Intel Core 5 120U vs Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark database records a decisive sweep: the Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus wins all 17 head-to-head comparisons against the Intel Core 5 120U. No single test favors the mobile chip. The largest gaps appear in multi-threaded workloads, while single-threaded tests show the smallest, though still substantial, margins.

In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus scores 30867 against 6659 for the Core 5 120U, a 78.4% advantage. The R20 multi-core result is similarly lopsided: 18442 versus 5349, a 71% delta. The R15 multi-core test shows 4640 against 1150.5, again a 75.2% gap. These results indicate that the desktop part delivers roughly three to four times the multi-threaded throughput of the mobile chip across the Cinebench suite.

Single-core performance is closer but still clearly favors the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the desktop chip scores 2261 versus 1756.5, a 22.3% lead. The R20 single-core test shows 2603 against 755, a 71% gap, which is notably larger than the R23 single-core delta. The R15 single-core result is 328 versus 245, a 25.3% margin. PassMark single-thread puts the desktop part at 4757 against 3479, a 26.9% advantage. These numbers suggest the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus has a meaningful but not overwhelming single-thread advantage, with the R20 result standing out as an outlier in magnitude.

PassMark workloads reveal where the architectural differences show up most. The largest relative gap is in find prime numbers: 486 versus 53, a 89.1% delta. This test is highly sensitive to integer execution throughput and clock frequency. Extended instructions show a 79.1% gap (44565 versus 9299), while floating-point math has a 77.9% delta (162692 versus 36026). Data compression is 70.7% apart (568721 versus 166432), and data encryption shows a 75.2% gap (42144 versus 10453). Integer math is the smallest PassMark multi-threaded delta at 58.2% (125091 versus 52280), while multithread overall is 70.8% apart (51596 versus 15042). Physics testing shows a 73.2% gap (3494 versus 937), and random string sorting is 72.4% apart (69090 versus 19060).

The average benchmark score in the database places the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus at 66855, with a 93rd percentile among all CPUs. The Core 5 120U averages 17898, sitting at the 72nd percentile. The nearest rival for the desktop chip is the AMD EPYC 4465P at 66925, a 0.1% difference, followed by the Intel Xeon 6515P at 67006 (0.2% gap) and the Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX at 67469 (0.9% gap). The Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus trails at 66159, a 1.1% delta. For the mobile chip, the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT lands at 17891, a 0% difference, with the Intel Core 5 221TE at 17860 (0.2% gap), the AMD Ryzen 5 1600 at 17994 (0.5% gap), and the Intel Core 7 350 at 17779 (0.7% gap).

Architecture Differences

The two processors occupy different market segments and use fundamentally different silicon. The Core 5 120U is a mobile part built for the Intel BGA 1744 socket, while the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus is a desktop chip for Intel Socket 1851. The mobile chip belongs to the Raptor Lake family with the Raptor Lake-U codename, whereas the desktop part uses the Arrow Lake Refresh codename and carries the Core Ultra Series 2 label.

Core counts differ substantially. The Core 5 120U has 10 cores and 12 threads, indicating a hybrid configuration with efficiency cores that do not add extra threads. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus has 18 cores and 18 threads, meaning every core is a full performance core with no simultaneous multithreading. This directly explains the multi-threaded benchmark gaps: the desktop chip has 80% more cores, and each core runs at a higher base clock.

Clock speeds reinforce the separation. The Core 5 120U has a base clock of 1.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus starts at 4.20 GHz base and boosts to 5.30 GHz. The much higher base clock on the desktop part is particularly important for sustained workloads, as it does not need to ramp up from a very low idle state. The thermal design power figures reflect the segment difference: 15 watts for the mobile chip versus 125 watts for the desktop chip.

The manufacturing process differs by foundry and node. The Core 5 120U uses Intel's 10 nm process, while the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus is fabricated on TSMC's 3 nm node. The desktop chip has 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die; the database does not list transistor or die size data for the mobile part. The smaller process node and larger transistor budget enable the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus to sustain high clocks across 18 cores.

Cache hierarchies diverge significantly. The Core 5 120U has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus has 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 30 MB of shared L3. The desktop chip also has more than twice the L3 capacity, which benefits workloads with large working sets. Memory support differs as well: the mobile chip accepts both DDR4 and DDR5, while the desktop part supports only DDR5. Both use dual-channel memory buses, but the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus has a recorded memory bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s; no bandwidth figure is listed for the mobile part.

PCIe connectivity is another differentiator. The Core 5 120U provides Gen 4 with 8 lanes from the CPU, while the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus offers Gen 5 with 20 lanes. This gives the desktop chip more than twice the lane count at a newer generation. The integrated graphics also differ: the mobile chip uses Iris Xe Graphics with 80 execution units, while the desktop part has Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 64 execution units. ECC memory support is present on the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus but absent on the Core 5 120U. The desktop chip has an unlocked multiplier, allowing overclocking; the mobile chip does not.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus has 18 cores and 18 threads, while the Intel Core 5 120U has 10 cores and 12 threads.

Q: How much larger is the L3 cache on the desktop chip?

A: The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus has 30 MB of shared L3, while the Core 5 120U has 12 MB. That is 18 MB more on the desktop part.

Q: What is the single-thread performance gap in Cinebench R23?

A: The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus scores 2261 versus 1756.5 for the Core 5 120U, a 22.3% advantage in the recorded data.

Q: Does the Core 5 120U support ECC memory?

A: No. ECC memory support is listed as false for the Core 5 120U, while the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus supports ECC.

Q: Which chip has a higher boost clock?

A: The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus boosts to 5.30 GHz, compared to 5.00 GHz for the Core 5 120U.

Q: What is the process node for each processor?

A: The Core 5 120U uses Intel's 10 nm process, and the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus uses TSMC's 3 nm process.

The Verdict

The recorded benchmark data shows a complete performance hierarchy between these two chips. The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus wins every measured test, with multi-threaded workloads showing gaps of 58% to 89% and single-threaded tests showing gaps of 22% to 71%. The desktop chip also has a higher base clock, more cores, more cache, a newer process node, and wider PCIe connectivity.

The Intel Core 5 120U is a 15-watt mobile processor with a modest core count and older process node. Its strengths lie in the mobile segment: socket compatibility with BGA 1744, support for both DDR4 and DDR5, and integrated Iris Xe Graphics with 80 execution units. The database places it at the 72nd percentile among all CPUs, which is respectable for a low-power part but far from the 93rd percentile occupied by the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus.

For workloads that scale with core count, cache size, or memory bandwidth, the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus is the only viable choice based on the data. The 18 cores versus 10 cores, the 30 MB versus 12 MB L3, and the 115.2 GB/s memory bandwidth all point in the same direction. For single-threaded responsiveness, the desktop chip still leads, though by a smaller margin. The Core 5 120U makes sense only in the context of a mobile platform where power consumption is constrained to 15 watts and the desktop chip's 125-watt thermal design power is not applicable.

The market segments do not overlap. One is a mobile processor; the other is a desktop processor. The benchmark data confirms that the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus is the stronger part in every recorded metric, and the architectural specifications align with that outcome.

Specification Differences

| Field | Intel Core 5 120U | Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus |

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

| Cores | 10 | 18 |

| Threads | 12 | 18 |

| Base Clock | 1.40 GHz | 4.20 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.00 GHz | 5.30 GHz |

| TDP | 15 W | 125 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1744 | Intel Socket 1851 |

| Codename | Raptor Lake-U | Arrow Lake Refresh |

| Generation | Core 5 (Raptor Lake-U) | Ultra 5 (Arrow Lake) |

| Process Node | 10 nm (Intel) | 3 nm (TSMC) |

| Transistors | Not listed | 17,800 million |

| Die Size | Not listed | 243 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 80 KB (per core) | 192 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core) | 3 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 12 MB (shared) | 30 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR5 |

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

| Memory Bandwidth | Not listed | 115.2 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 8 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 20 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Iris Xe Graphics 80EU | Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Release Date | 2024-01-07 | 2026-03-10 |

| Launch MSRP | Not listed | $199 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | Yes |

| Part Number | SRM7P | SA4UZ |