Intel Core 5 120U vs Intel Core 5 315 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark database shows a clear split between these two Intel mobile processors. The Intel Core 5 315 wins 13 of the 17 recorded comparisons, while the Intel Core 5 120U takes 4. The biggest separator is Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the Core 5 315 scores 12,981 against 6,659 for the Core 5 120U, a 94.9% advantage. That is nearly double the multi-threaded rendering throughput, a decisive margin for any workload that scales across cores.

The Core 5 315 also leads in Cinebench R15 multi-core with 1,308 versus 1,150.5, a 13.7% gap. Cinebench R20 multi-core is closer, 5,452 to 5,349, a 1.9% edge. The PassMark multi-thread test shows a narrower 1.5% win for the Core 5 315, 15,272 to 15,042. PassMark physics favors the Core 5 315 by 24.1%, 1,163 to 937. Prime number finding is another rout: 112 versus 53, a 111.3% difference. Extended instruction workloads go to the Core 5 315 by 41.3%, 13,143 to 9,299. Floating point math is 17.8% better, 42,441 to 36,026. Data encryption is 6.4% ahead, 11,119 to 10,453.

Single-core results are more nuanced. Cinebench R15 single-core is a win for the Core 5 120U, 245 to 184, a 24.9% margin. But Cinebench R20 single-core goes the other way, 769 to 755, a 1.9% edge for the Core 5 315. Cinebench R23 single-core also favors the Core 5 315, 1,832 to 1,756.5, a 4.3% lead. PassMark single-thread is a 15.6% win for the Core 5 315, 4,021 to 3,479. The Core 5 120U has a higher boost clock of 5.00 GHz versus 4.40 GHz, yet the newer architecture of the Core 5 315 delivers stronger single-thread performance in most tests.

The 120U's wins come in integer-heavy and memory-sensitive tasks. PassMark integer math is a big one: 52,280 versus 31,690, a 39.4% advantage for the 120U. Data compression also favors the 120U, 166,432 to 146,143, a 12.2% gap. Random string sorting goes to the 120U by 7.9%, 19,060 to 17,551. These three tests share a reliance on large caches and memory bandwidth. The 120U has 12 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel memory support, while the Core 5 315 has 6 MB shared L3 and single-channel memory. That combination explains the pattern.

The average benchmark score favors the Core 5 315, 18,188 versus 17,898, a 1.6% overall edge. Both sit at the 72nd percentile among all CPUs in the database. The nearest rivals for the Core 5 315 include the AMD EPYC 9274F at an average score of 18,189, essentially tied, and the Intel Core i7-9700 at 18,180. The Core 5 120U's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT at 17,891, the Intel Core 5 221TE at 17,860, and the AMD Ryzen 5 1600 at 17,994 (0.5% above the 120U).

The Verdict

The data points to two different design philosophies. The Intel Core 5 315 is built on a 3 nm process with a Wildcat Lake codename, and it delivers superior multi-threaded performance across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, plus wins in physics, floating point, encryption, and extended instructions. The Intel Core 5 120U uses a 10 nm Raptor Lake-U design with 10 cores and 12 threads, but its strengths are narrower: integer math, data compression, and string sorting.

For rendering, scientific computation, and general multi-threaded productivity, the Core 5 315 is the clear choice. Its 94.9% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core alone justifies that verdict. For workloads that hammer integer arithmetic and rely on memory bandwidth, the Core 5 120U holds an edge, but those wins are concentrated in fewer test categories. The 13-4 win tally for the Core 5 315 is the simplest summary.

The average benchmark score difference is small, 1.6%, but the distribution matters. The Core 5 315 is more consistent across the board, while the 120U has specific niches where it excels. Both are active production parts for mobile platforms, with the Core 5 315 launching in April 2026 and the Core 5 120U launching in January 2024. The 315 carries a launch MSRP of $340; the 120U has no recorded launch MSRP in the database.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 5 315 wins in 13 of 17 head-to-head tests. Its biggest advantages are in multi-core rendering, prime number calculation, and extended instruction workloads. The 111.3% lead in PassMark find prime numbers and the 94.9% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core are outliers, but even the smaller wins like 24.1% in physics and 17.8% in floating point math show a broad strength in compute-heavy tasks.

The Intel Core 5 120U wins in 4 tests: PassMark integer math by 39.4%, data compression by 12.2%, random string sorting by 7.9%, and Cinebench R15 single-core by 24.9%. The integer math result is the largest single win for either processor. These are all tasks that benefit from the 120U's larger 12 MB shared L3 cache and dual-channel memory bus. The 120U also has 10 cores and 12 threads versus 6 cores and 6 threads for the 315, which helps in certain parallel integer workloads.

The split is not simply core count versus core count. The 315 has fewer cores but wins most multi-threaded tests. The 120U has more cores and threads but loses most multi-threaded tests. The architecture differences matter more than raw core counts. The 315's 3 nm node and newer design deliver higher per-thread efficiency, while the 120U's older 10 nm process with more cache and dual-channel memory favors specific memory-bound tasks.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core workloads?

A: The Intel Core 5 315 wins all three Cinebench multi-core tests: R15 by 13.7%, R20 by 1.9%, and R23 by 94.9%. It also leads PassMark multi-thread by 1.5%.

Q: Does the Intel Core 5 120U have any significant advantages?

A: Yes, it wins PassMark integer math by 39.4%, data compression by 12.2%, random string sorting by 7.9%, and Cinebench R15 single-core by 24.9%.

Q: How do the two processors compare in single-threaded performance?

A: The Core 5 315 wins Cinebench R20 single-core by 1.9%, Cinebench R23 single-core by 4.3%, and PassMark single-thread by 15.6%. The Core 5 120U wins Cinebench R15 single-core by 24.9%.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each?

A: The Intel Core 5 315 has 6 cores and 6 threads. The Intel Core 5 120U has 10 cores and 12 threads.

Q: Which processor has more cache?

A: The Intel Core 5 120U has 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel Core 5 315 has 6 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: What process nodes are used?

A: The Intel Core 5 315 is built on a 3 nm process. The Intel Core 5 120U uses a 10 nm process.

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from different Intel generations. The Core 5 315 uses the Wildcat Lake codename with a 3 nm process node, fabricated by Intel. The Core 5 120U is a Raptor Lake-U part on a 10 nm process, also fabricated by Intel. The 3 nm node gives the 315 a significant efficiency and performance-per-watt advantage, which shows in its multi-core wins despite fewer cores.

Core configuration differs sharply. The 315 has 6 cores and 6 threads, all presumably equal-performance cores with a base clock of 1.50 GHz and boost clock of 4.40 GHz. The 120U has 10 cores and 12 threads with a base clock of 1.40 GHz and boost clock of 5.00 GHz. The 120U's higher boost clock does not translate into single-thread wins in most tests, suggesting the 315's newer architecture has higher instructions per clock.

Cache layout is another major difference. The 315 has 192 KB of L1, 2.5 MB of L2, and 6 MB of shared L3. The 120U has 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3. The 120U's larger L3 and per-core L2 help in integer math and compression workloads, while the 315's smaller but possibly more efficient cache hierarchy works better for floating point and rendering.

Memory support also diverges. The 315 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X with a single-channel memory bus and 59.7 GB/s bandwidth. The 120U supports DDR4 and DDR5 with a dual-channel memory bus and no recorded bandwidth figure in the database. The 315's single-channel bus is a bottleneck for memory-heavy tasks, which explains the 120U's wins in data compression and string sorting.

PCIe lanes differ: the 315 has Gen 4 with 6 lanes (CPU only), while the 120U has Gen 4 with 8 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics also differ: the 315 has Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores, while the 120U has Iris Xe Graphics with 80 execution units. Sockets are different, BGA 1516 for the 315 and BGA 1744 for the 120U, meaning they are not interchangeable in a system. Both have ECC disabled and locked multipliers. The 315 has a part number of SAEFC and a launch MSRP of $340; the 120U has part number SRM7P and no recorded launch MSRP.