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

The Intel Core 5 120U and the Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus occupy opposite ends of Intel’s performance spectrum, and the recorded benchmark data confirms a massive gap between them. Across all 17 head-to-head comparisons, the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus takes the win, with the Core 5 120U recording zero wins. The most extreme margin appears in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the Ultra 5 250KF Plus scores 42,718 against the 120U’s 6,659, a delta of -84.4% from the perspective of the smaller chip. That means the desktop part delivers roughly five and a half times the multi-threaded rendering throughput of the mobile processor.

Single-core results tell a similar, though less dramatic, story. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Ultra 5 250KF Plus posts 6,030 versus 1,756.5 for the 120U, a 70.9% deficit for the latter. Geekbench data appears only for the 120U in the database, so no direct head-to-head is available there, but the Cinebench R15 and R20 single-core tests both show the Ultra part ahead by 59.6% and 70.2% respectively. The smallest relative gap in the entire comparison is in PassMark single-thread, where the Ultra 5 250KF Plus scores 4,698 against 3,479 for the 120U, a 25.9% advantage. This narrower margin indicates that the architectural and clock advantages of the desktop chip are less pronounced in lightly threaded integer work than in heavily parallel loads.

The PassMark suite amplifies the multi-core divide further. In integer math, the Ultra 5 250KF Plus scores 123,030 versus 52,280, a 57.5% lead. Floating point math shows a larger gap: 159,824 versus 36,026, a 77.5% difference. Data compression favors the desktop part by 69.9%, with scores of 553,155 and 166,432. Encryption workloads show a 74.7% gap (41,292 versus 10,453), while extended instructions land at 78.3% (42,880 versus 9,299). Prime number finding is the most lopsided PassMark test, with the Ultra part scoring 452 against 53, a 88.3% deficit for the 120U. Physics simulation, multithread, and random string sorting all fall in the 70% to 71.6% range, reinforcing the pattern that the Ultra 5 250KF Plus is not merely faster but categorically superior across every measured workload.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different silicon. The Intel Core 5 120U uses the Raptor Lake architecture on a 10 nm process node manufactured by Intel, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus uses the Arrow Lake Refresh architecture on a 3 nm node from TSMC. That process difference is substantial, as the 3 nm node allows for much higher transistor density. The Ultra part contains 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die, while the database lists no transistor count or die size for the 120U.

Core counts diverge sharply. The 120U has 10 cores and 12 threads, indicating a hybrid arrangement with some cores lacking hyperthreading. The Ultra 5 250KF Plus has 18 cores and 18 threads, meaning all cores run without simultaneous multithreading. The desktop chip’s base clock of 4.20 GHz and boost clock of 5.30 GHz dwarf the mobile chip’s 1.40 GHz base and 5.00 GHz boost. Cache hierarchies also differ. The 120U uses 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and 12 MB shared L3. The Ultra 5 250KF Plus has 192 KB L1 per core, 3 MB L2 per core, and 30 MB shared L3. The larger per-core caches and nearly 2.5 times the shared L3 give the desktop part a clear advantage in data reuse and latency-sensitive workloads.

Memory support separates the two as well. The 120U supports both DDR4 and DDR5 over a dual-channel bus. The Ultra 5 250KF Plus supports only DDR5, also dual-channel, but with a recorded memory bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s. The mobile chip has no listed bandwidth figure. The Ultra part also supports ECC memory, while the 120U does not. PCIe connectivity differs: the 120U provides Gen 4 with 8 CPU lanes, while the Ultra 5 250KF Plus provides Gen 5 with 20 CPU lanes. The Ultra part has no integrated graphics, whereas the 120U includes Iris Xe Graphics with 80 execution units. The 120U is a mobile part on Intel BGA 1744, while the Ultra 5 250KF Plus is a desktop part on Intel Socket 1851. The Ultra chip has an unlocked multiplier; the 120U does not.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-core Cinebench R23 score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus scores 6,030, while the Intel Core 5 120U scores 1,756.5, giving the Ultra part a 70.9% advantage.

Q: How large is the multi-core Cinebench R23 gap?

A: The Ultra 5 250KF Plus scores 42,718 versus 6,659 for the 120U, a difference of 84.4% in favor of the desktop chip.

Q: Does the Core 5 120U have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, it uses Iris Xe Graphics with 80 execution units. The Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus has no integrated graphics.

Q: Which chip supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus supports ECC memory. The Intel Core 5 120U does not.

Q: What is the closest benchmark margin between the two?

A: PassMark single-thread shows the smallest gap, with the Ultra 5 250KF Plus scoring 4,698 against 3,479 for the 120U, a 25.9% difference.

Q: Do both processors use the same memory type?

A: No. The 120U supports DDR4 and DDR5, while the Ultra 5 250KF Plus supports DDR5 only.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every measurable specification. The 120U has 10 cores and 12 threads, while the Ultra 5 250KF Plus has 18 cores and 18 threads. Base clocks are 1.40 GHz and 4.20 GHz respectively, with boost clocks of 5.00 GHz and 5.30 GHz. Thermal design power is listed at 15 watts for the 120U and 125 watts for the Ultra part. Sockets differ: Intel BGA 1744 for the mobile chip, Intel Socket 1851 for the desktop chip. Process node and foundry are different: 10 nm Intel for the 120U, 3 nm TSMC for the Ultra 5 250KF Plus.

Cache specifications show larger allocations on the desktop part. L1 cache is 80 KB per core versus 192 KB per core. L2 is 1.25 MB per core versus 3 MB per core. L3 is 12 MB shared versus 30 MB shared. Memory support favors the 120U for flexibility (DDR4 and DDR5) but the Ultra part for bandwidth, with a recorded 115.2 GB/s. ECC memory is supported only on the Ultra 5 250KF Plus. PCIe generation and lane counts differ: Gen 4 with 8 lanes versus Gen 5 with 20 lanes. Integrated graphics exist only on the 120U. The Ultra part has an unlocked multiplier, the 120U does not. Release dates are separate, with the 120U launched in January 2024 and the Ultra 5 250KF Plus in March 2026. The Ultra part has a launch MSRP of $184.

Where Each One Wins

The Core 5 120U does not win any of the 17 recorded head-to-head benchmarks. Its only advantages are qualitative: integrated graphics, dual memory support for DDR4 and DDR5, a 15 watt TDP that suits compact mobile systems, and a BGA socket that places it in thin-and-light laptops. The data shows no workload where the 120U outperforms the Ultra 5 250KF Plus. For mobile use, the 120U would be the only one of the two that can function without a discrete GPU, and its lower power envelope makes it practical for battery-powered devices.

The Ultra 5 250KF Plus wins every measured test. Its largest margins are in Cinebench R23 multi-core (84.4% ahead), PassMark prime numbers (88.3% ahead), and PassMark extended instructions (78.3% ahead). It also leads by 77.5% in floating-point math and 74.7% in encryption. The smallest margin is in PassMark single-thread, where it leads by 25.9%. The desktop chip’s advantage grows with thread count and complexity, making it the clear choice for rendering, simulation, data compression, and any workload that scales across 18 cores. The lack of integrated graphics and the 125 watt TDP restrict it to desktop systems with a discrete GPU.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous. The Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus outperforms the Intel Core 5 120U in every recorded test, with margins ranging from 25.9% in single-threaded PassMark to 88.3% in prime number calculation. The 120U’s strengths are not visible in the performance scores; they are structural. It offers integrated graphics, DDR4 compatibility, a 15 watt TDP, and a mobile socket, all of which suit portable devices where absolute processing power is secondary to power efficiency and system simplicity. The Ultra 5 250KF Plus, by contrast, is a desktop-class part with 18 cores, a 5.30 GHz boost clock, ECC support, PCIe Gen 5, and an unlocked multiplier. Its launch MSRP of $184 places it as a high-throughput option for users who need heavy multi-core performance and already have a discrete GPU. Based on the recorded data, the choice depends entirely on form factor and workload. For a laptop with modest power limits and no discrete graphics, the 120U is the only viable option between the two. For any desktop system where raw compute is the priority, the Ultra 5 250KF Plus is decisively ahead.