Intel Core 5 120U vs Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus Comparison

The Intel Core 5 120U and the Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus represent two vastly different tiers of Intel's mobile lineup, separated by architecture, power envelope, and performance class. The data shows a complete sweep in favor of the Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus across every recorded benchmark, yet the two processors serve entirely different purposes. The Core 5 120U is a low-power Raptor Lake-U part designed for efficiency and everyday responsiveness, while the Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus is a high-core-count Arrow Lake-HX Refresh flagship built for maximum throughput. The recorded results confirm that the Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus is not just faster but categorically more capable in every measurable workload.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus wins every single one of the 17 recorded head-to-head comparisons. The Core 5 120U records zero wins. This is not a close competition with trade-offs; it is a hierarchical gap where the higher-tier part dominates all metrics.

The Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus demonstrates its largest advantages in heavily multithreaded and compute-intensive tasks. In Cinebench R23 multicore, it scores 39684 against the Core 5 120U's 6659, a delta of 83.2 percent. The PassMark physics test shows a similar pattern, with the Ultra 9 290HX Plus scoring 3387 versus 937, a 72.3 percent advantage. Data compression results reinforce this, as the Ultra 9 290HX Plus reaches 658724 compared to 166432, a 74.7 percent lead. These results indicate that rendering, scientific simulation, and content creation workloads will heavily favor the Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus.

Single-threaded performance also favors the Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus, though by a narrower margin. In Cinebench R23 singlecore, the Ultra 9 290HX Plus scores 2356 against the Core 5 120U's 1756.5, a 25.4 percent gap. The PassMark single-thread test shows a 29.7 percent advantage, with scores of 4951 and 3479 respectively. This suggests that even in lightly threaded applications like web browsing, office productivity, and legacy software, the Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus holds a clear edge, though the relative difference is smaller than in multithreaded workloads.

The Core 5 120U, with its 15 W TDP, does not win any performance category. Its role is defined by efficiency rather than raw output. The data does not include power consumption measurements, so its advantage must be inferred from its design parameters: a much lower TDP and a smaller, 10-core configuration. For systems prioritizing battery life and thermal restraint, the Core 5 120U is the logical choice, but the recorded benchmarks show no scenario where it outperforms the Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different architectures and manufacturing processes. The Intel Core 5 120U uses Raptor Lake, specifically the Raptor Lake-U codename, and is fabricated on Intel's 10 nm process. The Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus belongs to the Core Ultra Series 2 family, uses the Arrow Lake-HX Refresh codename, and is built on a 3 nm process at TSMC. This process difference is a major factor in the performance gap, as the 3 nm node allows for significantly higher transistor density and efficiency.

The core configurations diverge sharply. The Core 5 120U has 10 cores and 12 threads, indicating a hybrid layout with performance and efficiency cores. The Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus has 24 cores and 24 threads, a configuration with no hyperthreading across its cores. This difference in core count is the primary driver of the multicore performance gap. The Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus also has a higher base clock of 2.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz, compared to 1.40 GHz base and 5.00 GHz boost on the Core 5 120U.

Cache hierarchies reflect the larger design of the Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus. It carries 192 KB of L1 cache per core, 3 MB of L2 cache per core, and 36 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core 5 120U has 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3. The larger caches on the Ultra 9 290HX Plus reduce memory latency and improve data throughput in cache-sensitive workloads. The Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus also supports ECC memory, while the Core 5 120U does not.

Memory support differs as well. The Core 5 120U supports both DDR4 and DDR5 in a dual-channel configuration. The Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus supports only DDR5 but provides a recorded memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s, a figure not available for the Core 5 120U. PCIe connectivity is another differentiator: the Core 5 120U offers Gen 4 with 8 CPU lanes, while the Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus offers Gen 5 with 20 CPU lanes. This gives the Ultra 9 290HX Plus substantially more bandwidth for discrete GPUs and NVMe storage.

The integrated graphics also differ. The Core 5 120U uses Iris Xe Graphics with 80 execution units, while the Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 64 execution units. Despite having fewer execution units, the Arc part benefits from the newer architecture and faster overall platform. The Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus also has an unlocked multiplier, whereas the Core 5 120U is locked. Power targets are far apart: 15 W for the Core 5 120U and 55 W for the Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench suite shows the Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus dominating in both multicore and singlecore tests. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Ultra 9 290HX Plus scores 5981 against 1150.5, a 80.8 percent delta. The R15 singlecore test shows 340 versus 245, a 27.9 percent gap. Cinebench R20 multicore results are 21198 versus 5349, a 74.8 percent difference, and the singlecore test mirrors that exact 74.8 percent delta with scores of 2992 and 755. Cinebench R23 multicore shows the largest gap of the suite at 83.2 percent, with 39684 versus 6659. The R23 singlecore test shows a 25.4 percent delta, with 2356 versus 1756.5.

PassMark tests follow the same pattern. The largest delta in the entire dataset is in the find prime numbers test, where the Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus scores 519 against 53, a 89.8 percent advantage. Extended instructions show an 81.9 percent delta, with 51290 versus 9299. Floating point math scores 201773 versus 36026, an 82.1 percent gap. Integer math shows a smaller but still substantial 68.3 percent delta, with 164839 versus 52280. Data encryption shows a 79.1 percent delta, with 50008 versus 10453. Random string sorting shows a 76.3 percent delta, with 80327 versus 19060. The PassMark multithread test shows a 74.7 percent delta, with 59439 versus 15042, and the single-thread test (listed twice as passmark_single_thread and passmark_singlethread) shows a 29.7 percent delta, with 4951 versus 3479.

The average benchmark score places the Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus at 79574, ranking in the 95th percentile of all CPUs. The Core 5 120U averages 17898, ranking in the 72nd percentile. The nearest rivals for the Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus include the Intel Core i9-14900KF at 79371 with a 0.3 percent delta, the AMD EPYC 7413 at 80041 with a negative 0.6 percent delta, and the Intel Core i9-14900K at 79097 with a 0.6 percent delta. The Core 5 120U's nearest rivals are the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT at 17891 with a 0 percent delta, the Intel Core 5 221TE at 17860 with a 0.2 percent delta, and the AMD Ryzen 5 1600 at 17994 with a negative 0.5 percent delta.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus has 24 cores and 24 threads. The Intel Core 5 120U has 10 cores and 12 threads.

Q: Does the Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus has ECC memory support. The Core 5 120U does not support ECC memory.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two processors?

A: The largest delta is in the PassMark find prime numbers test, where the Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus leads by 89.8 percent, scoring 519 versus 53.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus has a boost clock of 5.50 GHz, compared to 5.00 GHz for the Intel Core 5 120U.

Q: How much L3 cache does each processor have?

A: The Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus has 36 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core 5 120U has 12 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: What process nodes are used for each processor?

A: The Core 5 120U uses Intel's 10 nm process. The Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus uses a 3 nm process fabricated at TSMC.

The Verdict

The recorded data supports only one conclusion for raw performance: the Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus is in a different class entirely. It wins all 17 head-to-head benchmarks, holds a 95th percentile ranking against all CPUs, and delivers an average benchmark score of 79574, more than four times the Core 5 120U's 17898. The Cinebench R23 multicore result of 39684 versus 6659 demonstrates the scale of the gap in rendering and multithreaded productivity. For anyone running CPU-intensive workloads, the Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus is the only choice between these two.

The Intel Core 5 120U, however, is not without purpose. Its 15 W TDP, 10-core configuration, and support for DDR4 and DDR5 make it suited for thin-and-light laptops where battery life and thermal headroom take priority over performance. Its 72nd percentile ranking shows it is a competent mainstream processor. The data confirms it is not competitive with the Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus, but it targets a different segment entirely. The Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus, with its 55 W TDP, 24 cores, Gen 5 PCIe, and unlocked multiplier, is designed for high-performance mobile workstations and gaming laptops. The choice depends on whether the workload demands maximum throughput or minimal power draw.