Core 5 120UL vs Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE

Core 5 120UL vs Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE Performance Spectrum

Core 5 120UL

10 / 12

10,558

0.0%

10,693

+1.3%

Ryzen Threadripper 7960X

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 120UL vs Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE 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 120UL vs Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE: 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 120UL

2024

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +13.3% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+200% larger total L3 cache (12 MB vs 4 MB).
✅Costs $146 less on MSRP ($277 MSRP vs $423 MSRP).
✅Delivers 50.8% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 38.1 vs 25.3 PassMark/$ ($277 MSRP vs $423 MSRP).
✅Draws 15W instead of 35W, a 20W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (10,558 vs 10,693).

Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE

2022

Why buy it

✅+1.3% higher PassMark.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core 5 120UL across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Smaller total L3 cache (4 MB vs 12 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 25.3 vs 38.1 PassMark/$ ($423 MSRP vs $277 MSRP).
❌133.3% higher power demand at 35W vs 15W.
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Core 5 120UL moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Quick Answers

So, is Core 5 120UL better than Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Core 5 120UL is ahead with a 13.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE pulls ahead with 1.3% better PassMark. Core 5 120UL also has the bigger cache pool with 200% larger total L3 cache (12 MB vs 4 MB).

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE is the stronger fit. You are getting 1.3% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 8 threads.

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

Core 5 120UL is the better buy right now. Core 5 120UL comes in $146 cheaper on MSRP at $277 MSRP versus $423 MSRP, and it still gives you a 13.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. The compromise is that Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 1.3% better PassMark. It is also 50.8% better value on MSRP (38.1 vs 25.3 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper. That said, if you already own a compatible AM4 + DDR4 setup, Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE can still make sense as a platform-matched option because it avoids a motherboard and RAM swap, but on MSRP alone you would want to find it meaningfully cheaper in real-world listings before that path becomes easy to justify.

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

Core 5 120UL makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2024 vs 2022), a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of AM4, and 200% larger total L3 cache (12 MB vs 4 MB). That gives you a healthier platform runway for motherboard, RAM, and later CPU upgrades.

Core 5 120UL vs Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE Technical Specifications

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

Core 5 120UL

The Core 5 120UL is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 8 April 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Raptor Lake-PS (2024) architecture. It features 10 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 1.3 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 10,558 points. Launch price was $149.

Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE

The Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE 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 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 10,693 points. Launch price was $149.

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Processing Power

The Core 5 120UL packs 10 cores / 12 threads, while the Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Core 5 120UL has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.6 GHz on the Core 5 120UL versus 4 GHz on the Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE — a 14% clock advantage for the Core 5 120UL (base: 1.3 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Core 5 120UL uses the Raptor Lake-PS (2024) architecture (10 nm), while the Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE uses Renoir (2020−2023) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Core 5 120UL scores 10,558 against the Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE's 10,693 — a 1.3% lead for the Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core 5 120UL vs 4 MB (total) on the Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE.

Feature	Core 5 120UL	Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE
Cores / Threads	10 / 12+150%	4 / 8
Boost Clock	4.6 GHz+15%	4 GHz
Base Clock	1.3 GHz	3.5 GHz+169%
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)+200%	4 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)+150%	512 kB (per core)
Process	10 nm	7 nm-30%
Architecture	Raptor Lake-PS (2024)	Renoir (2020−2023)
PassMark	10,558	10,693+1%

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Memory & Platform

The Core 5 120UL uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE uses AM4 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core 5 120UL	Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE
Socket	LGA1700	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+67%	PCIe 3.0

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Core 5 120UL was priced at $277, while the Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE came in at $423. On launch pricing ($277 vs $423), Core 5 120UL was $146 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core 5 120UL delivers 38.1 pts/$ vs 25.3 pts/$ for the Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE — making the Core 5 120UL the 40.5% better value option.

Feature	Core 5 120UL	Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE
MSRP	$277-35%	$423
Performance per Dollar	38.1+51%	25.3
Release Date	2024	2022

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