Intel Core 5 120UL vs Intel Core 9 273PE Comparison

The Verdict

The data presents a decisive performance hierarchy. The Intel Core 9 273PE wins every single benchmark in the head-to-head comparison, taking 17 wins out of 17 recorded tests. No workload in the database favors the Intel Core 5 120UL. The Core 9 273PE posts an average benchmark score of 49845, placing it in the 90th percentile of all CPUs, while the Core 5 120UL averages 13594 and sits in the 68th percentile.

The Core 9 273PE is the clear choice for compute-heavy tasks. Its closest rivals include the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 (0.1% ahead), Intel Core i5-14600KF (0.9% ahead), and Intel Core i9-13980HX (1.1% behind), which places it in high-end desktop territory. The Core 5 120UL, by contrast, trades blows with the Intel Core i3-12100F (0.7% behind), Intel Core 3 N355 (0.8% behind), Intel Core i5-9500 (1.1% behind), and Intel Core 3 304 (1.1% ahead). That positions it as an entry-level desktop part.

The Core 5 120UL remains relevant for systems where a 15 W TDP and lower core count are acceptable, but the performance gap is enormous. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Core 9 273PE scores 31288 versus 8974, a 71.3% advantage. In single-core R23, the Core 9 273PE reaches 4417 against 1266, also a 71.3% gap. There is no scenario in the recorded data where the Core 5 120UL closes that distance.

Architecture Differences

Both processors share the same 10 nm manufacturing process and are built by Intel. However, they use different underlying architectures. The Core 5 120UL uses Raptor Lake, specifically the Raptor Lake-PS codename, while the Core 9 273PE uses Bartlett Lake. The Core 5 120UL is part of the Core 5 (Raptor Lake-PS) generation, and the Core 9 273PE belongs to the Core 9 (Bartlett Lake) generation.

The core configurations differ substantially. The Core 5 120UL has 10 cores and 12 threads, which implies a hybrid arrangement with fewer active threads than physical cores. The Core 9 273PE has 12 cores and 24 threads, indicating simultaneous multithreading across all cores. That thread count difference alone explains much of the multi-core performance gap.

Cache hierarchies also diverge. Both parts have an 80 KB L1 cache per core. The L2 cache on the Core 5 120UL is 1.25 MB per core, while the Core 9 273PE offers 2 MB per core. The L3 cache is the largest single difference: 12 MB shared on the Core 5 120UL versus 36 MB shared on the Core 9 273PE. That triple-sized L3 cache gives the Core 9 273PE a substantial advantage in workloads with large working sets.

The integrated graphics differ as well. The Core 5 120UL uses Iris Xe Graphics 80EU, while the Core 9 273PE uses UHD Graphics 730. Memory support is similar, with both supporting DDR4 and DDR5 over a dual-channel bus, but the Core 9 273PE has a recorded memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, a figure not listed for the Core 5 120UL.

PCIe capabilities are not equal. The Core 5 120UL provides Gen 4 with 8 lanes from the CPU, while the Core 9 273PE provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes. The Core 9 273PE also supports ECC memory, which the Core 5 120UL does not.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Core 9 273PE dominates every recorded test. The smallest margin is in PassMark single-thread and single-threaded tests, where the Core 9 273PE scores 3650 versus 2080, a 43% advantage. That shows the Core 9 273PE has a much higher boost clock (5.70 GHz versus 4.60 GHz) and better per-core performance.

The largest margin appears in PassMark extended instructions, where the Core 9 273PE scores 24630 against 5203, a 78.9% gap. This suggests the Bartlett Lake architecture handles AVX and other extended instruction sets far more efficiently than the Raptor Lake part.

Cinebench results tell a consistent story. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Core 9 273PE scores 3153 against 904, a 71.3% lead. Single-core R15 shows 445 versus 127, a 71.5% gap. R20 multi-core is 13140 versus 3769 (71.3% lead), and R20 single-core is 1855 versus 531 (71.4% lead). R23 multi-core is 31288 versus 8974 (71.3% lead), and R23 single-core is 4417 versus 1266 (71.3% lead). The consistency of roughly 71% across all Cinebench versions indicates a uniform performance scaling factor between the two parts.

PassMark integer math shows 139410 versus 38060, a 72.7% lead. Floating-point math is 107884 versus 26311, a 75.6% lead. Prime number finding is 203 versus 47, a 76.8% lead. Physics is 3120 versus 807, a 74.1% lead. Multithread is 36810 versus 10558, a 71.3% lead. Random string sorting is 45098 versus 13610, a 69.8% lead. Data compression is 405885 versus 109090, a 73.1% lead. Data encryption is 22719 versus 7685, a 66.2% lead. Every metric points in the same direction.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core 5 120UL | Intel Core 9 273PE |

|----------------|---------------------|---------------------|

| Cores | 10 | 12 |

| Threads | 12 | 24 |

| Base clock | 1.30 GHz | 2.30 GHz |

| Boost clock | 4.60 GHz | 5.70 GHz |

| TDP | 15 W | 65 W |

| Codename | Raptor Lake-PS | Bartlett Lake |

| Generation | Core 5 (Raptor Lake-PS) | Core 9 (Bartlett Lake) |

| L2 cache | 1.25 MB (per core) | 2 MB (per core) |

| L3 cache | 12 MB (shared) | 36 MB (shared) |

| Memory bandwidth | Not listed | 89.6 GB/s |

| ECC memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 8 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated graphics | Iris Xe Graphics 80EU | UHD Graphics 730 |

| Release date | 2024-04-07 | 2026-03-08 |

| Launch MSRP | Not listed | $549 |

| Part number | unknown | SA4QD |

Both processors use the Intel Socket 1700, share a 10 nm process node, support DDR4 and DDR5 memory, and are not multiplier-unlocked. Both are marked as Active in production status. The Core 5 120UL launched in April 2024, while the Core 9 273PE launched in March 2026.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core 9 273PE boosts to 5.70 GHz, compared to 4.60 GHz on the Intel Core 5 120UL.

Q: How large is the L3 cache difference?

A: The Core 9 273PE has 36 MB shared L3 cache, exactly three times the 12 MB shared L3 cache on the Core 5 120UL.

Q: Does the Core 5 120UL support ECC memory?

A: No. ECC memory support is listed only for the Core 9 273PE.

Q: What is the single-thread performance gap?

A: In PassMark single-thread tests, the Core 9 273PE scores 3650 versus 2080 on the Core 5 120UL, a 43% advantage.

Q: Which processor has more PCIe lanes?

A: The Core 9 273PE provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the Core 5 120UL provides Gen 4 with 8 lanes.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Core 9 273PE averages 49845 across all recorded benchmarks, while the Core 5 120UL averages 13594. The Core 9 273PE sits in the 90th percentile of all CPUs, and the Core 5 120UL sits in the 68th percentile.