Intel Core 5 120UL vs Intel Core i7-1250U Comparison

The Intel Core 5 120UL and Intel Core i7-1250U are both 10-core, 12-thread processors, yet they occupy different market segments and deliver contrasting performance profiles. The Core 5 120UL is a Raptor Lake-PS desktop part on Socket 1700 with a 15W TDP, while the Core i7-1250U is an Alder Lake-U mobile chip on BGA 1781 with a 9W TDP. Benchmark data from 17 head-to-head tests shows a decisive 14-3 win margin for the i7-1250U, but the Core 5 120UL secures victory in the most demanding multi-core rendering workload, making the choice between them highly dependent on the target workload.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-1250U dominates the overall benchmark suite, winning 14 of 17 comparisons. Its most significant advantages appear in single-threaded and legacy multi-threaded tests. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the i7-1250U scores 226 versus 127 for the Core 5 120UL, a 43.8% advantage. The margin narrows in Cinebench R20 single-core, where the i7-1250U leads 562 to 531, a 5.5% difference. PassMark single-thread results show a 2703 to 2080 score in favor of the i7-1250U, a 23% lead. These results indicate the i7-1250U delivers notably stronger per-core performance, which benefits lightly threaded applications and everyday responsiveness.

The i7-1250U also wins in Cinebench R15 multi-core with a score of 1172.94 versus 904, a 22.9% margin. Similarly, Cinebench R20 multi-core favors the i7-1250U at 3983 versus 3769, a 5.4% edge. PassMark multi-thread performance shows the i7-1250U ahead at 11329 versus 10558, a 6.8% advantage. Data compression workloads favor the i7-1250U with a score of 119280 versus 109090, an 8.5% lead. Extended instruction performance also goes to the i7-1250U, scoring 6497 versus 5203, a 19.9% gap. Prime number finding, floating-point math, integer math, and physics tests all favor the i7-1250U, with margins ranging from 1.2% to 19%.

The Intel Core 5 120UL claims its wins in three specific areas. The most important is Cinebench R23 multi-core, where it scores 8974 versus 7069, a substantial 26.9% advantage. This is the only multi-core rendering test where the Core 5 120UL leads, and the margin is significant enough to indicate a meaningful workload-specific advantage. The Core 5 120UL also edges out the i7-1250U in PassMark data encryption with a score of 7685 versus 7642, a narrow 0.6% margin. Random string sorting shows a similarly slim victory for the Core 5 120UL, scoring 13610 versus 13593, a 0.1% difference.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear split based on workload priorities. The Intel Core i7-1250U is the superior choice for general-purpose computing, single-threaded applications, and most multi-threaded tasks. Its consistent wins across Cinebench R15, R20, PassMark multi-thread, data compression, and extended instructions make it a better all-rounder. The 23% lead in PassMark single-thread and 43.8% lead in Cinebench R15 single-core suggest snappier performance in everyday tasks, web browsing, and office productivity. The i7-1250U achieves this despite a lower 9W TDP compared to the Core 5 120UL's 15W, indicating greater efficiency per watt in most scenarios.

The Intel Core 5 120UL is the pick for users whose primary workload is modern multi-core rendering that scales well with sustained power. Its 26.9% victory in Cinebench R23 multi-core is the largest margin in either direction across all 17 tests. This suggests that the Core 5 120UL can sustain higher performance under extended all-core loads, likely due to its desktop socket allowing better power delivery and thermal headroom. However, its wins in data encryption and random string sorting are marginal, at 0.6% and 0.1% respectively, making them noise-level differences rather than decisive factors.

Both processors sit at the 68th percentile versus all CPUs, indicating comparable overall positioning in the broader market. The Core 5 120UL has an average benchmark score of 13594, while the i7-1250U averages 13351. Neither processor has a launch MSRP listed in the data. The i7-1250U's nearest rivals include the Core i7-7700K with a 0.5% delta, while the Core 5 120UL's closest competitor is the Core i3-12100F with a 0.7% delta, confirming both sit in a similar performance tier.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single victory belongs to the Core 5 120UL in Cinebench R23 multi-core. With a score of 8974 against 7069, the Core 5 120UL leads by 26.9%. This result is striking because the i7-1250U wins the Cinebench R15 and R20 multi-core tests, yet loses the R23 iteration by a wide margin. The pattern suggests the Core 5 120UL handles sustained all-core loads more effectively, possibly due to its desktop-oriented power delivery.

The i7-1250U counters with a 43.8% win in Cinebench R15 single-core, scoring 226 versus 127. This is the largest percentage advantage for either processor. The single-core advantage persists in Cinebench R23 single-core, where the i7-1250U scores 1574 versus 1266, a 19.6% lead. PassMark single-thread confirms the trend with a 2703 to 2080 score, a 23% margin. These results show the i7-1250U has a clear architectural advantage in single-threaded execution.

In multi-threaded PassMark tests, the i7-1250U leads by 6.8% with a score of 11329 versus 10558. The gap narrows in Cinebench R20 multi-core to 5.4%, with the i7-1250U scoring 3983 versus 3769. However, the Cinebench R15 multi-core test shows a larger 22.9% gap, with the i7-1250U at 1172.94 versus 904. This inconsistency across Cinebench versions suggests the workload scaling differs significantly between them.

Data-centric workloads show mixed results. The i7-1250U wins data compression by 8.5% with a score of 119280 versus 109090. Data encryption goes to the Core 5 120UL by a hair, 7685 versus 7642, a 0.6% margin. Random string sorting also favors the Core 5 120UL, 13610 versus 13593, a 0.1% difference. These near-ties indicate that neither processor has a meaningful advantage in basic data manipulation tasks.

Compute-intensive PassMark tests favor the i7-1250U across the board. Extended instructions show a 19.9% lead for the i7-1250U, scoring 6497 versus 5203. Prime number finding favors the i7-1250U at 58 versus 47, a 19% margin. Floating-point math is nearly tied at 26625 versus 26311, a 1.2% edge for the i7-1250U. Integer math shows a 5.6% lead for the i7-1250U, scoring 40328 versus 38060. Physics performance goes to the i7-1250U at 881 versus 807, an 8.4% advantage.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in single-threaded tasks?

A: The Intel Core i7-1250U wins all single-threaded tests. It leads by 43.8% in Cinebench R15 single-core (226 vs 127), 5.5% in Cinebench R20 single-core (562 vs 531), 19.6% in Cinebench R23 single-core (1574 vs 1266), and 23% in PassMark single-thread (2703 vs 2080).

Q: Does the Core 5 120UL win any multi-core benchmarks?

A: Yes, it wins Cinebench R23 multi-core with a score of 8974 versus 7069, a 26.9% advantage. However, the i7-1250U wins Cinebench R15 multi-core (1172.94 vs 904, 22.9%) and Cinebench R20 multi-core (3983 vs 3769, 5.4%).

Q: How do the two processors compare in PassMark multi-threaded performance?

A: The i7-1250U scores 11329 versus 10558 for the Core 5 120UL, giving the i7-1250U a 6.8% lead in PassMark multi-thread performance.

Q: Are these processors similar in overall performance?

A: Both sit at the 68th percentile versus all CPUs. The Core 5 120UL has an average benchmark score of 13594, while the i7-1250U averages 13351, a difference of roughly 1.8% in favor of the Core 5 120UL.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i7-1250U has a boost clock of 4.70 GHz, while the Intel Core 5 120UL boosts to 4.60 GHz.

Q: What is the difference in integrated graphics?

A: The Core i7-1250U features Iris Xe Graphics with 96 execution units, while the Core 5 120UL uses Iris Xe Graphics with 80 execution units.

Architecture Differences

The two processors share fundamental specifications but differ in key architectural choices. Both have 10 cores and 12 threads, with identical L1 cache of 80 KB per core and L2 cache of 1.25 MB per core. Both feature 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The process node is 10 nm for both, manufactured by Intel. Memory support is identical, with DDR4 and DDR5 in dual-channel configuration, and neither supports ECC memory.

The Core 5 120UL is built on Raptor Lake architecture with the Raptor Lake-PS codename, while the i7-1250U uses Alder Lake architecture with the Alder Lake-U codename. The Core 5 120UL targets the desktop market segment with an Intel Socket 1700 interface and 15W TDP. The i7-1250U targets mobile with an Intel BGA 1781 socket and a lower 9W TDP. This power difference is notable given the performance results, suggesting the i7-1250U achieves higher single-thread performance at lower power.

The Core 5 120UL has a base clock of 1.30 GHz and boost clock of 4.60 GHz. The i7-1250U lists a base clock of 1100.00 MHz and boost clock of 4.70 GHz. The Core 5 120UL supports PCIe Gen 4 with 8 lanes (CPU only), while the i7-1250U supports PCIe Gen 4 without specifying lane count. The integrated graphics differ, with the Core 5 120UL using Iris Xe Graphics 80EU and the i7-1250U using Iris Xe 96EU.

The Core 5 120UL released on 2024-04-07, while the i7-1250U released on 2022-02-22. Both are active in production, and neither has an unlocked multiplier. The Core 5 120UL's part number is listed as unknown, while the i7-1250U has no part number listed. Neither processor has a launch MSRP in the data.