Intel Core 5 120UL vs Intel Core i5-14490F Comparison

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core 5 120UL and Intel Core i5-14490F share the same fundamental Raptor Lake architecture and 10 nm process node, both fabricated by Intel. The shared base architecture means both chips use the same 80 KB L1 cache per core and 1.25 MB L2 cache per core. However, the two processors diverge significantly in their cache hierarchy beyond that point. The Core 5 120UL carries 12 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i5-14490F doubles that allocation to 24 MB. This larger L3 cache on the i5-14490F provides a meaningful advantage for workloads that repeatedly access the same data sets.

The core configurations differ despite the identical core count. Both processors feature 10 physical cores, but the i5-14490F supports 16 threads against the Core 5 120UL's 12 threads. This indicates a different hybrid core arrangement, with the i5-14490F having more threads enabled for parallel execution. The Core 5 120UL operates from a 1.30 GHz base clock up to 4.60 GHz boost, while the i5-14490F runs at a 2.50 GHz base and reaches 5.00 GHz boost. The i5-14490F also carries a 65 W TDP compared to the 15 W TDP of the Core 5 120UL, reflecting its higher power envelope and clock headroom.

Platform connectivity separates the two as well. The Core 5 120UL provides PCIe Gen 4 with 8 CPU lanes, while the i5-14490F provides PCIe Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes. That doubles the lane count and moves to a newer generation, which matters for storage devices and expansion cards that benefit from additional bandwidth. Both processors support DDR4 and DDR5 memory in dual-channel configuration, and neither supports ECC memory.

The integrated graphics situation is a clear differentiator. The Core 5 120UL includes Iris Xe Graphics with 80 execution units, making it a self-contained desktop processor. The i5-14490F has no integrated graphics at all, so a discrete GPU is mandatory for any display output. The i5-14490F also reports a 215 mm² die size, while the Core 5 120UL does not have a recorded die size in the database. Both processors use the Intel Socket 1700 and are currently marked as Active production status. The i5-14490F belongs to the Core 14th Gen series with the Raptor Lake Refresh codename, while the Core 5 120UL uses the Raptor Lake-PS codename. The i5-14490F launched earlier on 2023-12-31, with the Core 5 120UL following on 2024-04-07.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i5-14490F wins all 17 recorded head-to-head comparisons. The Core 5 120UL does not secure a single victory in any test. The i5-14490F dominates across both single-threaded and multi-threaded workloads, as well as in specialized PassMark tests covering encryption, compression, physics, and math operations.

The largest margin for the i5-14490F appears in PassMark extended instructions, where it leads by 76.1 percent. This indicates a substantial advantage in workloads that utilize advanced CPU instruction sets, such as AVX or similar vector extensions. The smallest margin is in single-thread performance, where the i5-14490F still leads by 46.3 percent. Even in its weakest comparative area, the i5-14490F holds a commanding edge.

The Core 5 120UL does offer one practical advantage not captured in raw performance scores: its integrated Iris Xe Graphics. Systems built around the Core 5 120UL can function without a discrete graphics card, which is not possible with the i5-14490F. The Core 5 120UL also operates at a 15 W TDP, making it a far more power-efficient option for compact or low-power desktop builds. The database shows the Core 5 120UL at the 68th percentile among all CPUs, while the i5-14490F sits at the 86th percentile. The average benchmark score for the Core 5 120UL is 13594, versus 38149 for the i5-14490F.

For pure compute performance, the i5-14490F is the clear choice. For builds where power draw and integrated graphics matter more than raw output, the Core 5 120UL has a role, but the performance gap is severe.

FAQ

Q: How does the Core i5-14490F compare to the Core 5 120UL in multi-core rendering?

A: The i5-14490F scores 23000 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, while the Core 5 120UL scores 8974. That is a 61 percent advantage for the i5-14490F. The gap is consistent in Cinebench R20 multi-core as well, with scores of 9660 versus 3769.

Q: Which processor has better single-thread performance?

A: The i5-14490F leads in every single-thread test. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 3247 against 1266 for the Core 5 120UL, a 61 percent difference. PassMark single-thread shows 3873 versus 2080, a 46.3 percent lead.

Q: Does the Core 5 120UL include integrated graphics?

A: Yes, the Core 5 120UL includes Iris Xe Graphics with 80 execution units. The i5-14490F has no integrated graphics, so it requires a discrete GPU for display output.

Q: How much L3 cache does each processor have?

A: The Core 5 120UL has 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The i5-14490F has 24 MB of shared L3 cache, exactly double.

Q: Which processor ranks higher among all CPUs?

A: The i5-14490F sits at the 86th percentile among all CPUs, while the Core 5 120UL sits at the 68th percentile. The i5-14490F also has an average benchmark score of 38149 versus 13594 for the Core 5 120UL.

Q: Are both processors on the same socket?

A: Yes, both use Intel Socket 1700. They also both support DDR4 and DDR5 memory in dual-channel configuration, but the i5-14490F provides PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes while the Core 5 120UL provides PCIe Gen 4 with 8 lanes.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The i5-14490F's dominance is consistent across every recorded benchmark, but the margins vary by workload type. The Cinebench suite shows a uniform 61 percent advantage for the i5-14490F across R15, R20, and R23, in both single-core and multi-core tests. Cinebench R15 multi-core scores are 2318 for the i5-14490F versus 904 for the Core 5 120UL. Cinebench R20 multi-core shows 9660 versus 3769, and Cinebench R23 multi-core shows 23000 versus 8974. Single-core results follow the same pattern: R15 at 327 versus 127, R20 at 1363 versus 531, and R23 at 3247 versus 1266.

The PassMark suite reveals where the i5-14490F stretches its lead even further. Data compression shows the largest raw score disparity in the entire comparison: 340026 for the i5-14490F versus 109090 for the Core 5 120UL, a 67.9 percent gap. Extended instructions show the largest percentage difference at 76.1 percent, with scores of 21731 versus 5203. Integer math gives the i5-14490F a 56.7 percent lead at 87844 versus 38060, while floating point math shows a 60.5 percent lead at 66558 versus 26311.

The encryption workload favors the i5-14490F by 57.8 percent, with 18225 points against 7685. Physics scores are 2093 versus 807, a 61.4 percent difference. Random string sorting shows 35608 versus 13610, a 61.8 percent gap. Prime number finding gives 122 versus 47, a 61.5 percent lead. The multithread PassMark score is 28662 versus 10558, a 63.2 percent difference. The smallest gap in the entire data set is PassMark single-thread, where the i5-14490F leads by 46.3 percent at 3873 versus 2080.

The overall pattern is clear: the i5-14490F beats the Core 5 120UL by roughly 46 to 76 percent depending on the workload. No test in the database puts the Core 5 120UL ahead.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core 5 120UL | Intel Core i5-14490F |

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

| Cores | 10 | 10 |

| Threads | 12 | 16 |

| Base clock | 1.30 GHz | 2.50 GHz |

| Boost clock | 4.60 GHz | 5.00 GHz |

| TDP | 15 W | 65 W |

| L3 cache | 12 MB (shared) | 24 MB (shared) |

| Process node | 10 nm | 10 nm |

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

| Integrated graphics | Iris Xe Graphics 80EU | N/A |

| Codename | Raptor Lake-PS | Raptor Lake-R |

| Die size | Not recorded | 215 mm² |

| Release date | 2024-04-07 | 2023-12-31 |

| Part number | unknown | SRN35 |

| Multiplier unlocked | No | No |

| Memory support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory bus | Dual-channel | Dual-channel |

| ECC memory | No | No |

The Verdict

The benchmark data makes the decision straightforward for anyone prioritizing compute performance: the Intel Core i5-14490F is the superior processor in every measured category. It holds a 61 percent advantage in the Cinebench suite, a 46.3 percent lead in single-thread PassMark, and leads by anywhere from 56.7 to 76.1 percent across the specialized PassMark workloads. Its 86th percentile ranking among all CPUs, against the Core 5 120UL's 68th percentile, reflects this performance gap in a single metric. The average benchmark score of 38149 versus 13594 tells the same story.

The i5-14490F also brings more threads (16 versus 12), a higher base clock (2.50 GHz versus 1.30 GHz), a higher boost clock (5.00 GHz versus 4.60 GHz), and double the L3 cache (24 MB versus 12 MB). It provides PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes, which is a substantial platform advantage for high-bandwidth devices. The 65 W TDP is higher than the Core 5 120UL's 15 W, but that power budget directly enables the clock speeds and performance the benchmarks record.

The Core 5 120UL is not without purpose. Its integrated Iris Xe Graphics with 80 execution units allows a working desktop system without a discrete GPU. Its 15 W TDP makes it a low-power option for systems where energy draw is the primary constraint. For a general-use desktop that never needs heavy compute, those qualities have value.

For any workload that involves rendering, encryption, compression, math, or multithreaded processing, the i5-14490F is the only reasonable choice between these two. The Core 5 120UL requires a discrete GPU on the i5-14490F side, but the performance difference is so large that a GPU-equipped i5-14490F system will still outperform the Core 5 120UL in compute tasks by a wide margin. The data does not support any scenario where the Core 5 120UL wins on performance. The i5-14490F is the pick for performance, and the Core 5 120UL is the pick only for low-power or iGPU-dependent builds.