Core 5 120U vs Core Ultra 7 155U
Core 5 120U
Core Ultra 7 155U
Performance Spectrum - CPU
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.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core 5 120U
Performance Per Dollar Core Ultra 7 155U
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 5 120U | Core Ultra 7 155U |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Raptor Lake-U Refresh (2024) / 10 nm) | ✨ Modern (Meteor Lake-P (2023) / 7 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 5 120U | Core Ultra 7 155U |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Core 5 120U and Core Ultra 7 155U
Core 5 120U
The Core 5 120U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 8 January 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Raptor Lake-U Refresh (2024) architecture. It features 10 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 1.4 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1744. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-5200, DDR4-3200, LPDDR4X-4267. Passmark benchmark score: 16,225 points. Launch price was $299.
Core Ultra 7 155U
The Core Ultra 7 155U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 December 2023 (1 year ago). It is based on the Meteor Lake-P (2023) architecture. It features 12 cores and 14 threads. Base frequency is 1.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.8 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA2049. Thermal design power (TDP): + 12 MB. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 16,185 points. Launch price was $490.
Processing Power
The Core 5 120U packs 10 cores / 12 threads, while the Core Ultra 7 155U offers 12 cores / 14 threads — the Core Ultra 7 155U has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5 GHz on the Core 5 120U versus 4.8 GHz on the Core Ultra 7 155U — a 4.1% clock advantage for the Core 5 120U (base: 1.4 GHz vs 1.7 GHz). The Core 5 120U uses the Raptor Lake-U Refresh (2024) architecture (10 nm), while the Core Ultra 7 155U uses Meteor Lake-P (2023) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Core 5 120U scores 16,225 against the Core Ultra 7 155U's 16,185 — a 0.2% lead for the Core 5 120U. Both processors carry 12 MB (total) of L3 cache.
| Feature | Core 5 120U | Core Ultra 7 155U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 10 / 12 | 12 / 14+20% |
| Boost Clock | 5 GHz+4% | 4.8 GHz |
| Base Clock | 1.4 GHz | 1.7 GHz+21% |
| L3 Cache | 12 MB (total) | 12 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core) | 2 MB (per core)+60% |
| Process | 10 nm | 7 nm-30% |
| Architecture | Raptor Lake-U Refresh (2024) | Meteor Lake-P (2023) |
| PassMark | 16,225 | 16,185 |
Memory & Platform
The Core 5 120U uses the FCBGA1744 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Core Ultra 7 155U uses FCBGA2049 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core 5 120U | Core Ultra 7 155U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1744 | FCBGA2049 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 5.0 | PCIe 5.0 |
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