Intel Core 5 120U vs Intel Core i3-14100 Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core 5 120U has 10 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Core i3-14100 has 4 cores and 8 threads. The Core 5 120U offers more than double the core count.

Q: How do their multi-core Cinebench R23 scores compare?

A: The Intel Core i3-14100 scores 12,820 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, which is 92.5% higher than the Core 5 120U's 6,659. This is the largest performance gap in the head-to-head results.

Q: Which chip has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core 5 120U boosts to 5.00 GHz, compared to 4.70 GHz for the Intel Core i3-14100. Despite the lower base clock of 1.40 GHz, the Core 5 120U has the higher maximum frequency.

Q: What are the TDP differences between these two processors?

A: The Intel Core i3-14100 has a TDP of 60, while the Intel Core 5 120U has a TDP of 15. The desktop part draws four times the power envelope of the mobile chip.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core i3-14100 and the Intel Core 5 120U support DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration. The Core i3-14100 additionally supports ECC memory, while the Core 5 120U does not.

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i3-14100 has an average benchmark score of 18,318, compared to 17,898 for the Intel Core 5 120U. Both sit at the 72nd percentile among all CPUs in the database.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core i3-14100 and Intel Core 5 120U share the same underlying Raptor Lake architecture family, but they are distinct implementations targeting different market segments. The Core i3-14100 is built on the Raptor Lake-R silicon and belongs to the Core 14th Gen desktop lineup, while the Core 5 120U uses the Raptor Lake-U die designed for mobile platforms.

Both processors are fabricated on Intel's 10 nm process node, and both share identical cache hierarchies: 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The L3 capacities match at 12 MB, which means cache-sensitive workloads behave similarly across both chips, though core counts and clock behavior differ substantially.

The core configurations are where the architectures diverge in practice. The Core i3-14100 has 4 cores and 8 threads, all presumably performing the same role. The Core 5 120U has 10 cores and 12 threads, a hybrid arrangement typical of Raptor Lake-U mobile silicon that combines different core types to balance efficiency and performance. This explains why the Core 5 120U can have a base clock of only 1.40 GHz yet boost to 5.00 GHz, whereas the Core i3-14100 runs at 3.50 GHz base and 4.70 GHz boost.

The die sizes also differ. The Core i3-14100 measures 163 mm², while the Core 5 120U has no recorded die size in the database. The desktop chip uses Intel Socket 1700, while the mobile chip uses Intel BGA 1744, making them physically incompatible.

Platform features further separate the two. The Core i3-14100 provides PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the Core 5 120U provides PCIe Gen 4 with 8 lanes (CPU only). The desktop part supports ECC memory; the mobile part does not. Integrated graphics differ as well: the Core i3-14100 carries UHD Graphics 730, while the Core 5 120U carries Iris Xe Graphics 80EU, a more capable GPU solution for mobile use.

Both processors were released on the same date and remain in active production. Neither has an unlocked multiplier. The Core i3-14100 has a launch MSRP of $134, while no launch MSRP is recorded for the Core 5 120U.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data spans 19 tests across Cinebench, Geekbench, and Passmark suites. The Intel Core i3-14100 wins 14 of those tests, while the Intel Core 5 120U wins 5. The margins tell a more nuanced story than the raw win count.

The most dramatic difference appears in Cinebench R23 multi-core. The Core i3-14100 scores 12,820 against 6,659 for the Core 5 120U, a 92.5% advantage. This is the single largest delta in the comparison and reflects the desktop chip's ability to sustain high clocks across all cores under sustained load. The Cinebench R15 multi-core test shows a similar but smaller gap: 1,292 versus 1,150.5, a 12.3% lead for the desktop part.

Geekbench results favor the Core i3-14100 decisively. In multi-core, it scores 7,231 versus 5,888, a 22.8% lead. In single-core, it scores 2,133 versus 1,727, a 23.5% advantage. These results indicate that the desktop chip's higher sustained clocks and simpler core topology translate to better performance across both synthetic and realistic workloads.

Passmark extended instructions show a 27.6% lead for the Core i3-14100 (11,865 versus 9,299). Passmark single-thread scores give the Core i3-14100 a 8% edge (3,759 versus 3,479). Smaller wins for the desktop part include Cinebench R20 multi-core (5,384 versus 5,349, a 0.7% lead), Cinebench R23 single-core (1,809 versus 1,756.5, a 3% lead), Passmark data compression (174,115 versus 166,432, a 4.6% lead), Passmark find prime numbers (55 versus 53, a 3.8% lead), Passmark multithread (15,095 versus 15,042, a 0.4% lead), and Passmark physics (958 versus 937, a 2.2% lead).

The Core 5 120U's wins are concentrated in specific workloads. Cinebench R15 single-core is its strongest: 245 versus 182, a 25.7% advantage for the mobile chip. Passmark integer math goes to the Core 5 120U at 52,280 versus 45,329, a 13.3% lead. Passmark data encryption shows a 15.5% edge (10,453 versus 8,838). Passmark random string sorting goes to the Core 5 120U at 19,060 versus 17,397, an 8.7% lead. Passmark floating point math is a narrow win for the mobile part: 36,026 versus 35,266, a 2.1% margin.

The near-tie results are worth noting. Cinebench R20 multi-core is essentially even at 0.7% difference. Passmark multithread shows only a 0.4% gap. Cinebench R20 single-core sits at 0.5%. These indicate that in several mixed workloads, the two chips perform nearly identically despite their architectural differences.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across several key specification fields. The Core i3-14100 offers 4 cores and 8 threads; the Core 5 120U offers 10 cores and 12 threads. Base clocks are 3.50 GHz versus 1.40 GHz. Boost clocks are 4.70 GHz versus 5.00 GHz. TDP is 60 for the desktop chip versus 15 for the mobile chip.

Socket compatibility is entirely different: Intel Socket 1700 for the Core i3-14100, Intel BGA 1744 for the Core 5 120U. The Core i3-14100 uses a Raptor Lake-R codename and belongs to the Core i3 (Raptor Lake Refresh) generation. The Core 5 120U uses Raptor Lake-U and belongs to the Core 5 (Raptor Lake-U) generation.

Die size is recorded only for the Core i3-14100 at 163 mm²; no die size is listed for the Core 5 120U. ECC memory support is present on the Core i3-14100 but absent on the Core 5 120U. PCIe capabilities differ: Gen 5 with 16 lanes on the desktop chip, Gen 4 with 8 lanes on the mobile chip. Integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 730 versus Iris Xe Graphics 80EU.

The market segments differ as expected: Desktop for the Core i3-14100, Mobile for the Core 5 120U. A launch MSRP of $134 is recorded for the Core i3-14100; no launch MSRP exists for the Core 5 120U. Part numbers are SRMX1 and SRM7P, respectively. Both share the same process node, L1/L2/L3 cache structure, memory support, memory bus, and production status.

The Verdict

The data paints a clear picture for desktop users. The Intel Core i3-14100 is the stronger performer in the vast majority of benchmarks, particularly in multi-threaded workloads where its 92.5% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core demonstrates a fundamental advantage in sustained performance. Its Geekbench multi-core score is 22.8% higher, and it wins 14 of 19 head-to-head tests. The desktop chip also holds the edge in Passmark single-thread performance, extended instructions, and data compression.

The Intel Core 5 120U has specific strengths that should not be overlooked. Its 25.7% lead in Cinebench R15 single-core is substantial, and it wins in integer math, data encryption, random string sorting, and floating point math. These wins suggest the mobile chip handles certain instruction patterns more efficiently, likely due to its higher boost clock of 5.00 GHz and hybrid core arrangement. The 13.3% advantage in integer math and 15.5% lead in data encryption are meaningful for workloads that rely on those operations.

However, the Core 5 120U's overall average benchmark score of 17,898 trails the Core i3-14100's 18,318, and both sit at the same 72nd percentile. The mobile chip's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT with a delta of 0%, while the desktop chip's nearest rivals include the Intel Core 3 305 at 0.1% and the Intel Core 5 330 at -0.1%. These rival comparisons show both processors occupy a similar performance tier relative to the broader CPU landscape.

For a desktop build where power draw is not a constraint, the Intel Core i3-14100 is the clear choice. Its 60 TDP enables sustained multi-core performance that the 15 TDP mobile chip cannot match, and its platform advantages include ECC memory support, PCIe Gen 5, and a desktop socket. The launch MSRP of $134 positions it as a fixed-platform option.

For a mobile system, the Intel Core 5 120U is the only viable option of the two, given its BGA 1744 socket and mobile market segment. Its 10 cores and 12 threads provide parallel capacity that wins specific workloads, and its Iris Xe Graphics 80EU is a stronger integrated graphics solution than the UHD Graphics 730. The lower TDP of 15 makes it suitable for thin-and-light designs where thermal headroom is limited.

The data does not support a single winner across all scenarios. The Core i3-14100 dominates in rendering and general productivity, while the Core 5 120U wins in encryption, integer math, and sorting tasks. Users should weigh the specific workloads they intend to run. For most desktop users, the Core i3-14100's 92.5% Cinebench R23 multi-core lead is decisive. For mobile users, the Core 5 120U is the only option that fits the platform, and its performance is competitive in several key areas.