Intel Core 5 120HL vs Intel Core 5 315 Comparison

Intel Core 5 120HL and Intel Core 5 315 represent two distinct approaches within Intel’s current mobile and desktop lineup. The 120HL is a Raptor Lake-PS part aimed at desktop systems with a 45 W TDP, while the 315 is a Wildcat Lake mobile processor with a 15 W TDP. Benchmark data for the 315 shows a strong overall standing, with its average score of 18188 placing it in the 72nd percentile of all CPUs, while the 120HL has no recorded average benchmark score in the database.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database contains no direct head-to-head benchmark entries comparing the Intel Core 5 120HL and the Intel Core 5 315. The 120HL’s benchmark array is empty, meaning no Cinebench or PassMark scores are recorded for that processor. The 315, however, has a full set of measurements across Cinebench R15, R20, R23, and multiple PassMark workloads.

The 315 delivers a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 12981 and a single-core score of 1832. In Cinebench R20, it scores 5452 multicore and 769 single-core, while in Cinebench R15 it scores 1308 multicore and 184 single-core. These results indicate a processor that handles both multithreaded rendering tasks and single-threaded workloads with consistent performance across different Cinebench versions.

PassMark results for the 315 show its strongest areas. The data compression test returns 146143, while data encryption scores 11119. Extended instructions score 13143, and floating point math reaches 42441. Integer math scores 31690, and the multithread test produces 15272. The single-thread PassMark score is 4021, with the physics test at 1163 and random string sorting at 17551. Prime number finding scores 112, which is the lowest recorded result for this processor.

The nearest rivals for the 315 in the database are the AMD EPYC 9274F, Intel Core i7-9700, Intel Core i7-1365U, and AMD Ryzen 7 5700U. The EPYC 9274F has an average score of 18189, which is 0% different from the 315’s 18188. The Core i7-9700 scores 18180, also 0% different. The Core i7-1365U scores 18177, a 0.1% difference, and the Ryzen 7 5700U scores 18176, also 0.1% different. This places the 315 within a very tight performance cluster, essentially matching an EPYC server processor and a desktop Core i7 from the 9th generation in aggregate benchmark performance.

FAQ

Q: How does the Intel Core 5 315 compare to its closest rivals in average score?

A: The 315 has an average benchmark score of 18188. The AMD EPYC 9274F scores 18189 (0% difference), the Intel Core i7-9700 scores 18180 (0% difference), the Intel Core i7-1365U scores 18177 (0.1% difference), and the AMD Ryzen 7 5700U scores 18176 (0.1% difference). The 315 sits in a cluster where all four rivals are within 0.1% of its score.

Q: What is the 315’s best Cinebench result?

A: The highest Cinebench score for the 315 is 12981 in Cinebench R23 multicore. Its Cinebench R23 single-core score is 1832. In Cinebench R20, it scores 5452 multicore and 769 single-core, and in Cinebench R15, it scores 1308 multicore and 184 single-core.

Q: Which PassMark workload shows the 315’s highest score?

A: The data compression test produces the highest PassMark score for the 315 at 146143. The next highest is floating point math at 42441, followed by integer math at 31690 and multithread at 15272.

Q: Does the 120HL have any recorded benchmark scores?

A: No, the 120HL has an empty benchmark array in the database. Its average benchmark score is 0, and it has no nearest rivals listed. The 315 has a complete set of benchmark results.

Q: What is the 315’s percentile ranking?

A: The 315 ranks in the 72nd percentile of all CPUs. The 120HL ranks in the 50th percentile, but this ranking is not accompanied by any average score or benchmark data.

Q: How do the two processors differ in thread count?

A: The 120HL has 12 cores and 16 threads, while the 315 has 6 cores and 6 threads. The 120HL supports simultaneous multithreading, while the 315 does not.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 5 315 wins in every measurable benchmark category because it is the only one of the two with recorded performance data. Its Cinebench R23 multicore score of 12981 and single-core score of 1832 demonstrate balanced capability across both rendering and single-threaded applications. The PassMark multithread score of 15272 and single-thread score of 4021 reinforce this pattern, showing that the 315 handles both parallel workloads and single-threaded tasks without a major deficit in either direction.

The 315’s data compression score of 146143 is its standout result, suggesting strong performance in workloads that rely on compression and decompression algorithms. Floating point math at 42441 and integer math at 31690 also show solid arithmetic throughput. The physics score of 1163 is relatively low compared to the multithread and math scores, indicating that the processor is less optimized for physics simulation tasks in PassMark’s test suite.

The 120HL has no benchmark wins in the database because no scores are recorded. Its percentile ranking of 50 places it at the median of all CPUs, but without an average score, there is no data to compare against the 315’s 72nd percentile ranking. The 315 therefore wins all direct comparisons by default, with its aggregate score of 18188 placing it 22 percentile points higher than the 120HL’s ranking.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in core and thread counts. The 120HL has 12 cores and 16 threads, while the 315 has 6 cores and 6 threads. The 120HL operates at a 2.60 GHz base clock and boosts to 4.70 GHz, while the 315 runs at 1.50 GHz base and boosts to 4.40 GHz. The 120HL has a 45 W TDP, and the 315 has a 15 W TDP.

The 120HL uses the Intel Socket 1700, while the 315 uses the Intel BGA 1516 socket. The 120HL is classified as a desktop processor, while the 315 is classified as a mobile processor. The 120HL was released on April 7, 2024, and the 315 was released on April 15, 2026. The 120HL has a launch MSRP of $279, and the 315 has a launch MSRP of $340.

Memory support differs. The 120HL supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory with a dual-channel memory bus. The 315 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X memory with a single-channel memory bus and has a recorded memory bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s. Neither processor supports ECC memory. PCIe configurations also differ: the 120HL provides Gen 4 with 8 lanes (CPU only), while the 315 provides Gen 4 with 6 lanes (CPU only).

Architecture Differences

The 120HL is built on Raptor Lake architecture with the codename Raptor Lake-PS, while the 315 uses Wildcat Lake architecture. The 120HL uses a 10 nm process node, while the 315 uses a 3 nm process node. Both are manufactured by Intel.

Cache configurations differ significantly. The 120HL has an L1 cache of 80 KB per core, an L2 cache of 2 MB per core, and an 18 MB shared L3 cache. The 315 has an L1 cache of 192 KB, an L2 cache of 2.5 MB, and a 6 MB shared L3 cache. The 120HL’s larger per-core L2 and larger total L3 cache provide a structural advantage for workloads that benefit from large on-die storage, though the 315’s smaller 6 MB L3 cache is paired with a more advanced 3 nm process.

Integrated graphics differ. The 120HL includes Iris Xe Graphics with 80 execution units, while the 315 includes Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores. The 315 uses the newer Xe3 architecture, while the 120HL uses the older Iris Xe design with more execution units.

The 120HL has a 10 nm process and a 45 W TDP, while the 315 has a 3 nm process and a 15 W TDP. The 315’s newer process node allows for a much lower power envelope despite the lower base clock of 1.50 GHz. The 120HL’s higher base clock of 2.60 GHz and higher boost clock of 4.70 GHz give it a clock speed advantage, while the 315’s boost clock reaches 4.40 GHz.

The Verdict

The data shows a clear split between the two processors. The Intel Core 5 315 is the only one with benchmark results, and those results place it in the 72nd percentile of all CPUs with an average score of 18188. It matches the AMD EPYC 9274F, Intel Core i7-9700, Intel Core i7-1365U, and AMD Ryzen 7 5700U within 0.1%, putting it in the company of both server and mainstream desktop processors despite its mobile classification and 15 W TDP.

The Intel Core 5 120HL lacks recorded benchmark data, so its performance cannot be quantified against the 315 or any other processor. Its 50th percentile ranking suggests it sits at the median of all CPUs, but the absence of an average score and nearest rivals leaves its actual performance unmeasured. The 120HL does offer structural advantages: 12 cores, 16 threads, a higher base clock of 2.60 GHz, a higher boost clock of 4.70 GHz, a larger 18 MB L3 cache, dual-channel memory support, and 8 PCIe Gen 4 lanes. These specifications point to a processor designed for desktop workloads that can leverage more cores, threads, and memory bandwidth.

The 315, with 6 cores, 6 threads, a 1.50 GHz base clock, a 4.40 GHz boost clock, a 6 MB L3 cache, single-channel memory, and 6 PCIe Gen 4 lanes, uses its 3 nm process and 15 W TDP to deliver competitive benchmark scores in a mobile form factor. Its Cinebench R23 multicore score of 12981 and PassMark multithread score of 15272 confirm that a low-power mobile chip can reach performance levels comparable to older desktop processors.

For users who need a desktop processor with more cores, threads, memory channels, and PCIe lanes, the 120HL offers the stronger specification sheet. For users who need a mobile processor with verified benchmark performance, the 315 is the only option with measured results. The 315’s 72nd percentile ranking and its position within 0.1% of four distinct rivals make it the data-supported choice for aggregate performance, while the 120HL remains an unmeasured quantity whose 50th percentile ranking and higher core count suggest it targets a different workload profile.