5 120U vs i7-12700K

VS

Aggregate performance score

Core i7-12700K
2021
12 cores / 20 threads, 125 Watt
22.61
+108%

Core i7-12700K outperforms Core 5 120U by a whopping 108% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i7-12700K and Core 5 120U processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking238740
Place by popularity57not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation40.38no data
Market segmentDesktop processorLaptop
SeriesIntel Core i7Raptor Lake-U
Power efficiency16.4965.96
Architecture codenameAlder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021)Raptor Lake-U Refresh (2024)
Release date27 October 2021 (3 years ago)8 January 2024 (less than a year ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$409no data

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

no data

Detailed specifications

Core i7-12700K and Core 5 120U basic parameters such as number of cores, number of threads, base frequency and turbo boost clock, lithography, cache size and multiplier lock state. These parameters indirectly say of CPU speed, though for more precise assessment you have to consider their test results.

Physical cores12 (Dodeca-Core)10 (Deca-Core)
Threads2012
Base clock speed3.6 GHz1.4 GHz
Boost clock speed5 GHz5 GHz
Bus typeDMI 4.0no data
Bus rate8 × 16 GT/s55 MHz
Multiplier36no data
L1 cache384 KB80 KB (per core)
L2 cache2 MB1.25 MB (per core)
L3 cache1 MB12 MB (shared)
Chip lithography10 nmIntel 7 nm
Die size215.25 mm2no data
Maximum core temperature100 °C100 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)72 °Cno data
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility+no data
Unlocked multiplier+-

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-12700K and Core 5 120U compatibility with other computer components: motherboard (look for socket type), power supply unit (look for power consumption) etc. Useful when planning a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. Note that power consumption of some processors can well exceed their nominal TDP, even without overclocking. Some can even double their declared thermals given that the motherboard allows to tune the CPU power parameters.

Number of CPUs in a configuration11
SocketFCLGA1700FCBGA1744
Power consumption (TDP)125 Watt15 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-12700K and Core 5 120U. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
AES-NI++
FMA+-
AVX++
vPro++
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
Speed Shift++
Turbo Boost Technology2.0no data
Hyper-Threading Technology++
TSX-+
Idle States+no data
Thermal Monitoring++
Flex Memory Accessno data+
SIPP+-
Turbo Boost Max 3.0+no data
Deep Learning Boost++

Security technologies

Core i7-12700K and Core 5 120U technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT++
EDB++
Secure Key++
OS Guard++

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i7-12700K and Core 5 120U are enumerated here.

VT-d++
VT-x++
EPT++

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i7-12700K and Core 5 120U. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR4, DDR5DDR5-5200, DDR4-3200, LPDDR4x-4267
Maximum memory size128 GB96 GB
Max memory channels22
Maximum memory bandwidth76.805 GB/sno data
ECC memory support+-

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardIntel UHD Graphics 770Intel® Graphics
Quick Sync Video++
Clear Video HD+no data
Graphics max frequency1.5 GHz1.25 GHz
Execution Units3280

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i7-12700K and Core 5 120U integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported44

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i7-12700K and Core 5 120U integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

Max resolution over HDMI 1.44096 x 2160 @ 60Hz4096 x 2304 @ 60Hz
Max resolution over eDP5120 x 3200 @ 120Hz4096 x 2304 @ 120Hz
Max resolution over DisplayPort7680 x 4320 @ 60Hz7680 x 4320 @ 60Hz

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i7-12700K and Core 5 120U integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectX1212.1
OpenGL4.54.6

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i7-12700K and Core 5 120U.

PCIe version5.0 and 4.04.0
PCI Express lanes208

Synthetic benchmark performance

Various benchmark results of the processors in comparison. Overall score is measured in points in 0-100 range, higher is better.


Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark performance rating. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

i7-12700K 22.61
+108%
5 120U 10.85

Passmark

Passmark CPU Mark is a widespread benchmark, consisting of 8 different types of workload, including integer and floating point math, extended instructions, compression, encryption and physics calculation. There is also one separate single-threaded scenario measuring single-core performance.

i7-12700K 34595
+108%
5 120U 16611

Cinebench 15 64-bit multi-core

Cinebench Release 15 Multi Core is a variant of Cinebench R15 which uses all the processor threads.

i7-12700K 3325
+132%
5 120U 1432

Cinebench 15 64-bit single-core

Cinebench R15 (standing for Release 15) is a benchmark made by Maxon, authors of Cinema 4D. It was superseded by later versions of Cinebench, which use more modern variants of Cinema 4D engine. The Single Core version (sometimes called Single-Thread) only uses a single processor thread to render a room full of reflective spheres and light sources.

i7-12700K 272
+5.8%
5 120U 257

Geekbench 5.5 Multi-Core

i7-12700K 14016
+63.4%
5 120U 8576

Blender(-)

i7-12700K 173
5 120U 437
+152%

Geekbench 5.5 Single-Core

i7-12700K 1912
+2.9%
5 120U 1858

7-Zip Single

i7-12700K 6270
+6.6%
5 120U 5882

7-Zip

i7-12700K 73439
+118%
5 120U 33657

WebXPRT 3

i7-12700K 304
+4.3%
5 120U 291

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 22.61 10.85
Recency 27 October 2021 8 January 2024
Physical cores 12 10
Threads 20 12
Power consumption (TDP) 125 Watt 15 Watt

i7-12700K has a 108.4% higher aggregate performance score, and 20% more physical cores and 66.7% more threads.

5 120U, on the other hand, has an age advantage of 2 years, and 733.3% lower power consumption.

The Core i7-12700K is our recommended choice as it beats the Core 5 120U in performance tests.

Note that Core i7-12700K is a desktop processor while Core 5 120U is a notebook one.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-12700K and Core 5 120U, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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Intel Core i7-12700K
Core i7-12700K
Intel Core 5 120U
Core 5 120U

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Community ratings

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Questions & comments

Here you can ask a question about Core i7-12700K or Core 5 120U, agree or disagree with our judgements, or report an error or mismatch.