AMD Ryzen 5 5500 vs Intel Core i3-2120
43.4Single-core20
38.6Multi-core20
42.4Gamingspec-based20
16 spec wins — AMD Ryzen 5 55000 spec wins — Intel Core i3-2120
InnoReviews verdict
AMD Ryzen 5 5500 wins this desktop processor face-off, 41 to 20, pulling ahead mainly in single-core (+23) and multi-core (+19). Intel Core i3-2120 still makes sense if its price or standout specs fit your needs better.
Which would you pick?
Key differences
Reasons to pick the AMD Ryzen 5 5500
- Stronger single-core score: 43 vs 20
- Stronger multi-core score: 39 vs 20
- 692% higher PassMark: 19,000 vs 2,400
- 500% higher L2 cache: 3 MB vs 1 MB
- 433% higher L3 cache: 16 MB vs 3 MB
Reasons to pick the Intel Core i3-2120
- Lower launch price: $138 vs $159
General
| Spec | AMD Ryzen 5 5500 | Intel Core i3-2120 |
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2022+1% | 2011 |
| Socket | AM4 | LGA1155 |
| Process | 7 nm+78% | 32 nm |
| Base TDP | 65 W | 65 W |
| Max turbo power | 88 W | — |
| Unlocked multiplier | Yes | No |
| Cooler included | Yes | Yes |
Cores & Clocks
| Spec | AMD Ryzen 5 5500 | Intel Core i3-2120 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores | 6+200% | 2 |
| Performance cores | 6+200% | 2 |
| Efficiency cores | 0 | 0 |
| Threads | 12+200% | 4 |
| Base clock | 3.6 GHz+9% | 3.3 GHz |
| Boost clock | 4.2 GHz+27% | 3.3 GHz |
| L2 cache | 3 MB+500% | 1 MB |
| L3 cache | 16 MB+433% | 3 MB |
Integrated GPU
| Spec | AMD Ryzen 5 5500 | Intel Core i3-2120 |
|---|---|---|
| iGPU | — | Intel HD Graphics 2000 |
| iGPU clock | — | 1,100 MHz |
Memory
| Spec | AMD Ryzen 5 5500 | Intel Core i3-2120 |
|---|---|---|
| Memory support | DDR4-3200 | DDR3-1333 |
| Max memory | 128 GB+300% | 32 GB |
| Memory channels | 2 | 2 |
Platform
| Spec | AMD Ryzen 5 5500 | Intel Core i3-2120 |
|---|---|---|
| PCIe version | 3+50% | 2 |
| CPU PCIe lanes | 24+50% | 16 |
Benchmarks
| Spec | AMD Ryzen 5 5500 | Intel Core i3-2120 |
|---|---|---|
| Geekbench 6 (single) | 1,750+124%Bottom 43% | 780Bottom 1% |
| Geekbench 6 (multi) | 7,900+394%Bottom 40% | 1,600Bottom 1% |
| Cinebench R23 (single) | 1,390Bottom 40% | — |
| Cinebench R23 (multi) | 10,100Bottom 36% | — |
| PassMark | 19,000+692%Bottom 33% | 2,400Bottom 1% |
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