Intel Core 5 120UL vs Intel Core 5 315 Comparison

The Intel Core 5 120UL and the Intel Core 5 315 represent two very different approaches to low-power processing. The 120UL is a 10-core, 12-thread Raptor Lake part on Intel Socket 1700, while the 315 is a 6-core, 6-thread Wildcat Lake part on Intel BGA 1516. The benchmark data shows a decisive overall victory for the 315, which wins 16 of the 17 head-to-head tests, but the 120UL holds one significant advantage that defines its use case. This analysis examines where each processor excels, their architectural differences, and the specific benchmark results that separate them.

Where Each One Wins

The data paints a clear picture of two distinct performance profiles. The Intel Core 5 315 is the overwhelming winner in nearly every workload category, taking 16 of 17 recorded tests. Its dominance spans single-core performance, multi-core rendering, data compression, encryption, and physics calculations. The 315 also sits at a higher percentile of all CPUs, ranking in the 72nd percentile compared to the 120UL's 68th percentile, and its average benchmark score of 18188 is substantially higher than the 120UL's 13594.

The Intel Core 5 120UL has exactly one victory in the head-to-head results: PassMark integer math, where it scores 38060 against the 315's 31690, a 20.1% advantage. This single win indicates the 120UL's higher core count and thread count can provide an edge in specific parallel integer workloads. For users running software that scales well across many threads and relies heavily on integer arithmetic, the 120UL's 10 cores and 12 threads offer a measurable benefit despite losing elsewhere.

The 315's wins are not marginal. In single-threaded PassMark testing, it scores 4021 versus 2080 for the 120UL, a 48.3% lead. This gap suggests the 315 is the clear choice for lightly threaded applications, responsive desktop use, and tasks where per-core performance matters most. The 315 also wins all three Cinebench versions in both single and multi-core tests, making it the stronger option for 3D rendering and content creation workloads.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different manufacturing and design generations. The Intel Core 5 120UL uses Raptor Lake architecture built on a 10 nm process at Intel's foundry, with the Raptor Lake-PS codename. The Intel Core 5 315 uses Wildcat Lake architecture on a much smaller 3 nm process, also from Intel. This process node difference is substantial and explains much of the performance gap, as the 315 achieves higher scores despite having fewer cores and threads.

Core configurations differ significantly. The 120UL packs 10 cores and 12 threads, indicating a mix of performance and efficiency cores typical of Raptor Lake designs. The 315 has just 6 cores and 6 threads, with no hyper-threading, yet it still outperforms the 120UL in most tests. Cache hierarchies also differ: the 120UL has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3. The 315 uses 192 KB of L1, 2.5 MB of L2, and 6 MB of shared L3, a smaller total cache but structured differently.

Memory support separates the two as well. The 120UL supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory over a dual-channel bus, while the 315 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X over a single-channel bus with a recorded bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s. The 315's single-channel memory controller is a notable limitation, but its newer memory types and higher per-core performance compensate in most benchmarks. PCIe lanes also differ, with the 120UL offering Gen 4 with 8 CPU lanes versus 6 lanes for the 315.

Integrated graphics diverge sharply. The 120UL carries Iris Xe Graphics with 80 execution units, while the 315 uses Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores. The 315's integrated GPU is part of a newer generation, but the 120UL's higher execution unit count may offer different graphics capabilities. The 315 is classified as a mobile segment processor, while the 120UL is a desktop part, reflecting their intended platforms and socket types.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench results show consistent 30.9% advantages for the Intel Core 5 315 across all versions and test types. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the 315 scores 1308 against 904 for the 120UL. Single-core R15 shows 184 versus 127. Cinebench R20 multicore delivers 5452 versus 3769, and single-core 769 versus 531. Cinebench R23 multicore reaches 12981 versus 8974, with single-core at 1832 versus 1266. Every Cinebench delta is exactly 30.9%, indicating a uniform performance scaling advantage for the 315 in this rendering workload.

PassMark results show even larger gaps in several categories. Extended instructions testing reveals a 60.4% lead for the 315, scoring 13143 against 5203. Prime number finding shows a 58% advantage, with 112 versus 47. Floating point math delivers 42441 versus 26311, a 38% gap. Single-threaded PassMark scores show 4021 versus 2080, a 48.3% difference. These results indicate the 315's newer architecture provides substantial per-clock advantages in complex mathematical and instruction-heavy workloads.

Data processing tests also favor the 315. Data compression scores 146143 versus 109090, a 25.4% lead. Data encryption shows 11119 versus 7685, a 30.9% gap. Random string sorting delivers 17551 versus 13610, a 22.5% advantage. The multithread PassMark test shows 15272 versus 10558, another 30.9% win for the 315, while physics testing shows 1163 versus 807, a 30.6% edge.

The single exception remains PassMark integer math, where the 120UL wins 38060 to 31690. This 20.1% victory for the 120UL suggests that its combination of 10 cores and 12 threads can overcome the 315's architectural advantages in workloads that parallelize well across many threads and focus on integer operations. It is the only recorded test where the 120UL's higher core count translates into a win, indicating that most modern workloads benefit more from the 315's per-core efficiency than from raw thread count.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every specification field. Core and thread counts show 10 cores and 12 threads for the 120UL versus 6 cores and 6 threads for the 315. Base clocks are 1.30 GHz for the 120UL and 1.50 GHz for the 315, while boost clocks reach 4.60 GHz for the 120UL and 4.40 GHz for the 315. Both have a 15 TDP, but the 120UL uses Intel Socket 1700 while the 315 uses Intel BGA 1516.

Process technology separates them clearly, with the 120UL on 10 nm and the 315 on 3 nm. The 120UL uses Raptor Lake architecture with the Raptor Lake-PS codename, while the 315 uses Wildcat Lake. Cache configurations differ in structure: the 120UL lists 80 KB L1 per core and 1.25 MB L2 per core, while the 315 lists 192 KB L1 and 2.5 MB L2 as total figures. L3 cache shows 12 MB shared for the 120UL versus 6 MB shared for the 315.

Memory support and bandwidth differ. The 120UL supports DDR4 and DDR5 over dual-channel, while the 315 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X over single-channel with a documented bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s. PCIe connectivity shows Gen 4 with 8 lanes for the 120UL and Gen 4 with 6 lanes for the 315. Integrated graphics use Iris Xe Graphics 80EU on the 120UL and Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores on the 315. Market segment classifies the 120UL as desktop and the 315 as mobile. Release dates show the 120UL launched on 2024-04-07 and the 315 on 2026-04-15. The 315 has a launch MSRP of $340. Neither processor supports ECC memory or has an unlocked multiplier.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core 5 120UL has 10 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Core 5 315 has 6 cores and 6 threads.

Q: How do the two processors compare in single-threaded performance?

A: The Intel Core 5 315 leads significantly in single-threaded tests, scoring 4021 in PassMark single-thread versus 2080 for the 120UL, a 48.3% advantage, and 1832 versus 1266 in Cinebench R23 single-core.

Q: What is the only benchmark where the Intel Core 5 120UL wins?

A: The 120UL wins PassMark integer math, scoring 38060 against 31690 for the 315, a 20.1% advantage.

Q: What are the process nodes for each processor?

A: The Intel Core 5 120UL is built on a 10 nm process, while the Intel Core 5 315 uses a 3 nm process, both from Intel.

Q: How do the memory controllers differ between the two?

A: The 120UL supports DDR4 and DDR5 over a dual-channel bus, while the 315 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X over a single-channel bus with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: What is the average benchmark score difference?

A: The Intel Core 5 315 has an average benchmark score of 18188, while the Intel Core 5 120UL averages 13594, placing the 315 in the 72nd percentile of all CPUs versus the 68th percentile for the 120UL.