the AMD Ryzen 7 7840U at 25432 with a delta of -0.3 percent. The Intel Core 5 120’s own average benchmark score is 25362, placing it within a fraction of a percent of all four rivals. This indicates that the Core 5 120 performs within a tight band around these established CPUs, with no meaningful separation in aggregate score.

Within its own benchmark suite, the Intel Core 5 120 shows notable internal variation. The PassMark multi-thread score of 18597 is close to the Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 18255, suggesting consistent multi-threaded performance across different test suites. The Cinebench R20 multi-core score of 7667 and R15 multi-core score of 1840 follow the expected scaling pattern for a 6-core, 12-thread processor. Single-thread scores scale similarly: R15 single-core at 259, R20 single-core at 1082, R23 single-core at 2577, and PassMark single-thread at 3595.

Specialized PassMark tests reveal workload-specific strengths. Data compression at 219535 is the highest score in the Intel part’s suite. Random string sorting reaches 21499. Extended instructions score 14264. Data encryption is 11131. Physics simulation scores 1333, and the prime number search test scores 77. The integer math score of 60462 exceeds the floating point math score of 45383, indicating that the architecture handles integer-heavy workloads more efficiently than floating-point-heavy ones. This is typical for the Raptor Lake core design.

Because the Snapdragon has no recorded benchmarks, no direct comparison can be made. The data cannot confirm or deny any performance relationship between the two chips. The only quantitative facts available are the architectural specifications, the Snapdragon’s placeholder percentile of 50, and the Intel part’s measured scores.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear but incomplete picture. The Intel Core 5 120 is a fully measured desktop processor with 18 benchmark scores, a percentile rank of 77, and an average score of 25362. It competes within 0.3 percent of four established rivals, all of which sit near the 25300 to 25432 range. The processor delivers strong multi-threaded performance for a 6-core part, with Cinebench R23 multi-core at 18255 and PassMark multi-thread at 18597. Single-thread performance is also competitive, with Cinebench R23 single-core at 2577.

The Qualcomm Snapdragon X2E-94-100 is a mobile processor with no benchmark data in the database. Its average score is 0, its percentile is 50, and it has no nearest rivals. The specifications show a 3 nm TSMC part with 18 cores, a base clock of 4.45 GHz, a boost clock of 4.70 GHz, and a triple-channel LPDDR5X memory interface with 228.6 GB/s of bandwidth. These specifications suggest a capable mobile processor, but the database contains no measured results to confirm actual performance.

For buyers and system integrators, the choice depends entirely on the workload and platform. The Intel Core 5 120 fits a desktop Socket 1700 platform with DDR4 or DDR5 memory support, 16 PCIe Gen 5 lanes, and a 65 W TDP. It is an active product with a recorded launch MSRP of $211. The Snapdragon X2E-94-100 fits a mobile BGA 2343 platform with LPDDR5X memory and 12 PCIe Gen 5 lanes. No price is recorded for it.

From a strictly analytical standpoint, the Intel part is the only one with verifiable performance data. The Snapdragon’s architecture may offer advantages in power efficiency and memory bandwidth, but those advantages are not quantified in the database. The Intel part’s 77th percentile ranking and measured scores provide a concrete baseline. The Snapdragon’s 50th percentile appears to be a default value, not a measured outcome, and should not be interpreted as a performance estimate.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Qualcomm Snapdragon X2E-94-100 has 18 cores and 18 threads. The Intel Core 5 120 has 6 cores and 12 threads.

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

A: The Intel Core 5 120 has an average benchmark score of 25362, with a percentile rank of 77 among all CPUs.

Q: Does the Qualcomm Snapdragon X2E-94-100 have any benchmark results?

A: No. The database lists an empty benchmark array, an average score of 0, and no nearest rivals for the Snapdragon X2E-94-100.

Q: What memory types does each processor support?

A: The Intel Core 5 120 supports DDR4 and DDR5 over a dual-channel bus. The Qualcomm Snapdragon X2E-94-100 supports LPDDR5X over a triple-channel bus with 228.6 GB/s of bandwidth.

Q: How does the Intel Core 5 120 compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Intel Core 5 120 sits within 0.3 percent of the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D, Intel Core i7-11700KF, Intel Core i5-13400F, and AMD Ryzen 7 7840U in average score. The deltas range from -0.3 percent to 0.3 percent.

Q: What is the process node for each processor?

A: The Intel Core 5 120 uses Intel’s 10 nm process. The Qualcomm Snapdragon X2E-94-100 uses TSMC’s 3 nm process.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Qualcomm Snapdragon X2E-94-100 has a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. The Intel Core 5 120 has a boost clock of 4.50 GHz.

Q: What integrated graphics does each processor use?

A: The Intel Core 5 120 uses UHD Graphics 730. The Qualcomm Snapdragon X2E-94-100 uses Adreno X2-90.