Core i7-10700 vs Core 5 120U
Core i7-10700
Core 5 120U
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 i7-10700
Performance Per Dollar Core 5 120U
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-10700 | Core 5 120U |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($268) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Comet Lake (2020−2025) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Raptor Lake-U Refresh (2024) / 10 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-10700 | Core 5 120U |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($268) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 i7-10700 and Core 5 120U
Core i7-10700
The Core i7-10700 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 April 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Comet Lake (2020−2025) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 4.8 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1200. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 16,067 points. Launch price was $340.
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.
Processing Power
The Core i7-10700 packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Core 5 120U offers 10 cores / 12 threads — the Core 5 120U has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.8 GHz on the Core i7-10700 versus 5 GHz on the Core 5 120U — a 4.1% clock advantage for the Core 5 120U (base: 2.9 GHz vs 1.4 GHz). The Core i7-10700 uses the Comet Lake (2020−2025) architecture (14 nm), while the Core 5 120U uses Raptor Lake-U Refresh (2024) (10 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-10700 scores 16,067 against the Core 5 120U's 16,225 — a 1% lead for the Core 5 120U. L3 cache: 16 MB (total) on the Core i7-10700 vs 12 MB (total) on the Core 5 120U.
| Feature | Core i7-10700 | Core 5 120U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 16 | 10 / 12+25% |
| Boost Clock | 4.8 GHz | 5 GHz+4% |
| Base Clock | 2.9 GHz+107% | 1.4 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 16 MB (total)+33% | 12 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 1.25 MB (per core)+400% |
| Process | 14 nm | 10 nm-29% |
| Architecture | Comet Lake (2020−2025) | Raptor Lake-U Refresh (2024) |
| PassMark | 16,067 | 16,225 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 12,250 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,597 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 7,926 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-10700 uses the LGA1200 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core 5 120U uses FCBGA1744 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-10700 | Core 5 120U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1200 | FCBGA1744 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 5.0+67% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2933 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 128 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-10700) / not specified (Core 5 120U). The Core i7-10700 includes integrated graphics (UHD 630), while the Core 5 120U requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-10700 targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Core i7-10700 rivals Ryzen 7 3700X.
| Feature | Core i7-10700 | Core 5 120U |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | UHD 630 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | — |
| Target Use | Gaming | — |
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