CPU Comparison

The Intel Core 5 120UL and Intel Core i7-7700K represent two distinct eras of Intel desktop design, yet the benchmark data places them in the same performance percentile. Both processors sit at the 68th percentile against all CPUs, with the Core 5 120UL achieving an average benchmark score of 13594 and the i7-7700K scoring 13291. The head-to-head results show the Core 5 120UL winning 12 of 17 tests, but the i7-7700K secures decisive victories in specific workloads, revealing that the newer chip’s overall advantage is not universal.

The Verdict

The benchmark data indicates that the Intel Core 5 120UL is the superior choice for users prioritizing multi-threaded throughput and modern instruction efficiency. It leads the i7-7700K by 9.6% in Cinebench R23 multi-core, scoring 8974 versus 8189, and extends that margin in PassMark integer math with a 24.6% advantage (38060 vs 30553). For productivity workloads like video encoding, physics simulation, or general compilation, the Core 5 120UL’s 10 cores and 12 threads provide a measurable edge over the i7-7700K’s 4 cores and 8 threads.

However, the Intel Core i7-7700K remains the pick for single-threaded responsiveness and legacy instruction sets. PassMark single-thread results show the i7-7700K at 2708 versus 2080 for the Core 5 120UL, a 23.2% deficit for the newer chip. The i7-7700K also crushes the Core 5 120UL in PassMark extended instructions (8943 vs 5203, a 41.8% difference) and data compression (136852 vs 109090, a 20.3% gap). Users running older software optimized for Kaby Lake’s high base clock of 4.20 GHz will find the i7-7700K faster in those specific tasks.

Given the data, the Core 5 120UL is the better all-around processor for modern, multi-threaded applications, while the i7-7700K serves specialized single-thread or legacy workloads. The i7-7700K’s unlocked multiplier also allows overclocking, which the data suggests could further widen its single-thread lead, but that potential is not quantified in the benchmark results. For a balanced desktop workload, the Core 5 120UL’s 12 wins out of 17 tests make it the logical default recommendation.

Architecture Differences

The two processors diverge fundamentally in architecture, process node, and platform support. The Intel Core 5 120UL uses Raptor Lake architecture on a 10 nm process, while the i7-7700K uses Kaby Lake on a 14 nm process. This generational leap gives the Core 5 120UL a core count advantage of 10 cores versus 4, and 12 threads versus 8. The Core 5 120UL also features a larger L3 cache at 12 MB shared, compared to the i7-7700K’s 8 MB shared.

Cache hierarchy differs significantly. The Core 5 120UL has 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 1.25 MB of L2 per core, while the i7-7700K offers 64 KB of L1 per core and 256 KB of L2 per core. This larger per-core cache likely contributes to the Core 5 120UL’s superior multi-threaded performance in cache-sensitive workloads. Memory support also differs: the Core 5 120UL supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the i7-7700K is limited to DDR4. The i7-7700K has a listed memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, but the Core 5 120UL does not have a listed bandwidth figure.

Platform connectivity shows a trade-off. The Core 5 120UL uses Intel Socket 1700 with PCIe Gen 4 and 8 lanes (CPU only), while the i7-7700K uses Intel Socket 1151 with PCIe Gen 3 and 16 lanes. The i7-7700K’s extra PCIe lanes could benefit multi-GPU setups, but the Core 5 120UL’s newer PCIe standard offers higher per-lane bandwidth. Integrated graphics also differ: the Core 5 120UL has Iris Xe Graphics 80EU, while the i7-7700K has HD 630, with the former likely more capable for light GPU tasks.

Clocks are a notable contrast. The Core 5 120UL has a base clock of 1.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz, while the i7-7700K runs at 4.20 GHz base and 4.50 GHz boost. The i7-7700K’s much higher base clock explains its single-thread dominance, but the Core 5 120UL’s higher boost clock helps it compete in burst workloads. The Core 5 120UL has a TDP of 15 watts versus 91 watts for the i7-7700K, a dramatic efficiency difference, though no wattage numbers beyond these TDP values appear in the data.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has better multi-core performance?

A: The Intel Core 5 120UL wins all six Cinebench multi-core tests, including a 9.6% lead in R20 multi-core (3769 vs 3439) and a 9.6% lead in R23 multi-core (8974 vs 8189). PassMark multithread also favors the Core 5 120UL at 10558 versus 9627, a 9.7% advantage.

Q: Is the Intel Core i7-7700K better for any workload?

A: Yes, the i7-7700K wins 5 of 17 head-to-head tests. Its largest wins are in PassMark extended instructions (8943 vs 5203, a 41.8% lead), single-thread (2708 vs 2080, a 23.2% lead), random string sorting (17208 vs 13610, a 20.9% lead), and data compression (136852 vs 109090, a 20.3% lead).

Q: How do their single-core scores compare?

A: The i7-7700K leads PassMark single-thread at 2708 versus 2080 for the Core 5 120UL, a 23.2% difference. However, in Cinebench R23 single-core, the Core 5 120UL wins 1266 versus 1156, a 9.5% advantage.

Q: What is the TDP difference?

A: The Core 5 120UL has a 15-watt TDP, while the i7-7700K has a 91-watt TDP. This suggests the Core 5 120UL is far more power-efficient, though no thermal or power consumption measurements are provided in the data.

Q: Which processor supports more modern memory types?

A: The Core 5 120UL supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the i7-7700K supports only DDR4. Both use dual-channel memory buses, but the i7-7700K has a listed bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, while the Core 5 120UL has no bandwidth figure.

Q: Can the i7-7700K be overclocked?

A: Yes, the i7-7700K has an unlocked multiplier, while the Core 5 120UL is locked. Overclocking could improve the i7-7700K’s scores, but the data does not include overclocked benchmark results.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core 5 120UL | Intel Core i7-7700K |

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

| Cores | 10 | 4 |

| Threads | 12 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 1.30 GHz | 4.20 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.60 GHz | 4.50 GHz |

| TDP | 15 W | 91 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1700 | Intel Socket 1151 |

| Architecture | Raptor Lake | Kaby Lake |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 14 nm |

| L1 Cache | 80 KB (per core) | 64 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core) | 256 KB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 12 MB (shared) | 8 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR4 |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not listed | 38.4 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 8 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Iris Xe Graphics 80EU | HD 630 |

| Unlocked Multiplier | No | Yes |

| Part Number | unknown | SR33A |

| Release Date | 2024-04-07 | 2017-01-02 |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Core 5 120UL dominates the Cinebench suite, winning every single-core and multi-core test. In R15 multi-core, it scores 904 versus 825 (a 9.6% win), and in R15 single-core, 127 versus 116 (a 9.5% win). The pattern repeats in R20 and R23, with the Core 5 120UL consistently holding a 9.5-9.6% edge across both single and multi-core tests. This consistency suggests the Core 5 120UL’s architectural improvements benefit all Cinebench workloads equally.

PassMark results tell a more complex story. The Core 5 120UL wins 8 of 13 PassMark tests, with its largest victory in data encryption at 7685 versus 3343, a staggering 129.9% lead. It also wins find prime numbers by 51.6% (47 vs 31), floating point math by 40.4% (26311 vs 18741), and integer math by 24.6% (38060 vs 30553). Physics shows a 23.2% lead for the Core 5 120UL (807 vs 655), and multithread a 9.7% lead (10558 vs 9627).

The i7-7700K’s wins are concentrated in specific areas. Its largest victory is in extended instructions, scoring 8943 versus 5203, a 41.8% margin that likely reflects older instruction set optimizations. It also wins single-thread by 23.2% (2708 vs 2080), random string sorting by 20.9% (17208 vs 13610), and data compression by 20.3% (136852 vs 109090). These results indicate the i7-7700K excels in memory-bound or legacy-coded single-thread tasks.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 5 120UL wins in every multi-threaded productivity benchmark, making it the choice for rendering, video encoding, and parallel compute. Its 129.9% lead in data encryption suggests a major advantage in security-related workloads, while its 51.6% win in prime number finding indicates superior mathematical throughput. The 40.4% lead in floating point math positions it well for scientific simulations and 3D rendering, and the 24.6% integer math win helps with general office and database tasks.

The Intel Core i7-7700K wins in single-thread and legacy-optimized scenarios. Its 41.8% extended instructions lead points to advantages in older software that uses specialized x86 instructions. The 23.2% single-thread win makes it better for lightly-threaded applications like some games or legacy productivity tools. Its 20.9% random string sorting victory suggests strengths in text processing and data parsing, while the 20.3% data compression lead indicates faster archiving and decompression in single-threaded tools.

The data implies a clear split: choose the Core 5 120UL for modern multi-core software and encryption-heavy tasks, but pick the i7-7700K if your workloads are single-threaded or rely on older instruction sets. The i7-7700K’s higher base clock of 4.20 GHz versus 1.30 GHz likely drives its single-thread wins, while the Core 5 120UL’s 10 cores and larger caches fuel its multi-thread dominance. Neither chip is universally faster, and the 17 head-to-head tests show a 12-5 split that favors the Core 5 120UL in breadth but leaves the i7-7700K with meaningful niche strengths.