Intel Core 5 120UL vs Intel Core 7 253PE Comparison

The Intel Core 5 120UL and Intel Core 7 253PE are both desktop processors on the Intel Socket 1700 platform, but the benchmark data shows they occupy different performance tiers. The Core 7 253PE dominates every recorded test, while the Core 5 120UL trails significantly across the board. This analysis breaks down the head-to-head results, architectural differences, and the specific workloads where each processor holds an advantage based strictly on the recorded data.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Core 7 253PE wins all 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons in the database, leaving the Core 5 120UL with zero wins. The margins are substantial in nearly every category. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Core 7 253PE scores 24,880 against 8,974 for the Core 5 120UL, a delta of -63.9%. The single-core R23 result follows the same pattern: 3,512 versus 1,266, a -64% delta.

Cinebench R15 and R20 results show consistent gaps. In R15 multi-core, the Core 7 253PE posts 2,507 versus 904, and in R20 multi-core it reaches 10,449 versus 3,769. Both deltas sit at -63.9%. Single-core R15 and R20 deltas are -64.1% and -64%, respectively.

PassMark tests reveal the widest separations. The extended instructions test shows the Core 7 253PE at 21,806 against 5,203 for the Core 5 120UL, a -76.1% delta, the largest margin in the dataset. Data compression scores 339,133 versus 109,090, a -67.8% delta. Integer math lands at 114,158 versus 38,060, a -66.7% delta, while floating point math hits 80,870 versus 26,311, a -67.5% delta.

The smallest relative gap appears in PassMark single-thread performance. The Core 7 253PE scores 3,955 compared to 2,080 for the Core 5 120UL, a -47.4% delta. Even the closest margin remains a decisive advantage for the Core 7 253PE. In PassMark physics, the Core 7 253PE scores 1,845 versus 807, a -56.3% delta, and in data encryption it posts 18,385 versus 7,685, a -58.2% delta. Random string sorting shows 32,777 versus 13,610, a -58.5% delta.

The average benchmark score reinforces the gap. The Core 7 253PE averages 40,557, while the Core 5 120UL averages 13,594. The Core 7 253PE also sits at the 87th percentile among all CPUs, compared to the 68th percentile for the Core 5 120UL. The nearest rivals for the Core 7 253PE include the Intel Core 5 223PE at 40,585 (-0.1% delta), the Intel Core Ultra X7 368H at 40,518 (0.1% delta), the Intel Xeon 6357P at 40,630 (-0.2% delta), and the AMD Ryzen 9 7940H at 40,431 (0.3% delta). The Core 5 120UL sits near the Intel Core i3-12100F at 13,494 (0.7% delta), the Intel Core 3 N355 at 13,492 (0.8% delta), the Intel Core i5-9500 at 13,452 (1.1% delta), and the Intel Core 3 304 at 13,745 (-1.1% delta).

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core 7 253PE boosts to 5.50 GHz, while the Intel Core 5 120UL boosts to 4.60 GHz.

Q: How do the thread counts compare?

A: The Intel Core 7 253PE has 20 threads, while the Intel Core 5 120UL has 12 threads. Both have 10 cores.

Q: What is the single-thread performance difference?

A: In PassMark single-thread testing, the Intel Core 7 253PE scores 3,955 versus 2,080 for the Intel Core 5 120UL, a -47.4% delta, meaning the Core 7 253PE is roughly 90% faster in this metric.

Q: Does the Intel Core 5 120UL win any benchmark?

A: No. The database records zero wins for the Intel Core 5 120UL across all 17 head-to-head comparisons.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The Intel Core 7 253PE has a recorded memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, while the Intel Core 5 120UL has no memory bandwidth figure listed in the database. Both support DDR4 and DDR5 in dual-channel mode.

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core 7 253PE averages 40,557, compared to 13,594 for the Intel Core 5 120UL.

Architecture Differences

The two processors use different underlying designs. The Intel Core 5 120UL is built on Raptor Lake architecture with the codename Raptor Lake-PS, while the Intel Core 7 253PE uses the Bartlett Lake codename. Both are manufactured on a 10 nm process by Intel.

Cache layouts differ substantially. The Intel Core 5 120UL uses 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, with 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel Core 7 253PE also uses 80 KB of L1 per core but doubles the L2 to 2 MB per core and offers 33 MB of shared L3 cache, nearly three times the L3 capacity of the Core 5 120UL.

The integrated graphics differ as well. The Intel Core 5 120UL includes Iris Xe Graphics with 80 execution units, while the Intel Core 7 253PE uses the more modest UHD Graphics 730. Memory bandwidth is only recorded for the Core 7 253PE at 89.6 GB/s. PCIe support also diverges: the Core 5 120UL provides Gen 4 with 8 CPU lanes, while the Core 7 253PE provides Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes. ECC memory support is present on the Core 7 253PE but not on the Core 5 120UL.

Specification Differences

The core counts are identical at 10, but the thread counts diverge: the Core 7 253PE supports 20 threads versus 12 for the Core 5 120UL. Base clocks differ, with the Core 5 120UL at 1.30 GHz and the Core 7 253PE at 2.50 GHz. Boost clocks also differ, at 4.60 GHz for the Core 5 120UL and 5.50 GHz for the Core 7 253PE. The TDP rating is 15 watts for the Core 5 120UL and 65 watts for the Core 7 253PE.

Both processors use the Intel Socket 1700 and are Active in production status. The Core 5 120UL launched on 2024-04-07, while the Core 7 253PE has a later release date of 2026-03-08. The Core 7 253PE has a launch MSRP of $384. The Core 5 120UL has no launch MSRP recorded. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

The Core 7 253PE has a part number of SA4QE, while the Core 5 120UL lists its part number as unknown. Memory support is identical on paper: both support DDR4 and DDR5 in dual-channel mode. The Core 7 253PE adds ECC memory support, which the Core 5 120UL lacks. PCIe generations and lane counts differ, as do the integrated graphics solutions. The L2 and L3 cache sizes also differ, with the Core 7 253PE offering larger allocations in both cases.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 7 253PE wins every benchmark category in the database, so its strengths are broad rather than narrow. The largest margins come in extended instructions, where it leads by -76.1%, and in data compression, floating point math, and integer math, where deltas range from -66.7% to -67.8%. These results indicate a decisive advantage in compute-heavy and data-intensive workloads. The smaller deltas, while still large, appear in single-thread performance at -47.4% and physics at -56.3%. The Core 7 253PE also holds a 19-percentage-point advantage in CPU percentile ranking, sitting at the 87th percentile versus the 68th percentile for the Core 5 120UL.

The Intel Core 5 120UL does not win any recorded benchmarks, but its specifications suggest a different operating envelope. Its 15-watt TDP is substantially lower than the 65-watt TDP of the Core 7 253PE, and its 1.30 GHz base clock is less than half that of the Core 7 253PE. The Core 5 120UL uses Iris Xe Graphics with 80 execution units, which outspecs the UHD Graphics 730 in the Core 7 253PE in terms of execution unit count. For workloads that depend on the integrated GPU rather than the CPU cores, the Core 5 120UL may hold an edge, though the database records no direct graphics benchmarks for either processor.

The Core 5 120UL also uses PCIe Gen 4 with 8 lanes, which could be sufficient for platforms that do not need the Gen 5 bandwidth and 16 lanes of the Core 7 253PE. Its smaller L3 cache at 12 MB versus 33 MB and smaller L2 at 1.25 MB per core versus 2 MB per core place it at a structural disadvantage in cache-sensitive workloads. The Core 7 253PE, by contrast, pairs higher clocks, more threads, larger caches, and broader PCIe support with a higher TDP, which the benchmark results reflect in every recorded test.