Tech enthusiasts browsing retailer listings encountered a confusing sight this week: the newly listed Intel Core 5 120 and Core 5 120F processors carrying price tags that not only seem high for their specifications but, bizarrely, exceed the cost of Intel's own newer generation chips.
The Core 5 120 and its graphics-less "F" sibling are not based on Intel's latest architecture. Instead, they are confirmed rebadges of older Alder Lake silicon – specifically, the Core i5-12400(F) from early 2022. This means they feature the same six performance cores (P-cores) without any efficiency cores (E-cores), along with the older Intel 7 process and UHD Graphics 730 (on the non-F model).
The Core of the Controversy: Price
What's causing significant head-scratching is the pricing. Listings spotted by Tom's Hardware and others show the Core 5 120 priced around $246, with the Core 5 120F at $216. This immediately raises eyebrows because:
- Direct Older Gen Comparison: The original Core i5-12400(F) these chips replicate are readily available and consistently sell for significantly less – often well under $150 for the i5-12400F.
- Newer Gen Competition: More critically, Intel's own newer generation Core i5-14400F (based on the Raptor Lake Refresh architecture, offering a mix of P-cores and E-cores for better multi-threading) is frequently found at or below the $200 mark. The Core i5-14400F offers higher clock speeds, additional E-cores, and features like Intel Application Optimization (APO).
- New Architecture Entry Point: Perhaps most damningly, Intel's brand new entry-level Core Ultra 5 125H "Arrow Lake" laptop chip, representing a significant architectural shift, is listed on Amazon for $229. That's less than the desktop Core 5 120F. While comparing mobile and desktop pricing isn't always direct, seeing a recycled desktop part priced above a cutting-edge mobile CPU is jarring. You can see the Arrow Lake pricing here: https://amzn.to/3IW0er7.
Why Rebadge and Relaunch?
Intel periodically recycles older silicon under new model numbers, often for specific markets, system integrators (OEMs), or to fill gaps in budget lineups. The "Core 5" branding itself is new, seemingly an attempt to simplify the confusing "i3/i5/i7/i9" hierarchy, though launching it with a recycled part is an unusual choice.
Analysis: A Baffling Strategy?
The pricing strategy for the Core 5 120 series appears fundamentally misaligned with market reality and Intel's own product stack:
- No Value Proposition: At its listed price, the Core 5 120 offers no advantage over the cheaper, identical i5-12400F it replaces, nor over the widely available and more capable i5-14400F.
- Undercut by New Tech: Being priced above a next-generation mobile part, even in a different segment, sends a confusing message about the value of Intel's older desktop technology.
- Consumer Confusion: The new "Core 5" branding, starting with a high-priced rebadge, risks confusing consumers expecting a new product tier rather than recycled old stock.
Expert Take:
"This Core 5 120 launch feels like a misstep," commented tech analyst Michael Chen. "Rebadging older chips happens, but pricing them significantly above both their original versions and superior current-gen alternatives completely negates any potential market logic. It almost guarantees these chips will be ignored by savvy buyers. The only plausible explanation is extremely limited initial stock targeting very specific pre-built systems, not the broader retail market. If these prices hold for general retail, it's frankly baffling."
The Bottom Line for Buyers:
For consumers building or upgrading a PC, the Core 5 120 series, at its current listed prices, makes almost no sense. The identical Core i5-12400F offers the same performance for far less money, while the Core i5-14400F provides a noticeable performance uplift (thanks to its E-cores) at a similar or lower price point. AMD's Ryzen 5 7600 also offers strong competition in this segment. The Core 5 120 serves as a stark reminder: always check the actual specifications and generational architecture of a CPU, not just its new branding or model number, before purchasing.
Read the full technical breakdown and discovery at Tom's Hardware: Rebadged Alder Lake CPU Is Priced Higher Than the New Arrow Lake Chip in Retailer Listing: Core 5 120 and Core 5 120F Listed for USD246 and USD216
Core 5 120
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