Intel Core 5 120HL vs Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus Comparison

Intel Core 5 120HL and Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus occupy very different positions in the database. The Core 5 120HL is a 12-core, 16-thread Raptor Lake-PS part on Intel Socket 1700, while the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus is an 18-core, 18-thread Arrow Lake Refresh processor on Intel Socket 1851. The recorded benchmark data for the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus places it at the 93rd percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 66,159. The Core 5 120HL has no recorded benchmark scores in the database and sits at the 50th percentile, meaning the comparison relies entirely on the measurements logged for the newer part.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus delivers strong multi-threaded results across the Cinebench suite. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 42,718 points. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the score is 17,941, and in Cinebench R15 multi-core, it reaches 4,305. Single-core results are equally notable: Cinebench R23 single-core records 6,030, Cinebench R20 single-core records 2,532, and Cinebench R15 single-core records 607.

PassMark tests show a wide spread of performance. The data compression test returns 553,155 points, while data encryption reaches 41,292. Extended instructions score 42,880, floating point math scores 159,824, and integer math scores 123,030. The multi-thread PassMark test yields 50,146 points, physics scores 3,183, and random string sorting scores 67,209. Single-thread PassMark results are logged twice, both at 4,698 points. The find prime numbers test returns 452 points, a comparatively low figure that reflects the specific nature of that workload.

Because the Core 5 120HL has no benchmark entries in the database, the head-to-head comparison is one-sided. The data shows no wins for the Core 5 120HL and one win for the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus, which simply means that every recorded score belongs to the latter. The nearest rivals for the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus provide context for these numbers. The Intel Core 9 273PQE averages 66,099, which is 0.1% below the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus. The AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D averages 65,914, a 0.4% deficit. The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus averages 66,855, putting it 1% ahead. The AMD EPYC 4465P averages 66,925, which is 1.1% ahead. These deltas are small, indicating that the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus trades blows with high-end rivals rather than dominating them.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different manufacturing generations. The Core 5 120HL uses Intel's 10 nm process node and is built in Intel's own foundry. The Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus uses a 3 nm process node, fabricated by TSMC. This node difference has direct implications for transistor density and power efficiency, though the database does not list transistor counts for the Core 5 120HL. The Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus carries 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die.

Core counts differ substantially. The Core 5 120HL has 12 cores and 16 threads, indicating a hybrid configuration with some cores lacking hyper-threading. The Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus has 18 cores and 18 threads, which means no hyper-threading at all; every core is a physical core. Base clock speeds start at 2.60 GHz for the Core 5 120HL and 4.20 GHz for the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus. Boost clocks reach 4.70 GHz on the older part and 5.30 GHz on the newer one.

Cache hierarchies are also different. The Core 5 120HL has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 cache per core, and 18 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus has 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 30 MB of shared L3 cache. The larger per-core L1 and L2 allocations on the Arrow Lake Refresh part suggest a design aimed at reducing memory latency in compute-heavy loops.

Memory support splits the two. The Core 5 120HL supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus supports DDR5 only. Both use dual-channel memory buses. The Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus has a recorded memory bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s; the Core 5 120HL has no bandwidth figure in the database. ECC memory is not supported on the Core 5 120HL, but it is supported on the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus.

PCIe capabilities differ by a full generation. The Core 5 120HL provides PCIe Gen 4 with 8 lanes from the CPU. The Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus provides PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes from the CPU. This gives the newer part more than double the lane count and double the signaling rate per lane. Integrated graphics also separate the two. The Core 5 120HL includes Iris Xe Graphics with 80 execution units. The Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus has no integrated graphics at all, as the KF suffix indicates.

Thermal design power is a major distinction. The Core 5 120HL is rated at 45 W, while the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus is rated at 125 W. The higher TDP on the newer chip aligns with its higher core count, higher clocks, and larger cache. The multiplier is locked on the Core 5 120HL and unlocked on the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus, meaning the latter allows user-controlled overclocking.

Where Each One Wins

The Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus wins in every measured workload because it is the only part with benchmark data. Multi-threaded rendering, based on the Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 42,718, indicates strong performance for CPU-bound production tasks. The PassMark multi-thread score of 50,146 and the floating point math score of 159,824 reinforce this pattern. Integer math at 123,030 and data compression at 553,155 point to good throughput in parallel compute tasks. The single-core Cinebench R23 result of 6,030 and PassMark single-thread result of 4,698 show that lightly threaded workloads also benefit from the higher boost clock.

The Core 5 120HL has no recorded scores, so its wins cannot be quantified from the database. What the data does show is a structural advantage for the Core 5 120HL in power-constrained scenarios. Its 45 W TDP, compared to 125 W for the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus, indicates a much lower thermal footprint. The presence of Iris Xe Graphics means the Core 5 120HL can output video without a discrete GPU, which the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus cannot do. The Core 5 120HL also supports DDR4 memory, which could matter in systems that reuse older memory modules. Its Socket 1700 platform is a different ecosystem from Socket 1851.

The Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus wins on raw performance metrics, memory bandwidth, PCIe bandwidth, and ECC support. The Core 5 120HL wins on integrated graphics, memory flexibility, and power draw. For workloads that are latency-sensitive and single-threaded, the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus has the higher boost clock. For workloads that are parallel and memory-bandwidth-bound, the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus has more cores, more L3 cache, and higher bandwidth. The Core 5 120HL, with its lower TDP and integrated GPU, fits scenarios where discrete graphics are not needed and power is limited.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus has 18 cores, while the Intel Core 5 120HL has 12 cores. The Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus also has 18 threads, compared to 16 threads on the Core 5 120HL.

Q: What are the boost clock speeds?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus boosts to 5.30 GHz, and the Intel Core 5 120HL boosts to 4.70 GHz. Base clocks are 4.20 GHz and 2.60 GHz, respectively.

Q: Does either processor support ECC memory?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus supports ECC memory. The Intel Core 5 120HL does not support ECC memory.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core 5 120HL includes Iris Xe Graphics with 80 execution units. The Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus has no integrated graphics.

Q: What is the process node difference?

A: The Intel Core 5 120HL is built on Intel's 10 nm process, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus is built on TSMC's 3 nm process. The newer node allows higher transistor density, with 17,800 million transistors on the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus.

Q: How does the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The database shows the Intel Core 9 273PQE is 0.1% behind, the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D is 0.4% behind, the Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus is 1% ahead, and the AMD EPYC 4465P is 1.1% ahead in average benchmark score.

Specification Differences

The table below lists only the fields where the two processors differ, based on recorded data.

| Specification | Intel Core 5 120HL | Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus |

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

| Cores | 12 | 18 |

| Threads | 16 | 18 |

| Base clock | 2.60 GHz | 4.20 GHz |

| Boost clock | 4.70 GHz | 5.30 GHz |

| TDP | 45 W | 125 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1700 | Intel Socket 1851 |

| Process node | 10 nm | 3 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Transistors | Not listed | 17,800 million |

| Die size | Not listed | 243 mm² |

| L1 cache | 80 KB (per core) | 192 KB (per core) |

| L2 cache | 2 MB (per core) | 3 MB (per core) |

| L3 cache | 18 MB (shared) | 30 MB (shared) |

| Memory support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR5 |

| Memory bandwidth | Not listed | 115.2 GB/s |

| ECC memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 8 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 20 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated graphics | Iris Xe Graphics 80EU | N/A |

| Release date | 2024-04-07 | 2026-03-10 |

| Launch MSRP | $279 | $184 |

| Multiplier unlocked | No | Yes |

| Part number | SRPFR | SA4V3 |

| Percentile vs all CPUs | 50 | 93 |

| Average benchmark score | 0 | 66,159 |

The release dates show a two-year gap between the two parts, with the Core 5 120HL launching in April 2024 and the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus launching in March 2026. The Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus has a lower launch MSRP of $184 compared to $279 for the Core 5 120HL, despite offering more cores and higher clocks. The Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus also has a higher percentile ranking, 93rd versus 50th, and a non-zero average benchmark score. The Core 5 120HL has no recorded average benchmark score, which limits direct comparison. The Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus is marked as active production status, and the Core 5 120HL is also active. The Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus belongs to the Core Ultra Series 2, while the Core 5 120HL has no series designation. The architecture field for the Core 5 120HL lists Raptor Lake, while the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus has no architecture entry, only a codename of Arrow Lake Refresh.