Core 5 120U vs Ryzen 5 PRO 4655G

Core 5 120U vs Ryzen 5 PRO 4655G Performance Spectrum

Core 5 120U

10 / 12

16,225

0.0%

16,280

+0.3%

Ryzen AI Max+ PRO 395

Ryzen 9 9950X3D

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 120U vs Ryzen 5 PRO 4655G 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 120U vs Ryzen 5 PRO 4655G: 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 120U

2024

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +18.6% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+50% larger total L3 cache (12 MB vs 8 MB).
✅Draws 15W instead of 65W, a 50W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FCBGA1744 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (16,225 vs 16,280).

Ryzen 5 PRO 4655G

2022

Why buy it

✅+0.3% higher PassMark.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core 5 120U across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Smaller total L3 cache (8 MB vs 12 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $165 MSRP, while Core 5 120U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌333.3% higher power demand at 65W vs 15W.
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Core 5 120U moves to FCBGA1744 and DDR5.

Quick Answers

So, is Core 5 120U better than Ryzen 5 PRO 4655G?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Core 5 120U is ahead with a 18.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 5 PRO 4655G pulls ahead with 0.3% better PassMark. Core 5 120U also has the bigger cache pool with 50% larger total L3 cache (12 MB vs 8 MB).

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 5 PRO 4655G is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.3% better PassMark, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads.

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

Core 5 120U is still the faster CPU overall, but Ryzen 5 PRO 4655G is easier to justify if budget matters more than peak performance. Core 5 120U comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $165 MSRP, and it still gives you a 18.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. The compromise is that Ryzen 5 PRO 4655G is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 0.3% better PassMark. Ryzen 5 PRO 4655G is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (98.7 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), which is why it can still make sense for tighter-budget builds on paper.

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

Core 5 120U makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2024 vs 2022), a healthier platform with FCBGA1744 and DDR5 instead of AM4, and 50% larger total L3 cache (12 MB vs 8 MB). That gives you a healthier platform runway for motherboard, RAM, and later CPU upgrades.

Core 5 120U vs Ryzen 5 PRO 4655G Technical Specifications

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

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.

Ryzen 5 PRO 4655G

The Ryzen 5 PRO 4655G is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 11 November 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Renoir (2020−2023) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 16,280 points. Launch price was $299.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core 5 120U packs 10 cores / 12 threads, while the Ryzen 5 PRO 4655G offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Core 5 120U has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5 GHz on the Core 5 120U versus 4.2 GHz on the Ryzen 5 PRO 4655G — a 17.4% clock advantage for the Core 5 120U (base: 1.4 GHz vs 3.7 GHz). The Core 5 120U uses the Raptor Lake-U Refresh (2024) architecture (10 nm), while the Ryzen 5 PRO 4655G uses Renoir (2020−2023) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Core 5 120U scores 16,225 against the Ryzen 5 PRO 4655G's 16,280 — a 0.3% lead for the Ryzen 5 PRO 4655G. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core 5 120U vs 8 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 PRO 4655G.

Feature	Core 5 120U	Ryzen 5 PRO 4655G
Cores / Threads	10 / 12+67%	6 / 12
Boost Clock	5 GHz+19%	4.2 GHz
Base Clock	1.4 GHz	3.7 GHz+164%
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)+50%	8 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)+150%	512 kB (per core)
Process	10 nm	7 nm-30%
Architecture	Raptor Lake-U Refresh (2024)	Renoir (2020−2023)
PassMark	16,225	16,280

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core 5 120U uses the FCBGA1744 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 5 PRO 4655G uses AM4 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.