Intel Core 5 120U vs Intel Core Ultra 7 366H Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The dataset is unusually one-sided. Across 17 recorded comparisons, the Intel Core Ultra 7 366H wins every single test. The Intel Core 5 120U records zero wins. The margins vary widely, from a modest single-thread gap to a massive multi-core chasm.

The largest gap appears in Cinebench R23 multi-core. The Core Ultra 7 366H scores 28,477 against 6,659 for the Core 5 120U, a delta of 76.6% in favor of the Ultra part. That is the single biggest percentage difference in the entire head-to-head table. The R23 single-core test tells a similar story, though with a smaller margin: 4,020 versus 1,756.5, a 56.3% advantage for the Ultra 7.

PassMark integer math shows the narrowest gap. The Core Ultra 7 366H posts 83,695 against 52,280, a 37.5% lead. PassMark single-thread also lands on the smaller side, with 4,043 versus 3,479, a 14% difference. These two results indicate that even in lightly threaded integer work, the newer architecture holds a clear edge, but the gap is not as extreme as in heavily parallel workloads.

Multi-core rendering tests cluster around similar margins. Cinebench R15 multi-core shows 2,870 versus 1,150.5, a 59.9% deficit for the Core 5 120U. Cinebench R20 multi-core shows 11,960 versus 5,349, a 55.3% deficit. Cinebench R23 multi-core, as noted, is the outlier at 76.6%. Single-core Cinebench results are consistent: R15 at 405 versus 245 (39.5% gap), R20 at 1,688 versus 755 (55.3% gap), and R23 at 4,020 versus 1,756.5 (56.3% gap).

The PassMark suite reinforces the pattern. Data compression: 327,455 versus 166,432, a 49.2% lead for the Ultra 7. Data encryption: 25,845 versus 10,453, a 59.6% lead. Extended instructions: 26,901 versus 9,299, a 65.4% lead. Prime number finding: 326 versus 53, an 83.7% lead, the second-largest margin in the set. Floating point math: 103,615 versus 36,026, a 65.2% lead. Physics: 2,880 versus 937, a 67.5% lead. Random string sorting: 39,814 versus 19,060, a 52.1% lead. Multithreaded PassMark: 33,429 versus 15,042, a 55% lead.

Average benchmark scores in the database confirm the hierarchy. The Core Ultra 7 366H averages 41,263 across its recorded benchmarks, while the Core 5 120U averages 17,898. The Ultra 7 sits in the 87th percentile of all CPUs tracked, whereas the Core 5 sits in the 72nd percentile. The nearest rival for the Ultra 7 is the Intel Core Ultra 7 356H at 41,215, a 0.1% difference. The nearest rival for the Core 5 120U is the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT at 17,891, essentially a tie at 0% delta.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel generations and use different process nodes. The Core 5 120U is built on Raptor Lake, specifically the Raptor Lake-U variant, and uses a 10 nm process. The Core Ultra 7 366H is built on Panther Lake, specifically the Panther Lake-H variant, and uses a 3 nm process. Both are fabricated by Intel.

Core counts differ substantially. The Core 5 120U has 10 cores and 12 threads. The Core Ultra 7 366H has 16 cores and 16 threads. The thread count on the Ultra part equals its core count, indicating no Hyper-Threading on that model, while the Core 5 uses Hyper-Threading to reach 12 threads from 10 cores.

Clock speeds go in opposite directions. The Core 5 120U has a base clock of 1.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. The Core Ultra 7 366H has a base clock of 2.00 GHz and a boost clock of 4.80 GHz. The Ultra 7 starts higher but boosts lower. The Core 5's boost advantage is 0.20 GHz, yet the Ultra 7 wins every benchmark, suggesting the architectural and core-count advantages outweigh the clock speed difference.

Cache configurations are larger on the Ultra 7. L1 cache is 192 KB per core versus 80 KB per core. L2 cache is 2.5 MB per core versus 1.25 MB per core. L3 cache is 18 MB shared versus 12 MB shared. Every level of cache favors the Ultra 7, and the per-core L2 difference is a 2x multiplier.

Memory support differs. The Core 5 120U supports DDR4 and DDR5, while the Core Ultra 7 366H supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X. Both use dual-channel memory buses. The Ultra 7 has a recorded memory bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s, while no bandwidth figure is recorded for the Core 5. Neither processor supports ECC memory.

PCIe capabilities differ. The Core 5 120U uses Gen 4 with 8 lanes from the CPU. The Core Ultra 7 366H uses Gen 5 with 12 lanes from the CPU. The Ultra 7 offers both a newer PCIe generation and more lanes.

Integrated graphics differ. The Core 5 120U uses Iris Xe Graphics with 80 execution units. The Core Ultra 7 366H uses Intel Xe3 Graphics. No execution unit count is recorded for the Xe3 part.

Sockets differ. The Core 5 120U uses Intel BGA 1744, while the Core Ultra 7 366H uses Intel BGA 2540. These are not interchangeable. TDP also differs: the Core 5 is rated at 15 W, the Ultra 7 at 25 W.

Release dates are roughly two years apart. The Core 5 120U launched in January 2024. The Core Ultra 7 366H launched in January 2026. Both remain in active production.

Where Each One Wins

The data shows no benchmark where the Core 5 120U wins. The Core Ultra 7 366H wins all 17 head-to-head tests. Therefore, the use-case split is defined by degree of margin rather than by which processor takes the victory.

The Core Ultra 7 366H is strongest relative to the Core 5 120U in heavily parallel integer and floating point workloads. Prime number finding shows the largest relative gap at 83.7%. Cinebench R23 multi-core follows at 76.6%. Extended instructions at 65.4% and floating point math at 65.2% are nearly identical. These are workloads that scale with core count, cache size, and memory bandwidth, all of which favor the Ultra 7.

The Core Ultra 7 366H is least dominant in single-threaded integer work. PassMark single-thread shows only a 14% lead. Integer math shows a 37.5% lead. These are the smallest margins in the set. The Core 5 120U's higher boost clock of 5.00 GHz likely narrows the gap in lightly threaded tasks, but even there, the Ultra 7's newer architecture and larger per-core cache keep it ahead.

The Core 5 120U's most competitive areas are single-threaded PassMark and integer math. In those tests, the Ultra 7 wins but by a smaller margin than elsewhere. The Core 5 120U also has the lower TDP at 15 W versus 25 W, which in a database context means it is designed for a lower power envelope. No thermal or battery life measurements are recorded, so the practical impact of that TDP difference cannot be quantified here.

For workloads that are not heavily threaded and not math-intensive, such as random string sorting, the Ultra 7 still leads by 52.1%. Data compression shows a 49.2% lead. Data encryption shows a 59.6% lead. Even in memory-heavy tasks, the Ultra 7 holds a comfortable advantage.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 366H averages 41,263, while the Intel Core 5 120U averages 17,898.

Q: What is the largest single benchmark margin between the two?

A: Cinebench R23 multi-core shows the largest gap. The Core Ultra 7 366H scores 28,477 versus 6,659, a 76.6% difference.

Q: Does the Core 5 120U win any benchmark?

A: No. The head-to-head dataset records 17 comparisons, and the Core Ultra 7 366H wins all 17.

Q: What is the smallest margin between the two?

A: PassMark single-thread shows the smallest gap. The Core Ultra 7 366H scores 4,043 versus 3,479, a 14% difference.

Q: How do the core counts compare?

A: The Core 5 120U has 10 cores and 12 threads. The Core Ultra 7 366H has 16 cores and 16 threads.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Core 5 120U has a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. The Core Ultra 7 366H has a boost clock of 4.80 GHz.

The Verdict

The recorded data points to a decisive conclusion. The Intel Core Ultra 7 366H outperforms the Intel Core 5 120U across every measured benchmark. The average benchmark score is 41,263 versus 17,898, a roughly 130% advantage for the Ultra 7. The percentile ranking confirms the gap: 87th percentile versus 72nd percentile.

The architecture differences explain the outcome. The Ultra 7 uses a 3 nm process versus 10 nm, has 16 cores versus 10, has larger caches at every level, supports newer memory types, and provides higher memory bandwidth. The Core 5 120U has a higher boost clock and a lower TDP, but neither advantage translates into a benchmark win.

For users selecting between these two mobile processors, the data supports the Core Ultra 7 366H for any performance-sensitive workload. The Core 5 120U is the lower-power part at 15 W versus 25 W, and it carries a smaller core count and older architecture. If the workload is lightly threaded single-core PassMark, the Ultra 7 still wins by 14%, so even that scenario does not favor the Core 5.

The Core 5 120U's nearest rivals in the database are the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT at 17,891 and the Intel Core 5 221TE at 17,860. The Core Ultra 7 366H's nearest rivals are the Intel Core Ultra 7 356H at 41,215 and the AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 at 41,208. These groupings place the two processors in entirely different performance tiers.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core 5 120U | Intel Core Ultra 7 366H |

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

| Cores | 10 | 16 |

| Threads | 12 | 16 |

| Base clock | 1.40 GHz | 2.00 GHz |

| Boost clock | 5.00 GHz | 4.80 GHz |

| TDP | 15 W | 25 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1744 | Intel BGA 2540 |

| Architecture | Raptor Lake | Panther Lake |

| Process node | 10 nm | 3 nm |

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

| L2 cache | 1.25 MB (per core) | 2.5 MB (per core) |

| L3 cache | 12 MB (shared) | 18 MB (shared) |

| Memory support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR5, LPDDR5X |

| Memory bandwidth | Not recorded | 115.2 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 8 lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 12 lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated graphics | Iris Xe Graphics 80EU | Intel Xe3 Graphics |

| Release date | January 2024 | January 2026 |

| Part number | SRM7P | SA4R9Q9EL |

Both processors are Intel parts for mobile systems, currently active in production, with no unlocked multiplier. Neither supports ECC memory. The Core 5 120U uses the Raptor Lake-U codename and carries the Core 5 generation label. The Core Ultra 7 366H uses the Panther Lake codename, carries the Core Ultra Series 3 label, and belongs to the Ultra 7 (Panther Lake-H) generation.