CPU Comparison
Intel Core i5-11500 vs Intel Core 5 120
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i5-11500 is the mainstream sweet spot of Intel's 11th Gen desktop stack. Featuring 6 cores and 12 threads with a 2.7 GHz base and a 4.6 GHz boost, it strikes an excellent balance between price and performance.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Highly capable for office work, programming, and everyday multi-tasking.
Handles typical office tasks and light creative workloads well; multi‑threaded exports benefit from six real cores and SMT, but larger caches and more cores on higher‑end parts reduce render times noticeably.
Gaming
Strong gaming performance with a discrete GPU, comparable to more expensive non-K i7s of the prior generation.
Provides playable frame rates at 1080p in most modern titles when paired with a mid‑range GPU; expect some CPU‑limited scenarios at 144 Hz in CPU‑heavy games, where CPUs with higher boost clocks or E‑cores can pull ahead.
Virtualization
Sufficient for development VMs and basic sandboxing.
Efficiency
14nm limits efficiency under full load, but idle and light load power draw is acceptable.
The 65 W base power keeps idle and light‑load power modest; under multi‑threaded loads the 110 W MTP is reasonable for six cores, yielding acceptable performance per watt for this price segment.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No dedicated AI acceleration
- Quick Sync can assist in specific video AI workloads
- No discrete NPU; AI workloads run on CPU cores using AVX2/AVX and Intel DL Boost where applicable.
- Suitable for small inference tasks and local prototyping; not ideal for training or large models compared to NPUs or GPUs.
Content Creation
Gaming
- High boost clocks ensure strong frame rates
- iGPU allows troubleshooting without a discrete card
- Competes closely with the 11600 in most games
- Six P‑cores and 4.5 GHz max turbo are sufficient for most 1080p gaming workloads.
- Limited by lack of E‑cores in extremely parallel game engines compared to 10‑core Raptor Lake options.
- iGPU (UHD 730) is only suitable for very light or older games; discrete GPU is recommended for serious gaming.
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- Includes UHD 750 integrated graphics
- Strong single-threaded performance
- Supports Quick Sync Video
- PCIe 4.0 ready
- Good out-of-the-box cooler included
Cons
- Locked multiplier
- Higher power draw than AMD equivalents under load
- Only 6 cores for multi-threaded tasks
- LGA 1200 platform is end-of-life
- iGPU not powerful enough for modern gaming
Pros
- Proven 6P+0E Alder Lake architecture with strong 1080p gaming and everyday performance.
- Dual DDR5/DDR4 support maximizes board compatibility across 600/700 series.
- PCIe 5.0 x16 GPU link and PCIe 4.0 x4 for NVMe on suitable motherboards.
- UHD 730 iGPU supports multiple displays and hardware decode/encode (H.264, HEVC, AV1 decode).
- 65 W base power keeps cooling requirements modest; stock RM1 cooler is usable for light workloads.
- At $211 RCP, pricing is competitive for a new six‑core part.
Cons
- No E‑cores; in highly threaded games or productivity tasks, 10‑core Raptor Lake‑Refresh SKUs can outperform it.
- Reuses Alder Lake silicon, so it lacks architectural improvements found in Raptor Lake or Arrow Lake.
- Locked multiplier limits enthusiast overclocking.
- The Core (Series 1) naming can confuse buyers who expect a newer microarchitecture.
- Intel’s 600/700 chipsets are mature; the platform has no upgrade path to LGA1851.
Competitors & Alternatives
Intel Core i5-11500
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600XRival
Mainstream Desktop
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600GRival
APU Desktop
- Intel Core i5-11400Rival
Mainstream Desktop
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-10400Rival
Mainstream Desktop
- AMD Ryzen 7 3700XRival
Mainstream Desktop
Cheaper if you already have a discrete graphics card.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 5 5600Alt
Better multi-core performance and efficiency.
- Intel Core i5-12400Alt
Newer generation with better IPC and efficiency.
More cores for heavy multi-tasking.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 5 7600Alt
Newer AM5 platform with DDR5 support.
Intel Core 5 120
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600Rival
Mainstream Desktop
- AMD Ryzen 5 7600Rival
Mainstream Desktop
- Intel Core i5‑12400Rival
Mainstream Desktop
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5‑14400Rival
Mainstream Desktop
- Intel Core 5 120FRival
Mainstream Desktop
- Used Intel Core i5‑12400Alt
Offers nearly identical performance at lower cost if you are comfortable with the used market.
Our Verdict on Each
A well-rounded processor that offers strong CPU performance and useful integrated graphics, making it perfect for versatile budget builds.
Best for: Building a versatile family PC or budget gaming rig with GPU fallback
Read the full reviewThe Core 5 120 is essentially a rebadged, slightly retuned i5‑12400 with a 100 MHz higher turbo (4.5 GHz) and a 110 W MTP. For new builds on LGA1700, it offers sensible 1080p gaming and everyday performance at a competitive $211 RCP, though the identical-architecture predecessor and AMD’s AM4 six‑core options can be better value depending on pricing.
Best for: Budget gaming or general‑purpose build on an existing LGA1700 (600/700 series) board where you want a drop‑in six‑core upgrade with DDR5 support and don’t need more than 1080p gaming.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core i5-11500 or Intel Core 5 120?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core i5-11500 comes out ahead with a score of 8.2/10. That said, the best choice depends on your workload — check the spec and performance breakdown above for gaming, productivity and efficiency differences.
Which is faster for gaming, Intel Core i5-11500 or Intel Core 5 120?
For gaming, the Intel Core i5-11500 leads with a gaming performance score of 80/100 among Intel Core i5-11500 and Intel Core 5 120.
Do Intel Core i5-11500 and Intel Core 5 120 use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Intel Core i5-11500: Intel Socket 1200, Intel Core 5 120: FCLGA1700 (LGA1700)), so each needs a compatible motherboard.
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Intel Core 5 120 posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i5-11500 (9,800), Intel Core 5 120 (18,700). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.