5 120U vs i5-6400

VS

Aggregate performance score

Core i5-6400
2015
4 cores / 4 threads, 65 Watt
3.41
Core 5 120U
2024
10 cores / 12 threads, 15 Watt
10.39
+205%

Core 5 120U outperforms Core i5-6400 by a whopping 205% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i5-6400 and Core 5 120U processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking1564751
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation0.78no data
Market segmentDesktop processorLaptop
SeriesIntel Core i5Raptor Lake-U
Power efficiency4.9665.55
Architecture codenameSkylake (2015−2016)Raptor Lake-U Refresh (2024)
Release date1 September 2015 (9 years ago)8 January 2024 (less than a year ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$187no data

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

no data

Detailed specifications

Core i5-6400 and Core 5 120U basic parameters such as number of cores, number of threads, base frequency and turbo boost clock, lithography, cache size and multiplier lock state. These parameters indirectly say of CPU speed, though for more precise assessment you have to consider their test results.

Physical cores4 (Quad-Core)10 (Deca-Core)
Threads412
Base clock speed2.7 GHz1.4 GHz
Boost clock speed3.3 GHz5 GHz
Bus typeDMI 3.0no data
Bus rate4 × 8 GT/s55 MHz
Multiplier27no data
L1 cache256 KB80 KB (per core)
L2 cache1 MB1.25 MB (per core)
L3 cache6 MB (shared)12 MB (shared)
Chip lithography14 nmIntel 7 nm
Die size122 mm2no data
Maximum core temperatureno data100 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)72 °Cno data
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility-no data

Compatibility

Information on Core i5-6400 and Core 5 120U compatibility with other computer components: motherboard (look for socket type), power supply unit (look for power consumption) etc. Useful when planning a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. Note that power consumption of some processors can well exceed their nominal TDP, even without overclocking. Some can even double their declared thermals given that the motherboard allows to tune the CPU power parameters.

Number of CPUs in a configuration1 (Uniprocessor)1
SocketFCLGA1151FCBGA1744
Power consumption (TDP)65 Watt15 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i5-6400 and Core 5 120U. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
AES-NI++
AVX++
vPro++
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
Speed Shiftno data+
Turbo Boost Technology2.0no data
Hyper-Threading Technology-+
TSX-+
Idle States+no data
Thermal Monitoring++
Flex Memory Accessno data+
Deep Learning Boost-+

Security technologies

Core i5-6400 and Core 5 120U technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT-+
EDB++
Secure Key++
MPX+-
Identity Protection+-
SGXYes with Intel® MEno data
OS Guard++

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i5-6400 and Core 5 120U are enumerated here.

AMD-V+-
VT-d++
VT-x++
EPT++

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i5-6400 and Core 5 120U. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR3, DDR4DDR5-5200, DDR4-3200, LPDDR4x-4267
Maximum memory size64 GB96 GB
Max memory channels22
Maximum memory bandwidth34.134 GB/sno data

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardIntel HD Graphics 530Intel® Graphics
Max video memory64 GBno data
Quick Sync Video++
Clear Video+no data
Clear Video HD+no data
Graphics max frequency950 MHz1.25 GHz
Execution Unitsno data80
InTru 3D+no data

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i5-6400 and Core 5 120U integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported34
eDP+no data
DisplayPort+-
HDMI+-
DVI+no data

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i5-6400 and Core 5 120U integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

4K resolution support+no data
Max resolution over HDMI 1.44096x2304@24Hz4096 x 2304 @ 60Hz
Max resolution over eDP4096x2304@60Hz4096 x 2304 @ 120Hz
Max resolution over DisplayPort4096x2304@60Hz7680 x 4320 @ 60Hz
Max resolution over VGAN/Ano data

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i5-6400 and Core 5 120U integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectX1212.1
OpenGL4.54.6

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i5-6400 and Core 5 120U.

PCIe version3.04.0
PCI Express lanes168

Synthetic benchmark performance

Various benchmark results of the processors in comparison. Overall score is measured in points in 0-100 range, higher is better.


Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark performance rating. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

i5-6400 3.41
5 120U 10.39
+205%

Passmark

Passmark CPU Mark is a widespread benchmark, consisting of 8 different types of workload, including integer and floating point math, extended instructions, compression, encryption and physics calculation. There is also one separate single-threaded scenario measuring single-core performance.

i5-6400 5417
5 120U 16509
+205%

Cinebench 15 64-bit multi-core

Cinebench Release 15 Multi Core is a variant of Cinebench R15 which uses all the processor threads.

i5-6400 510
5 120U 1432
+181%

Cinebench 15 64-bit single-core

Cinebench R15 (standing for Release 15) is a benchmark made by Maxon, authors of Cinema 4D. It was superseded by later versions of Cinebench, which use more modern variants of Cinema 4D engine. The Single Core version (sometimes called Single-Thread) only uses a single processor thread to render a room full of reflective spheres and light sources.

i5-6400 134
5 120U 257
+91.8%

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 3.41 10.39
Recency 1 September 2015 8 January 2024
Physical cores 4 10
Threads 4 12
Power consumption (TDP) 65 Watt 15 Watt

5 120U has a 204.7% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 8 years, 150% more physical cores and 200% more threads, and 333.3% lower power consumption.

The Core 5 120U is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i5-6400 in performance tests.

Note that Core i5-6400 is a desktop processor while Core 5 120U is a notebook one.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i5-6400 and Core 5 120U, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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Intel Core i5-6400
Core i5-6400
Intel Core 5 120U
Core 5 120U

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Community ratings

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Questions & comments

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