Intel Core 5 120HL vs Intel Core 7 360 Comparison

The Verdict

The recorded data presents a clear split between two Intel processors with fundamentally different design goals. The Intel Core 5 120HL is a 12-core, 16-thread desktop part built on the Raptor Lake architecture with a 45 W TDP, while the Intel Core 7 360 is a 6-core, 6-thread mobile part on the newer Wildcat Lake architecture with a 15 W TDP. The Core 7 360 carries a higher launch MSRP of $426 and sits at the 72nd percentile of all CPUs, while the Core 5 120HL sits at the 50th percentile. The Core 7 360 has an average benchmark score of 18374, placing it alongside the Intel Core i3-13100 (18380, 0% delta), Intel Core 5 330 (18345, 0.2% delta), Intel Core i3-14100 (18318, 0.3% delta), and Intel Core 3 305 (18302, 0.4% delta). The Core 5 120HL has no recorded benchmark scores in the database, so the comparison relies on the architectural specifications and the measured performance data available for the Core 7 360.

The data indicates that the Core 7 360 is the only part with verified performance measurements. Its single-core Cinebench R23 score of 1924 and multi-core score of 13634 show a balanced profile for a low-power mobile chip. The Core 5 120HL, with its higher core count and larger shared L3 cache (18 MB versus 6 MB), should theoretically handle multi-threaded workloads better, but no benchmark data confirms this. The choice between them depends on the platform: the Core 5 120HL targets desktop systems with Socket 1700, while the Core 7 360 targets mobile devices with BGA 1516. The Core 7 360 is the only one with measurable performance data, making it the data-backed option for users who prioritize verified results.

Architecture Differences

The two processors diverge sharply in their underlying designs. The Intel Core 5 120HL uses the Raptor Lake architecture on a 10 nm process node, fabricated by Intel, and belongs to the Raptor Lake-PS codename family. It packs 12 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. Its cache layout includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core 5 120HL supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, uses PCIe Gen 4 with 8 lanes (CPU only), and integrates Iris Xe Graphics with 80 execution units. It was released on 2024-04-07 with a launch MSRP of $279.

The Intel Core 7 360 uses the Wildcat Lake codename on a 3 nm process node, also fabricated by Intel. It has 6 cores and 6 threads, with a base clock of 1.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.80 GHz. Its cache structure is notably different: 192 KB of L1 per core, 2.5 MB of L2 per core, and only 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core 7 360 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X memory in a single-channel configuration, with a recorded memory bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s. It uses PCIe Gen 4 with 6 lanes (CPU only) and integrates Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores. Its release date is 2026-04-15, and its launch MSRP is $426.

The architectural gap is significant. The Core 5 120HL uses an older, larger process node (10 nm versus 3 nm), has double the core count, and more than three times the shared L3 cache. However, the Core 7 360 has a higher boost clock (4.80 GHz versus 4.70 GHz), a much lower TDP (15 W versus 45 W), and a per-core L1 cache that is 2.4 times larger (192 KB versus 80 KB). The memory bandwidth figure of 59.7 GB/s for the Core 7 360 is the only measured bandwidth in the database, giving it a concrete advantage in data throughput despite its single-channel memory bus.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database contains no head-to-head benchmark entries for this pairing, and the Core 5 120HL has no recorded benchmark results at all. The Core 7 360, however, has a full suite of measured scores. Its Cinebench R15 multi-core score is 1374, and its single-core score is 193. In Cinebench R20, it scores 5726 multi-core and 808 single-core. The Cinebench R23 results show 13634 multi-core and 1924 single-core. These numbers indicate a processor that delivers roughly seven times more multi-core performance than single-core in Cinebench R23 (13634 divided by 1924), which is typical for a 6-core part without hyper-threading.

The PassMark suite for the Core 7 360 reveals specific strengths. Its data compression score is 142877, data encryption is 11164, and extended instructions score is 12390. The integer math score is 34238, floating point math is 44963, and find prime numbers is 120. The multithread score is 15544, physics is 1213, and random string sorting is 17636. The single-thread score is 4274, recorded twice in the database under slightly different test names. These results place the Core 7 360 in the 72nd percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 18374.

The nearest rivals for the Core 7 360 provide context. The Intel Core i3-13100 scores 18380, which is 0% different from the Core 7 360. The Intel Core 5 330 scores 18345, a 0.2% delta. The Intel Core i3-14100 scores 18318, a 0.3% delta. The Intel Core 3 305 scores 18302, a 0.4% delta. These narrow margins show that the Core 7 360 performs nearly identically to a range of current desktop and mobile processors, despite its radically lower TDP. The data suggests that the 3 nm process node and high boost clock compensate for the lower core count.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core 5 120HL has 12 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core 7 360 has 6 cores and 6 threads. The Core 5 120HL offers double the core count and more than double the thread count.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The Core 5 120HL has a TDP of 45 W, while the Core 7 360 has a TDP of 15 W. The Core 7 360 consumes one-third the power of the Core 5 120HL, indicating a much more energy-efficient design.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Core 7 360 has a boost clock of 4.80 GHz, slightly higher than the Core 5 120HL's 4.70 GHz. Despite the Core 5 120HL having a higher base clock (2.60 GHz versus 1.50 GHz), the Core 7 360 reaches a higher maximum frequency.

Q: How does the cache differ between the two?

A: The Core 5 120HL has 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core 7 360 has 192 KB of L1 per core, 2.5 MB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core 5 120HL has three times the shared L3 cache, but the Core 7 360 has larger per-core L1 and L2 caches.

Q: What memory types does each processor support?

A: The Core 5 120HL supports DDR4 and DDR5 in a dual-channel configuration. The Core 7 360 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X in a single-channel configuration, with a recorded memory bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s.

Q: Which processor has a higher percentile ranking?

A: The Core 7 360 sits at the 72nd percentile of all CPUs, while the Core 5 120HL sits at the 50th percentile. The Core 7 360's average benchmark score is 18374, whereas the Core 5 120HL has no recorded benchmark score.

Where Each One Wins

The Core 5 120HL wins on raw core count and thread count. With 12 cores and 16 threads, it offers substantially more parallel processing capacity than the Core 7 360's 6 cores and 6 threads. Its 18 MB of shared L3 cache is triple the Core 7 360's 6 MB, which benefits workloads that repeatedly access large data sets. The dual-channel memory bus supports both DDR4 and DDR5, providing flexibility for desktop builds. Its 45 W TDP, while higher, is appropriate for a desktop Socket 1700 platform with active cooling. The integrated Iris Xe Graphics with 80 execution units offers more graphics execution units than the Core 7 360's 2 Xe cores, though the database does not provide comparative graphics benchmarks.

The Core 7 360 wins on measured performance and efficiency. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 13634 and single-core score of 1924 are the only verified benchmark results in this comparison. Its average benchmark score of 18374 places it at the 72nd percentile, well above the Core 5 120HL's 50th percentile. The 3 nm process node delivers this performance at a 15 W TDP, which is one-third the power draw of the Core 5 120HL. The higher boost clock of 4.80 GHz gives it a single-thread advantage. The larger per-core L1 cache (192 KB versus 80 KB) and L2 cache (2.5 MB versus 2 MB) likely improve latency-sensitive workloads. The recorded memory bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s is a concrete figure that the Core 5 120HL cannot match because its memory bandwidth is not listed in the database. The Core 7 360 also supports LPDDR5X, which is tailored for mobile devices, and its BGA 1516 socket targets compact form factors.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification field. The Core 5 120HL has 12 cores and 16 threads, while the Core 7 360 has 6 cores and 6 threads. The base clock is 2.60 GHz for the Core 5 120HL versus 1.50 GHz for the Core 7 360. The boost clock is 4.70 GHz for the Core 5 120HL versus 4.80 GHz for the Core 7 360. The TDP is 45 W for the Core 5 120HL versus 15 W for the Core 7 360. The socket is Intel Socket 1700 for the Core 5 120HL versus Intel BGA 1516 for the Core 7 360.

The process node is 10 nm for the Core 5 120HL versus 3 nm for the Core 7 360. The codename is Raptor Lake-PS for the Core 5 120HL versus Wildcat Lake for the Core 7 360. The cache hierarchy differs: L1 is 80 KB per core for the Core 5 120HL versus 192 KB per core for the Core 7 360; L2 is 2 MB per core for the Core 5 120HL versus 2.5 MB per core for the Core 7 360; L3 is 18 MB shared for the Core 5 120HL versus 6 MB shared for the Core 7 360. Memory support is DDR4 and DDR5 for the Core 5 120HL, while the Core 7 360 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X. The memory bus is dual-channel for the Core 5 120HL versus single-channel for the Core 7 360. The memory bandwidth is not recorded for the Core 5 120HL, while the Core 7 360 has a recorded 59.7 GB/s. PCIe is Gen 4 with 8 lanes for the Core 5 120HL versus Gen 4 with 6 lanes for the Core 7 360. Integrated graphics are Iris Xe Graphics 80EU for the Core 5 120HL versus Intel Xe3 Graphics (2 Xe) for the Core 7 360. The market segment is Desktop for the Core 5 120HL versus Mobile for the Core 7 360. The release date is 2024-04-07 for the Core 5 120HL versus 2026-04-15 for the Core 7 360. The launch MSRP is $279 for the Core 5 120HL versus $426 for the Core 7 360. The percentile versus all CPUs is 50 for the Core 5 120HL versus 72 for the Core 7 360. The average benchmark score is 0 for the Core 5 120HL versus 18374 for the Core 7 360. Part numbers are SRPFR for the Core 5 120HL and SAE3E for the Core 7 360.