Intel Core 5 120U vs Qualcomm Snapdragon X1E-80-100 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core 5 120U and Qualcomm Snapdragon X1E-80-100 occupy different positions in the mobile processor landscape, but direct benchmark comparisons are limited by the available data. The Core 5 120U has a comprehensive set of recorded benchmark results, while the Snapdragon X1E-80-100 currently has no benchmark scores in the database. This asymmetry makes a traditional head-to-head score comparison impossible, but the available data still allows for meaningful analysis of where the Intel part stands and what the Qualcomm part brings to the table based on its specifications.

The Core 5 120U posts a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 6659 and a single-core score of 1756.5. In Geekbench, it records 5888 multicore and 1727 single-core. The Passmark suite shows a multithread score of 15042 and a single-thread score of 3479. These numbers place the Core 5 120U in the 72nd percentile of all CPUs in the database, with an average benchmark score of 17898. The nearest rival in the database, the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT, has an average score of 17891, putting the Core 5 120U at a 0 percent delta, essentially a statistical tie. The Intel Core 7 350 sits 0.7 percent ahead, while the AMD Ryzen 5 1600 trails by 0.5 percent. The Intel Core 5 221TE is 0.2 percent behind.

The Snapdragon X1E-80-100, by contrast, has no recorded benchmark scores, which places it at the 50th percentile with an average benchmark score of 0. With no nearest rivals listed, the database currently has no performance measurements to compare against the Core 5 120U or any other processor. This does not mean the Snapdragon lacks capability, but it does mean the recorded data cannot confirm any performance relationship between these two parts.

What can be compared is the structural configuration. The Snapdragon X1E-80-100 uses 12 cores with 12 threads, while the Core 5 120U uses 10 cores with 12 threads. The Snapdragon has a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 4.00 GHz. The Core 5 120U has a base clock of 1.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. The Intel part reaches a significantly higher peak frequency, which typically translates to stronger single-thread performance in burst workloads. The Qualcomm part maintains a much higher base frequency, which can indicate sustained throughput in multithreaded scenarios, though without benchmark scores this remains speculative.

The Passmark results for the Core 5 120U show specific strengths. Integer math scores 52280, floating point math scores 36026, and extended instructions score 9299. Data compression scores 166432, while data encryption scores 10453. Random string sorting scores 19060. Physics scores 937, and find prime numbers scores 53. These figures give a detailed picture of the Intel processor's behavior across different workload types, but they have no corresponding Snapdragon numbers to compare against.

Where Each One Wins

The Core 5 120U wins in every measured category by default, because the database contains no benchmark results for the Snapdragon X1E-80-100. The Intel part has verified scores across Cinebench R15, R20, R23, Geekbench, and the Passmark suite. Its 72nd percentile ranking among all CPUs indicates that it outperforms the majority of processors in the database. The near-tie with the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT, a desktop part, shows that the Core 5 120U delivers competitive compute performance despite its 15 W TDP and mobile positioning.

The Snapdragon X1E-80-100 wins in architectural efficiency based on the recorded specifications. It is built on a 4 nm process at TSMC, compared to the Intel 10 nm node. A smaller process node generally means better power efficiency and higher transistor density, though the database does not provide transistor counts or die sizes for either part. The Snapdragon also has a larger L1 cache at 288 KB per core versus 80 KB per core on the Intel, and a larger L2 cache at 12 MB per module versus 1.25 MB per core. Its L3 cache is 6 MB shared, while the Intel part has 12 MB shared. The Snapdragon's memory bandwidth is listed at 135.2 GB/s, which the Intel part does not have a recorded figure for.

The Snapdragon supports LPDDR5X memory, while the Core 5 120U supports DDR4 and DDR5. Both use dual-channel memory buses. The Snapdragon has 12 PCIe Gen 4 lanes from the CPU, compared to 8 lanes on the Intel part. The Snapdragon uses Qualcomm BGA 2073 socket, while the Intel uses Intel BGA 1744. The Snapdragon has a 35 W TDP, more than double the Intel's 15 W TDP, which suggests it is designed for higher sustained performance envelopes rather than ultra-low-power operation.

In practical terms, the Core 5 120U is the only one of the two with measurable performance data, so it wins in every benchmark category. The Snapdragon wins in process node, cache hierarchy, memory bandwidth, and PCIe lane count. For workloads that depend on raw single-thread burst performance, the Intel part's 5.00 GHz boost clock is an advantage. For sustained multithreaded workloads, the Snapdragon's higher base clock and 12 full cores give it a structural edge, but the database has no scores to confirm this.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core 5 120U has a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, while the Qualcomm Snapdragon X1E-80-100 has a boost clock of 4.00 GHz.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two processors?

A: The Intel Core 5 120U has a TDP of 15 W, while the Qualcomm Snapdragon X1E-80-100 has a TDP of 35 W.

Q: How many cores and threads does each processor have?

A: The Intel Core 5 120U has 10 cores and 12 threads. The Qualcomm Snapdragon X1E-80-100 has 12 cores and 12 threads.

Q: What is the database percentile ranking for each processor?

A: The Intel Core 5 120U is in the 72nd percentile of all CPUs in the database. The Qualcomm Snapdragon X1E-80-100 is in the 50th percentile, which reflects the absence of recorded benchmark scores.

Q: Which processor has more PCIe lanes?

A: The Qualcomm Snapdragon X1E-80-100 has 12 PCIe Gen 4 lanes from the CPU, while the Intel Core 5 120U has 8 PCIe Gen 4 lanes.

Q: What integrated graphics does each processor use?

A: The Intel Core 5 120U uses Iris Xe Graphics 80EU. The Qualcomm Snapdragon X1E-80-100 uses Adreno X1-85.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every major specification field. The Intel Core 5 120U has 10 cores and 12 threads, while the Qualcomm Snapdragon X1E-80-100 has 12 cores and 12 threads. Base clocks are 1.40 GHz for the Intel and 3.40 GHz for the Qualcomm. Boost clocks are 5.00 GHz for the Intel and 4.00 GHz for the Qualcomm. TDP is 15 W for the Intel and 35 W for the Qualcomm.

Sockets differ: Intel BGA 1744 on the Intel side, Qualcomm BGA 2073 on the Qualcomm side. The Intel part uses the Raptor Lake architecture with the Raptor Lake-U codename and belongs to the Core 5 generation. The Qualcomm part uses the Oryon codename and belongs to the Snapdragon X Elite generation. Process nodes are 10 nm at Intel for the Core 5 120U and 4 nm at TSMC for the Snapdragon.

Cache configurations are substantially different. The Intel part has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3. The Qualcomm part has 288 KB of L1 per core, 12 MB of L2 per module, and 6 MB of shared L3.

Memory support differs: the Intel part supports DDR4 and DDR5, while the Qualcomm part supports LPDDR5X. Both use dual-channel memory buses, but the Qualcomm part has a recorded memory bandwidth of 135.2 GB/s, while the Intel part has no recorded bandwidth figure. PCIe connectivity also differs: the Intel has Gen 4 with 8 CPU lanes, the Qualcomm has Gen 4 with 12 CPU lanes.

Integrated graphics are the Iris Xe Graphics 80EU on the Intel and the Adreno X1-85 on the Qualcomm. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier. Release dates are January 7, 2024 for the Intel and April 23, 2024 for the Qualcomm. Both are listed as Active in production status and neither has a launch MSRP in the database.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two processors is significant. The Intel Core 5 120U is built on Raptor Lake, specifically the Raptor Lake-U mobile variant, using a 10 nm process manufactured by Intel. The Qualcomm Snapdragon X1E-80-100 uses the Oryon codename, part of the Snapdragon X Elite generation, built on a 4 nm process at TSMC. The move from 10 nm to 4 nm represents a substantial reduction in process geometry, which generally enables higher transistor density and improved power efficiency, though the database does not list transistor counts or die sizes to quantify this.

The core count difference reflects different design philosophies. The Intel part uses 10 cores and 12 threads, indicating a hybrid arrangement where some cores support additional threads. The Qualcomm part uses 12 cores and 12 threads, a 1:1 core-to-thread ratio typical of efficiency-focused designs. The Intel part's higher boost clock of 5.00 GHz suggests a design optimized for burst performance, while the Qualcomm part's higher base clock of 3.40 GHz and lower boost ceiling of 4.00 GHz suggests a flatter performance curve aimed at sustained workloads.

Cache hierarchy differences are pronounced. The Intel part has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3. The Qualcomm part has 288 KB of L1 per core, 12 MB of L2 per module, and 6 MB of shared L3. The Qualcomm's larger per-core L1 and per-module L2 caches indicate a design that relies more heavily on local cache to feed its cores, while the Intel part has a larger shared L3 pool. The practical impact is workload-dependent: the Intel part's larger L3 benefits data shared across cores, while the Qualcomm's larger L1 and L2 benefit per-core working sets.

Memory architecture also diverges. The Intel part supports both DDR4 and DDR5, giving platform designers flexibility across memory generations. The Qualcomm part supports only LPDDR5X, a low-power memory standard optimized for mobile and thin-and-light systems. The Qualcomm part has a recorded memory bandwidth of 135.2 GB/s, while the Intel part has no recorded bandwidth figure in the database. Both use dual-channel memory buses.

PCIe connectivity differs as well. The Intel part provides Gen 4 with 8 CPU lanes, while the Qualcomm part provides Gen 4 with 12 CPU lanes. This gives the Qualcomm part more headroom for high-bandwidth peripherals such as NVMe storage and discrete GPUs, though the Intel part's 8 lanes are still sufficient for typical mobile configurations.

The TDP difference of 15 W versus 35 W is the clearest architectural signal. The Intel Core 5 120U is positioned for power-constrained designs where battery life and thermals are primary concerns. The Qualcomm Snapdragon X1E-80-100, with more than double the TDP, is positioned for performance-oriented mobile systems that can tolerate higher power draw. The 4 nm TSMC process partially offsets this power increase through efficiency gains, but the raw power budget remains substantially higher on the Qualcomm side.

The integrated graphics differ as well. The Intel part uses Iris Xe Graphics 80EU, a well-established integrated GPU architecture. The Qualcomm part uses Adreno X1-85, a GPU architecture derived from Qualcomm's mobile graphics lineage. The database does not include graphics benchmarks for either part, so relative graphics performance cannot be assessed from the recorded data.

Both processors are marked as Active in production status, meaning both are currently available in the market. Neither has an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking is not supported on either part. The Intel part was released on January 7, 2024, and the Qualcomm part on April 23, 2024, making the Qualcomm part the more recent release by roughly three and a half months.

The absence of benchmark data for the Snapdragon X1E-80-100 remains the defining limitation in any comparison. The specification sheet shows a capable modern processor with a leading-edge process node, a large cache hierarchy, and high memory bandwidth. But without recorded scores, the database cannot confirm how those specifications translate into real-world performance. The Intel Core 5 120U, by contrast, has a full set of benchmark results that place it in the 72nd percentile of all CPUs, with performance essentially tied to desktop parts like the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT.