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

The Verdict

The benchmark data presents a decisive outcome in this comparison. The Intel Core 7 253PTE wins every single recorded benchmark, taking 17 of 17 head-to-head tests. The Intel Core 5 120UL does not register a single victory in any of the measured workloads. The Core 7 253PTE sits in the 84th percentile of all CPUs, while the Core 5 120UL lands in the 68th percentile. The average benchmark score for the Core 7 253PTE is 34962, against 13594 for the Core 5 120UL, a gap that places the two processors in entirely different performance classes.

The Core 5 120UL is a 10-core, 12-thread desktop processor based on Raptor Lake architecture, built on Intel's 10 nm process. It runs at a 1.30 GHz base clock with a 4.60 GHz boost clock and carries a 15 W TDP. The Core 7 253PTE also has 10 cores but doubles the thread count to 20, uses the Bartlett Lake architecture on the same 10 nm node, and operates at a 1.80 GHz base clock with a 5.40 GHz boost clock. Its TDP is 45 W, three times higher than the Core 5 120UL. The Core 7 253PTE also has a launch MSRP of $384, while the Core 5 120UL has no listed launch MSRP.

For buyers constrained by power limits, the Core 5 120UL delivers a functional desktop experience at a fraction of the power draw. For any workload where performance matters, the Core 7 253PTE is the only rational choice from this dataset. The performance deltas are not marginal; they range from 38.8% to 69.6% in favor of the Core 7 253PTE across the tested benchmarks.

Where Each One Wins

The Core 5 120UL does not win any benchmark category. Its only practical advantage is the 15 W TDP compared to the 45 W TDP of the Core 7 253PTE. In systems where heat dissipation and power budgets are the primary constraints, the Core 5 120UL draws less power and may fit into smaller chassis designs. It also uses Iris Xe Graphics 80EU for integrated graphics, while the Core 7 253PTE uses UHD Graphics 730.

The Core 7 253PTE wins across every measurable workload. Its largest margins come in PassMark integer math, where it scores 119552 against 38060, a 68.2% advantage. Extended instructions show a 69.6% lead, with scores of 17099 versus 5203. Floating point math also favors the Core 7 253PTE by 60.9%, at 67209 against 26311. In Cinebench tests, the Core 7 253PTE consistently leads by roughly 57.8% to 57.9%, both in single-core and multi-core runs.

The single-thread performance gap is substantial. The Core 7 253PTE scores 3794 in PassMark single-thread, versus 2080 for the Core 5 120UL, a 45.2% difference. This translates to better responsiveness in lightly threaded applications. Multi-thread workloads show a similar pattern: PassMark multithread scores are 25031 versus 10558, a 57.8% lead. The Core 7 253PTE also handles data compression at 275828 versus 109090, a 60.4% advantage, and data encryption at 15500 versus 7685, a 50.4% lead.

The Core 5 120UL can serve in low-power desktop roles where the workload is light and intermittent. The Core 7 253PTE is the clear choice for sustained compute, rendering, encryption, or any task that scales with thread count and clock speed.

Architecture Differences

The two processors share the same 10 nm process node and both come from Intel, but the underlying architectures differ. The Core 5 120UL uses Raptor Lake with the codename Raptor Lake-PS, while the Core 7 253PTE uses Bartlett Lake. Both have 10 physical cores, but the thread counts diverge: the Core 5 120UL supports 12 threads, while the Core 7 253PTE supports 20 threads, indicating a different core configuration or hyper-threading implementation across the two designs.

Cache hierarchies also differ significantly. The Core 5 120UL has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core 7 253PTE has the same 80 KB L1 per core but doubles the L2 to 2 MB per core and nearly triples the shared L3 to 33 MB. The larger cache pool in the Core 7 253PTE likely contributes to its strong performance in data compression and extended instructions, where working sets can exceed the smaller L3 capacity of the Core 5 120UL.

Memory support is similar on paper: both support DDR4 and DDR5 with dual-channel memory buses. However, the Core 7 253PTE lists a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, while the Core 5 120UL has no recorded bandwidth figure. ECC memory support also differs: the Core 7 253PTE supports ECC, while the Core 5 120UL does not. PCIe connectivity is another split. The Core 5 120UL provides Gen 4 with 8 CPU lanes, while the Core 7 253PTE provides Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes, doubling both the generation and lane count.

Integrated graphics differ as well. The Core 5 120UL uses Iris Xe Graphics 80EU, a more capable iGPU in terms of execution units, while the Core 7 253PTE uses UHD Graphics 730. The Core 5 120UL was released on 2024-04-07, while the Core 7 253PTE followed later on 2026-03-08. Both processors are locked, with no unlocked multiplier, and both use Intel Socket 1700. The Core 7 253PTE has a part number of SA4QK, while the Core 5 120UL has an unknown part number.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more threads?

A: The Intel Core 7 253PTE has 20 threads, while the Intel Core 5 120UL has 12 threads, despite both having 10 cores.

Q: What is the single-core performance difference?

A: The Core 7 253PTE scores 3003 in Cinebench R23 single-core, compared to 1266 for the Core 5 120UL, a 57.8% advantage. In PassMark single-thread, the gap is 3794 versus 2080, a 45.2% lead.

Q: Does the Core 5 120UL have any performance advantage?

A: No recorded benchmark shows the Core 5 120UL ahead. The Core 7 253PTE wins all 17 head-to-head tests. The Core 5 120UL's only advantage is its lower 15 W TDP versus 45 W.

Q: What memory features differ between the two?

A: Both support DDR4 and DDR5 with dual-channel buses. The Core 7 253PTE supports ECC memory and lists a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, while the Core 5 120UL does not support ECC and has no listed bandwidth figure.

Q: How do the cache sizes compare?

A: The Core 5 120UL has 1.25 MB L2 per core and 12 MB shared L3. The Core 7 253PTE has 2 MB L2 per core and 33 MB shared L3. Both have 80 KB L1 per core.

Q: Which processor has better PCIe connectivity?

A: The Core 7 253PTE provides PCIe Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes, while the Core 5 120UL provides PCIe Gen 4 with 8 CPU lanes.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench suite shows a consistent pattern. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Core 7 253PTE scores 2144 against 904 for the Core 5 120UL, a 57.8% delta. Single-core R15 shows 302 versus 127, a 57.9% gap. R20 multi-core continues the trend: 8935 versus 3769, again a 57.8% lead. R20 single-core is 1261 versus 531, a 57.9% margin. R23 multi-core delivers the largest absolute difference: 21276 versus 8974, a 57.8% lead. R23 single-core shows 3003 versus 1266, also 57.8%.

The PassMark suite reveals the widest margins. Integer math is the second-largest gap at 68.2%: 119552 for the Core 7 253PTE versus 38060 for the Core 5 120UL. Extended instructions take the top spot at 69.6%: 17099 versus 5203. Floating point math shows a 60.9% difference: 67209 versus 26311. Data compression is 60.4% apart: 275828 versus 109090. Data encryption is 50.4% apart: 15500 versus 7685.

The smallest relative gap is in PassMark physics, where the Core 7 253PTE scores 1318 against 807, a 38.8% lead. Find prime numbers shows a 42.7% gap: 82 versus 47. Random string sorting is 51.8% apart: 28227 versus 13610. PassMark multithread shows 25031 versus 10558, a 57.8% delta. Single-thread and single-thread duplicate entries both show 3794 versus 2080, a 45.2% lead.

The closest rivalry context comes from the nearest rivals list. The Core 7 253PTE sits within 0.1% to 0.2% of the Intel Core i7-13800H, Intel Core i9-12900HX, Intel Xeon 6349P, and AMD Ryzen 5 150 in average score. The Core 5 120UL sits within 0.7% to 1.1% of the Intel Core i3-12100F, Intel Core 3 N355, Intel Core i5-9500, and Intel Core 3 304. The Core 7 253PTE performs like a high-end mobile HX chip, while the Core 5 120UL competes with entry-level desktop parts. That positioning explains the complete sweep in head-to-head testing.

The data confirms that the Core 7 253PTE is not just ahead but dramatically so, with every measured workload showing at least a 38.8% deficit for the Core 5 120UL. The 10-core count is identical, but the architecture, cache, clocks, and thread support create a chasm in real performance.