CPU Comparison

The Intel Core 5 120UL and Intel Core i5-8500 represent two distinct eras of Intel desktop design, separated by six years of architectural evolution. The 120UL is a low-power Raptor Lake-PS part, while the i5-8500 is a mainstream Coffee Lake chip. Benchmark data shows the newer 120UL wins 12 of 17 head-to-head tests, yet the older i5-8500 still claims victory in several important single-thread and specialized workloads. The data reveals a fascinating split: the 120UL dominates in raw multi-core throughput and encryption, but the i5-8500 retains a lead in compression, sorting, and pure single-thread performance metrics.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core 5 120UL has 10 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Core i5-8500 has 6 cores and 6 threads. The 120UL offers both more physical cores and Hyper-Threading support, doubling the thread count of the i5-8500.

Q: How do the two chips compare in Cinebench R23 multi-core performance?

A: The 120UL scores 8974 points compared to 8079 for the i5-8500, giving the 120UL an 11.1% advantage. This consistent 11.1% delta appears across all Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests.

Q: Does the older i5-8500 win any benchmark categories?

A: Yes, the i5-8500 wins 5 categories: data compression, extended instructions, random string sorting, single-thread PassMark, and the duplicate singlethread test. Its data compression score of 134673 is 19% higher than the 120UL's 109090.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two processors?

A: The 120UL has a 15W TDP, while the i5-8500 has a 65W TDP. This 50W difference is substantial, though the 120UL still achieves higher multi-core scores despite the lower power envelope.

Q: Which chip has the larger L3 cache?

A: The 120UL has 12 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i5-8500 has 9 MB of shared L3 cache. The 120UL also features larger per-core L1 and L2 caches.

Q: Are both processors still in production?

A: No. The 120UL is listed as Active, while the i5-8500 is marked as End-of-life. The i5-8500 has a launch MSRP of $192, but the 120UL has no listed launch MSRP.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different architectures. The 120UL uses Raptor Lake (specifically the Raptor Lake-PS variant) on a 10 nm process node, while the i5-8500 uses Coffee Lake on a 14 nm node. This process difference directly influences power efficiency: the 120UL draws a 15W TDP versus 65W for the i5-8500.

The core configuration diverges sharply. The 120UL packs 10 cores of Raptor Lake-PS design, but the i5-8500 contains 6 Coffee Lake cores. Thread counts follow the same pattern: 12 threads on the 120UL versus 6 on the i5-8500. The 120UL also incorporates larger cache hierarchies per core, 80 KB L1 and 1.25 MB L2 per core, compared to 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 on the i5-8500. Shared L3 cache favors the 120UL at 12 MB versus 9 MB.

Memory support and PCIe capabilities differ as well. The 120UL supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the i5-8500 is limited to DDR4. Both use dual-channel memory buses, but the i5-8500 has a rated memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s, a figure not listed for the 120UL. The PCIe implementation also varies: the 120UL offers Gen 4 with 8 CPU lanes, while the i5-8500 provides Gen 3 with 16 CPU lanes.

Integrated graphics represent another generational leap. The 120UL features Iris Xe Graphics with 80 execution units, while the i5-8500 uses the older UHD Graphics 630. The die size also differs, the i5-8500 measures 154 mm², while the 120UL's die size is not listed in the data.

Where Each One Wins

The 120UL dominates in multi-threaded and compute-heavy workloads. It wins all Cinebench tests (R15, R20, R23 in both single and multi-core), plus PassMark tests for encryption, prime numbers, floating-point math, integer math, multithreading, and physics. The 153.9% lead in data encryption and 43.3% lead in integer math highlight the newer architecture's strengths in parallel arithmetic and cryptographic workloads.

The i5-8500 claims victories in five specific areas: data compression, extended instructions, random string sorting, and both PassMark single-thread tests. The extended instructions result is notable, the i5-8500 scores 11480 versus only 5203 for the 120UL, a 54.7% advantage. This suggests the older chip executes certain specialized instruction sets more efficiently, possibly due to lower latency or different microarchitectural priorities.

Data compression and random string sorting follow a similar pattern. The i5-8500 achieves 134673 in compression (19% higher) and 16294 in sorting (16.5% higher). These wins indicate the i5-8500's higher base clock of 3.00 GHz versus 1.30 GHz provides an advantage in workloads that are latency-sensitive rather than throughput-bound. The single-thread PassMark score of 2441 versus 2080 reinforces this, despite the 120UL's higher boost clock of 4.60 GHz versus 4.10 GHz.

Specification Differences

The most striking specification gap is TDP: 15W for the 120UL versus 65W for the i5-8500. Core counts differ by 4 cores (10 vs 6), and thread counts by 6 threads (12 vs 6). Base clocks are 1.30 GHz for the 120UL versus 3.00 GHz for the i5-8500, but boost clocks reverse the trend: 4.60 GHz versus 4.10 GHz.

Socket compatibility separates the platforms entirely. The 120UL uses Intel Socket 1700, while the i5-8500 requires Intel Socket 1151. Process nodes differ by generation: 10 nm for Raptor Lake-PS versus 14 nm for Coffee Lake. Cache configurations vary at every level: L1 is 80 KB per core versus 64 KB per core, L2 is 1.25 MB per core versus 256 KB per core, and L3 is 12 MB shared versus 9 MB shared.

Memory support shows a generational split: the 120UL supports DDR4 and DDR5, while the i5-8500 only supports DDR4. The i5-8500 lists a memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s, but no such figure exists for the 120UL. PCIe generation and lane counts also differ: Gen 4 with 8 lanes versus Gen 3 with 16 lanes. The i5-8500 has a listed die size of 154 mm², while the 120UL has none. Production status diverges: the 120UL is Active, the i5-8500 is End-of-life.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The 120UL's most decisive victory comes in data encryption, where it scores 7685 against 3027, a 153.9% margin. This massive delta suggests the newer chip's architecture handles AES-style workloads far more efficiently, likely due to hardware acceleration improvements in Raptor Lake-PS.

Integer math also heavily favors the 120UL at 38060 versus 26551, a 43.3% lead. Floating-point math follows with a 17% advantage (26311 vs 22489). Physics performance shows a 28.5% gap in favor of the 120UL (807 vs 628), and prime number finding adds a 30.6% win (47 vs 36).

Across Cinebench, the 120UL maintains an exactly consistent 11.1% lead in every multi-core test: R15 (904 vs 814), R20 (3769 vs 3393), and R23 (8974 vs 8079). Single-core Cinebench tests show similar consistency, 11.4% in R15 (127 vs 114) and 11.1% in both R20 (531 vs 478) and R23 (1266 vs 1140). The multithread PassMark test shows a 10.8% edge (10558 vs 9532).

The i5-8500's largest win is in extended instructions at 54.7% (11480 vs 5203). Data compression provides a 19% margin (134673 vs 109090), and random string sorting shows a 16.5% advantage (16294 vs 13610). The single-thread PassMark test gives the i5-8500 a 14.8% lead (2441 vs 2080). These wins share a pattern: they favor the i5-8500's higher base clock and older, simpler pipeline over the 120UL's wider but lower-clocked design.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear split based on workload priorities. For multi-threaded productivity, content creation, and encryption-heavy tasks, the Intel Core 5 120UL is the definitive choice. Its 11.1% Cinebench lead, 43.3% integer math advantage, and 153.9% encryption dominance make it objectively faster in these categories. The 15W TDP versus 65W also positions it as dramatically more power-efficient, achieving higher scores while drawing less than a quarter of the power.

The Intel Core i5-8500 remains relevant for specific single-threaded and latency-sensitive applications. Its 14.8% higher PassMark single-thread score, 54.7% extended instructions lead, and 19% compression advantage indicate it handles sequential, branch-heavy, or instruction-specific workloads better. The 3.00 GHz base clock likely drives these wins, even though the 120UL can boost higher.

Users with existing Socket 1151 platforms might find the i5-8500's continued availability practical, though its End-of-life status limits future support. The 120UL offers active production, modern DDR5 support, and PCIe Gen 4 connectivity. The i5-8500 counters with more PCIe lanes (16 vs 8) and a known memory bandwidth figure.

The final recommendation depends entirely on the workload mix. Data shows the 120UL wins 12 of 17 tests and carries the stronger overall average benchmark score (13594 vs 13142). For general use, the 120UL is the better processor. For users with very specific single-threaded or compression-bound tasks, the i5-8500 still holds meaningful advantages, but those niches are narrowing as the 120UL's architectural improvements continue to assert themselves across the benchmark suite.