Ryzen 5 5600 vs Core 5 120
Ryzen 5 5600
Core 5 120
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 Ryzen 5 5600
Performance Per Dollar Core 5 120
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Ryzen 5 5600 | Core 5 120 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($115) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($340) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Vermeer (2020−2025) / 7 nm) | ✨ Modern (Raptor Lake-R (2023−2025) / 10 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Ryzen 5 5600 | Core 5 120 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+195%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($115) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($340) |
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 Ryzen 5 5600 and Core 5 120
Ryzen 5 5600
The Ryzen 5 5600 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 20 April 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Vermeer (2020−2025) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 21,550 points. Launch price was $299.
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.
Processing Power
Both the Ryzen 5 5600 and Core 5 120 share an identical 6-core/12-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Ryzen 5 5600 versus 4.5 GHz on the Core 5 120 — a 2.2% clock advantage for the Core 5 120 (base: 3.5 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The Ryzen 5 5600 uses the Vermeer (2020−2025) architecture (7 nm), while the Core 5 120 uses Raptor Lake-R (2023−2025) (10 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 5 5600 scores 21,550 against the Core 5 120's 21,629 — a 0.4% lead for the Core 5 120. L3 cache: 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 5600 vs 18 MB (total) on the Core 5 120.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 5600 | Core 5 120 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12 | 6 / 12 |
| Boost Clock | 4.4 GHz | 4.5 GHz+2% |
| Base Clock | 3.5 GHz+40% | 2.5 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 32 MB (total)+78% | 18 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 512K (per core) | 1.25 MB (per core)+150% |
| Process | 7 nm-30% | 10 nm |
| Architecture | Vermeer (2020−2025) | Raptor Lake-R (2023−2025) |
| PassMark | 21,550 | 21,629 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 11,077 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 2,052 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 8,600 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Ryzen 5 5600 uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Core 5 120 uses LGA1700 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 5600 | Core 5 120 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM4 | LGA1700 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0 | PCIe 5.0+25% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-3200 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 128 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ✅ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 24 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: AMD-V (Ryzen 5 5600) / not specified (Core 5 120). Primary use case: Ryzen 5 5600 targets Desktop.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 5600 | Core 5 120 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| Unlocked | Yes | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | — |
| Target Use | Desktop | — |
Value Analysis
The Ryzen 5 5600 launched at $199 MSRP, while the Core 5 120 debuted at $340. At current prices ($115 vs $340), the Ryzen 5 5600 is $225 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Ryzen 5 5600 delivers 187.4 pts/$ vs 63.6 pts/$ for the Core 5 120 — making the Ryzen 5 5600 the 98.6% better value option.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 5600 | Core 5 120 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $199-41% | $340 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $115-66% | $340 |
| Performance per Dollar | 187.4+195% | 63.6 |
| Release Date | 2022 | 2025 |
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