CPU Showdown

Core 5 120ULvsRyzen Threadripper 9980X

The Core 5 120UL is a low-power, efficient chip for compact office or embedded systems, while the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X targets professionals running massive multi-threaded workloads like 3D rendering or simulation.

Intel Core 5 120UL
10C / 12T · 15W
VS
AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X
64C / 128T · 350W
Intel

Core 5 120UL

Raptor Lake-PS · 10 nm · 2024

6score
0/ 5
0 votes
Cores / Threads
10 / 12
TDP
15W
Boost Clock
4.6 GHz
L3 Cache
12 MB

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AMD

Ryzen Threadripper 9980X

Shimada Peak · 4 nm · 2025

86score
3.9/ 5
0 votes
Cores / Threads
64 / 128
TDP
350W
Boost Clock
5.4 GHz
L3 Cache
256 MB

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Aggregate Performance

Overall Performance Score

A unified score from combined synthetic and real-world benchmarks. 100 represents the fastest desktop CPU available.

Core 5 120UL
6
Ryzen Threadripper 9980XWinner
86
Ryzen Threadripper 9980X leads by 1333.3% in aggregate performance.
Where they rank overall
#1EPYC 9755100
#2Ryzen Threadripper 9980X86
#3Ryzen Threadripper 7980X82
#363Core i5-9600KF6
#364Core 5 120UL6
#365Core i7-9700T6
Technical Specifications

Side-by-Side Specs

Every detail compared. Highlighted cells indicate the leading value for that metric.

SpecsCore 5 120ULRyzen Threadripper 9980X
Cores
Total Cores1064
Threads12128
Base Clock1.3 GHz3.2 GHz
Boost Clock4.6 GHz5.4 GHz
Cache
L2 Cache12.5 MB64 MB
L3 Cache12 MB256 MB
Platform
Socket1700sTR5
MemoryDDR4DDR5
PCIePCIe 4.0PCIe 5.0
iGPUIntel Iris Xe Graphics 80EU
Power
Base TDP15W350W
General
Process10 nm4 nm
Verdict

Which should you buy?

Winner overall

The Ryzen Threadripper 9980X is the clear winner overall for anyone needing massive multi-core performance.

Best value

Budget or value buyers should pick the Core 5 120UL for its much lower power draw and adequate everyday performance.

When the other wins

The Core 5 120UL is the right choice when building a compact, low-power office PC where extreme multi-threaded speed is unnecessary.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is the Core 5 120UL 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 6 out of 100), so it leads the Core 5 120UL in most workloads.

How much faster is the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X than the Core 5 120UL?

Based on our aggregated benchmark scores the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X is roughly 1333% faster than the Core 5 120UL overall. The real-world gap varies by game, resolution and settings.

Which should you buy, the Core 5 120UL or the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X?

If you want the most performance, pick the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X. If the Core 5 120UL 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.