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

Intel Core 5 120UL and Intel Core 5 223PQE are two desktop processors sharing the Intel Socket 1700 platform, but they target different performance and capability profiles. The 120UL is a Raptor Lake-PS part with 10 cores, a 15 watt TDP, and a 68th percentile ranking among all CPUs in the database. The 223PQE is a Bartlett Lake part with 8 cores, a 125 watt TDP, and a 50th percentile ranking. The recorded data shows that the 120UL has a complete set of benchmark scores across Cinebench and Passmark tests, while the 223PQE has no recorded benchmark results in the database. Consequently, the comparison relies on architectural specifications, memory and PCIe capabilities, and the absence of direct performance measurements for one part.

The Verdict

Based on the available data, the Intel Core 5 120UL is the only one of the two with verified performance results. Its average benchmark score of 13594 places it in the 68th percentile of all CPUs, which indicates solid mid-range performance. The 120UL delivers a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 8974 and a single-core score of 1266, along with a Passmark multi-thread score of 10558 and a single-thread score of 2080. These numbers show a processor capable of handling both multi-threaded workloads and lighter single-thread tasks effectively.

The Intel Core 5 223PQE has no benchmark scores recorded in the database, so its performance cannot be directly quantified. What the data does show is a higher base clock of 4.00 GHz versus 1.30 GHz, a higher boost clock of 5.50 GHz versus 4.60 GHz, and a significantly larger L3 cache of 24 MB shared versus 12 MB shared. It also supports ECC memory, which the 120UL does not, and offers PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU, compared to Gen 4 with 8 lanes on the 120UL. The 223PQE also has a higher TDP of 125 watts versus 15 watts.

For users who need a processor with verified performance and low power consumption, the 120UL is the clear choice from the data. For users who require ECC memory support, higher PCIe bandwidth, and a higher clock ceiling, the 223PQE offers those specifications, but without benchmark scores, its actual performance advantage cannot be confirmed. The database ranks the 120UL at the 68th percentile, which is above the 223PQE’s 50th percentile, but that ranking is based on measured scores for the former and an absence of scores for the latter. The verdict is that the 120UL is the better-documented and more efficient option, while the 223PQE is a higher-spec part with unverified performance.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural families. The Intel Core 5 120UL uses the Raptor Lake architecture with the codename Raptor Lake-PS, while the Intel Core 5 223PQE uses the Bartlett Lake codename. Both are built on a 10 nm process node by Intel, but the core configurations differ. The 120UL has 10 cores and 12 threads, while the 223PQE has 8 cores and 16 threads. This means the 120UL has more physical cores but fewer threads, indicating a hybrid core arrangement where some cores do not support hyper-threading. The 223PQE has fewer cores but all 8 support hyper-threading, yielding 16 threads.

Cache hierarchies also differ. Both parts have an L1 cache of 80 KB per core, but the L2 cache is 1.25 MB per core on the 120UL versus 2 MB per core on the 223PQE. The L3 cache is 12 MB shared on the 120UL and 24 MB shared on the 223PQE. The larger L2 and L3 caches on the 223PQE suggest a design aimed at higher per-core performance and better data locality for demanding workloads.

The integrated graphics differ as well. The 120UL uses Iris Xe Graphics with 80 execution units, while the 223PQE uses UHD Graphics 770. Both support DDR4 and DDR5 memory with a dual-channel memory bus, but the 223PQE has a recorded memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, while the 120UL has no explicit bandwidth figure in the database. The 223PQE also supports ECC memory, a feature absent on the 120UL. PCIe capabilities differ significantly: the 223PQE provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the 120UL provides Gen 4 with 8 lanes. These differences indicate that the 223PQE targets a more server-like or professional use case, while the 120UL is a lower-power desktop part.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database contains no head-to-head benchmark results between the Intel Core 5 120UL and the Intel Core 5 223PQE. The 223PQE has an empty benchmark array, meaning no Cinebench or Passmark scores are recorded for it. The 120UL, however, has 17 recorded benchmark scores. In the absence of direct comparisons, the analysis must rely on the 120UL’s absolute scores and the architectural specifications of the 223PQE.

For the 120UL, the Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 8974 and single-core score of 1266 show a processor that handles multi-threaded rendering tasks reasonably well. The Cinebench R20 scores are 3769 multi-core and 531 single-core, and the Cinebench R15 scores are 904 multi-core and 127 single-core. These results are consistent across versions, showing a stable performance profile. In Passmark tests, the 120UL scores 38060 in integer math, 26311 in floating-point math, 109090 in data compression, 7685 in data encryption, 5203 in extended instructions, 47 in find prime numbers, 807 in physics, 13610 in random string sorting, and 10558 in multi-thread. The single-thread score is 2080.

The 223PQE’s higher base clock of 4.00 GHz and boost clock of 5.50 GHz suggest it could outperform the 120UL in single-thread tasks, but no measured scores confirm this. The 223PQE’s larger L3 cache of 24 MB versus 12 MB could also benefit workloads that reuse data, but again, no benchmark data exists. The 120UL’s 10 cores versus the 223PQE’s 8 cores might imply an advantage in heavily parallel workloads, but the 223PQE’s 16 threads versus 12 threads could offset that in hyper-threaded scenarios. Without direct measurements, these remain speculative. The only concrete numbers come from the 120UL, and they show a capable mid-range processor.

FAQ

Q: Does the Intel Core 5 223PQE have any recorded benchmark scores?

A: No. The database lists an empty benchmark array for the 223PQE, meaning there are no Cinebench or Passmark scores for this processor. The 120UL has 17 recorded benchmark scores.

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

A: The Intel Core 5 120UL has 10 cores and 12 threads. The Intel Core 5 223PQE has 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Core 5 223PQE supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core 5 120UL does not have ECC support listed in the database.

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

A: The Intel Core 5 120UL has a TDP of 15 watts. The Intel Core 5 223PQE has a TDP of 125 watts.

Q: What are the clock speeds for each processor?

A: The Intel Core 5 120UL has a base clock of 1.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. The Intel Core 5 223PQE has a base clock of 4.00 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz.

Q: Which processor has a higher PCIe specification?

A: The Intel Core 5 223PQE provides PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The Intel Core 5 120UL provides PCIe Gen 4 with 8 lanes from the CPU.

Q: What is the L3 cache size for each?

A: The Intel Core 5 120UL has 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel Core 5 223PQE has 24 MB of shared L3 cache.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 5 120UL wins in the areas that are directly measurable from the database. It has a higher average benchmark score of 13594, which places it in the 68th percentile of all CPUs. The 223PQE has a 50th percentile ranking, but that is based on an average score of 0, which is not a real performance figure. The 120UL also wins on power efficiency, with a 15 watt TDP compared to 125 watts, making it suitable for systems with limited cooling or lower power budgets. Its 10 cores provide more physical cores for parallel tasks, and its integrated Iris Xe Graphics with 80 execution units may offer better integrated graphics performance than the UHD Graphics 770, though no direct comparison is recorded.

The Intel Core 5 223PQE wins on specification-based criteria. Its base clock of 4.00 GHz and boost clock of 5.50 GHz are substantially higher than the 120UL’s 1.30 GHz and 4.60 GHz, which should translate to faster single-thread execution, assuming the architecture scales accordingly. Its L3 cache of 24 MB is double the 120UL’s 12 MB, and its L2 cache of 2 MB per core is larger than 1.25 MB per core. The 223PQE supports ECC memory, a critical feature for data integrity in professional or server workloads. Its PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes offers double the lane count and a newer generation compared to Gen 4 with 8 lanes on the 120UL. The 223PQE also has a recorded memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, a figure absent for the 120UL, suggesting higher memory throughput capabilities.

For memory-intensive tasks, the 223PQE’s larger caches and higher bandwidth give it a theoretical edge. For multi-threaded workloads where more physical cores matter, the 120UL has an advantage, but the 223PQE’s 16 threads versus 12 threads narrows that gap. The 223PQE also has a launch MSRP of $319, which is stated once here as a reference point, while the 120UL has no launch MSRP in the database. Overall, the 120UL wins on verified performance and efficiency, while the 223PQE wins on raw specifications and feature support.

Specification Differences

The following fields differ between the Intel Core 5 120UL and the Intel Core 5 223PQE, based on the database records:

• Cores: 10 (120UL) vs 8 (223PQE)
• Threads: 12 (120UL) vs 16 (223PQE)
• Base clock: 1.30 GHz (120UL) vs 4.00 GHz (223PQE)
• Boost clock: 4.60 GHz (120UL) vs 5.50 GHz (223PQE)
• TDP: 15 watts (120UL) vs 125 watts (223PQE)
• Architecture: Raptor Lake (120UL) vs not specified (223PQE)
• Codename: Raptor Lake-PS (120UL) vs Bartlett Lake (223PQE)
• Generation: Core 5 (Raptor Lake-PS) (120UL) vs Core 5 (Bartlett Lake) (223PQE)
• L2 cache: 1.25 MB per core (120UL) vs 2 MB per core (223PQE)
• L3 cache: 12 MB shared (120UL) vs 24 MB shared (223PQE)
• Memory bandwidth: not recorded (120UL) vs 89.6 GB/s (223PQE)
• ECC memory: false (120UL) vs true (223PQE)
• PCIe: Gen 4, 8 lanes (120UL) vs Gen 5, 16 lanes (223PQE)
• Integrated graphics: Iris Xe Graphics 80EU (120UL) vs UHD Graphics 770 (223PQE)
• Release date: 2024-04-07 (120UL) vs 2026-03-08 (223PQE)
• Launch MSRP: not recorded (120UL) vs $319 (223PQE)
• Part number: unknown (120UL) vs SA4QC (223PQE)
• Percentile vs all CPUs: 68 (120UL) vs 50 (223PQE)
• Average benchmark score: 13594 (120UL) vs 0 (223PQE)
• Benchmark entries: 17 (120UL) vs 0 (223PQE)

Fields that are identical include the manufacturer (Intel), process node (10 nm), foundry (Intel), L1 cache (80 KB per core), memory support (DDR4, DDR5), memory bus (dual-channel), socket (Intel Socket 1700), market segment (Desktop), production status (Active), and multiplier unlocked (false). The 120UL has a release date in 2024, while the 223PQE has a release date in 2026, indicating a later introduction for the latter. The 223PQE’s part number is recorded as SA4QC, while the 120UL’s is unknown. These differences define two distinct processors: one efficient and benchmarked, the other high-spec but unmeasured.