Intel Core 5 120HL vs Intel Core i7-14701TE Comparison

Intel Core 5 120HL and Intel Core i7-14701TE are both 45 W desktop processors on the Intel Socket 1700 platform, yet the data shows they are built for different workloads. The Core 5 120HL uses a 12-core, 16-thread configuration with a 2.60 GHz base and 4.70 GHz boost clock, while the Core i7-14701TE uses 8 cores and 16 threads with a lower 2.10 GHz base but a much higher 5.20 GHz boost. The recorded benchmark results for the i7-14701TE place it at the 78th percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 26013, while the Core 5 120HL sits at the 50th percentile with no recorded average score. The i7-14701TE is the only one of the two with benchmark data in the database, so the analysis of performance differences is directional but clear.

Where Each One Wins

The Core i7-14701TE dominates in every recorded benchmark category, which makes sense given its higher boost clock and larger shared cache. In Cinebench R23, the i7-14701TE scores 17035 in multicore and 2405 in single-core. The Core 5 120HL has no recorded benchmarks, so the comparison relies on the i7-14701TE’s absolute scores and its position relative to its nearest rivals. The i7-14701TE’s average benchmark score of 26013 places it nearly even with the AMD Ryzen AI 5 340, which scores 25981 and is only 0.1% behind, and the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE at 25880, which is 0.5% behind. The i7-14701TE also edges out the AMD Ryzen 5 8640HS, which scores 26106 and is 0.4% ahead, and the AMD Ryzen 5 8540U at 26187, which is 0.7% ahead. These deltas are small, indicating that the i7-14701TE sits in a tightly contested performance band.

For single-threaded work, the i7-14701TE’s 5.20 GHz boost clock is the key differentiator. Its PassMark single-thread score of 2637 and Cinebench R20 single-core score of 1010 show strong per-core performance. The Core 5 120HL, with a 4.70 GHz boost clock, cannot match that peak frequency, so the data suggests the i7-14701TE wins in lightly threaded tasks such as everyday responsiveness and single-application workloads. In multithreaded scenarios, the i7-14701TE’s PassMark multithread score of 20042 and Cinebench R23 multicore score of 17035 indicate robust parallel performance despite having fewer physical cores than the Core 5 120HL. The Core 5 120HL’s advantage would lie in its higher core count of 12 versus 8, but without benchmark data, that advantage cannot be quantified in the database.

Architecture Differences

Both processors use Intel’s Raptor Lake architecture and are built on a 10 nm process node at Intel’s foundry. The Core 5 120HL carries the codename Raptor Lake-PS and belongs to the Core 5 generation, while the Core i7-14701TE uses the codename Raptor Lake-R and is part of the Core 14th Gen series with a Raptor Lake Refresh generation label. The die size differs: the i7-14701TE has a die size of 257 mm², while the Core 5 120HL has no recorded die size. Cache configurations are a major split. The Core 5 120HL has 18 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i7-14701TE has 33 MB of shared L3 cache. Both share the same per-core L1 cache of 80 KB and per-core L2 cache of 2 MB, but the i7-14701TE’s larger L3 cache gives it a meaningful advantage in workloads that benefit from larger data residency.

Memory support is identical in type: both support DDR4 and DDR5 with dual-channel memory buses. PCIe capabilities differ significantly. The Core 5 120HL provides PCIe Gen 4 with 8 lanes from the CPU, while the i7-14701TE provides PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The i7-14701TE also supports ECC memory, with an ECC memory flag of true, while the Core 5 120HL does not support ECC. Integrated graphics differ as well: the Core 5 120HL uses Iris Xe Graphics 80EU, while the i7-14701TE uses UHD Graphics 770. The Core 5 120HL was released on 2024-04-07 with a launch MSRP of $279, while the i7-14701TE was released later on 2024-06-30 with no launch MSRP recorded.

The Verdict

The data points to the Intel Core i7-14701TE as the stronger processor for most compute tasks. Its recorded benchmark scores across Cinebench R15, R20, R23, and multiple PassMark tests show high performance in both single-threaded and multithreaded workloads. The 78th percentile ranking versus the Core 5 120HL’s 50th percentile ranking is a clear gap. The i7-14701TE’s 5.20 GHz boost clock, 33 MB of L3 cache, PCIe Gen 5 support, and ECC memory capability make it the more feature-complete part for demanding desktop use. The Core 5 120HL counters with 12 cores versus 8, but its lower boost clock, smaller cache, PCIe Gen 4, and lack of ECC support place it behind in the recorded metrics.

For users who need the highest available single-core speed and strong multicore results, the i7-14701TE is the clear choice from the data. For workloads that scale with physical core count rather than cache or frequency, the Core 5 120HL may have an edge, but the absence of benchmark data prevents a confirmed verdict. The i7-14701TE also offers newer PCIe Gen 5 connectivity and ECC memory, which are meaningful for specific professional or server-like use cases. The Core 5 120HL, with its higher core count and 45 W TDP matching the i7-14701TE, serves as an alternative for those who prioritize core count over clock speed, but the recorded data favors the i7-14701TE in every measurable way.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i7-14701TE has a boost clock of 5.20 GHz, while the Intel Core 5 120HL has a boost clock of 4.70 GHz.

Q: How does the L3 cache compare between the two?

A: The Intel Core i7-14701TE has 33 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Intel Core 5 120HL has 18 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No, the Intel Core i7-14701TE supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core 5 120HL does not.

Q: What is the PCIe specification difference?

A: The Intel Core i7-14701TE provides PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the Intel Core 5 120HL provides PCIe Gen 4 with 8 lanes from the CPU.

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core 5 120HL has 12 cores, while the Intel Core i7-14701TE has 8 cores. Both have 16 threads.

Q: What is the integrated graphics on each processor?

A: The Intel Core 5 120HL uses Iris Xe Graphics 80EU, while the Intel Core i7-14701TE uses UHD Graphics 770.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only benchmark data available in the database belongs to the Intel Core i7-14701TE. In Cinebench R23, the i7-14701TE scores 17035 in multicore and 2405 in single-core. In Cinebench R20, it scores 7154 in multicore and 1010 in single-core. In Cinebench R15, it scores 1716 in multicore and 242 in single-core. These results show a consistent pattern: the i7-14701TE delivers strong performance across all Cinebench versions, with the multicore scores indicating solid parallel scaling despite only 8 cores.

PassMark results for the i7-14701TE cover a broad set of workloads. The multithread score is 20042, and the single-thread score is 2637. Integer math scores 65792, floating-point math scores 50219, and extended instructions score 14354. Data compression scores 220520, data encryption scores 11699, and random string sorting scores 22760. Physics scores 1860, and find prime numbers scores 143. These figures provide a detailed picture of the i7-14701TE’s capabilities, but the Core 5 120HL has no comparable numbers, so a direct head-to-head walkthrough is limited to the i7-14701TE’s absolute performance.

The nearest rivals for the i7-14701TE are all AMD processors. The AMD Ryzen AI 5 340 has an average score of 25981 and is 0.1% behind the i7-14701TE. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE scores 25880 and is 0.5% behind. The AMD Ryzen 5 8640HS scores 26106 and is 0.4% ahead, and the AMD Ryzen 5 8540U scores 26187 and is 0.7% ahead. These narrow margins place the i7-14701TE in a competitive position against recent AMD mobile and desktop parts, with the largest recorded gap being just 0.7%. The Core 5 120HL, by contrast, has no nearest rivals listed and no benchmark scores, so its position in the database is defined only by its specifications.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ on several key specification fields. The Core 5 120HL has 12 cores, while the i7-14701TE has 8 cores, but both have 16 threads. The Core 5 120HL has a base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz, while the i7-14701TE has a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 5.20 GHz. Both have a TDP of 45 W. The Core 5 120HL uses the codename Raptor Lake-PS, while the i7-14701TE uses Raptor Lake-R. The i7-14701TE has a die size of 257 mm², while the Core 5 120HL has no recorded die size. The L3 cache is 18 MB on the Core 5 120HL and 33 MB on the i7-14701TE, with identical per-core L1 and L2 caches of 80 KB and 2 MB respectively. The i7-14701TE supports ECC memory, while the Core 5 120HL does not. PCIe connectivity differs: the Core 5 120HL uses Gen 4 with 8 lanes, and the i7-14701TE uses Gen 5 with 16 lanes. Integrated graphics are Iris Xe Graphics 80EU on the Core 5 120HL and UHD Graphics 770 on the i7-14701TE. The release dates are 2024-04-07 for the Core 5 120HL and 2024-06-30 for the i7-14701TE. The Core 5 120HL has a launch MSRP of $279, while the i7-14701TE has no launch MSRP recorded.