Core 5 120vsRyzen Threadripper 9980X
The Core 5 120 is a modest desktop processor for everyday computing and light multitasking, while the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X is a massive workstation chip for heavy rendering, simulation, and content creation.
Core 5 120
Raptor Lake-R · 10 nm · 2025
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Ryzen Threadripper 9980X
Shimada Peak · 4 nm · 2025
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Overall Performance Score
A unified score from combined synthetic and real-world benchmarks. 100 represents the fastest desktop CPU available.
Side-by-Side Specs
Every detail compared. Highlighted cells indicate the leading value for that metric.
Which should you buy?
The Ryzen Threadripper 9980X wins overall for heavy workloads needing extreme multi-core power.
The Core 5 120 is the smarter budget pick for everyday tasks, running cooler and costing less.
The Core 5 120 is the right choice for a basic office PC where you don't need massive processing power.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Core 5 120 better than the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X?
Overall the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X is the stronger processor: it ranks higher in our aggregate performance score (86 vs 11 out of 100), so it leads the Core 5 120 in most workloads.
How much faster is the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X than the Core 5 120?
Based on our aggregated benchmark scores the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X is roughly 682% faster than the Core 5 120 overall. The real-world gap varies by game, resolution and settings.
Which should you buy, the Core 5 120 or the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X?
If you want the most performance, pick the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X. If the Core 5 120 is meaningfully cheaper where you shop, it can be the better value for similar real-world results — check current prices and the full spec comparison above before deciding.