Core 5 120 vs Ryzen 5 8500G

Core 5 120 vs Ryzen 5 8500G Performance Spectrum

Core 5 120

6 / 12

21,629

+0.7%

21,481

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5975WX

Ryzen Threadripper 9960X

About PassMark

PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

Core 5 120 vs Ryzen 5 8500G FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Core 5 120 vs Ryzen 5 8500G: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Core 5 120

2025

Why buy it

✅+0.7% higher PassMark.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 5 8500G across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 63.6 vs 120.0 PassMark/$ ($340 MSRP vs $179 MSRP).
❌No integrated graphics, while Ryzen 5 8500G can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 5 8500G.

Ryzen 5 8500G

2024

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +16.2% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $161 less on MSRP ($179 MSRP vs $340 MSRP).
✅Delivers 88.6% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 120.0 vs 63.6 PassMark/$ ($179 MSRP vs $340 MSRP).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (14 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon 740M, while Core 5 120 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (21,481 vs 21,629).

Quick Answers

So, is Core 5 120 better than Ryzen 5 8500G?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Ryzen 5 8500G is ahead with a 16.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core 5 120 pulls ahead with 0.7% better PassMark.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core 5 120 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.7% better PassMark, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core 5 120 is still the faster CPU overall, but Ryzen 5 8500G is easier to justify if budget matters more than peak performance. Core 5 120 comes in 89.9% more expensive on MSRP at $340 MSRP versus $179 MSRP, and it still gives you 0.7% better PassMark. The compromise is that Ryzen 5 8500G is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 16.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Ryzen 5 8500G is also 88.6% better value on MSRP (120.0 vs 63.6 PassMark/$), which is why it can still make sense for tighter-budget builds on paper. That said, if you already own a compatible AM5 + DDR5 setup, Ryzen 5 8500G is still an elite gaming CPU and a very strong platform-matched choice because it avoids a motherboard and RAM swap while remaining one of the strongest gaming chips you can buy.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core 5 120 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2025 vs 2024) and more multi-core headroom with 6 cores / 12 threads instead of 6/12. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Core 5 120 vs Ryzen 5 8500G Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Core 5 120

The Core 5 120 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 31 July 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Raptor Lake-R (2023−2025) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.5 GHz. L3 cache: 18 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 21,629 points. Launch price was $211.

Ryzen 5 8500G

The Ryzen 5 8500G is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 8 January 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Phoenix2 (2024) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: AM5. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 21,481 points. Launch price was $229.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the Core 5 120 and Ryzen 5 8500G share an identical 6-core/12-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4.5 GHz on the Core 5 120 versus 5 GHz on the Ryzen 5 8500G — a 10.5% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 8500G (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Core 5 120 uses the Raptor Lake-R (2023−2025) architecture (10 nm), while the Ryzen 5 8500G uses Phoenix2 (2024) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Core 5 120 scores 21,629 against the Ryzen 5 8500G's 21,481 — a 0.7% lead for the Core 5 120. L3 cache: 18 MB (total) on the Core 5 120 vs 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 8500G.

Feature	Core 5 120	Ryzen 5 8500G
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	6 / 12
Boost Clock	4.5 GHz	5 GHz+11%
Base Clock	2.5 GHz	3.5 GHz+40%
L3 Cache	18 MB (total)+13%	16 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)+25%	1 MB (per core)
Process	10 nm	4 nm-60%
Architecture	Raptor Lake-R (2023−2025)	Phoenix2 (2024)
PassMark	21,629	21,481
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	9,310
Geekbench 6 Single	—	2,500
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	10,000

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core 5 120 uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 5 8500G uses AM5 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core 5 120	Ryzen 5 8500G
Socket	LGA1700	AM5
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	—	DDR5-5200
Max RAM Capacity	—	256 GB
RAM Channels	—	2
ECC Support	—	Yes
PCIe Lanes	—	14

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Core 5 120) / AMD-V (Ryzen 5 8500G). The Ryzen 5 8500G includes integrated graphics (Radeon 740M), while the Core 5 120 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Ryzen 5 8500G targets General Use. Direct competitor: Ryzen 5 8500G rivals Core i5-13400.

Feature	Core 5 120	Ryzen 5 8500G
Integrated GPU	—	Yes
IGPU Model	—	Radeon 740M
Unlocked	—	Yes
Virtualization	—	AMD-V
Target Use	—	General Use

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Core 5 120 was priced at $340, while the Ryzen 5 8500G came in at $179. On launch pricing ($340 vs $179), Ryzen 5 8500G was $161 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core 5 120 delivers 63.6 pts/$ vs 120.0 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 8500G — making the Ryzen 5 8500G the 61.4% better value option.

Feature	Core 5 120	Ryzen 5 8500G
MSRP	$340	$179-47%
Performance per Dollar	63.6	120.0+89%
Release Date	2025	2024

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