Intel Core 5 120U vs Intel Core 9 273PQE Comparison

Intel Core 5 120U and Intel Core 9 273PQE occupy distant corners of Intel’s current mobile and desktop lineup. The 120U is a Raptor Lake-U part built for thin, power-conscious laptops, while the 273PQE is a Bartlett Lake desktop processor aimed at heavy sustained workloads. The benchmark data shows a decisive gap in almost every measured category, but the nature of each chip’s design explains why that gap exists and where the smaller part still has a role.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Core 9 273PQE wins every recorded head-to-head benchmark, 17 wins to zero for the Core 5 120U. The margins are not uniform, and the distribution of deltas reveals where each architecture’s strengths lie.

In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the 273PQE scores 39190 against the 120U’s 6659, a delta of -83%. That is the largest single gap in the entire comparison. The R20 multi-core test tells a similar story: 16459 versus 5349, a -67.5% delta. These are workloads that scale with core count and sustained power delivery, and the 273PQE’s 12 cores and 24 threads simply overwhelm the 120U’s 10 cores and 12 threads.

Single-core performance shows a narrower but still substantial gap. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the 273PQE scores 5532 against 1756.5, a -68.2% delta. PassMark single-thread scores are closer: 4573 versus 3479, a -23.9% delta. That is the smallest margin in the entire dataset, indicating that the 120U’s Raptor Lake cores are relatively competitive on a per-thread basis, but the 273PQE’s higher boost clock of 5.90 GHz versus 5.00 GHz still gives it a clear edge.

The PassMark suite shows consistent leads for the 273PQE across specialized workloads. Integer math: 164629 versus 52280, -68.2%. Floating point math: 125546 versus 36026, -71.3%. Extended instructions: 38743 versus 9299, -76%. Data compression: 585752 versus 166432, -71.6%. Data encryption: 29636 versus 10453, -64.7%. Random string sorting: 53167 versus 19060, -64.2%. Prime number finding: 198 versus 53, -73.2%. Physics: 2754 versus 937, -66%. Multithread: 46107 versus 15042, -67.4%.

The 273PQE also holds a decisive advantage in aggregate scoring. Its average benchmark score is 66099, placing it in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs in the database. The 120U averages 17898, which sits in the 72nd percentile. The nearest rival to the 273PQE is the Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus at 66159, a -0.1% delta, while the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D trails by 0.3%. The 120U’s nearest rival is the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT at 17891, a 0% delta, with the Intel Core 5 221TE just 0.2% behind.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design lineages. The Core 5 120U uses the Raptor Lake architecture with the codename Raptor Lake-U, built on Intel’s 10 nm process. The Core 9 273PQE uses the Bartlett Lake codename, also on a 10 nm process. Both are manufactured by Intel, but the similarities end there.

Core counts differ significantly. The 120U has 10 cores and 12 threads, while the 273PQE has 12 cores and 24 threads. The thread count gap is more pronounced than the core count gap, indicating that the 273PQE supports simultaneous multithreading on all cores, while the 120U’s hybrid design likely limits thread scaling on its efficiency cores.

Cache hierarchies also diverge. Both parts have 80 KB of L1 cache per core, but the L2 cache differs: the 120U has 1.25 MB per core, while the 273PQE has 2 MB per core. L3 cache shows a major gap, with the 120U carrying 12 MB shared versus the 273PQE’s 36 MB shared. That 3x difference in L3 capacity helps explain the 273PQE’s dominance in data-heavy workloads like compression and integer math.

Clock speeds are another differentiator. The 120U has a base clock of 1.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. The 273PQE starts higher at 3.40 GHz base and reaches 5.90 GHz boost. The 273PQE’s higher base clock is particularly relevant for sustained workloads, as it does not need to ramp up from as low a starting point.

Power and thermal design point to their intended environments. The 120U has a TDP of 15 watts, suitable for fanless or lightly cooled mobile chassis. The 273PQE has a TDP of 125 watts, requiring robust desktop cooling. The 273PQE also supports ECC memory, while the 120U does not. Memory bandwidth is listed only for the 273PQE at 89.6 GB/s; the 120U’s bandwidth is not recorded in the database.

PCIe connectivity differs by generation and lane count. The 120U provides Gen 4 with 8 lanes (CPU only), while the 273PQE provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics also differ: the 120U uses Iris Xe Graphics 80EU, the 273PQE uses UHD Graphics 770. Sockets are incompatible, with the 120U on Intel BGA 1744 and the 273PQE on Intel Socket 1700.

Where Each One Wins

The 120U has no benchmark wins, so its advantages are structural rather than performance-based. Its 15 watt TDP makes it suitable for compact, battery-powered systems where the 273PQE’s 125 watt envelope would be impractical. The 120U uses a BGA socket, meaning it is soldered to the motherboard and designed for ultraportable form factors. Its Iris Xe Graphics 80EU provides a higher-tier integrated GPU than the UHD Graphics 770 in the 273PQE, which matters for systems without discrete graphics.

The 273PQE wins every performance category, but the margin varies by workload type. Its largest advantage comes in multi-core rendering, where the Cinebench R23 multi-core delta of -83% indicates a processor that can sustain high throughput across all cores. The smallest advantage is in single-threaded PassMark scores, where the -23.9% delta suggests that per-core efficiency is relatively closer, though the 273PQE still leads.

Workloads that favor the 273PQE include data compression, where its 585752 score dwarfs the 120U’s 166432, and extended instructions, where the 38743 score versus 9299 shows a 76% deficit for the 120U. Integer math and floating point math also show large gaps, consistent with the 273PQE’s higher core count, larger L3 cache, and higher clock speeds.

The 120U remains viable for light productivity tasks, but the data does not show a single benchmark where it outperforms the 273PQE. Its case rests entirely on power efficiency and platform compatibility, not on measured performance.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core 9 273PQE has 12 cores and 24 threads, while the Intel Core 5 120U has 10 cores and 12 threads.

Q: How large is the performance gap in multi-core workloads?

A: In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the 273PQE scores 39190 against the 120U’s 6659, a delta of -83%. The R20 multi-core test shows 16459 versus 5349, a -67.5% delta.

Q: Is the single-threaded performance gap smaller than the multi-threaded gap?

A: Yes. PassMark single-thread scores show the 273PQE at 4573 versus 3479 for the 120U, a -23.9% delta. That is the smallest margin in the entire head-to-head dataset.

Q: What are the TDP ratings for each processor?

A: The Intel Core 5 120U has a TDP of 15 watts. The Intel Core 9 273PQE has a TDP of 125 watts.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?

A: Both support DDR4 and DDR5 with dual-channel memory buses. However, the 273PQE supports ECC memory, while the 120U does not. The 273PQE also has a recorded memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s.

Q: What are the socket types for these processors?

A: The Intel Core 5 120U uses Intel BGA 1744, a soldered mobile socket. The Intel Core 9 273PQE uses Intel Socket 1700, a desktop socket.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core 5 120U | Intel Core 9 273PQE |

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

| Cores | 10 | 12 |

| Threads | 12 | 24 |

| Base Clock | 1.40 GHz | 3.40 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.00 GHz | 5.90 GHz |

| TDP | 15 W | 125 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1744 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Architecture | Raptor Lake | Bartlett Lake |

| Codename | Raptor Lake-U | Bartlett Lake |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 10 nm |

| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core) | 2 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 12 MB (shared) | 36 MB (shared) |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not recorded | 89.6 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 770 |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Release Date | 2024-01-07 | 2026-03-08 |

| Launch MSRP | Not recorded | $589 |

The Verdict

The benchmark data makes the performance hierarchy unambiguous. The Intel Core 9 273PQE wins all 17 recorded head-to-head tests, with deltas ranging from -23.9% in single-threaded PassMark to -83% in Cinebench R23 multi-core. Its 93rd percentile standing among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 66099, places it alongside the Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus and AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D in the database’s nearest rival group. The Core 5 120U, at the 72nd percentile with an average score of 17898, competes with the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT and Intel Core 5 221TE.

The selection between these two parts depends entirely on platform requirements. The 120U’s 15 watt TDP, BGA 1744 socket, and mobile market segment indicate a processor designed for thin laptops where battery life and thermal limits take priority over raw throughput. Its Iris Xe Graphics 80EU provides more capable integrated graphics than the 273PQE’s UHD Graphics 770, which matters for light gaming or media playback without a discrete GPU.

The 273PQE’s 125 watt TDP, Socket 1700, desktop segment, and ECC support point to workstation or high-end desktop use where sustained multi-core performance is the primary goal. Its 12 cores, 24 threads, 36 MB L3 cache, and PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes make it suitable for content creation, data processing, and memory-intensive applications. The launch MSRP of $589 positions it as a premium desktop part, though the database does not record a launch price for the 120U.

For users constrained to a mobile platform, the 120U is the only viable option of the two, and its single-threaded PassMark score of 3479 shows it can handle everyday tasks without severe compromise. For anyone building or upgrading a desktop system, the 273PQE delivers a commanding performance lead in every measured category, with the largest advantages in multi-core rendering and data compression workloads. The data does not suggest any scenario where the 120U outperforms the 273PQE; the choice is a matter of form factor and power budget, not benchmark supremacy.