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

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data records a complete sweep for the Intel Core i7-14701TE across all 17 head-to-head comparisons. The Core 5 120UL does not register a single victory, with the i7-14701TE winning every workload category in the database. The smallest margin appears in PassMark single-thread testing, where the i7-14701TE scores 2637 against 2080, a 21.1% advantage. That remains a substantial gap, but it is the closest any test comes to parity.

The Cinebench suite shows consistent deltas near 47%. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the i7-14701TE posts 17035 against 8974, a 47.3% deficit for the Core 5 120UL. Single-core results follow the same pattern: Cinebench R23 single-core shows 2405 versus 1266, a 47.4% difference. The R15 and R20 iterations confirm the trend, with multicore deltas of 47.3% and single-core deltas of 47.5% and 47.4% respectively. These numbers indicate that the performance gap is not workload-dependent in the Cinebench suite; it scales uniformly across rendering generations.

The PassMark suite exposes even wider disparities in certain specialized tasks. The largest delta appears in PassMark find prime numbers, where the i7-14701TE scores 143 against 47, a 67.1% difference. Extended instructions show a 63.8% gap, with the i7-14701TE at 14354 and the Core 5 120UL at 5203. PassMark physics delivers a 56.6% delta, 1860 versus 807. These three workloads reward raw compute throughput, and the i7-14701TE dominates.

Data compression reveals a 50.5% gap, 220520 versus 109090, while floating point math shows 50219 against 26311, a 47.6% difference. Integer math lands at 65792 versus 38060, a 42.2% delta. Random string sorting closes to a 40.2% gap, 22760 versus 13610. Data encryption shows the smallest multicore delta at 34.3%, 11699 versus 7685, though the i7-14701TE still holds a decisive edge.

PassMark multithread scoring reinforces the multicore picture: 20042 versus 10558, a 47.3% gap. The average benchmark score for the i7-14701TE sits at 26013, while the Core 5 120UL averages 13594. The i7-14701TE also ranks higher in the database percentile table, at the 78th percentile against all CPUs, compared to the 68th percentile for the Core 5 120UL.

Architecture Differences

Both processors share the Raptor Lake architecture family and the Intel Socket 1700, but they diverge in implementation details. The Core 5 120UL uses the Raptor Lake-PS codename, while the i7-14701TE uses Raptor Lake-R, the refresh variant. Both are built on Intel's 10 nm process node and fabricated by Intel, but the i7-14701TE carries a die size of 257 mm², a figure not recorded for the Core 5 120UL.

Core and thread counts vary significantly. The Core 5 120UL provides 10 cores and 12 threads, while the i7-14701TE offers 8 cores and 16 threads. The i7-14701TE therefore relies on a higher thread-per-core ratio, enabled by Hyper-Threading across all cores, whereas the Core 5 120UL has fewer threads than cores would suggest. This partially explains why the i7-14701TE wins even in heavily threaded tests despite having two fewer physical cores.

Cache hierarchies differ in the L2 and L3 levels. Both processors use 80 KB of L1 cache per core. The Core 5 120UL allocates 1.25 MB of L2 per core, while the i7-14701TE doubles that to 2 MB per core. The L3 cache gap is larger: the Core 5 120UL shares 12 MB, while the i7-14701TE shares 33 MB. More cache per core and a much larger shared pool give the i7-14701TE an advantage in data-heavy workloads.

Clock speeds reinforce the architectural separation. The Core 5 120UL runs a 1.30 GHz base clock with a 4.60 GHz boost. The i7-14701TE starts at 2.10 GHz base and boosts to 5.20 GHz. The i7-14701TE also carries a 45 W TDP, three times the 15 W TDP of the Core 5 120UL. That power envelope funds the higher clocks and larger cache.

Memory support matches on type, with both accepting DDR4 and DDR5 over a dual-channel bus. ECC memory support differs: the i7-14701TE supports ECC, while the Core 5 120UL does not. The i7-14701TE also exposes a wider PCIe configuration with Gen 5 and 16 CPU lanes, while the Core 5 120UL is limited to Gen 4 and 8 CPU lanes.

Integrated graphics differ as well. The Core 5 120UL uses Iris Xe Graphics with 80 execution units. The i7-14701TE carries UHD Graphics 770. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, and both are marked Active in production status. Release dates place the Core 5 120UL in April 2024 and the i7-14701TE in June 2024.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core 5 120UL has 10 cores and 12 threads. The Intel Core i7-14701TE has 8 cores and 16 threads. The i7-14701TE still wins all multicore benchmarks due to higher clocks, larger cache, and a higher thread count.

Q: How large is the single-thread performance gap?

A: The i7-14701TE leads by 21.1% in PassMark single-thread testing, 2637 versus 2080. Cinebench single-core tests show a larger gap of roughly 47%, with R23 single-core at 2405 versus 1266.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?

A: Yes, both support DDR4 and DDR5 over a dual-channel memory bus. The i7-14701TE additionally supports ECC memory, which the Core 5 120UL does not.

Q: What are the TDP requirements for each chip?

A: The Core 5 120UL has a 15 W TDP. The i7-14701TE has a 45 W TDP. The higher power budget of the i7-14701TE supports its higher base and boost clocks.

Q: Which processor has the larger L3 cache?

A: The i7-14701TE has 33 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core 5 120UL has 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The i7-14701TE also has 2 MB of L2 per core versus 1.25 MB per core on the Core 5 120UL.

Q: How do the two compare in the database percentile ranking?

A: The i7-14701TE sits at the 78th percentile against all CPUs. The Core 5 120UL sits at the 68th percentile. The average benchmark score for the i7-14701TE is 26013, compared to 13594 for the Core 5 120UL.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several recorded fields. Core count: 10 for the Core 5 120UL, 8 for the i7-14701TE. Thread count: 12 versus 16. Base clock: 1.30 GHz versus 2.10 GHz. Boost clock: 4.60 GHz versus 5.20 GHz. TDP: 15 W versus 45 W. The i7-14701TE records a die size of 257 mm², while the Core 5 120UL has no recorded die size.

L2 cache per core: 1.25 MB versus 2 MB. L3 cache shared: 12 MB versus 33 MB. ECC memory support: false for the Core 5 120UL, true for the i7-14701TE. PCIe configuration: Gen 4 with 8 CPU lanes versus Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics: Iris Xe Graphics 80EU versus UHD Graphics 770. The i7-14701TE has a part number of Q49GSRNJL, while the Core 5 120UL lists a part number of unknown.

Both share the same socket, architecture family, process node, foundry, memory type support, memory bus width, market segment, production status, and unlocked multiplier status. Neither has a recorded launch MSRP in the database. Release dates differ by roughly two months, with the Core 5 120UL launching in April 2024 and the i7-14701TE in June 2024.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-14701TE wins every benchmark category recorded in the database. There is no workload in the head-to-head dataset where the Core 5 120UL posts a higher score. The i7-14701TE is the stronger choice for all measured compute tasks, from Cinebench rendering to PassMark math, encryption, compression, and physics simulations.

The i7-14701TE excels in extended instruction workloads, leading by 63.8% in PassMark extended instructions and by 67.1% in prime number finding. These results point to strong SIMD and integer throughput. The 33 MB L3 cache and 5.20 GHz boost clock likely contribute to these margins. The i7-14701TE also dominates in floating point math, integer math, and physics, all of which reward sustained multicore execution.

The Core 5 120UL offers the lowest power requirement at 15 W, versus 45 W for the i7-14701TE. It also has two additional physical cores, though the i7-14701TE compensates with four additional threads. The Core 5 120UL uses fewer PCIe lanes at Gen 4, while the i7-14701TE provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes. For users prioritizing a lower TDP and a smaller thermal footprint, the Core 5 120UL presents a lighter configuration, but the recorded benchmarks show no performance category where it overtakes the i7-14701TE.

The closest contest appears in single-threaded PassMark results, where the i7-14701TE leads by only 21.1%. Data encryption is the closest multicore comparison at 34.3%. Both remain decisive wins for the i7-14701TE. The database percentile ranking confirms the overall positioning: the i7-14701TE at the 78th percentile versus the Core 5 120UL at the 68th percentile. Every measured metric in the head-to-head comparison favors the i7-14701TE.