Intel Core 5 120U vs Intel Core 5 211TE Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 5 120U and Intel Core 5 211TE split their benchmark victories along clear lines. The 120U wins 13 of 17 head-to-head tests, while the 211TE takes 4. The 120U dominates in single-threaded and memory-bandwidth-sensitive workloads. Its PassMark single-thread score of 3479 is 147.1% higher than the 211TE's 1408, the largest margin in any test. The 120U also leads in integer math (52280 versus 33991, a 53.8% advantage), floating-point math (36026 versus 26150, a 37.8% edge), and data encryption (10453 versus 7231, a 44.6% gap). These results indicate the 120U is the stronger choice for everyday responsiveness, office productivity, and applications that rely on per-core performance.

The 211TE wins where sustained multi-core throughput matters most. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 12201 crushes the 120U's 6659, a 45.4% advantage. The 211TE also wins Cinebench R15 multi-core (1229 versus 1150.5, a 6.4% edge), PassMark physics (1278 versus 937, a 26.7% lead), and prime number finding (72 versus 53, a 26.4% margin). These wins point to rendering, scientific computing, and other heavily threaded workloads as the 211TE's territory.

The 120U wins Cinebench R20 multi-core (5349 versus 5124, a 4.4% edge) despite losing R15 and R23 multi-core, showing that benchmark generation matters when comparing these two. The 120U also wins every single-core Cinebench iteration: R15 by 41.6%, R20 by 4.4%, R23 by 2%. Its PassMark multithread score of 15042 beats the 211TE's 11685 by 28.7%, and data compression (166432 versus 133434, a 24.7% margin) and random string sorting (19060 versus 14838, a 28.5% edge) both favor the mobile chip.

Architecture Differences

The two processors share Intel as the manufacturer and the same 10 nm process node, but their underlying designs diverge sharply. The 120U uses Raptor Lake architecture with the Raptor Lake-U codename and belongs to the Core 5 (Raptor Lake-U) generation. It targets the mobile segment with a 15 W TDP and uses the Intel BGA 1744 socket. The 211TE uses Bartlett Lake architecture with the Bartlett Lake codename and belongs to the Core 5 (Bartlett Lake) generation. It is a desktop part with a 45 W TDP on the Intel Socket 1700. The 211TE has a larger die at 215 mm², while the 120U has no recorded die size.

Both chips have 10 cores and the same per-core cache structure: 80 KB L1 per core and 1.25 MB L2 per core. The thread counts differ, with the 120U carrying 12 threads and the 211TE carrying 16 threads, indicating a different core type mix. The L3 cache also differs substantially: the 120U has 12 MB shared, while the 211TE has 20 MB shared. The 211TE supports ECC memory, the 120U does not. Both support DDR4 and DDR5 memory with dual-channel buses, but the 211TE lists a memory bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s while the 120U has no recorded bandwidth figure.

PCIe support separates the two clearly. The 120U provides Gen 4 with 8 lanes (CPU only), while the 211TE provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics differ as well: the 120U uses Iris Xe Graphics 80EU, the 211TE uses UHD Graphics 730. The 120U boosts to 5.00 GHz from a 1.40 GHz base clock, while the 211TE boosts to 4.80 GHz from a 1.70 GHz base. The 211TE launched on 2025-01-12 with a launch MSRP of $221; the 120U launched on 2024-01-07 with no launch MSRP recorded.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The single largest performance gap appears in PassMark single-thread testing. The 120U scores 3479 against the 211TE's 1408, a 147.1% difference. This result dominates the comparison and explains why the 120U outperforms in most light workloads. The second-largest margin is in integer math, where the 120U leads 52280 to 33991, a 53.8% advantage. Floating-point math shows a similar pattern: 36026 versus 26150, a 37.8% edge. Data encryption favors the 120U by 44.6% (10453 versus 7231), and multithread PassMark favors it by 28.7% (15042 versus 11685).

The 211TE's biggest win is Cinebench R23 multi-core. Its 12201 score beats the 120U's 6659 by 45.4%, the only head-to-head result exceeding 40% in either direction besides the single-thread gap. The 211TE also wins PassMark physics by 26.7% (1278 versus 937), prime number finding by 26.4% (72 versus 53), and Cinebench R15 multi-core by 6.4% (1229 versus 1150.5). The 120U wins Cinebench R20 multi-core by 4.4% (5349 versus 5124), a result that contradicts the R15 and R23 multi-core outcomes and suggests workload-specific scaling differences between the two architectures.

Single-core Cinebench results all favor the 120U, but the margins shrink as the test gets newer. The R15 single-core gap is 41.6% (245 versus 173), the R20 gap is 4.4% (755 versus 723), and the R23 gap is 2% (1756.5 versus 1722). The 120U also wins extended instructions by 7.9% (9299 versus 8615), data compression by 24.7% (166432 versus 133434), and random string sorting by 28.5% (19060 versus 14838). The 211TE's 20 MB L3 cache and 16 threads do not translate into wins in these tests, which respond more to clock speed and memory latency.

The overall average benchmark scores reflect this split. The 120U averages 17898 across all benchmark data and sits at the 72nd percentile of all CPUs. The 211TE averages 15370 and sits at the 69th percentile. The 120U's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT at 17891 (0% delta), the Intel Core 5 221TE at 17860 (0.2% delta), and the AMD Ryzen 5 1600 at 17994 (-0.5% delta). The 211TE's nearest rivals include the AMD EPYC 7543 at 15477 (-0.7% delta), the AMD EPYC 7702P at 15130 (1.6% delta), and the AMD Ryzen 3 7440U at 15682 (-2% delta).

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core 5 120U boosts to 5.00 GHz, while the Intel Core 5 211TE boosts to 4.80 GHz.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The Intel Core 5 211TE supports ECC memory, but the Intel Core 5 120U does not.

Q: Which chip has more L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core 5 211TE has 20 MB shared L3 cache, while the Intel Core 5 120U has 12 MB shared L3 cache.

Q: How do their thread counts compare?

A: The Intel Core 5 211TE has 16 threads, while the Intel Core 5 120U has 12 threads. Both have 10 cores.

Q: Which processor wins Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Core 5 211TE wins with a score of 12201, which is 45.4% higher than the Intel Core 5 120U's 6659.

Q: What is the largest single benchmark margin between them?

A: The Intel Core 5 120U leads by 147.1% in PassMark single-thread (3479 versus 1408), the largest gap in any head-to-head test.

The Verdict

The benchmark data draws a clear separation. The Intel Core 5 120U is the pick for users who prioritize single-thread speed, general productivity, and memory-intensive tasks. Its 147.1% single-thread advantage over the 211TE is decisive, and it maintains leads in integer math, floating-point math, encryption, compression, and sorting. Its 72nd percentile ranking and average score of 17898 place it among competitors like the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT and Intel Core 5 221TE. The 211TE, by contrast, delivers its strongest results in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where it beats the 120U by 45.4%, plus wins in physics and prime number finding. Its 69th percentile and 15370 average place it near the AMD EPYC 7543 and Intel Core i3-1315U.

The 211TE's 45 W TDP, 20 MB L3 cache, and 16 threads make it the better tool for sustained rendering workloads and parallel compute. The 120U's 15 W TDP and 5.00 GHz boost clock make it the better fit for responsiveness and single-threaded applications. Users with workloads that scale across cores should choose the 211TE. Users whose software favors clock speed and per-core efficiency should choose the 120U. The two chips rarely overlap in their strengths, so the correct choice depends entirely on the workload mix.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core 5 120U | Intel Core 5 211TE |

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

| Cores | 10 | 10 |

| Threads | 12 | 16 |

| Base Clock | 1.40 GHz | 1.70 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.00 GHz | 4.80 GHz |

| TDP | 15 W | 45 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1744 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Codename | Raptor Lake-U | Bartlett Lake |

| Generation | Core 5 (Raptor Lake-U) | Core 5 (Bartlett Lake) |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 10 nm |

| Die Size | Not recorded | 215 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 80 KB (per core) | 80 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core) | 1.25 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 12 MB (shared) | 20 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Dual-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not recorded | 76.8 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 8 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Iris Xe Graphics 80EU | UHD Graphics 730 |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Release Date | 2024-01-07 | 2025-01-12 |

| Launch MSRP | Not recorded | $221 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | No |