Intel Core 5 120HL vs Intel Core 9 273PTE Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a complete absence of benchmark scores for the Intel Core 5 120HL. The database contains no entries for any Cinebench, PassMark, or other standardized test for this processor. In contrast, the Intel Core 9 273PTE has a full suite of 17 benchmark results. Consequently, a direct head-to-head comparison of measured performance is impossible with the available data. The Core 9 273PTE holds a percentile ranking of 82 among all CPUs in the database, while the Core 5 120HL sits at the 50th percentile, but this ranking alone does not substitute for direct test results.

The Core 9 273PTE delivers a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 20445 and a single-core score of 2886. In Cinebench R20, it scores 8586 multi-core and 1212 single-core. The older Cinebench R15 test shows 2060 multi-core and 290 single-core. These numbers establish a performance baseline for the Core 9 273PTE across three generations of the Cinebench suite. The database shows no corresponding figures for the Core 5 120HL, leaving its performance profile undocumented.

In PassMark tests, the Core 9 273PTE records a multi-thread score of 24054 and a single-thread score of 3433. Its integer math score is 82411, floating point math is 60673, and extended instructions reach 15952. Data compression scores 258704, data encryption scores 14253, and random string sorting scores 28973. Physics tests record 1917, while prime number finding scores 142. Again, no equivalent data exists for the Core 5 120HL.

The nearest rivals for the Core 9 273PTE provide context for its average benchmark score of 31143. The Intel Core i7-12700F averages 31081, only 0.2% behind. The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS averages 31074, also 0.2% behind. The Intel Core i7-13700TE averages 31028, 0.4% behind. The Intel Core i7-12650HX averages 31290, which is 0.5% ahead. These narrow deltas indicate the Core 9 273PTE sits in a highly competitive band, essentially matching the performance of these established desktop and mobile processors.

Because the Core 5 120HL has no benchmark scores, the data cannot confirm any single win for either processor. The absence of results for the Core 5 120HL means the only verifiable statement is that the Core 9 273PTE has measured data, and the Core 5 120HL does not. This asymmetry is the defining feature of the comparison.

Architecture Differences

The two processors share the Intel Socket 1700 platform and a 45 W TDP, but their internal designs diverge significantly. The Core 5 120HL uses the Raptor Lake architecture with the Raptor Lake-PS codename, manufactured on Intel's 10 nm process. The Core 9 273PTE uses the Bartlett Lake codename with no specified architecture name in the database, also on a 10 nm process from Intel. Both have 12 physical cores, but the thread counts differ: the Core 5 120HL supports 16 threads, while the Core 9 273PTE supports 24 threads. This 8-thread difference indicates a distinct core arrangement, likely with additional hyper-threading capable cores in the Core 9 273PTE.

Clock speeds show a notable trade-off. The Core 5 120HL runs a base clock of 2.60 GHz and boosts to 4.70 GHz. The Core 9 273PTE runs a much lower base clock of 1.40 GHz but boosts higher to 5.50 GHz. The Core 9 273PTE has a 0.8 GHz higher boost ceiling, which contributes to its single-core performance potential, while its lower base clock suggests power management strategies that favor burst workloads over sustained low-load efficiency.

Cache hierarchies differ substantially. Both allocate 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 2 MB of L2 per core. The shared L3 cache, however, doubles from 18 MB on the Core 5 120HL to 36 MB on the Core 9 273PTE. This additional cache capacity can reduce memory latency for repeated accesses and improve performance in cache-sensitive workloads.

Memory support is similar on both: DDR4 and DDR5 with dual-channel bus. The Core 9 273PTE additionally lists a memory bandwidth figure of 89.6 GB/s, while the Core 5 120HL does not report a bandwidth number. ECC memory support also differs: the Core 5 120HL does not support ECC, while the Core 9 273PTE does. This makes the Core 9 273PTE suitable for error-correcting memory configurations, a feature often required in data integrity focused environments.

PCIe capabilities show another clear separation. The Core 5 120HL provides PCIe Gen 4 with 8 lanes from the CPU. The Core 9 273PTE provides PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes, doubling both the generation and lane count. This gives the Core 9 273PTE significantly more bandwidth for GPUs, NVMe storage, and other expansion devices.

Integrated graphics differ as well. The Core 5 120HL uses Iris Xe Graphics with 80 execution units. The Core 9 273PTE uses UHD Graphics 730, a more modest integrated solution. The Core 5 120HL's Iris Xe implementation likely offers stronger graphics performance for tasks that rely on the iGPU.

Release dates place the Core 5 120HL in April 2024 and the Core 9 273PTE in March 2026, nearly two years later. Production status for both is listed as Active. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking via multiplier adjustment is not supported on either.

Where Each One Wins

With no benchmark data for the Core 5 120HL, the database cannot substantiate any workload where it wins. The analysis must rely on architectural features rather than measured results.

The Core 5 120HL's higher base clock of 2.60 GHz versus 1.40 GHz suggests it may sustain better performance in lightly threaded tasks that do not trigger boost behavior, such as low-priority background processes or power-constrained scenarios. Its Iris Xe Graphics with 80 execution units likely provides better integrated graphics performance than the UHD Graphics 730, making it more suitable for systems that depend on the iGPU for display output or light media acceleration. The earlier release date of April 2024 also means it has been available in the market longer.

The Core 9 273PTE, based on recorded benchmarks, wins in every measurable category simply because it has results. Its 24 threads versus 16 threads gives it a structural advantage in highly parallel workloads like rendering, compilation, and data processing. The 36 MB L3 cache versus 18 MB helps in cache-sensitive databases and scientific computing. PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes supports faster storage and multi-GPU configurations. ECC memory support enables reliable operation in server-like roles. The higher boost clock of 5.50 GHz provides strong single-thread performance, as confirmed by its 2886 Cinebench R23 single-core score and 3433 PassMark single-thread score.

The PassMark data for the Core 9 273PTE reveals specific strengths. Data compression at 258704 indicates strong throughput for archive and compression workloads. Integer math at 82411 and floating point math at 60673 show balanced arithmetic performance. The extended instructions score of 15952 suggests good SIMD and vector processing capability. The physics score of 1917 is modest, indicating the processor may not be optimized for physics simulations in real-time applications.

For the Core 5 120HL, the absence of scores means no PassMark or Cinebench strengths can be identified. The database cannot confirm any single workload where it outperforms the Core 9 273PTE.

FAQ

Q: Does the Intel Core 5 120HL have any benchmark scores in the database?

A: No. The database lists zero benchmark results for the Intel Core 5 120HL. All 17 recorded benchmark scores belong to the Intel Core 9 273PTE.

Q: What is the average benchmark score of the Intel Core 9 273PTE?

A: The Intel Core 9 273PTE has an average benchmark score of 31143, with a percentile ranking of 82 among all CPUs in the database.

Q: How does the Intel Core 9 273PTE compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Intel Core i7-12700F scores 31081 (0.2% behind), the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS scores 31074 (0.2% behind), the Intel Core i7-13700TE scores 31028 (0.4% behind), and the Intel Core i7-12650HX scores 31290 (0.5% ahead).

Q: What are the cache differences between the two processors?

A: Both have 80 KB L1 per core and 2 MB L2 per core. The Core 5 120HL has 18 MB shared L3, while the Core 9 273PTE has 36 MB shared L3.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: Only the Intel Core 9 273PTE supports ECC memory. The Intel Core 5 120HL does not list ECC support.

Q: What are the PCIe specifications for each processor?

A: The Core 5 120HL provides PCIe Gen 4 with 8 CPU lanes. The Core 9 273PTE provides PCIe Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes.

The Verdict

The recorded data presents an unusual case: one processor is fully characterized, the other is not. The Intel Core 9 273PTE has a complete benchmark profile, a percentile rank of 82, and an average score of 31143 that places it within 0.5% of four established rivals. Its 24 threads, 36 MB L3 cache, PCIe Gen 5 support, ECC memory capability, and 5.50 GHz boost clock all point to a processor designed for demanding, multi-threaded, and data-intensive workloads. The benchmark scores confirm this: Cinebench R23 multi-core of 20445, PassMark multi-thread of 24054, and data compression of 258704 are strong results.

The Intel Core 5 120HL, by contrast, has no recorded benchmark results. Its architectural specs show a 12-core, 16-thread processor with a 4.70 GHz boost, 18 MB L3, PCIe Gen 4, and Iris Xe Graphics. These features suggest a capable mid-range desktop part, but the database provides no measured evidence of its performance. The 50th percentile ranking indicates it sits at the median of all CPUs, but without scores, this ranking cannot be validated or compared directly to the Core 9 273PTE.

Users requiring verified performance data should select the Intel Core 9 273PTE, as it is the only one of the two with recorded results. Users considering the Core 5 120HL must rely on its architectural specifications alone, as the database offers no benchmark confirmation of its capabilities. The Core 9 273PTE is the only processor in this comparison with measurable evidence of its standing among rivals.