Intel Core 5 120UL vs Intel Core i7-14701E Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i7-14701E wins every single recorded test, 17 out of 17 head-to-head comparisons. The margins are substantial across the board, but the size of the gap varies depending on the workload type.

Single-thread performance shows a consistent deficit for the Core 5 120UL. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the i7-14701E scores 315 against 127, a 59.7% advantage. Cinebench R20 single-core repeats the pattern at 1315 versus 531, again a 59.6% gap. The PassMark single-thread test tells the same story: 4305 against 2080, a 51.7% lead for the i7. These numbers indicate that the i7's higher boost clock, 5.40 GHz versus 4.60 GHz, translates into a decisive per-thread advantage in lightly threaded applications.

Multi-core results are equally lopsided. Cinebench R23 multi-core sees the i7-14701E score 22195 while the Core 5 120UL manages 8974, a 59.6% deficit. Cinebench R20 multi-core shows 9321 versus 3769, also a 59.6% gap. The PassMark multithread test records 26112 for the i7 against 10558 for the Core 5, a 59.6% difference. These consistent percentages across Cinebench versions suggest the performance ratio is stable regardless of the rendering workload intensity.

The largest single margin appears in PassMark extended instructions, where the i7-14701E leads by 71.9%, scoring 18528 against 5203. This indicates a major advantage in workloads that use AVX or other extended instruction sets. PassMark find prime numbers shows a 73.3% lead for the i7 (176 versus 47), the biggest percentage gap of any test. Integer math tells a similar story at 81325 versus 38060, a 53.2% lead, while floating-point math sees the i7 at 61873 against 26311, a 57.5% advantage.

Data compression favors the i7 heavily at 282939 versus 109090, a 61.4% gap. Data encryption is comparatively closer but still decisive: 14862 versus 7685, a 48.3% lead. Random string sorting shows 29158 against 13610, a 53.3% gap. Physics simulation in PassMark records 2399 versus 807, a 66.4% margin.

The average benchmark scores place the i7-14701E at 33206 against 13594 for the Core 5 120UL. The i7 sits at the 83rd percentile of all CPUs in the database, while the Core 5 sits at the 68th percentile. The i7's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 6950H at 33201 (0% delta), the AMD Ryzen 5 8645HS at 33244 (-0.1%), and the AMD Ryzen 7 7745HX at 33091 (0.3%). The Core 5 120UL sits closest to the Intel Core i3-12100F at 13494 (0.7% delta), Intel Core 3 N355 at 13492 (0.8%), and Intel Core i5-9500 at 13452 (1.1%).

Architecture Differences

Both processors share the Raptor Lake architecture and are built on Intel's 10 nm process node, but they diverge significantly in implementation. The Core 5 120UL uses the Raptor Lake-PS codename, while the i7-14701E uses Raptor Lake-R. The Core 5 belongs to the Core 5 generation line, whereas the i7 is part of the Core 14th Gen series with a Raptor Lake Refresh designation.

Core and thread counts differ in an interesting way. The Core 5 120UL has 10 cores and 12 threads, while the i7-14701E has 8 cores and 16 threads. The i7 has fewer physical cores but more threads, which means it relies on hyper-threading across all cores, while the Core 5 has a lower thread-to-core ratio. The i7's 16 threads versus the Core 5's 12 threads explains part of the multi-core performance gap.

Cache hierarchy differs substantially. Both use 80 KB of L1 cache per core. The L2 cache is 1.25 MB per core on the Core 5 against 2 MB per core on the i7. The L3 cache shows the largest difference: 12 MB shared on the Core 5 versus 33 MB shared on the i7. The i7's nearly three times larger L3 cache contributes to its advantage in data-heavy workloads like compression and encryption.

Clock speeds favor the i7 decisively. The Core 5 120UL has a base clock of 1.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. The i7-14701E starts at 2.60 GHz base and boosts to 5.40 GHz. Both the base and boost clocks are roughly double on the i7, which explains the consistent single-thread margins.

Thermal design power differs by a wide margin: 15 watts for the Core 5 against 65 watts for the i7. This reflects the Core 5's positioning as a low-power part and the i7's higher performance envelope. Both use the Intel Socket 1700.

Integrated graphics differ. The Core 5 120UL uses Iris Xe Graphics with 80 execution units, while the i7-14701E uses UHD Graphics 770. Memory support is the same on paper: both support DDR4 and DDR5 with dual-channel memory buses. ECC memory support is present on the i7 but not on the Core 5.

PCIe capabilities differ significantly. The Core 5 120UL provides Gen 4 with 8 lanes from the CPU, while the i7-14701E offers Gen 5 with 16 lanes. This gives the i7 twice the lane count and a newer generation for high-bandwidth devices.

The die size is listed only for the i7 at 257 mm². The Core 5 120UL does not have a recorded die size in the database. Both processors have locked multipliers, so neither supports unlocked overclocking.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core 5 120UL has 10 cores, while the Intel Core i7-14701E has 8 cores. However, the i7 has 16 threads versus 12 threads on the Core 5.

Q: Why does the i7-14701E win by such a large margin in multi-core tests despite having fewer cores?

A: The i7-14701E has 16 threads versus 12 on the Core 5, a 2.60 GHz base clock versus 1.30 GHz, a 5.40 GHz boost clock versus 4.60 GHz, and 33 MB of L3 cache versus 12 MB. These factors combine to produce a 59.6% advantage in Cinebench R23 multi-core.

Q: What is the difference in thermal design power?

A: The Core 5 120UL has a TDP of 15 watts, while the i7-14701E has a TDP of 65 watts. The i7 consumes more power and produces more heat, requiring a more substantial cooling solution.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?

A: Yes, both support DDR4 and DDR5 with dual-channel memory buses. The i7-14701E adds ECC memory support, which the Core 5 120UL does not offer.

Q: What PCIe capabilities does each processor have?

A: The Core 5 120UL provides PCIe Gen 4 with 8 lanes from the CPU. The i7-14701E provides PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes, doubling the lane count and offering a newer generation.

Q: How far apart are the average benchmark scores?

A: The i7-14701E has an average benchmark score of 33206, while the Core 5 120UL has an average of 13594. The i7 ranks at the 83rd percentile of all CPUs, and the Core 5 ranks at the 68th percentile.

The Verdict

The data supports only one conclusion for performance-sensitive buyers: the Intel Core i7-14701E is the clearly superior processor in every measured workload. It wins all 17 head-to-head comparisons, with margins ranging from 48.3% in data encryption to 73.3% in prime number finding. The average benchmark score of 33206 versus 13594 places the i7 in a completely different performance class, reflected in the 83rd versus 68th percentile ranking.

The Core 5 120UL does have advantages that matter in specific contexts. Its 15 watt TDP makes it suitable for thermally constrained builds, and its 10 cores provide more physical cores than the i7's 8, which could matter in workloads that scale purely by core count rather than thread count. The Iris Xe Graphics with 80 execution units may also deliver different integrated graphics performance than the i7's UHD Graphics 770, though the benchmark data does not include graphics comparisons.

For any buyer prioritizing compute performance, the i7-14701E is the choice. The 65 watt TDP is the price of that performance. The Core 5 120UL makes sense only for low-power systems where the 15 watt envelope is a hard requirement and the performance deficit is acceptable.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core 5 120UL | Intel Core i7-14701E |

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

| Series | None | Core 14th Gen |

| Cores | 10 | 8 |

| Threads | 12 | 16 |

| Base clock | 1.30 GHz | 2.60 GHz |

| Boost clock | 4.60 GHz | 5.40 GHz |

| TDP | 15 W | 65 W |

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

| Generation | Core 5 (Raptor Lake-PS) | Core i7 (Raptor Lake Refresh) |

| Die size | Not recorded | 257 mm² |

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

| L3 cache | 12 MB (shared) | 33 MB (shared) |

| 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 770 |

| Release date | 2024-04-07 | 2024-06-30 |

| Part number | Unknown | Q49FSRNJK |

Shared specifications include Intel Socket 1700, Raptor Lake architecture, 10 nm process node, Intel as foundry, 80 KB L1 cache per core, DDR4 and DDR5 memory support, dual-channel memory bus, Desktop market segment, Active production status, and locked multipliers.

Where Each One Wins

The i7-14701E wins every test in the database, so the "where each one wins" analysis is about the degree of dominance rather than which processor takes specific workloads. The largest margins are in extended instructions (71.9%), prime number finding (73.3%), and physics (66.4%). These are compute-heavy workloads that benefit from the i7's higher clocks, larger cache, and 16 threads. Data compression (61.4%) and multithread tests (59.6%) follow closely, confirming the i7's strength in parallel processing.

The smallest margins are in data encryption (48.3%), single-thread tests (51.7%), and integer math (53.2%). Even these smaller gaps are enormous in absolute terms. The i7 still leads by thousands of points in each case.

The Core 5 120UL does not win any benchmark, but its 15 watt TDP and 10 physical cores define its niche. Systems with strict power budgets, passive cooling requirements, or small form factor enclosures may need the Core 5 despite its performance disadvantage. Its Iris Xe Graphics with 80 execution units may be more capable than the UHD Graphics 770 in certain integrated graphics scenarios, though no graphics benchmarks are recorded in the database to confirm this.

For general desktop use, rendering, content creation, data processing, or any performance-oriented task, the i7-14701E is the only rational choice according to the recorded data. The Core 5 120UL exists for a different purpose entirely: maximum efficiency at minimum power draw, accepting a performance level roughly half that of the i7 across most workloads.