Intel Core 5 120UL vs Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a complete sweep: the Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus wins all 17 head-to-head comparisons, with the Intel Core 5 120UL recording zero wins. The margins are substantial across every workload category, though the gap narrows considerably in single-threaded tests.

In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus scores 30,867 against 8,974 for the Core 5 120UL, a 70.9% advantage. The single-core R23 result shows a smaller but still decisive gap: 2,261 versus 1,266, a 44% delta. This pattern repeats in Cinebench R15 and R20, where the multi-core deltas are 80.5% and 79.6% respectively, while the single-core deltas are 61.3% and 79.6%.

PassMark integer math delivers one of the closest proportional results. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus scores 125,091 against 38,060, a 69.6% lead. Floating point math widens to 83.8% (162,692 versus 26,311). The largest single-workload margin appears in PassMark find prime numbers, where the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus leads by 90.3% (486 versus 47).

Data compression and encryption workloads show consistent 80% plus advantages. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus records 568,721 in data compression versus 109,090 (80.8% delta), and 42,144 in data encryption versus 7,685 (81.8% delta). Extended instructions, a proxy for AVX and similar workloads, shows an 88.3% gap (44,565 versus 5,203).

The overall average benchmark score positions the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus at 66,855, putting it in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs in the database. The Core 5 120UL averages 13,594, placing it in the 68th percentile. The nearest rivals for the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus include the AMD EPYC 4465P at 66,925 (0.1% behind), the Intel Xeon 6515P at 67,006 (0.2% behind), and the Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX at 67,469 (0.9% behind). The Core 5 120UL sits within a tight cluster: the Intel Core i3-12100F trails by 0.7%, the Intel Core 3 N355 by 0.8%, and the Intel Core i5-9500 by 1.1%, while the Intel Core 3 304 leads by 1.1%.

Where Each One Wins

The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus wins in every measured category, but the magnitude of its advantage varies by workload type. The smallest relative lead appears in single-threaded performance, where the R23 single-core delta is 44% and the PassMark single-thread delta is 56.3%. This suggests the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus has a meaningful per-core efficiency advantage, but the Core 5 120UL's architecture remains competitive in lightly threaded tasks compared to its multi-core deficit.

The largest deltas appear in compute-heavy parallel workloads. Prime number finding shows a 90.3% gap, extended instructions an 88.3% gap, and floating point math an 83.8% gap. These are workloads that scale with core count, cache capacity, and memory bandwidth. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus has 18 cores versus 10, 30 MB of L3 cache versus 12 MB, and 115.2 GB/s of memory bandwidth versus an unspecified figure for the Core 5 120UL.

Data compression and encryption favor the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus by 80.8% and 81.8% respectively. Random string sorting shows an 80.3% delta. The multithread PassMark score lands at 79.5% ahead. Physics simulation, which often benefits from both thread count and clock speed, shows a 76.9% advantage.

The Core 5 120UL's best showing relative to its competitor is in single-core R23, where it trails by only 44%. Its worst showing is in prime number finding, where it trails by 90.3%. For a user focused exclusively on single-threaded legacy applications, the Core 5 120UL is proportionally less disadvantaged, but it still loses outright in every test.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel design generations and manufacturing nodes. The Core 5 120UL uses Raptor Lake architecture (Raptor Lake-PS codename) built on Intel's 10 nm process. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus belongs to the Core Ultra Series 2 with the Arrow Lake Refresh codename, fabricated by TSMC on a 3 nm node. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus integrates 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die; the Core 5 120UL has no transistor or die size figures recorded.

Core and thread counts differ substantially. The Core 5 120UL provides 10 cores and 12 threads, while the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus provides 18 cores and 18 threads. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus has no hyper-threading, meaning each core maps to one thread. The Core 5 120UL has two additional threads beyond its core count, indicating hyper-threading support.

Clock speeds favor the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus. Its base clock is 4.20 GHz with a boost clock of 5.30 GHz. The Core 5 120UL runs at 1.30 GHz base and 4.60 GHz boost. The thermal design power difference is pronounced: 125 W for the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus versus 15 W for the Core 5 120UL. This explains the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus's ability to sustain much higher performance in multi-threaded workloads.

Cache hierarchies scale with the core count. The Core 5 120UL has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus has 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 30 MB of shared L3. The larger per-core L1 and L2 allocations contribute to the single-thread performance advantage.

Memory support diverges as well. The Core 5 120UL supports both DDR4 and DDR5 in a dual-channel configuration. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus supports only DDR5, also dual-channel, with a recorded memory bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus supports ECC memory; the Core 5 120UL does not.

PCIe connectivity differs by generation and lane count. The Core 5 120UL provides Gen 4 with 8 CPU lanes. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus provides Gen 5 with 20 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics also differ: the Core 5 120UL uses Iris Xe Graphics with 80 execution units, while the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 64 execution units.

Sockets are incompatible. The Core 5 120UL uses Intel Socket 1700, while the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus uses Intel Socket 1851. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus has an unlocked multiplier; the Core 5 120UL does not. Release dates show the Core 5 120UL launched on 2024-04-07 and the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus on 2026-03-10. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus has a recorded launch MSRP of $199.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus has 18 cores and 18 threads. The Intel Core 5 120UL has 10 cores and 12 threads.

Q: How large is the performance gap in multi-core workloads?

A: In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus scores 30,867 versus 8,974, a 70.9% advantage. In R20 multi-core the delta is 79.6% (18,442 versus 3,769), and in R15 multi-core it is 80.5% (4,640 versus 904).

Q: Which processor has better single-threaded performance?

A: The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus leads in single-threaded tests, but by a smaller margin. Cinebench R23 single-core shows 2,261 versus 1,266 (44% delta), and PassMark single-thread shows 4,757 versus 2,080 (56.3% delta).

Q: What are the memory and PCIe differences?

A: The Core 5 120UL supports DDR4 and DDR5 with dual-channel memory and Gen 4 PCIe with 8 CPU lanes. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus supports only DDR5, also dual-channel, with 115.2 GB/s memory bandwidth, plus Gen 5 PCIe with 20 CPU lanes. Only the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus supports ECC memory.

Q: How do the two processors compare in the database percentile rankings?

A: The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus ranks in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs with an average benchmark score of 66,855. The Core 5 120UL ranks in the 68th percentile with an average score of 13,594.

Q: Which processor uses which socket and manufacturing process?

A: The Core 5 120UL uses Intel Socket 1700 and Intel's 10 nm process with Raptor Lake architecture. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus uses Intel Socket 1851 and TSMC's 3 nm process with Arrow Lake Refresh codename.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear performance hierarchy. The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus outperforms the Intel Core 5 120UL in every recorded benchmark, with overall average scores of 66,855 versus 13,594. The 93rd percentile ranking for the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus versus the 68th percentile for the Core 5 120UL places them in different performance tiers entirely.

For workloads that scale across cores, the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus is the only rational choice. Its 18 cores, 30 MB of L3 cache, and 115.2 GB/s memory bandwidth deliver leads of 70% to 90% across Cinebench multi-core tests, PassMark integer and floating point math, data compression, encryption, and prime number calculations. The 125 W TDP reflects the sustained power delivery needed for these results.

For single-threaded tasks, the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus still wins, but the 44% to 56.3% deltas are more modest. The Core 5 120UL's 1.30 GHz base clock and 4.60 GHz boost clock cannot match the 4.20 GHz base and 5.30 GHz boost of the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus. Even so, the per-core performance gap is smaller than the multi-core gap, suggesting the Raptor Lake architecture retains respectable single-thread efficiency.

The Core 5 120UL's 15 W TDP and support for both DDR4 and DDR5 indicate its positioning as a low-power desktop option. Its 68th percentile average score places it alongside the Intel Core i3-12100F, Intel Core 3 N355, Intel Core i5-9500, and Intel Core 3 304, all within 1.1% of its average. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus sits near the AMD EPYC 4465P, Intel Xeon 6515P, and Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX, all within 0.9%.

Socket compatibility is a decisive factor. The Core 5 120UL requires Intel Socket 1700, while the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus requires Intel Socket 1851. These are not interchangeable platforms. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus also offers an unlocked multiplier for overclocking, Gen 5 PCIe with 20 lanes, and ECC memory support; the Core 5 120UL lacks all three features.

The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus has a launch MSRP of $199. The Core 5 120UL has no recorded launch MSRP in the database.

The recorded data provides no scenario in which the Core 5 120UL wins a head-to-head benchmark. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus wins all 17 comparisons. Users constrained to the Core 5 120UL's platform for power or socket reasons should expect performance roughly one-third to one-tenth of the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus, depending on workload. Users selecting between these two parts for new builds should choose the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus based on benchmark results alone.