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.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Core 5 120UL

2024

Why buy it

✅Costs $118 less on MSRP ($277 MSRP vs $395 MSRP).
✅Delivers 44.9% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 38.1 vs 26.3 PassMark/$ ($277 MSRP vs $395 MSRP).
✅Draws 15W instead of 45W, a 30W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of BGA1440 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Core i7-9750HF

2019

Why buy it

✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (10,393 vs 10,558).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 26.3 vs 38.1 PassMark/$ ($395 MSRP vs $277 MSRP).
❌200% higher power demand at 45W vs 15W.
❌Older platform position on BGA1440 with DDR4, while Core 5 120UL moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Core 5 120UL

2024

Core i7-9750HF

2019

Why buy it

✅Costs $118 less on MSRP ($277 MSRP vs $395 MSRP).
✅Delivers 44.9% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 38.1 vs 26.3 PassMark/$ ($277 MSRP vs $395 MSRP).
✅Draws 15W instead of 45W, a 30W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of BGA1440 and DDR4.

Why buy it

✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (10,393 vs 10,558).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 26.3 vs 38.1 PassMark/$ ($395 MSRP vs $277 MSRP).
❌200% higher power demand at 45W vs 15W.
❌Older platform position on BGA1440 with DDR4, while Core 5 120UL moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Quick Answers

So, is Core 5 120UL better than Core i7-9750HF?

Yes. Core 5 120UL is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 1.4% average FPS lead across 25 shared CPU game tests in our data, 1.6% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core 5 120UL is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 1.4% more average FPS across 25 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core 5 120UL is the better fit. You are getting 1.6% better PassMark, backed by 10 cores and 12 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core 5 120UL is the smarter buy today. Core 5 120UL is $118 cheaper on MSRP at $277 MSRP versus $395 MSRP, and it gives you a 1.4% average FPS lead across 25 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 44.9% better value on MSRP (38.1 vs 26.3 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core 5 120UL is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2024 vs 2019), a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of BGA1440, and more multi-core headroom with 10 cores / 12 threads instead of 6/12. That should give you a better long-term upgrade path for motherboard, RAM, and future CPU swaps.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

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.

Core 5 120UL Benchmark Check

Core i7-9750HF Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core 5 120UL	Core i7-9750HF
1080p
low	173 FPS	179 FPS
medium	141 FPS	147 FPS
high	117 FPS	119 FPS
ultra	95 FPS	97 FPS
1440p
low	144 FPS	152 FPS
medium	114 FPS	124 FPS
high	94 FPS	100 FPS
ultra	77 FPS	82 FPS
4K
low	79 FPS	85 FPS
medium	68 FPS	75 FPS
high	54 FPS	60 FPS
ultra	43 FPS	46 FPS

Open Core 5 120UL Open Core i7-9750HF

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core 5 120UL	Core i7-9750HF
1080p
low	201 FPS	260 FPS
medium	171 FPS	260 FPS
high	155 FPS	260 FPS
ultra	136 FPS	260 FPS
1440p
low	177 FPS	260 FPS
medium	155 FPS	260 FPS
high	143 FPS	260 FPS
ultra	123 FPS	241 FPS
4K
low	138 FPS	260 FPS
medium	125 FPS	259 FPS
high	118 FPS	236 FPS
ultra	102 FPS	197 FPS

Open Core 5 120UL Open Core i7-9750HF

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core 5 120UL	Core i7-9750HF
1080p
low	264 FPS	260 FPS
medium	264 FPS	260 FPS
high	264 FPS	260 FPS
ultra	264 FPS	260 FPS
1440p
low	264 FPS	260 FPS
medium	264 FPS	260 FPS
high	264 FPS	260 FPS
ultra	264 FPS	260 FPS
4K
low	264 FPS	260 FPS
medium	264 FPS	260 FPS
high	264 FPS	260 FPS
ultra	249 FPS	239 FPS

Open Core 5 120UL Open Core i7-9750HF

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core 5 120UL	Core i7-9750HF
1080p
low	264 FPS	260 FPS
medium	264 FPS	260 FPS
high	264 FPS	260 FPS
ultra	264 FPS	260 FPS
1440p
low	264 FPS	260 FPS
medium	264 FPS	260 FPS
high	264 FPS	260 FPS
ultra	264 FPS	260 FPS
4K
low	264 FPS	260 FPS
medium	264 FPS	260 FPS
high	264 FPS	260 FPS
ultra	264 FPS	260 FPS

Open Core 5 120UL Open Core i7-9750HF

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core 5 120UL and Core i7-9750HF

Core 5 120UL

The Core 5 120UL is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 8 April 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Raptor Lake-PS (2024) architecture. It features 10 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 1.3 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 10,558 points. Launch price was $149.

Core i7-9750HF

The Core i7-9750HF is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 23 April 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-HR (2019) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.5 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1440. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2666, LPDDR3-2133. Passmark benchmark score: 10,393 points. Launch price was $149.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core 5 120UL packs 10 cores / 12 threads, while the Core i7-9750HF offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Core 5 120UL has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.6 GHz on the Core 5 120UL versus 4.5 GHz on the Core i7-9750HF — a 2.2% clock advantage for the Core 5 120UL (base: 1.3 GHz vs 2.6 GHz). The Core 5 120UL uses the Raptor Lake-PS (2024) architecture (10 nm), while the Core i7-9750HF uses Coffee Lake-HR (2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core 5 120UL scores 10,558 against the Core i7-9750HF's 10,393 — a 1.6% lead for the Core 5 120UL. Both processors carry 12 MB (total) of L3 cache.

Feature	Core 5 120UL	Core i7-9750HF
Cores / Threads	10 / 12+67%	6 / 12
Boost Clock	4.6 GHz+2%	4.5 GHz
Base Clock	1.3 GHz	2.6 GHz+100%
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)	12 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)+400%	256K (per core)
Process	10 nm-29%	14 nm
Architecture	Raptor Lake-PS (2024)	Coffee Lake-HR (2019)
PassMark	10,558+2%	10,393
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	6,915
Geekbench 6 Single	—	1,120
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	5,149

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core 5 120UL uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Core i7-9750HF uses BGA1440 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core 5 120UL	Core i7-9750HF
Socket	LGA1700	BGA1440
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+67%	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	—	DDR4-2666
Max RAM Capacity	—	128 GB
RAM Channels	—	2
ECC Support	—	No
PCIe Lanes	—	16

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Core 5 120UL) / Yes (Core i7-9750HF).

Feature	Core 5 120UL	Core i7-9750HF
Integrated GPU	—	No
AVX-512	—	No
Virtualization	—	Yes

💰

Value Analysis

The Core 5 120UL launched at $277 MSRP, while the Core i7-9750HF debuted at $395. On MSRP ($277 vs $395), the Core 5 120UL is $118 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core 5 120UL delivers 38.1 pts/$ vs 26.3 pts/$ for the Core i7-9750HF — making the Core 5 120UL the 36.6% better value option.