How do the scores compare?

Intel Core 5 120U scores 51.6/100 overall; Intel Core i5-12500H scores 48.4/100. Intel Core 5 120U wins 6 individual spec rows, Intel Core i5-12500H wins 9.

What are the main differences between the Intel Core 5 120U and the Intel Core i5-12500H?

Intel Core 5 120U advantages: Stronger single-core score: 60 vs 55; 67% lower Base TDP: 15 W vs 45 W; 50% higher Max memory: 96 GB vs 64 GB; 11% higher Boost clock: 5 GHz vs 4.5 GHz; 10% higher Geekbench 6 (single): 2,469 vs 2,250. Intel Core i5-12500H advantages: Stronger multi-core score: 44 vs 36; 103% higher Cinebench R23 (multi): 13,500 vs 6,659; 100% higher Performance cores: 4 vs 2; 79% higher Base clock: 2.5 GHz vs 1.4 GHz; 73% higher Max TDP: 95 W vs 55 W.

Intel Core 5 120U vs Intel Core i5-12500H

WINNER

Intel

Intel Core 5 120U

Intel

Intel Core i5-12500H

59.8Single-core55.3

36.2Multi-core44.1

75.3Efficiencyspec-based40.5

—iGPU50.3

50.3Platformspec-based53.8

6 spec wins — Intel Core 5 120U9 spec wins — Intel Core i5-12500H

InnoReviews verdict

Intel Core 5 120U wins this laptop processor face-off, 51.6 to 48.4, pulling ahead mainly in single-core (+5). Intel Core i5-12500H still makes sense if its price or standout specs fit your needs better.

Which would you pick?

Key differences

Reasons to pick the Intel Core 5 120U

Stronger single-core score: 60 vs 55
67% lower Base TDP: 15 W vs 45 W
50% higher Max memory: 96 GB vs 64 GB
11% higher Boost clock: 5 GHz vs 4.5 GHz
10% higher Geekbench 6 (single): 2,469 vs 2,250

Reasons to pick the Intel Core i5-12500H

Stronger multi-core score: 44 vs 36
103% higher Cinebench R23 (multi): 13,500 vs 6,659
100% higher Performance cores: 4 vs 2
79% higher Base clock: 2.5 GHz vs 1.4 GHz
73% higher Max TDP: 95 W vs 55 W

General

General comparison: Intel Core 5 120U versus Intel Core i5-12500H
Spec	Intel Core 5 120U	Intel Core i5-12500H
Announced	2024	2022
Process	10 nm	10 nm
Base TDP	15 W+67%	45 W
Max TDP	55 W	95 W+73%

Cores & Clocks

Cores & Clocks comparison: Intel Core 5 120U versus Intel Core i5-12500H
Spec	Intel Core 5 120U	Intel Core i5-12500H
Cores	10	12+20%
Performance cores	2	4+100%
Efficiency cores	8	8
Threads	12	16+33%
Base clock	1.4 GHz	2.5 GHz+79%
Boost clock	5 GHz+11%	4.5 GHz
L3 cache	12 MB	18 MB+50%

Integrated GPU

Integrated GPU comparison: Intel Core 5 120U versus Intel Core i5-12500H
Spec	Intel Core 5 120U	Intel Core i5-12500H
iGPU	Intel Iris Xe (80 EU)	Intel Iris Xe (80 EU)
iGPU clock	1,300 MHz	1,300 MHz

Memory

Memory comparison: Intel Core 5 120U versus Intel Core i5-12500H
Spec	Intel Core 5 120U	Intel Core i5-12500H
Memory support	LPDDR5X-5200 / DDR5-5200 / DDR4-3200 / LPDDR4X-4267	DDR5-4800 / LPDDR5-5200 / DDR4-3200
Max memory	96 GB+50%	64 GB

Benchmarks

Benchmarks comparison: Intel Core 5 120U versus Intel Core i5-12500H
Spec	Intel Core 5 120U	Intel Core i5-12500H
Geekbench 6 (single)	2,469+10%Bottom 50%	2,250Bottom 33%
Geekbench 6 (multi)	9,070Bottom 33%	10,500+16%Bottom 43%
Cinebench R23 (single)	1,757+6%Top 45%	1,655Bottom 47%
Cinebench R23 (multi)	6,659Bottom 19%	13,500+103%Top 46%
PassMark	14,877Bottom 30%	20,236+36%Top 50%
3DMark Time Spy Graphics (iGPU)	—	1,175Bottom 45%

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