Intel Core 5 120UL vs Intel Core 5 223PE Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data presents an unambiguous outcome: the Intel Core 5 223PE wins every single head-to-head comparison in the database, 17 wins to 0. The Core 5 120UL never takes a single test. The 223PE delivers an average benchmark score of 40585, while the 120UL averages 13594. That is a 26991 point gap, or roughly three times the overall performance. The 223PE sits at the 87th percentile of all CPUs in the database, while the 120UL ranks at the 68th percentile. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking is not a distinguishing factor. Any buyer comparing these two parts on recorded performance alone has a single rational choice: the 223PE. The 120UL offers no measured advantage anywhere, which makes its lower TDP of 15 watts versus 65 watts the only practical reason to consider it, and that is a power envelope consideration, not a performance one.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design lineages. The Core 5 120UL uses Raptor Lake architecture with the Raptor Lake-PS codename, while the Core 5 223PE uses Bartlett Lake architecture. Both are built on a 10 nm process node at Intel's foundry, so the manufacturing process is identical. The core configurations diverge sharply. The 120UL has 10 cores and 12 threads, a modest thread count for a desktop part. The 223PE has 8 cores and 16 threads, which means it uses hyperthreading on every core while the 120UL does not fully double its thread count. That thread asymmetry matters: the 223PE has 4 more threads than the 120UL despite having 2 fewer physical cores.

The cache hierarchy also favors the 223PE. Both parts use an 80 KB L1 cache per core, but the L2 cache jumps from 1.25 MB per core on the 120UL to 2 MB per core on the 223PE. The L3 cache doubles from 12 MB shared on the 120UL to 24 MB shared on the 223PE. The 223PE also lists a memory bandwidth figure of 89.6 GB/s, while the 120UL has no recorded bandwidth number in the database. Both support DDR4 and DDR5 memory over a dual-channel bus, but the 223PE adds ECC memory support, which the 120UL lacks.

Clock speeds explain much of the performance delta. The 120UL has a base clock of 1.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. The 223PE has a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 5.20 GHz. That is a 1.60 GHz higher base and a 0.60 GHz higher boost. The platform connectivity differs as well. The 120UL uses PCIe Gen 4 with 8 CPU lanes; the 223PE uses PCIe Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes. Both fit the Intel Socket 1700. Integrated graphics differ: the 120UL carries Iris Xe Graphics with 80 execution units, while the 223PE carries the more modest UHD Graphics 730.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The data shows a sweeping victory for the 223PE across every recorded workload. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the 223PE scores 26455 against 8974 for the 120UL, a 66.1% deficit for the 120UL. The same 66.1% gap appears in Cinebench R23 single-core: 3734 versus 1266. That consistency in the margin across single and multi-core tests suggests the 223PE's clock advantage and thread efficiency carry over uniformly.

Cinebench R20 shows the same pattern. Multi-core: 11111 for the 223PE versus 3769 for the 120UL, again a 66.1% gap. Single-core: 1568 versus 531, also 66.1%. Cinebench R15 repeats it: multi-core 2666 versus 904, single-core 376 versus 127, both at 66.1% and 66.2% respectively. The near-identical delta percentages across all three Cinebench versions indicate a fixed architectural performance ratio between the two parts, not a workload-specific anomaly.

PassMark results widen the margins further in some tests. Extended instructions show the largest gap: the 223PE scores 24672 versus 5203 for the 120UL, a 78.9% deficit. Data compression: 346623 versus 109090, a 68.5% gap. Prime number finding: 159 versus 47, a 70.4% gap. Floating point math: 76468 versus 26311, a 65.6% gap. Integer math: 99819 versus 38060, a 61.9% gap. Physics: 2493 versus 807, a 67.6% gap. Random string sorting: 35798 versus 13610, a 62% gap. Data encryption: 18448 versus 7685, a 58.3% gap. PassMark multi-thread: 31124 versus 10558, a 66.1% gap. PassMark single-thread: 4219 versus 2080, a 50.7% gap.

The single-thread gap is the tightest of any test, yet still a massive 50.7% advantage for the 223PE. The extended instructions gap is the widest, suggesting the 223PE's newer Bartlett Lake design handles SIMD or specialized instruction workloads disproportionately better. The 120UL's highest relative performance appears in encryption, where the gap narrows to 58.3%, but that still leaves it far behind.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core 5 120UL has 10 cores, while the Intel Core 5 223PE has 8 cores. However, the 223PE has 16 threads versus 12 for the 120UL.

Q: Why does the 223PE win every benchmark if it has fewer cores?

A: The 223PE has a significantly higher base clock (2.90 GHz versus 1.30 GHz) and boost clock (5.20 GHz versus 4.60 GHz). It also has 16 threads versus 12, double the L3 cache (24 MB versus 12 MB), and a larger L2 cache per core (2 MB versus 1.25 MB).

Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?

A: Yes, both support DDR4 and DDR5 over a dual-channel memory bus. The 223PE adds ECC memory support, which the 120UL does not have. The 223PE also records a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, while the 120UL has no bandwidth figure listed.

Q: Are both processors on the same socket?

A: Yes, both use Intel Socket 1700. They also share the same 10 nm process node and Intel as the foundry.

Q: What are the power consumption differences?

A: The 120UL has a TDP of 15 watts, while the 223PE has a TDP of 65 watts. The 223PE uses substantially more power but delivers substantially more performance.

Q: Which processor has better integrated graphics?

A: The 120UL uses Iris Xe Graphics with 80 execution units, while the 223PE uses UHD Graphics 730. The 120UL's integrated graphics solution carries more execution units.

Where Each One Wins

The 223PE wins every measured workload in the database. There is no benchmark category where the 120UL takes a victory. For multi-threaded rendering, Cinebench R23 multi-core shows the 223PE at 26455 versus 8974, making it the clear choice for CPU-bound creative workloads. For single-thread responsiveness, the 50.7% single-thread PassMark gap and the 66.1% Cinebench R23 single-core gap both favor the 223PE. For data-heavy tasks, the 223PE's 346623 score in data compression and 99819 in integer math dwarf the 120UL's 109090 and 38060 respectively. The 223PE also handles encryption better at 18448 versus 7685.

The 120UL's only distinguishing traits are its 15 watt TDP, which is 50 watts lower than the 223PE's 65 watt TDP, and its Iris Xe Graphics with 80 execution units. For systems where power draw is the dominant constraint and integrated graphics capability matters more than CPU throughput, the 120UL could be the appropriate part. The database also shows the 120UL's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i3-12100F at a 0.7% higher average score, the Intel Core 3 N355 at 0.8% higher, and the Intel Core 3 304 at 1.1% lower. The 223PE's nearest rivals include the Intel Core 7 253PE at 0.1% higher, the Intel Xeon 6357P at 0.1% lower, and the AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 435G at 0.3% lower. These rival placements suggest the 223PE competes in a much higher performance tier than the 120UL.

Specification Differences

The two parts differ in nearly every core specification. The 120UL has 10 cores and 12 threads; the 223PE has 8 cores and 16 threads. Base clocks: 1.30 GHz versus 2.90 GHz. Boost clocks: 4.60 GHz versus 5.20 GHz. TDP: 15 watts versus 65 watts. The 120UL uses Raptor Lake with the Raptor Lake-PS codename; the 223PE uses Bartlett Lake. Process node is the same at 10 nm, and both use Intel as the foundry. L1 cache is identical at 80 KB per core. L2 cache differs: 1.25 MB per core on the 120UL versus 2 MB per core on the 223PE. L3 cache: 12 MB shared versus 24 MB shared. Both support DDR4 and DDR5 memory over dual-channel, but the 223PE adds ECC memory support and a recorded 89.6 GB/s memory bandwidth. PCIe connectivity: Gen 4 with 8 lanes on the 120UL versus Gen 5 with 16 lanes on the 223PE. Integrated graphics: Iris Xe Graphics 80EU on the 120UL versus UHD Graphics 730 on the 223PE. The 223PE has a launch MSRP of $232; the 120UL has no launch MSRP recorded in the database. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier. The 223PE has a part number of SA4QF, while the 120UL's part number is unknown. Both are currently Active in production, and both fit Intel Socket 1700.