Intel Core 5 120U vs Intel Core Ultra 7 255H
59.8Single-core69.7
36.2Multi-core56.8
75.3Efficiencyspec-based75.7
—iGPU75.9
50.3Platformspec-based60.5
1 spec wins — Intel Core 5 120U16 spec wins — Intel Core Ultra 7 255H
InnoReviews verdict
Intel Core Ultra 7 255H wins this laptop processor face-off, 65.3 to 51.6, pulling ahead mainly in multi-core (+21) and single-core (+10). Intel Core 5 120U 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
- 46% lower Base TDP: 15 W vs 28 W
Reasons to pick the Intel Core Ultra 7 255H
- Stronger single-core score: 70 vs 60
- Stronger multi-core score: 57 vs 36
- 200% higher Performance cores: 6 vs 2
- 180% higher Cinebench R23 (multi): 18,624 vs 6,659
- 109% higher Max TDP: 115 W vs 55 W
General
| Spec | Intel Core 5 120U | Intel Core Ultra 7 255H |
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2024 | 2025 |
| Process | 10 nm | 3 nm+70% |
| Base TDP | 15 W+46% | 28 W |
| Max TDP | 55 W | 115 W+109% |
Cores & Clocks
| Spec | Intel Core 5 120U | Intel Core Ultra 7 255H |
|---|---|---|
| Cores | 10 | 16+60% |
| Performance cores | 2 | 6+200% |
| Efficiency cores | 8 | 10+25% |
| Threads | 12 | 16+33% |
| Base clock | 1.4 GHz | 2 GHz+43% |
| Boost clock | 5 GHz | 5.1 GHz+2% |
| L3 cache | 12 MB | 24 MB+100% |
Integrated GPU
| Spec | Intel Core 5 120U | Intel Core Ultra 7 255H |
|---|---|---|
| iGPU | Intel Iris Xe (80 EU) | Intel Arc 140T |
| iGPU clock | 1,300 MHz | 2,250 MHz |
Memory
| Spec | Intel Core 5 120U | Intel Core Ultra 7 255H |
|---|---|---|
| Memory support | LPDDR5X-5200 / DDR5-5200 / DDR4-3200 / LPDDR4X-4267 | LPDDR5X-8400 / DDR5-6400 |
| Max memory | 96 GB | 128 GB+33% |
Benchmarks
| Spec | Intel Core 5 120U | Intel Core Ultra 7 255H |
|---|---|---|
| Geekbench 6 (single) | 2,469Bottom 50% | 2,851+15%Top 29% |
| Geekbench 6 (multi) | 9,070Bottom 33% | 15,362+69%Top 23% |
| Cinebench R23 (single) | 1,757Top 45% | 2,055+17%Top 18% |
| Cinebench R23 (multi) | 6,659Bottom 19% | 18,624+180%Top 20% |
| PassMark | 14,877Bottom 30% | 30,782+107%Top 21% |
| 3DMark Time Spy Graphics (iGPU) | — | 3,719Top 7% |
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