Core 5 120UL vs Xeon W-2225

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

✅+1.3% higher PassMark.
✅+45.5% larger total L3 cache (12 MB vs 8.3 MB).
✅Costs $889 less on MSRP ($277 MSRP vs $1,166 MSRP).
✅Delivers 326.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 38.1 vs 8.9 PassMark/$ ($277 MSRP vs $1,166 MSRP).
✅Draws 15W instead of 105W, a 90W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon W-2225 across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Xeon W-2225

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +5.9% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (10,425 vs 10,558).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (8.3 MB vs 12 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 8.9 vs 38.1 PassMark/$ ($1,166 MSRP vs $277 MSRP).
❌600% higher power demand at 105W vs 15W.
❌Older platform position on LGA2066 with DDR4, while Core 5 120UL moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Core 5 120UL

2024

Xeon W-2225

2019

Why buy it

✅+1.3% higher PassMark.
✅+45.5% larger total L3 cache (12 MB vs 8.3 MB).
✅Costs $889 less on MSRP ($277 MSRP vs $1,166 MSRP).
✅Delivers 326.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 38.1 vs 8.9 PassMark/$ ($277 MSRP vs $1,166 MSRP).
✅Draws 15W instead of 105W, a 90W reduction.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +5.9% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon W-2225 across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (10,425 vs 10,558).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (8.3 MB vs 12 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 8.9 vs 38.1 PassMark/$ ($1,166 MSRP vs $277 MSRP).
❌600% higher power demand at 105W vs 15W.
❌Older platform position on LGA2066 with DDR4, while Core 5 120UL moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Quick Answers

So, is Core 5 120UL better than Xeon W-2225?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Xeon W-2225 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Core 5 120UL is the better mainstream desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and day-to-day practicality.

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 1.3% better PassMark, backed by 10 cores and 12 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 45.5% larger total L3 cache (12 MB vs 8.3 MB).

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

Core 5 120UL is the smarter buy today. Core 5 120UL is $889 cheaper on MSRP at $277 MSRP versus $1,166 MSRP, and it gives you 1.3% better PassMark. The trade-off is that Xeon W-2225 is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 5.9% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 326.3% better value on MSRP (38.1 vs 8.9 PassMark/$), 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 LGA2066, 45.5% larger total L3 cache (12 MB vs 8.3 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 10 cores / 12 threads instead of 4/8. 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

Xeon W-2225 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core 5 120UL	Xeon W-2225
1080p
low	173 FPS	181 FPS
medium	141 FPS	144 FPS
high	117 FPS	118 FPS
ultra	95 FPS	94 FPS
1440p
low	144 FPS	151 FPS
medium	114 FPS	117 FPS
high	94 FPS	95 FPS
ultra	77 FPS	78 FPS
4K
low	79 FPS	82 FPS
medium	68 FPS	69 FPS
high	54 FPS	56 FPS
ultra	43 FPS	43 FPS

Open Core 5 120UL Open Xeon W-2225

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core 5 120UL	Xeon W-2225
1080p
low	201 FPS	261 FPS
medium	171 FPS	244 FPS
high	155 FPS	221 FPS
ultra	136 FPS	188 FPS
1440p
low	177 FPS	261 FPS
medium	155 FPS	216 FPS
high	143 FPS	197 FPS
ultra	123 FPS	167 FPS
4K
low	138 FPS	197 FPS
medium	125 FPS	168 FPS
high	118 FPS	144 FPS
ultra	102 FPS	118 FPS

Open Core 5 120UL Open Xeon W-2225

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core 5 120UL	Xeon W-2225
1080p
low	264 FPS	261 FPS
medium	264 FPS	261 FPS
high	264 FPS	261 FPS
ultra	264 FPS	261 FPS
1440p
low	264 FPS	261 FPS
medium	264 FPS	261 FPS
high	264 FPS	261 FPS
ultra	264 FPS	261 FPS
4K
low	264 FPS	261 FPS
medium	264 FPS	261 FPS
high	264 FPS	261 FPS
ultra	249 FPS	261 FPS

Open Core 5 120UL Open Xeon W-2225

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core 5 120UL	Xeon W-2225
1080p
low	264 FPS	261 FPS
medium	264 FPS	261 FPS
high	264 FPS	261 FPS
ultra	264 FPS	261 FPS
1440p
low	264 FPS	261 FPS
medium	264 FPS	261 FPS
high	264 FPS	261 FPS
ultra	264 FPS	261 FPS
4K
low	264 FPS	261 FPS
medium	264 FPS	261 FPS
high	264 FPS	261 FPS
ultra	264 FPS	261 FPS

Open Core 5 120UL Open Xeon W-2225

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core 5 120UL and Xeon W-2225

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.

Xeon W-2225

The Xeon W-2225 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 4.1 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 8.25 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2066. Thermal design power (TDP): 105 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2933. Passmark benchmark score: 10,425 points. Launch price was $800.

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Processing Power

The Core 5 120UL packs 10 cores / 12 threads, while the Xeon W-2225 offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Core 5 120UL has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.6 GHz on the Core 5 120UL versus 4.6 GHz on the Xeon W-2225 — identical boost frequencies (base: 1.3 GHz vs 4.1 GHz). The Core 5 120UL is built on the Raptor Lake-PS (2024) architecture. In PassMark, the Core 5 120UL scores 10,558 against the Xeon W-2225's 10,425 — a 1.3% lead for the Core 5 120UL. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core 5 120UL vs 8.25 MB on the Xeon W-2225.

Feature	Core 5 120UL	Xeon W-2225
Cores / Threads	10 / 12+150%	4 / 8
Boost Clock	4.6 GHz	4.6 GHz
Base Clock	1.3 GHz	4.1 GHz+215%
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)+45%	8.25 MB
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	—
Process	10 nm-29%	14 nm
Architecture	Raptor Lake-PS (2024)	—
PassMark	10,558+1%	10,425

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Memory & Platform

The Core 5 120UL uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Xeon W-2225 uses LGA2066 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core 5 120UL	Xeon W-2225
Socket	LGA1700	LGA2066
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+67%	PCIe 3.0

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Value Analysis

The Core 5 120UL launched at $277 MSRP, while the Xeon W-2225 debuted at $1166. On MSRP ($277 vs $1166), the Core 5 120UL is $889 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core 5 120UL delivers 38.1 pts/$ vs 8.9 pts/$ for the Xeon W-2225 — making the Core 5 120UL the 124% better value option.