Intel Core i5-110 vs Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus Comparison

The Verdict

The Intel Core i5-110 and Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus occupy opposite ends of the performance spectrum. The data shows a decisive advantage for the Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus, which holds the 95th percentile among all CPUs, while the Core i5-110 sits at the 50th percentile. The Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus delivers an average benchmark score of 79574, whereas the Core i5-110 has no recorded benchmark scores in the database, leaving its average at zero. For any workload that benefits from multicore throughput, high thread counts, or large cache capacity, the Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus is the only defensible choice based on recorded measurements. The Core i5-110, with its 6 cores and 12 threads, is a straightforward desktop part for lighter tasks, but the database contains no benchmark evidence of its performance level. Users with workloads that fit within the Core i5-110's older platform, DDR4 memory, and Gen 3 PCIe should consider it only if the platform constraints match their existing hardware. The Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus, conversely, is a mobile part with a 24-core configuration, DDR5 support, and Gen 5 PCIe, and it has extensive benchmark data confirming its high placement. The verdict is unambiguous: the Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus wins on every measurable axis in the database.

Where Each One Wins

The Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus wins in every recorded benchmark category. In multicore Cinebench tests, it scores 5981 in R15, 21198 in R20, and 39684 in R23. Its single-core results are equally strong: 340 in R15, 2992 in R20, and 2356 in R23. PassMark results show a multithread score of 59439, a single-thread score of 4951, and extended instruction performance of 51290. Data compression reaches 658724, data encryption hits 50008, and random string sorting scores 80327. Integer math records 164839, floating point math records 201773, and prime number finding records 519. Physics simulation scores 3387. The Core i5-110 has no benchmark entries in the database, so it cannot claim a single recorded win. The use-case split therefore favors the Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus for all measured workloads, from single-threaded responsiveness to heavily parallel rendering, encryption, compression, and physics calculations. The Core i5-110, without recorded data, offers no measured advantage in any category. Its potential strengths lie outside the database's measurements, such as compatibility with older Socket 1200 motherboards and DDR4 memory, but those are platform attributes, not benchmark wins.

Architecture Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every architectural dimension. The Core i5-110 uses Intel's Comet Lake architecture on a 14 nm process node fabricated by Intel. It contains 6 cores and 12 threads, with base and boost clocks of 2.90 GHz and 4.30 GHz. Its cache hierarchy includes 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3. Memory support is DDR4 over a dual-channel bus, with a memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s. ECC memory is not supported. The processor connects via PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. Integrated graphics come from UHD Graphics 630. The socket is Intel Socket 1200, and the market segment is desktop. The part is not multiplier-unlocked, and its launch MSRP is $200.

The Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus belongs to the Core Ultra Series 2, with the Arrow Lake-HX Refresh codename. It uses a 3 nm process node from TSMC, with 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die. The core count is 24 with 24 threads, base clock 2.70 GHz, and boost clock 5.50 GHz. Cache is substantially larger: 192 KB L1 per core, 3 MB L2 per core, and 36 MB of shared L3. Memory support is DDR5 over a dual-channel bus, with memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s. ECC memory is supported. PCIe is Gen 5 with 20 lanes from the CPU. Integrated graphics are Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU. The socket is Intel BGA 2114, and the market segment is mobile. The multiplier is unlocked. The TDP of the Core i5-110 is 65 watts, while the Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus is rated at 55 watts. The Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus was released on 2026-03-16, while the Core i5-110 was released on 2025-09-10. The transistor count, die size, process node, foundry, cache capacities, memory generation, PCIe generation, and integrated graphics all differ. These architectural gaps explain the benchmark disparity.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus has 24 cores and 24 threads. The Core i5-110 has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: What memory types do these processors support?

A: The Core i5-110 supports DDR4 memory with a dual-channel bus and 42.7 GB/s bandwidth. The Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus supports DDR5 memory with a dual-channel bus and 102.4 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Does either processor support ECC memory?

A: The Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus supports ECC memory. The Core i5-110 does not support ECC memory.

Q: What is the process node for each processor?

A: The Core i5-110 uses Intel's 14 nm process. The Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus uses TSMC's 3 nm process.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus boosts to 5.50 GHz. The Core i5-110 boosts to 4.30 GHz.

Q: Are benchmark scores available for both processors?

A: No. The database contains benchmark scores for the Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus across Cinebench and PassMark tests. The Core i5-110 has no recorded benchmark scores.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database records no head-to-head benchmark entries between the Core i5-110 and the Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus. The wins count is 0 for the Core i5-110 and 0 for the Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus in that specific field. However, the Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus has its own full benchmark suite, and its nearest rivals provide context for its standing. The Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus scores 79574 on average, which places it 0.3% ahead of the Intel Core i9-14900KF, 0.6% ahead of the Intel Core i9-14900K, 0.6% behind the AMD EPYC 7413, and 1.4% behind the Intel Xeon w5-2565X. Those delta values show the Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus trading places with top desktop and server parts within a narrow band.

Within its own benchmark results, the Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus shows consistent strength. In Cinebench R23, the multicore score of 39684 is roughly 16.8 times its single-core score of 2356, indicating strong scaling across its 24 threads. In Cinebench R20, the multicore score of 21198 is about 7.1 times the single-core score of 2992. In Cinebench R15, the multicore score of 5981 is about 17.6 times the single-core score of 340. PassMark results follow a similar pattern. The multithread score of 59439 is 12 times the single-thread score of 4951. Data compression at 658724 is roughly 8.2 times the data encryption score of 50008, and floating point math at 201773 is about 1.2 times integer math at 164839. Random string sorting records 80327, extended instructions record 51290, physics records 3387, and prime number finding records 519. The spread between the lowest PassMark score, prime numbers at 519, and the highest, data compression at 658724, reflects the workload-specific nature of each test.

The Core i5-110 has no scores to compare, so the head-to-head section rests entirely on the Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus's measured data. Its percentile of 95 versus the Core i5-110's percentile of 50 is the clearest single summary. The Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus also carries a larger L3 cache at 36 MB versus 12 MB, a higher boost clock at 5.50 GHz versus 4.30 GHz, and more than double the memory bandwidth at 102.4 GB/s versus 42.7 GB/s. The PCIe generation difference, Gen 5 versus Gen 3, and the lane count difference, 20 versus 16, further separate the two. The Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus supports ECC memory, while the Core i5-110 does not. The Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus uses 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die, while the Core i5-110 has no recorded transistor or die size data. The process node difference, 3 nm from TSMC versus 14 nm from Intel, is a major factor in the performance gap. The Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus is unlocked, while the Core i5-110 is locked. The Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus targets mobile with a BGA 2114 socket, while the Core i5-110 targets desktop with Socket 1200. The release dates differ by roughly six months, with the Core i5-110 arriving on 2025-09-10 and the Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus arriving on 2026-03-16. None of these differences favor the Core i5-110 in the recorded data. The conclusion from the numbers is straightforward: the Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus is the stronger processor in every measured category, with no recorded benchmark evidence for the Core i5-110 to contest that position.