Intel Core 5 120HL vs Intel Core 7 253PE Comparison

FAQ

Q: How does the Intel Core 7 253PE compare to the Intel Core 5 120HL in core and thread counts?

A: The Core 5 120HL uses 12 cores and 16 threads, while the Core 7 253PE uses 10 cores and 20 threads. The Core 7 has fewer physical cores but more threads, indicating a different hybrid arrangement.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core 7 253PE reaches 5.50 GHz, which is 0.80 GHz higher than the Core 5 120HL's 4.70 GHz boost.

Q: What are the L3 cache capacities of these two chips?

A: The Core 5 120HL has 18 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Core 7 253PE has 33 MB of shared L3 cache, a 15 MB difference in favor of the Core 7.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?

A: Both support DDR4 and DDR5 memory with a dual-channel bus. The Core 7 253PE additionally supports ECC memory, while the Core 5 120HL does not.

Q: Which processor supports PCIe Gen 5?

A: The Intel Core 7 253PE supports PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only), whereas the Core 5 120HL supports PCIe Gen 4 with 8 lanes (CPU only).

Q: How does the Core 7 253PE rank among all CPUs in the database?

A: The Core 7 253PE sits at the 87th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 40,557, placing it close to the Intel Core 5 223PE and the Intel Core Ultra X7 368H.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core 5 120HL is built on the Raptor Lake architecture with the Raptor Lake-PS codename, while the Intel Core 7 253PE uses the newer Bartlett Lake codename with no specific architecture listed. Both are fabricated on Intel's 10 nm process node at Intel's foundry, so the manufacturing technology is identical.

The core configurations differ significantly. The Core 5 120HL offers 12 cores and 16 threads, while the Core 7 253PE offers 10 cores and 20 threads. This thread advantage on the Core 7 suggests a higher reliance on multi-threading capabilities per physical core, likely through additional hyper-threading or a different hybrid core mix. The Core 5's 12-core layout produces fewer threads, indicating a distinct core type distribution between the two parts.

Both processors share identical per-core L1 and L2 cache sizes: 80 KB per core for L1 and 2 MB per core for L2. The shared L3 cache differs considerably, with the Core 5 120HL carrying 18 MB and the Core 7 253PE carrying 33 MB. This larger L3 pool on the Core 7 can benefit workloads that repeatedly access a large working set.

The integrated graphics differ as well. The Core 5 120HL uses Iris Xe Graphics with 80 execution units, while the Core 7 253PE uses UHD Graphics 730. The Core 5's Iris Xe implementation is the stronger integrated GPU for graphics tasks, while the Core 7's UHD 730 is a more basic solution.

PCIe capabilities diverge sharply. The Core 5 120HL provides PCIe Gen 4 with 8 CPU lanes, while the Core 7 253PE provides PCIe Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes. That doubles both the generation and the lane count, giving the Core 7 substantially more bandwidth for discrete GPUs and NVMe storage.

Memory support is broadly similar, with both supporting DDR4 and DDR5 over a dual-channel bus. The Core 7 253PE adds ECC memory support, a feature absent from the Core 5 120HL. The Core 7 also lists a memory bandwidth figure of 89.6 GB/s, while the Core 5 does not report a bandwidth number in the database.

The Core 7 253PE has a higher TDP at 65 W versus 45 W for the Core 5 120HL. Both parts use the Intel Socket 1700 and have locked multipliers. The Core 5 released in 2024, while the Core 7 released in 2026.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database contains no direct head-to-head benchmark runs pairing the Intel Core 5 120HL against the Intel Core 7 253PE. The Core 5 120HL has an empty benchmark record with an average score of zero, so no Cinebench or PassMark results are available for it. The Core 7 253PE, by contrast, has a full set of Cinebench R15, R20, R23, and PassMark results, allowing a performance profile for one side only.

For the Core 7 253PE, Cinebench R15 multi-core returns 2,507 points and single-core 354 points. Cinebench R20 shows 10,449 multi-core and 1,475 single-core. Cinebench R23 produces 24,880 multi-core and 3,512 single-core. These results indicate a strong balance between single-threaded and multi-threaded throughput, with the single-core scores scaling consistently with the 5.50 GHz boost clock.

PassMark results for the Core 7 253PE cover a wide range of workloads. Multi-thread score is 29,271, while single-thread score is 3,955. Integer math reaches 114,158 and floating-point math 80,870. Data compression scores 339,133, data encryption 18,385, and extended instructions 21,806. Prime number finding returns 138, physics 1,845, and random string sorting 32,777.

Since the Core 5 120HL has no recorded benchmarks, the comparison must rely on architectural and specification data rather than measured performance deltas. The Core 7's 33 MB L3 cache, higher boost clock, and PCIe Gen 5 support position it well for workloads that benefit from cache capacity and memory bandwidth. The Core 5's 12-core count and Iris Xe Graphics 80EU could favor scenarios where more physical cores and stronger integrated graphics matter, but no benchmark data confirms this.

The nearest rivals for the Core 7 253PE show how tightly packed the mid-range field is. The Intel Core 5 223PE scores 40,585, a delta of -0.1% relative to the Core 7's 40,557. The Intel Core Ultra X7 368H scores 40,518, a delta of 0.1%. The Intel Xeon 6357P scores 40,630, a delta of -0.2%. The AMD Ryzen 9 7940H scores 40,431, a delta of 0.3%. The Core 7 sits essentially at parity with all four rivals, with margins below one percent in every direction.

This clustering indicates that the Core 7 253PE delivers performance within a narrow band of its immediate competitors. The 87th percentile ranking across all CPUs reinforces that position: it is a solidly above-average desktop processor, but not an outlier at the top of the distribution.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core 5 120HL | Intel Core 7 253PE |

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

| Cores | 12 | 10 |

| Threads | 16 | 20 |

| Base clock | 2.60 GHz | 2.50 GHz |

| Boost clock | 4.70 GHz | 5.50 GHz |

| TDP | 45 W | 65 W |

| Architecture | Raptor Lake | Not listed |

| Codename | Raptor Lake-PS | Bartlett Lake |

| Generation | Core 5 (Raptor Lake-PS) | Core 7 (Bartlett Lake) |

| L3 cache | 18 MB shared | 33 MB shared |

| Memory bandwidth | Not listed | 89.6 GB/s |

| ECC memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 8 lanes | Gen 5, 16 lanes |

| Integrated graphics | Iris Xe Graphics 80EU | UHD Graphics 730 |

| Release date | 2024-04-07 | 2026-03-08 |

| Launch MSRP | $279 | $384 |

| Part number | SRPFR | SA4QE |

The two chips share the same process node, foundry, socket, L1 and L2 cache sizes, memory support types, memory bus width, and locked multiplier status. Both are active desktop parts.

The base clocks are close, with the Core 5 at 2.60 GHz and the Core 7 at 2.50 GHz, a 0.10 GHz gap. The boost clocks diverge more substantially, with the Core 7 leading by 0.80 GHz. The TDP difference of 20 W reflects the Core 7's higher boost ceiling and additional cache.

The release dates are nearly two years apart, with the Core 5 appearing in April 2024 and the Core 7 in March 2026. The Core 7 launched with a higher MSRP of $384 versus $279 for the Core 5.

The Verdict

The Intel Core 7 253PE is the better choice for workloads that reward high single-thread performance, large cache capacity, and modern I/O. Its 5.50 GHz boost clock, 33 MB L3 cache, PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes, and 89.6 GB/s memory bandwidth give it clear specification advantages over the Core 5 120HL. The recorded benchmark scores for the Core 7 confirm strong multi-core and single-core results, with Cinebench R23 multi-core at 24,880 and single-core at 3,512, plus a PassMark multi-thread score of 29,271. Its 87th percentile ranking and near-parity with four closely matched rivals indicate dependable mid-to-upper tier performance.

The Core 5 120HL offers more physical cores at 12 versus 10, a higher base clock of 2.60 GHz, and the more capable Iris Xe Graphics 80EU. It also carries a lower TDP of 45 W and a lower launch MSRP. However, with no benchmark results recorded in the database, its measured performance cannot be quantified. The specification sheet alone does not offset the Core 7's advantages in cache, boost clock, PCIe generation and lane count, ECC support, and memory bandwidth.

Users who need ECC memory support should select the Core 7 253PE, as the Core 5 120HL does not support it. Users who need PCIe Gen 5 for a high-end GPU or storage array should also choose the Core 7. Users who prioritize a lower-power desktop processor with integrated Iris Xe graphics and more physical cores may find the Core 5 120HL suitable, but the data does not demonstrate any performance advantage for it.

The core count difference does not favor the Core 5 in thread-heavy workloads, since the Core 7's 20 threads exceed the Core 5's 16 threads. The Core 7 also delivers a generational step in cache and I/O that the Core 5 cannot match. Based on the recorded data, the Intel Core 7 253PE is the stronger processor overall, with the Core 5 120HL serving as a lower-power alternative with better integrated graphics and a lower launch price.