Intel Core 5 120U vs Intel Core i7-1365U Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark split between these two Raptor Lake-U mobile processors is surprisingly lopsided in raw win count, but the wins are not distributed evenly across workload types. The Intel Core i7-1365U takes 6 of the 17 recorded head-to-head tests, while the Intel Core 5 120U claims 11. That headline count, however, hides a clear thematic division: the i7-1365U dominates in classic rendering workloads and single-threaded latency-sensitive tests, while the Core 5 120U sweeps most of the PassMark system-level and math-heavy suites.

For content creation and CPU rendering, the i7-1365U is the clear pick. In Cinebench R23 multicore, it scores 8946 against 6659 for the Core 5 120U, a 34.3% advantage. The R15 multicore test shows a similar story: 1466.5 versus 1150.5, a 27.5% lead. Even in R15 single-core, the i7-1365U leads by 8.4% (265.5 versus 245). The R23 single-core margin is 7.4% (1887 versus 1756.5). These are substantial, consistent wins in the most commonly cited CPU benchmark family.

The Core 5 120U counters in a different arena. In PassMark integer math, it scores 52280 versus 50881, a 2.7% edge. Floating-point math goes its way too: 36026 versus 33689, a 6.5% margin. Data compression is a decisive Core 5 win: 166432 versus 149585, a 10.1% gap. Data encryption follows at 10453 versus 9531, an 8.8% lead. Extended instructions favor the Core 5 by 10.5% (9299 versus 8321), and random string sorting by 10.9% (19060 versus 16977). The Core 5 also wins the PassMark multithread test (15042 versus 14045, 6.6% ahead) and the single-thread test (3479 versus 3411, 2% ahead).

There are oddities worth noting. The Cinebench R20 results flip the trend: the Core 5 120U wins both multicore (5349 versus 4882) and single-core (755 versus 689) by 8.7% each, contradicting the R15 and R23 results. The i7-1365U takes two niche wins: find prime numbers (58 versus 53, 9.4% ahead) and physics (966 versus 937, 3.1% ahead).

The average benchmark scores in the database are nearly identical: the i7-1365U sits at 18177 with a 72nd percentile ranking, while the Core 5 120U averages 17898, also at the 72nd percentile. Their nearest rivals reflect this parity: the i7-1365U sits within 0.1% of the Intel Core 5 315, and within 0% of the AMD Ryzen 7 5700U and Intel Core i7-9700. The Core 5 120U is within 0.5% of the AMD Ryzen 5 1600 and 0.7% of the Intel Core 7 350.

The Verdict

From the recorded data, the choice depends entirely on workload priority. If the task is CPU rendering, video encoding, or any workload that scales with Cinebench R23 multicore performance, the Intel Core i7-1365U is the superior part by a wide margin. Its 34.3% lead in R23 multicore and 27.5% lead in R15 multicore are too large to ignore. The i7-1365U also holds the single-core advantage in both R15 and R23, making it the better choice for lightly threaded applications that rely on raw per-core speed in those specific tests.

If the workload is more varied, involving data compression, encryption, extended instruction sets, or general PassMark math suites, the Core 5 120U is consistently ahead. It wins 11 of 17 tests, and its margins in compression (10.1%), encryption (8.8%), extended instructions (10.5%), and random string sorting (10.9%) are meaningful for real-world file handling and cryptographic tasks.

The database shows both processors at the 72nd percentile of all CPUs, with average scores within 1.5% of each other (18177 versus 17898). This means neither part is categorically faster; they are different tools for different jobs. The i7-1365U is the rendering specialist with a higher peak in Cinebench R23. The Core 5 120U is the generalist that wins more individual tests, particularly in PassMark's broad system-level suites.

For a laptop buyer, the i7-1365U makes sense for creative professionals who spend hours in render pipelines. The Core 5 120U makes sense for users who do a mix of office work, data handling, and occasional heavier math loads, where its consistent PassMark wins translate to snappier everyday responsiveness. Neither chip is a wrong choice, but the data clearly favors the i7-1365U for sustained multicore rendering and the Core 5 120U for everything else in the measured suite.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single win belongs to the i7-1365U in Cinebench R23 multicore, where it scores 8946 against 6659 for the Core 5 120U. That 34.3% delta is the standout result in the entire comparison. The R15 multicore test confirms the trend with a 27.5% margin (1466.5 versus 1150.5). In single-core tests, the i7-1365U leads R15 by 8.4% and R23 by 7.4%. These are the benchmarks that matter for rendering, and the i7-1365U wins all four of them decisively.

The Core 5 120U's largest wins come in the PassMark suite. Random string sorting shows a 10.9% lead (19060 versus 16977), extended instructions a 10.5% lead (9299 versus 8321), data compression a 10.1% lead (166432 versus 149585), and data encryption an 8.8% lead (10453 versus 9531). Floating-point math goes to the Core 5 by 6.5% (36026 versus 33689), and multithread by 6.6% (15042 versus 14045). The Core 5's single-thread PassMark score is 3479 versus 3411, a 2% edge.

The Cinebench R20 results are the most anomalous. The Core 5 120U wins both R20 multicore (5349 versus 4882) and single-core (755 versus 689) by 8.7%, which directly contradicts the R15 and R23 outcomes. This could indicate different workload characteristics in R20's rendering path, but the database records the scores as-is. The i7-1365U's wins in prime number finding (58 versus 53, 9.4%) and physics (966 versus 937, 3.1%) are small but consistent with its higher boost clock of 5.20 GHz versus 5.00 GHz.

The i7-1365U also has a higher base clock at 1800 MHz versus 1400 MHz, which likely contributes to its single-core wins in the Cinebench family. The Core 5 120U's wins in PassMark math and data tests suggest its architecture handles those specific instruction patterns more efficiently, despite the lower clocks. The head-to-head record of 11 wins for the Core 5 and 6 for the i7-1365U is accurate, but the magnitude of the i7's Cinebench wins (up to 34.3%) outweighs the smaller, more numerous Core 5 wins in practical rendering scenarios.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The Intel Core i7-1365U scores 8946 versus 6659 for the Core 5 120U, a 34.3% advantage. This is the largest single benchmark margin between the two.

Q: Does the Core 5 120U win any multicore benchmarks?

A: Yes, it wins Cinebench R20 multicore with 5349 versus 4882 (8.7% ahead) and PassMark multithread with 15042 versus 14045 (6.6% ahead).

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The i7-1365U averages 18177 and the Core 5 120U averages 17898, a difference of about 1.5%. Both sit at the 72nd percentile of all CPUs.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The i7-1365U boosts to 5.20 GHz, while the Core 5 120U boosts to 5.00 GHz. The i7-1365U also has a higher base clock at 1800 MHz versus 1400 MHz.

Q: Are there any workload areas where the Core 5 120U is clearly better?

A: Yes, in PassMark data compression (166432 versus 149585), data encryption (10453 versus 9531), extended instructions (9299 versus 8321), and random string sorting (19060 versus 16977), the Core 5 120U leads by approximately 8.8% to 10.9%.

Q: What are their nearest rivals in the database?

A: The i7-1365U is within 0.1% of the Intel Core 5 315 and within 0% of the AMD Ryzen 7 5700U and Intel Core i7-9700. The Core 5 120U is within 0.5% of the AMD Ryzen 5 1600 and 0.7% of the Intel Core 7 350.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on Intel's Raptor Lake architecture with the Raptor Lake-U codename, manufactured on a 10 nm process at Intel's foundry. They share the same socket, Intel BGA 1744, and both are mobile-market parts with a 15 W TDP. The core configuration is identical: 10 cores and 12 threads on each chip.

The cache hierarchy is also the same. Each processor has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. Memory support matches as well: both support DDR4 and DDR5 in dual-channel configuration, and neither supports ECC memory. The PCIe implementation is identical: Gen 4 with 8 lanes from the CPU only.

The key architectural difference lies in the integrated graphics. The i7-1365U carries Iris Xe Graphics with 96 execution units, while the Core 5 120U has Iris Xe Graphics with 80 execution units. This is a 16-EU difference, which affects integrated GPU performance but does not appear in the CPU benchmark scores recorded in the database.

The generation labels differ in name only: the i7-1365U is listed as "Core i7 (Raptor Lake-U)" and the Core 5 120U as "Core 5 (Raptor Lake-U)". Both are based on the same Raptor Lake-U silicon. The release dates differ by about a year: the i7-1365U launched on January 3, 2023, and the Core 5 120U on January 7, 2024. The i7-1365U has a part number of SRMM0, while the Core 5 120U is SRM7P. Both are currently in active production and have locked multipliers.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several recorded specification fields. The most obvious is the clock speeds. The i7-1365U has a base clock of 1800 MHz and a boost clock of 5.20 GHz. The Core 5 120U has a base clock of 1400 MHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. The i7-1365U runs 400 MHz higher at base and 200 MHz higher at boost.

The integrated graphics differ as noted: the i7-1365U has Iris Xe Graphics with 96 execution units, while the Core 5 120U has 80 execution units. The launch MSRP also differs: the i7-1365U has a recorded launch MSRP of $426, while the Core 5 120U has no recorded launch MSRP in the database. The part numbers differ (SRMM0 for the i7-1365U, SRM7P for the Core 5 120U), and the release dates are about one year apart.

All other specification fields are identical: 10 cores, 12 threads, 15 W TDP, Intel BGA 1744 socket, Raptor Lake architecture, 10 nm process, 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, 12 MB shared L3, DDR4/DDR5 memory support, dual-channel memory bus, no ECC, Gen 4 PCIe with 8 lanes, mobile market segment, active production status, and locked multipliers. The benchmark scores and average scores differ as detailed in the head-to-head section, with the i7-1365U averaging 18177 and the Core 5 120U averaging 17898, both at the 72nd percentile.