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

Intel Core 5 120HL and Intel Core 7 253PTE are both 45 W desktop processors on the Intel Socket 1700 platform, but they target different workload profiles. The Core 5 120HL is a Raptor Lake-PS part with 12 cores and 16 threads, while the Core 7 253PTE is a Bartlett Lake part with 10 cores and 20 threads. The database records no benchmark scores for the Core 5 120HL, so all measured performance data comes from the Core 7 253PTE. The Core 7 253PTE holds an 84th percentile ranking against all CPUs, while the Core 5 120HL sits at the 50th percentile with an average benchmark score of zero. That percentile gap suggests the Core 7 253PTE delivers substantially higher performance, but the absence of Core 5 120HL measurements means the comparison relies on their architectural and specification differences.

Where Each One Wins

The Core 7 253PTE wins every measurable performance category in the database, simply because it is the only one of the two with recorded benchmark scores. Its multicore results are strong: Cinebench R23 multicore reaches 21276 points, Cinebench R20 multicore hits 8935, and Cinebench R15 multicore lands at 2144. PassMark multithread scores 25031, with integer math at 119552 and floating point math at 67209. These numbers place the Core 7 253PTE in the 84th percentile of all CPUs, close to rivals like the Intel Core i7-13800H, which averages 34988 and sits only 0.1% behind, and the Intel Core i9-12900HX, which averages 35003 and also sits 0.1% behind. The Core 7 253PTE edges ahead of the Intel Xeon 6349P by 0.2% (34890) and the AMD Ryzen 5 150 by 0.2% (34881).

The Core 5 120HL has no wins because it has no recorded benchmarks. Its architectural configuration, 12 cores and 16 threads, suggests a different design philosophy, but without measured scores, the database cannot confirm any workload advantage. The Core 7 253PTE, by contrast, shows strengths across both multithreaded and single-threaded tasks. Its single-core Cinebench R23 score is 3003, Cinebench R20 single-core is 1261, and Cinebench R15 single-core is 302. PassMark single-thread scores 3794. The Core 7 253PTE also handles specialized workloads: PassMark data compression scores 275828, data encryption scores 15500, extended instructions score 17099, physics scores 1318, and random string sorting scores 28227.

For users prioritizing parallel workloads like rendering, encoding, or scientific computation, the Core 7 253PTE is the clear choice based on the recorded data. For users prioritizing single-thread responsiveness, it also leads, with a boost clock of 5.40 GHz compared to 4.70 GHz on the Core 5 120HL. The Core 5 120HL offers more physical cores (12 versus 10) but fewer threads (16 versus 20), which may help in certain lightly threaded scenarios, yet no benchmark data exists to support that claim.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core 5 120HL has 12 cores, while the Intel Core 7 253PTE has 10 cores. However, the Core 7 253PTE has more threads: 20 versus 16.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core 7 253PTE boosts up to 5.40 GHz, while the Intel Core 5 120HL boosts up to 4.70 GHz. The Core 7 253PTE also has a lower base clock at 1.80 GHz versus 2.60 GHz.

Q: How does the Core 7 253PTE compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Core 7 253PTE has an average benchmark score of 34962. It is 0.1% behind the Intel Core i7-13800H (34988) and the Intel Core i9-12900HX (35003), and 0.2% ahead of the Intel Xeon 6349P (34890) and the AMD Ryzen 5 150 (34881).

Q: Does the Core 7 253PTE support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the Core 7 253PTE supports ECC memory. The Core 5 120HL does not support ECC memory.

Q: What is the L3 cache difference between the two?

A: The Core 7 253PTE has 33 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Core 5 120HL has 18 MB of shared L3 cache. Both have 80 KB L1 per core and 2 MB L2 per core.

Q: Which processor has faster PCIe support?

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

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database contains no head-to-head benchmark entries between the Core 5 120HL and the Core 7 253PTE. All measured performance belongs to the Core 7 253PTE, and its scores can be compared against its nearest rivals rather than the Core 5 120HL directly. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the Core 7 253PTE scores 21276, a figure that supports its 84th percentile ranking. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 3003, indicating strong per-thread performance. The Cinebench R20 results reinforce this: 8935 multicore and 1261 single-core. Cinebench R15 shows 2144 multicore and 302 single-core.

PassMark results for the Core 7 253PTE are equally detailed. The multithread score of 25031 aligns with its multicore Cinebench results. Integer math scores 119552, floating point math scores 67209, and extended instructions scores 17099. Data compression scores 275828, which is notably high relative to the multithread score, suggesting strong throughput on compression workloads. Data encryption scores 15500, physics scores 1318, and random string sorting scores 28227. The single-thread PassMark score is 3794, listed under both "passmark_single_thread" and "passmark_singlethread" in the database.

The nearest rival comparisons put the Core 7 253PTE in a tight cluster. The Intel Core i7-13800H averages 34988, just 0.1% higher. The Intel Core i9-12900HX averages 35003, also 0.1% higher. The Intel Xeon 6349P averages 34890, 0.2% lower, and the AMD Ryzen 5 150 averages 34881, 0.2% lower. These delta percentages indicate that the Core 7 253PTE is essentially performance-equivalent to those four processors, which is a meaningful data point for placement within the broader CPU landscape. The Core 5 120HL, with no benchmark scores and a 50th percentile rank, does not appear in any such rival cluster.

Specification Differences

The two processors share several platform traits: both are Intel Socket 1700 parts, both are 45 W TDP, both use dual-channel memory, and both support DDR4 and DDR5 memory. The differences start with core and thread counts. The Core 5 120HL has 12 cores and 16 threads. The Core 7 253PTE has 10 cores and 20 threads. Clock speeds differ: the Core 5 120HL has a base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. The Core 7 253PTE has a base clock of 1.80 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz.

Cache configurations differ in L3 only. The Core 5 120HL has 18 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core 7 253PTE has 33 MB of shared L3 cache. L1 and L2 are identical on paper: 80 KB per core and 2 MB per core, respectively. Memory bandwidth is listed for the Core 7 253PTE at 89.6 GB/s, while the Core 5 120HL has no recorded memory bandwidth figure. ECC memory support differs: the Core 7 253PTE supports ECC, the Core 5 120HL does not.

PCIe capabilities differ significantly. The Core 5 120HL uses PCIe Gen 4 with 8 lanes (CPU only). The Core 7 253PTE uses PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics also differ: the Core 5 120HL has Iris Xe Graphics 80EU, while the Core 7 253PTE has UHD Graphics 730. The Core 5 120HL launched on 2024-04-07 with a launch MSRP of $279. The Core 7 253PTE launched on 2026-03-08 with a launch MSRP of $384. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

Architecture Differences

The Core 5 120HL uses the Raptor Lake architecture with the codename Raptor Lake-PS, classified under the "Core 5 (Raptor Lake-PS)" generation. The Core 7 253PTE uses the Bartlett Lake architecture with the codename Bartlett Lake, classified under the "Core 7 (Bartlett Lake)" generation. Both are built on a 10 nm process node at Intel's foundry, but the architectural lineage differs. Raptor Lake-PS is a desktop variant of the Raptor Lake family, while Bartlett Lake represents a newer design with different core and cache characteristics.

The process node is listed as 10 nm for both, and the foundry is Intel for both. Neither has recorded transistor counts or die sizes. The L1 and L2 cache organizations are the same: 80 KB per core and 2 MB per core. The L3 cache differs, with the Core 7 253PTE carrying 33 MB shared versus 18 MB shared on the Core 5 120HL. That larger L3 cache likely contributes to the Core 7 253PTE's performance in cache-sensitive workloads, though the database does not provide direct head-to-head measurements.

Memory support is identical in type (DDR4 and DDR5) and channel configuration (dual-channel). The Core 7 253PTE adds ECC support, which the Core 5 120HL lacks, making it more suitable for reliability-focused computing environments. The Core 7 253PTE also lists a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, while the Core 5 120HL has no such figure. PCIe generation and lane count differ: Gen 5 with 16 lanes on the Core 7 253PTE versus Gen 4 with 8 lanes on the Core 5 120HL. Integrated graphics differ as well: Iris Xe Graphics 80EU on the Core 5 120HL versus UHD Graphics 730 on the Core 7 253PTE. The release dates place the Core 5 120HL in 2024 and the Core 7 253PTE in 2026, indicating a generational gap in design timing.

The Verdict

The data points to the Core 7 253PTE as the stronger processor for measured workloads. Its 84th percentile ranking, average benchmark score of 34962, and comprehensive Cinebench and PassMark results place it alongside the Intel Core i7-13800H, Intel Core i9-12900HX, Intel Xeon 6349P, and AMD Ryzen 5 150, all within 0.2% of each other. The Core 5 120HL, with no recorded benchmarks and a 50th percentile rank, cannot compete on measured performance in this database.

Who should pick the Core 5 120HL? Users who prioritize a lower launch MSRP ($279 versus $384), more physical cores (12 versus 10), and a higher base clock (2.60 GHz versus 1.80 GHz) might consider it. Its Iris Xe Graphics 80EU integrated GPU may also appeal to users who need better integrated graphics than the UHD Graphics 730 in the Core 7 253PTE. Yet the lack of benchmark data means those advantages remain speculative.

Who should pick the Core 7 253PTE? Users who need maximum multithreaded throughput, higher boost clocks, larger L3 cache, ECC memory support, and PCIe Gen 5 connectivity. The recorded scores confirm strong performance across Cinebench and PassMark suites, and the 84th percentile ranking validates its position among top-tier desktop CPUs. The higher launch MSRP of $384 reflects the additional capabilities, but the data shows a substantial performance gap in favor of the Core 7 253PTE. For any workload where measured performance matters, the Core 7 253PTE is the only one of the two with evidence to support it.