Intel Core i3-14100 vs Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark database shows a complete sweep for the Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus across all 17 recorded head-to-head tests. The Intel Core i3-14100 does not win a single comparison. The margin of victory, however, varies widely by workload type, which reveals the architectural differences between the two parts.

The most pronounced gap appears in multi-threaded rendering. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus scores 5,981 against the i3-14100's 1,292, a delta of 78.4 percent in favor of the larger chip. The Cinebench R20 multicore test shows a similar story: 21,198 versus 5,384, a 74.6 percent difference. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the Ultra 9 produces 39,684 points while the i3-14100 manages 12,820, a 67.7 percent advantage. These results indicate that the Ultra 9's 24-core, 24-thread configuration delivers roughly three to four times the throughput of the quad-core i3-14100 in heavily parallel workloads.

Single-core performance tells a more moderate story. The Cinebench R23 single-core test shows the Ultra 9 at 2,356 points versus 1,809 for the i3-14100, a 23.2 percent lead. The Cinebench R20 single-core test shows a wider gap at 74.6 percent (2,992 versus 759), and Cinebench R15 single-core shows 340 versus 182, a 46.5 percent difference. PassMark's single-thread test records 4,951 for the Ultra 9 and 3,759 for the i3-14100, a 24.1 percent lead. The single-core deltas are inconsistent across test versions, but the Ultra 9 holds the advantage in every case.

The largest single delta in the entire dataset is in PassMark's find prime numbers test. The Ultra 9 scores 519 against the i3-14100's 55, an 89.4 percent deficit for the smaller chip. This test is sensitive to both core count and memory bandwidth, and the Ultra 9's 102.4 GB/s memory bandwidth dwarfs whatever the i3-14100 can access through its unspecified memory bus configuration.

Data compression and encryption workloads also show massive gaps. PassMark data compression records 658,724 for the Ultra 9 versus 174,115 for the i3-14100, a 73.6 percent difference. Data encryption shows 50,008 versus 8,838, an 82.3 percent gap. Floating point math shows 201,773 versus 35,266, an 82.5 percent difference. Integer math records 164,839 versus 45,329, a 72.5 percent gap. Extended instructions show 51,290 versus 11,865, a 76.9 percent difference. Random string sorting shows 80,327 versus 17,397, a 78.3 percent gap. Physics simulation in PassMark shows 3,387 versus 958, a 71.7 percent difference.

The overall average benchmark score reinforces this hierarchy. The Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus sits at 79,574 average, placing it in the 95th percentile of all CPUs in the database. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i9-14900KF at 79,371 (0.3 percent behind), the AMD EPYC 7413 at 80,041 (0.6 percent ahead), and the Intel Core i9-14900K at 79,097 (0.6 percent behind). The Core i3-14100, by contrast, averages 18,318 and sits in the 72nd percentile, with nearest rivals like the Intel Core 3 305 at 18,302 (0.1 percent behind) and the Intel Core 5 330 at 18,345 (0.1 percent ahead). The Ultra 9's average score is roughly 4.3 times that of the i3-14100.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmark tests?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus wins all 17 head-to-head comparisons recorded in the database. The Intel Core i3-14100 records zero wins.

Q: How large is the multi-core performance gap?

A: In Cinebench R23 multicore, the Ultra 9 scores 39,684 versus 12,820 for the i3-14100, a 67.7 percent difference. In Cinebench R20 multicore, the gap is 74.6 percent (21,198 versus 5,384).

Q: Is the single-core difference smaller than the multi-core difference?

A: Generally yes. The Cinebench R23 single-core delta is 23.2 percent (2,356 versus 1,809), and the PassMark single-thread delta is 24.1 percent (4,951 versus 3,759). However, Cinebench R20 single-core shows a 74.6 percent delta (2,992 versus 759), which is unusually large.

Q: What is the largest benchmark gap between the two?

A: The PassMark find prime numbers test shows the largest delta at 89.4 percent, with the Ultra 9 scoring 519 and the i3-14100 scoring 55.

Q: How do the average scores compare?

A: The Ultra 9 has an average benchmark score of 79,574, placing it in the 95th percentile. The i3-14100 averages 18,318, placing it in the 72nd percentile.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core i3-14100 and the Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus list ECC memory support as true in the database.

The Verdict

The data presents an unambiguous hierarchy. The Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus is the superior processor in every recorded benchmark. Its 95th percentile ranking versus the i3-14100's 72nd percentile places them in entirely different performance tiers. The Ultra 9's nearest rivals are flagship desktop parts like the Intel Core i9-14900K and i9-14900KF, while the i3-14100 competes with entry-level parts like the Intel Core 3 305 and Intel Core 5 330.

The i3-14100's role in the database is as a reference point for a low-core-count desktop chip. It delivers 4 cores, 8 threads, and a 4.70 GHz boost clock, which produces competitive single-thread scores relative to its class. But against the Ultra 9, it cannot close the gap in any workload. The smallest delta between the two is 23.2 percent in Cinebench R23 single-core, which is still a decisive margin.

The Ultra 9's 24 cores and 24 threads, combined with a 5.50 GHz boost clock, make it the clear choice for any workload that scales with core count. Its 36 MB of shared L3 cache and 102.4 GB/s memory bandwidth further support its dominance in data-heavy tasks like compression, encryption, and extended instruction workloads. The i3-14100's 12 MB of shared L3 cache and unspecified memory bandwidth cannot match that throughput.

For a desktop user whose workload is light and single-threaded, the i3-14100 remains functional, but the recorded data shows it is outclassed by the Ultra 9 in every measured category. The verdict from the database is straightforward: the Ultra 9 290HX Plus wins all 17 head-to-head tests, and no benchmark in the dataset contradicts that result.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every core specification. The Intel Core i3-14100 has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus has 24 cores and 24 threads. The i3-14100 has a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. The Ultra 9 has a lower base clock of 2.70 GHz but a higher boost clock of 5.50 GHz.

Thermal design power differs slightly: the i3-14100 is rated at 60 W, while the Ultra 9 is rated at 55 W. The socket types are incompatible: the i3-14100 uses Intel Socket 1700, and the Ultra 9 uses Intel BGA 2114. The i3-14100 is a desktop part, while the Ultra 9 is a mobile part. The i3-14100 has a locked multiplier, while the Ultra 9 has an unlocked multiplier.

Memory support also differs. The i3-14100 supports DDR4 and DDR5, while the Ultra 9 supports DDR5 only. Both use a dual-channel memory bus. The Ultra 9 lists a memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s, while the i3-14100 has no recorded memory bandwidth figure. PCIe lanes differ as well: the i3-14100 offers Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the Ultra 9 offers Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only).

The integrated graphics are different. The i3-14100 uses UHD Graphics 730, while the Ultra 9 uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU. The i3-14100 has a launch MSRP of $134; the Ultra 9 has no recorded launch MSRP. The release dates differ by over two years: the i3-14100 released in January 2024, and the Ultra 9 in March 2026.

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from different architectural lineages. The Intel Core i3-14100 is based on Raptor Lake, specifically the Raptor Lake-R refresh, and belongs to the Core 14th Gen series. The Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus uses the Arrow Lake-HX Refresh codename, belongs to the Core Ultra Series 2, and is identified as Ultra 9 (Arrow Lake-HX).

The manufacturing process differs substantially. The i3-14100 is built on a 10 nm node at Intel's foundry. The Ultra 9 uses a 3 nm node fabricated by TSMC. The Ultra 9 contains 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die, while the i3-14100 has no recorded transistor count and a 163 mm² die size.

Cache hierarchies are scaled to match core counts. The i3-14100 has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The Ultra 9 has 192 KB of L1 cache per core, 3 MB of L2 cache per core, and 36 MB of shared L3 cache. The per-core L2 cache is 2.4 times larger on the Ultra 9, and the shared L3 is three times larger.

Both processors support ECC memory. Both use Gen 5 PCIe, but the Ultra 9 provides 20 lanes versus 16 on the i3-14100. The production status for both is Active in the database.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus wins every recorded benchmark category. The data shows no workload where the i3-14100 takes the lead. The practical distinction is not which chip wins, but how large the Ultra 9's margin is in different use cases.

For multi-threaded rendering and compute workloads, the Ultra 9's advantage is overwhelming. Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multicore tests all show deltas between 67.7 percent and 78.4 percent. PassMark multithread shows a 74.6 percent delta (59,439 versus 15,095). Any workload that can use more than 4 cores will favor the Ultra 9 by a wide margin.

For data-heavy tasks, the Ultra 9 also dominates. Data compression shows a 73.6 percent delta, data encryption shows 82.3 percent, and random string sorting shows 78.3 percent. The Ultra 9's 36 MB L3 cache and 102.4 GB/s memory bandwidth support these results.

For single-threaded tasks, the Ultra 9 still wins, but the margin compresses. PassMark single-thread shows a 24.1 percent delta, and Cinebench R23 single-core shows 23.2 percent. The i3-14100's 4.70 GHz boost clock keeps it within reach in lightly threaded work, but the Ultra 9's 5.50 GHz boost clock and newer architecture still pull ahead.

The i3-14100's only practical advantage in the database is its platform flexibility. It supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, uses the widely available Intel Socket 1700, and has a recorded launch MSRP of $134. These factors are not benchmark scores, but they define the i3-14100 as an accessible desktop entry point. The Ultra 9, by contrast, is a mobile part on BGA 2114 with DDR5-only support and no recorded launch MSRP.

The use-case split is therefore one of scale. For workloads that fit within 4 cores and 8 threads, the i3-14100 delivers a usable baseline, and its single-thread scores are respectable for its class. For anything that scales, the Ultra 9 290HX Plus is the only choice supported by the recorded data.