Intel Core 5 120UL vs Intel Core i5-14401E Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark database records two very different desktop processors sharing the same Intel Socket 1700 platform and Raptor Lake architecture family. The Intel Core 5 120UL is a low-power part with 10 cores, 12 threads, a 15 W TDP, and a 1.30 GHz base clock boosting to 4.60 GHz. The Intel Core i5-14401E is a higher-power 6-core, 12-thread chip with a 65 W TDP, a 2.50 GHz base clock, and a 4.70 GHz boost clock.

The head-to-head data is unambiguous. Across all six recorded Cinebench tests, the Core i5-14401E wins every single one. The deltas are substantial and consistent, ranging from -50.6% to -50.8% in favor of the Core i5-14401E. That means the Core 5 120UL scores roughly half of the Core i5-14401E in both single-core and multi-core workloads. The Core i5-14401E delivers roughly double the performance of the Core 5 120UL in every measured render test.

The average benchmark score tells a similar story, though the gap is even larger. The Core 5 120UL records an average benchmark score of 13594, while the Core i5-14401E records 5253. However, that average is skewed because the Core 5 120UL has far more benchmark entries in the database, including many PassMark tests, while the Core i5-14401E only has Cinebench scores recorded. The percentile ranks place the Core 5 120UL at 68th percentile versus all CPUs, while the Core i5-14401E sits at 60th percentile.

The verdict for a buyer is clear from the data: the Core i5-14401E is the stronger processor for any compute-heavy task. The Core 5 120UL, with its 15 W TDP and lower clocks, trades performance for power efficiency. Neither chip offers an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking is not a differentiator. The Core i5-14401E also supports ECC memory, which the Core 5 120UL does not, making it the more appropriate choice for reliability-sensitive workloads.

Where Each One Wins

The Core i5-14401E wins across the board in the recorded head-to-head benchmarks. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 1830 versus 904 for the Core 5 120UL, a -50.6% delta. In R15 single-core, it scores 258 versus 127, a -50.8% delta. The R20 results follow the same pattern: 7627 versus 3769 in multi-core (-50.6%), and 1076 versus 531 in single-core (-50.7%). R23 shows 18161 versus 8974 in multi-core (-50.6%) and 2564 versus 1266 in single-core (-50.6%). The consistent ~50% gap across all six tests indicates the Core i5-14401E has a fundamental performance advantage, not a workload-specific one.

The Core 5 120UL does not win any of the six head-to-head tests. Its wins, if any, would be in areas not covered by the head-to-head data. The Core 5 120UL does have PassMark scores in the database, including a multi-thread score of 10558, a single-thread score of 2080, and a floating-point math score of 26311. But there are no corresponding PassMark scores for the Core i5-14401E, so no direct comparison is possible from the recorded data.

The power envelope is where the Core 5 120UL distinguishes itself. With a 15 W TDP versus 65 W for the Core i5-14401E, the Core 5 120UL draws far less power. The database does not record wattage figures for either chip, but the TDP values are explicit. A 15 W processor is suited for thermally constrained systems, while a 65 W processor has more headroom for sustained performance. The Core 5 120UL also has a much lower base clock (1.30 GHz versus 2.50 GHz), which explains part of the performance gap but also indicates a design focused on efficiency.

Architecture Differences

Both processors use the Raptor Lake architecture on Intel's 10 nm process node, fabricated by Intel. The codenames differ: the Core 5 120UL is Raptor Lake-PS, while the Core i5-14401E is Raptor Lake-R, indicating a refresh variant. The generation labels also differ: the Core 5 120UL is listed as "Core 5 (Raptor Lake-PS)" while the Core i5-14401E is "Core i5 (Raptor Lake Refresh)".

Core counts are the most striking architectural difference. The Core 5 120UL has 10 cores and 12 threads, while the Core i5-14401E has 6 cores and 12 threads. The thread count is identical, meaning the Core 5 120UL has more physical cores but likely relies on a mix of performance and efficiency cores. The Core i5-14401E achieves 12 threads with only 6 cores, implying all cores support hyper-threading. The Core 5 120UL's 10 cores with 12 threads suggests a configuration where not all cores are hyper-threaded, possibly a hybrid arrangement.

Cache structures are also different. Both have 80 KB L1 per core and 1.25 MB L2 per core, but the L3 cache differs significantly: 12 MB shared on the Core 5 120UL versus 20 MB shared on the Core i5-14401E. The larger L3 cache on the Core i5-14401E provides more shared data capacity for multi-threaded workloads. The die size is only recorded for the Core i5-14401E at 215 mm²; the Core 5 120UL's die size is not in the database.

The integrated graphics differ: the Core 5 120UL has Iris Xe Graphics 80EU, while the Core i5-14401E has UHD Graphics 730. The Iris Xe part has more execution units, but the database does not include graphics benchmark scores. PCIe support also differs: the Core 5 120UL has Gen 4 with 8 lanes (CPU only), while the Core i5-14401E has Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The Core i5-14401E offers more bandwidth and more lanes for expansion. ECC memory support is present on the Core i5-14401E but absent on the Core 5 120UL. Both support DDR4 and DDR5 memory with a dual-channel bus.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core rendering?

A: The Intel Core i5-14401E is faster in every recorded multi-core test. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 18161 versus 8974 for the Core 5 120UL, a -50.6% delta. The R20 multi-core result is 7627 versus 3769, and the R15 multi-core result is 1830 versus 904.

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

A: Based on the six head-to-head Cinebench tests, the Core 5 120UL wins none of them. It has lower clock speeds (1.30 GHz base, 4.60 GHz boost versus 2.50 GHz base, 4.70 GHz boost) and a smaller L3 cache (12 MB versus 20 MB). Its advantage is the 15 W TDP, which is much lower than the 65 W TDP of the Core i5-14401E.

Q: Why does the Core 5 120UL have more cores but similar threads?

A: The Core 5 120UL has 10 cores and 12 threads, while the Core i5-14401E has 6 cores and 12 threads. The thread count is identical, which suggests the Core 5 120UL uses a hybrid core design where some cores do not support hyper-threading, while the Core i5-14401E likely uses all hyper-threaded cores.

Q: Which chip supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Core i5-14401E supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core 5 120UL does not. This is a meaningful difference for systems requiring error-correcting memory.

Q: Do both processors fit the same motherboard?

A: Yes, both use Intel Socket 1700. The Core 5 120UL and Core i5-14401E are both desktop processors with the same socket, though the PCIe capabilities differ (Gen 4 with 8 lanes for the Core 5 120UL versus Gen 5 with 16 lanes for the Core i5-14401E).

Q: What is the release timeline difference?

A: The Core 5 120UL was released on 2024-04-07, while the Core i5-14401E was released on 2024-06-30. Both are listed as Active in production status. The Core i5-14401E is a Raptor Lake Refresh part, while the Core 5 120UL is the original Raptor Lake-PS variant.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded head-to-head data contains six Cinebench tests, and the Core i5-14401E wins all six. The largest absolute gap is in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the Core i5-14401E scores 18161 and the Core 5 120UL scores 8974. That is a difference of 9187 points, a -50.6% delta. The smallest absolute gap is in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the Core i5-14401E scores 258 and the Core 5 120UL scores 127, a difference of 131 points and a -50.8% delta.

The single-core deltas are slightly larger than the multi-core deltas in percentage terms. R15 single-core shows -50.8%, R20 single-core shows -50.7%, and R23 single-core shows -50.6%. The multi-core deltas are all -50.6% across R15, R20, and R23. This consistency suggests the performance ratio is nearly identical across all Cinebench versions, with the Core i5-14401E delivering roughly twice the score in every test.

The boost clock difference is 0.10 GHz (4.70 GHz versus 4.60 GHz), which is small. The base clock difference is much larger at 1.20 GHz (2.50 GHz versus 1.30 GHz). The Core i5-14401E also has a 65 W TDP versus 15 W, allowing it to sustain higher clocks under load. The L3 cache difference (20 MB versus 12 MB) likely contributes to the multi-core advantage, while the higher base and boost clocks drive the single-core advantage.

The Core 5 120UL's PassMark results provide additional context, though no direct comparison exists. Its multi-thread score of 10558 and single-thread score of 2080 place it in the 68th percentile of all CPUs. The Core i5-14401E's percentile is 60th, but its average benchmark score of 5253 is based only on the six Cinebench tests. The Core 5 120UL's average of 13594 includes 17 benchmark entries, including PassMark data compression (109090), encryption (7685), and integer math (38060). These additional scores inflate the average but do not affect the head-to-head comparison.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several recorded specifications. Core count: 10 for the Core 5 120UL versus 6 for the Core i5-14401E. Threads: 12 for both. Base clock: 1.30 GHz versus 2.50 GHz. Boost clock: 4.60 GHz versus 4.70 GHz. TDP: 15 W versus 65 W. Socket: same (Intel Socket 1700). Architecture: both Raptor Lake, but codenames differ (Raptor Lake-PS versus Raptor Lake-R). Process node: both 10 nm, both Intel foundry. Die size: not recorded for the Core 5 120UL, 215 mm² for the Core i5-14401E.

L1 cache: both 80 KB per core. L2 cache: both 1.25 MB per core. L3 cache: 12 MB shared for the Core 5 120UL, 20 MB shared for the Core i5-14401E. Memory support: both DDR4 and DDR5, both dual-channel. ECC memory: false for the Core 5 120UL, true for the Core i5-14401E. PCIe: Gen 4 with 8 lanes for the Core 5 120UL, Gen 5 with 16 lanes for the Core i5-14401E. Integrated graphics: Iris Xe Graphics 80EU for the Core 5 120UL, UHD Graphics 730 for the Core i5-14401E.

Market segment: both Desktop. Production status: both Active. Release date: 2024-04-07 for the Core 5 120UL, 2024-06-30 for the Core i5-14401E. Launch MSRP: not recorded for either. Multiplier unlocked: false for both. Part number: unknown for the Core 5 120UL, Q49JSRNJS for the Core i5-14401E. Generation: "Core 5 (Raptor Lake-PS)" versus "Core i5 (Raptor Lake Refresh)". The Core i5-14401E has a series designation of "Core 14th Gen", while the Core 5 120UL has no series field recorded.