Intel Core 5 120UL vs Intel Core Ultra X7 358H Comparison

The Intel Core 5 120UL and the Intel Core Ultra X7 358H occupy different segments of the processor market, and the benchmark data from the database confirms a decisive performance gap between them. The Core Ultra X7 358H, a mobile part built on a newer process, dominates the Core 5 120UL across every single recorded test, with the largest advantages appearing in multi-threaded and specialized workloads.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a clean sweep for the Intel Core Ultra X7 358H, which wins all 17 head-to-head comparisons. The most significant margin comes in the PassMark find prime numbers test, where the Core Ultra X7 358H scores 337 against 47 for the Core 5 120UL, a delta of -86.1% from the perspective of the slower chip. This indicates a massive advantage in integer-heavy, single-threaded mathematical operations.

The gap narrows somewhat in multi-core rendering, but remains substantial. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Core Ultra X7 358H scores 18747 versus 8974 for the Core 5 120UL, a delta of -52.1%. The single-core R23 test shows a smaller but still decisive margin: 2080 versus 1266, a delta of -39.1%. This pattern suggests the Core Ultra X7 358H benefits from both superior per-core performance and higher core count.

In PassMark integer math, the Core Ultra X7 358H scores 83147 against 38060 for the Core 5 120UL, a delta of -54.2%. Floating point math shows an even larger divide: 103842 versus 26311, a delta of -74.7%. The extended instructions test, which measures vectorized and SIMD workloads, reveals the biggest relative gap among the PassMark suite: 27274 versus 5203, a delta of -80.9%.

Data compression and encryption workloads follow the same trend. The Core Ultra X7 358H scores 332508 in data compression versus 109090 for the Core 5 120UL, a delta of -67.2%. Data encryption shows 26046 versus 7685, a delta of -70.5%. The multithread aggregate PassMark score is 33802 versus 10558, a delta of -68.8%, while the physics test shows 3021 versus 807, a delta of -73.3%.

Even the closest contest, Cinebench R23 single-core, leaves the Core 5 120UL trailing by roughly 39%. The database places the Core 5 120UL at the 68th percentile of all CPUs, while the Core Ultra X7 358H sits at the 87th percentile. The average benchmark score tells the same story: 13594 for the Core 5 120UL versus 40967 for the Core Ultra X7 358H.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel families and manufacturing nodes. The Core 5 120UL uses the Raptor Lake architecture on a 10 nm process, with the codename Raptor Lake-PS. It is a desktop part with 10 cores and 12 threads, indicating a configuration with some efficiency cores that do not add hyper-threading. The Core Ultra X7 358H belongs to the Core Ultra Series 3, uses the Panther Lake codename (Panther Lake-H), and is built on a 3 nm process. It offers 16 cores and 16 threads, which suggests a mix of performance and efficiency cores without hyper-threading on any of them.

Cache hierarchies differ substantially. 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 X7 358H has 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3. This larger cache allocation per core contributes to the single-thread performance advantage seen in the benchmarks.

Memory support also separates the two. The Core 5 120UL supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration. The Core Ultra X7 358H supports only LPDDR5X, also dual-channel, with a recorded memory bandwidth of 153.6 GB/s. The Core 5 120UL has no memory bandwidth figure recorded in the database.

PCIe connectivity differs in generation and lane count. The Core 5 120UL provides Gen 4 with 8 lanes (CPU only). The Core Ultra X7 358H provides Gen 5 with 4 lanes (CPU only), which offers higher per-lane bandwidth despite fewer lanes.

Integrated graphics represent another major divergence. The Core 5 120UL pairs with Iris Xe Graphics with 80 execution units. The Core Ultra X7 358H includes Arc B390 graphics, a newer and more capable integrated GPU. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, and both are currently in active production.

The physical sockets are not interchangeable: the Core 5 120UL uses Intel Socket 1700, while the Core Ultra X7 358H uses Intel BGA 2540. The Core Ultra X7 358H also has a recorded part number, SA4RAQ9ET, while the Core 5 120UL does not.

Where Each One Wins

Based on the recorded benchmark data, the Core Ultra X7 358H wins in every measurable category. There is no workload in which the Core 5 120UL comes out ahead. The closest relative performance appears in single-threaded Cinebench R23, where the Core Ultra X7 358H leads by 39.1%. This suggests that the newer architecture and larger L2 cache give the Core Ultra X7 358H a meaningful per-core advantage, but the margin is smaller than in multi-threaded or SIMD-heavy tests.

The largest gaps occur in extended instructions and prime number finding, indicating that the Core Ultra X7 358H is particularly strong in vectorized workloads and integer-heavy loops. The Core 5 120UL, with its older Raptor Lake cores and smaller cache per core, cannot approach these scores.

For users working with multi-core rendering, the Cinebench R20 multi-core score of 12011 versus 3769, a delta of -68.6%, shows that the Core Ultra X7 358H provides roughly three times the throughput in heavily threaded tasks. The PassMark multithread score of 33802 versus 10558, a delta of -68.8%, confirms this pattern.

The Core 5 120UL does retain advantages that are not captured in the benchmark scores, such as its desktop socket (Intel Socket 1700) and support for both DDR4 and DDR5 memory. It also has a lower base clock of 1.30 GHz versus 1.90 GHz for the Core Ultra X7 358H, and a lower TDP of 15 watts versus 25 watts. These factors make it a lower-power desktop option, but the performance data shows it cannot compete with the Core Ultra X7 358H in raw throughput.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core Ultra X7 358H has 16 cores, while the Intel Core 5 120UL has 10 cores.

Q: How much faster is the Core Ultra X7 358H in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Core Ultra X7 358H scores 18747, which is 52.1% higher than the Core 5 120UL score of 8974.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?

A: No. The Core 5 120UL supports DDR4 and DDR5, while the Core Ultra X7 358H supports only LPDDR5X.

Q: What is the process node difference?

A: The Core 5 120UL uses a 10 nm process, while the Core Ultra X7 358H uses a 3 nm process.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Core Ultra X7 358H has a boost clock of 4.80 GHz, compared to 4.60 GHz for the Core 5 120UL.

Q: What integrated graphics does each processor use?

A: The Core 5 120UL uses Iris Xe Graphics with 80 execution units, while the Core Ultra X7 358H uses Arc B390 graphics.

Specification Differences

The following fields differ between the two processors in the database:

• Cores: 10 (Core 5 120UL) versus 16 (Core Ultra X7 358H)
• Threads: 12 versus 16
• Base Clock: 1.30 GHz versus 1.90 GHz
• Boost Clock: 4.60 GHz versus 4.80 GHz
• TDP: 15 watts versus 25 watts
• Socket: Intel Socket 1700 versus Intel BGA 2540
• Architecture: Raptor Lake versus not specified (Panther Lake codename)
• Codename: Raptor Lake-PS versus Panther Lake
• Generation: Core 5 (Raptor Lake-PS) versus Ultra X7 (Panther Lake-H)
• Process Node: 10 nm versus 3 nm
• L1 Cache: 80 KB per core versus 192 KB per core
• L2 Cache: 1.25 MB per core versus 3 MB per core
• L3 Cache: 12 MB shared versus 18 MB shared
• Memory Support: DDR4, DDR5 versus LPDDR5X
• Memory Bandwidth: not recorded versus 153.6 GB/s
• PCIe: Gen 4, 8 Lanes versus Gen 5, 4 Lanes
• Integrated Graphics: Iris Xe Graphics 80EU versus Arc B390
• Market Segment: Desktop versus Mobile
• Release Date: 2024-04-07 versus 2026-01-04
• Part Number: unknown versus SA4RAQ9ET

The two processors also differ in average benchmark score (13594 versus 40967) and percentile rank (68 versus 87). The nearest rivals for each are distinct, with the Core 5 120UL competing against desktop parts like the Intel Core i3-12100F and Intel Core i5-9500, while the Core Ultra X7 358H sits alongside mobile parts such as the AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 and Intel Core Ultra 7 356H.