Intel Core 5 120U vs Qualcomm Snapdragon X2E-78-100 Comparison

Intel Core 5 120U and Qualcomm Snapdragon X2E-78-100 serve different corners of the mobile processor market. The Intel part is a Raptor Lake-U design built on Intel's 10 nm process, featuring 10 cores and 12 threads. The Qualcomm part is a Glymur-class Snapdragon X2 Elite chip built on TSMC's 3 nm process with 12 cores and 12 threads. The test data for the Intel chip shows strong performance in productivity workloads, while the Qualcomm chip is listed as active with a 3 nm process and a large die size. The recorded data highlights a major generation gap: Intel launched in January 2024, Qualcomm in April 2026.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 5 120U demonstrates clear wins in multi-threaded and single-threaded compute benchmarks. In Cinebench R23, it scores 6659 points in multi-core and 1756.5 in single-core. In Geekbench, it reaches 5888 multi-core and 1727 single-core. Passmark results are comprehensive, with a single-thread score of 3479, a multithread score of 15042, and integer math at 52280. These numbers place the Intel chip at the 72nd percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 17898. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT with a delta of 0 percent, the Intel Core 5 221TE at 0.2 percent ahead, and the Intel Core 7 350 at 0.7 percent ahead.

The Qualcomm Snapdragon X2E-78-100 has no recorded benchmark scores in the database. Its percentile rank is 50, and its average benchmark score is zero. This means the data shows no wins for the Qualcomm chip in any tested workload. The wins are entirely with the Intel part for any measurable performance metric. The Qualcomm chip's advantage lies in its architecture and specifications, not in measured results. It uses a 3 nm process from TSMC, has 12 cores, and supports PCIe Gen 5 with 12 lanes. The Intel chip uses PCIe Gen 4 with 8 lanes. For memory, the Qualcomm chip supports LPDDR5X with a bandwidth of 152.4 GB/s, while Intel supports DDR4 and DDR5 in a dual-channel configuration without a listed bandwidth.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core 5 120U is built on the Raptor Lake architecture, specifically Raptor Lake-U, using a 10 nm process from Intel's own foundry. It has 10 cores and 12 threads, meaning it features a hybrid design with performance and efficiency cores, typical of Raptor Lake mobile parts. The base clock is 1.40 GHz and the boost clock is 5.00 GHz. The cache layout includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The integrated graphics are Iris Xe Graphics with 80 execution units. The socket is Intel BGA 1744. The TDP is 15 watts.

The Qualcomm Snapdragon X2E-78-100 is based on the Glymur codename, part of the Snapdragon X2 Elite generation. It uses a 3 nm process from TSMC, a significant node advantage over Intel's 10 nm. It has 12 cores and 12 threads, indicating a homogeneous core design without hyper-threading. The base clock is 4.00 GHz, with no boost clock listed. The die size is 220 mm², which is a substantial silicon area. Cache includes 288 KB of L1 per core and 16 MB of shared L2, with no L3 cache listed. The integrated graphics are Adreno X2-85. The socket is Qualcomm BGA 2343. The TDP is not listed, and the memory support is LPDDR5X with a bandwidth of 152.4 GB/s.

Key differences include the process node, core count, clock speeds, cache hierarchy, memory type, PCIe generation, and socket. Intel has a higher boost clock at 5.00 GHz, while Qualcomm has a higher base clock at 4.00 GHz. Intel uses DDR4/DDR5 memory, while Qualcomm uses LPDDR5X only. Intel's L3 cache is shared at 12 MB, while Qualcomm has a shared L2 of 16 MB and no L3. Intel's PCIe is Gen 4 with 8 lanes, while Qualcomm is Gen 5 with 12 lanes. The Intel chip integrates Iris Xe Graphics, while Qualcomm uses Adreno X2-85.

The Verdict

The benchmark data clearly favors the Intel Core 5 120U for any workload that requires measured compute performance. The Intel chip has a 72nd percentile ranking, while the Qualcomm chip sits at the 50th percentile with no benchmarks recorded. The Intel chip's average benchmark score of 17898 is substantial, and its nearest rivals are all within a 0.7 percent delta, indicating consistent performance in its class. The Qualcomm chip's average score is zero, meaning it cannot be compared directly on performance.

For users who prioritize raw CPU performance in applications like Cinebench, Geekbench, and Passmark, the Intel Core 5 120U is the only option with data to support a recommendation. The Qualcomm Snapdragon X2E-78-100 is a newer, more advanced part in terms of process node and memory bandwidth, but without recorded benchmarks, it offers no measurable performance evidence. The data suggests that the Intel chip is the practical choice for current workloads, while the Qualcomm chip may be relevant for future-oriented systems that rely on its 3 nm process and PCIe Gen 5 capabilities.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher base clock?

A: The Qualcomm Snapdragon X2E-78-100 has a base clock of 4.00 GHz, while the Intel Core 5 120U has a base clock of 1.40 GHz.

Q: How many cores does each processor have?

A: The Intel Core 5 120U has 10 cores and 12 threads, while the Qualcomm Snapdragon X2E-78-100 has 12 cores and 12 threads.

Q: What is the process node for each chip?

A: The Intel Core 5 120U uses a 10 nm process from Intel, while the Qualcomm Snapdragon X2E-78-100 uses a 3 nm process from TSMC.

Q: Which processor supports PCIe Gen 5?

A: The Qualcomm Snapdragon X2E-78-100 supports PCIe Gen 5 with 12 lanes. The Intel Core 5 120U supports PCIe Gen 4 with 8 lanes.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth for the Qualcomm chip?

A: The Qualcomm Snapdragon X2E-78-100 has a memory bandwidth of 152.4 GB/s, supporting LPDDR5X memory. The Intel chip supports DDR4 and DDR5 but has no listed bandwidth.

Q: Does the Intel chip have a higher single-thread score?

A: Yes, the Intel Core 5 120U scores 3479 in Passmark single-thread and 1756.5 in Cinebench R23 single-core. The Qualcomm chip has no recorded single-thread scores.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head benchmark table is empty, so no direct comparison scores exist between the Intel Core 5 120U and the Qualcomm Snapdragon X2E-78-100. However, the Intel chip's individual benchmark results provide a detailed picture of its performance. In Cinebench R15, the Intel chip scores 1150.5 in multi-core and 245 in single-core. In Cinebench R20, it scores 5349 in multi-core and 755 in single-core. In Cinebench R23, it scores 6659 in multi-core and 1756.5 in single-core. In Geekbench, it scores 5888 in multi-core and 1727 in single-core.

Passmark results for the Intel chip include data compression at 166432, data encryption at 10453, extended instructions at 9299, find prime numbers at 53, floating point math at 36026, integer math at 52280, multithread at 15042, physics at 937, random string sorting at 19060, and single thread at 3479. The Qualcomm chip has no benchmarks in the database, so there are no wins to attribute to it. The Intel chip wins every recorded benchmark category by default, and its percentile rank of 72 versus Qualcomm's 50 reflects its stronger standing in the database. The nearest rivals to the Intel chip include the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT with an average score of 17891 and a delta of 0 percent, the Intel Core 5 221TE at 17860 with a 0.2 percent delta, and the Intel Core 7 350 at 17779 with a 0.7 percent delta.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specification fields. The Intel Core 5 120U has 10 cores and 12 threads, while the Qualcomm Snapdragon X2E-78-100 has 12 cores and 12 threads. The base clock differs significantly: Intel at 1.40 GHz, Qualcomm at 4.00 GHz. The boost clock is 5.00 GHz for Intel, with no boost clock listed for Qualcomm. The TDP is 15 watts for Intel, with no TDP listed for Qualcomm.

The sockets are different: Intel BGA 1744 versus Qualcomm BGA 2343. The architectures differ as well: Intel uses Raptor Lake with a Raptor Lake-U codename, while Qualcomm uses the Glymur codename. The process node is 10 nm for Intel and 3 nm for Qualcomm. The foundry is Intel for the Core 5 120U and TSMC for the Snapdragon X2E-78-100. The die size is not listed for Intel but is 220 mm² for Qualcomm.

Cache configurations are distinct. Intel has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3. Qualcomm has 288 KB of L1 per core and 16 MB of shared L2, with no L3 cache listed. Memory support differs: Intel supports DDR4 and DDR5 in a dual-channel configuration, while Qualcomm supports LPDDR5X with a bandwidth of 152.4 GB/s. PCIe support is Gen 4 with 8 lanes for Intel, and Gen 5 with 12 lanes for Qualcomm. Integrated graphics are Iris Xe Graphics 80EU for Intel and Adreno X2-85 for Qualcomm. Both have the same market segment (mobile), production status (active), and lack of an unlocked multiplier. The release dates differ: Intel on January 7, 2024, and Qualcomm on April 5, 2026. No launch MSRP is listed for either part.