CPU Comparison
Intel Core 5 120 vs Core i5-12400
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. A six-core, twelve-thread mainstream desktop processor using an Alder Lake H0 die on LGA1700, with 18 MB L3 cache, a 2.5 GHz base and 4.5 GHz max turbo, DDR4/DDR5 dual-channel support, PCIe 5.0 from the CPU (up to x16+4 configuration), UHD Graphics 730, 65 W PBP and 110 W MTP, and an Intel Recommended Customer Price of $211.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
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.
Snappy and reliable for all standard desktop applications.
Gaming
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.
Fantastic gaming performance that punches well above its weight class.
Virtualization
Very capable for homelab and development VMs.
Efficiency
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.
Highly efficient 65W design with minimal heat output.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- 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.
- No dedicated AI hardware
- Standard CPU inference
Content Creation
Gaming
- 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.
- Does not bottleneck current mid-range GPUs
- Strong single-core speeds
- Consistent frame times due to pure P-cores
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
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.
Pros
- Outstanding price-to-performance
- Pure 6 P-core design
- Runs cool and quiet
- DDR5 and PCIe 5.0 support
- Includes Laminar RM1 cooler
Cons
- Locked multiplier
- UHD 730 graphics are basic
- Only 16 PCIe 5.0 lanes
- No E-cores for background tasks
- 117W PL2 requires decent motherboard VRM
Competitors & Alternatives
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.
Core i5-12400
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600Rival
Desktop
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600XRival
Desktop
- Intel Core i5-12400FRival
Desktop
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-13400Rival
Desktop
- AMD Ryzen 5 7600Rival
Desktop
More hybrid cores for better multi-threading.
Compare head-to-headMuch cheaper for pure budget gaming.
Compare head-to-head
Our Verdict on Each
The 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 reviewAn outstanding value CPU that delivers excellent gaming and productivity performance without breaking the bank.
Best for: Building a budget or mid-range gaming PC where value is the top priority.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core 5 120 or Core i5-12400?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Core i5-12400 comes out ahead with a score of 9/10. 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 5 120 or Core i5-12400?
For gaming, the Core i5-12400 leads with a gaming performance score of 90/100 among Intel Core 5 120 and Core i5-12400.
Do Intel Core 5 120 and Core i5-12400 use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Intel Core 5 120: FCLGA1700 (LGA1700), Core i5-12400: LGA 1700), 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 5 120 (18,700), Core i5-12400 (16,500). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.