Intel Core i5-14400 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 225H Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a clear split between the two processors, with the Intel Core Ultra 5 225H winning 14 of the 19 recorded comparisons, while the Intel Core i5-14400 takes 5 wins. The margins, however, tell a more nuanced story than the raw win count.

The Core Ultra 5 225H dominates in most multi-threaded workloads. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 2397.5 versus 2148 for the i5-14400, a 10.4% advantage. The gap widens in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the Ultra 5 reaches 10041 against 8952, a 10.8% lead. Geekbench multi-core shows the Ultra 5 at 11526 versus 9807, a 14.9% edge. PassMark multi-thread also favors the Ultra 5 at 28119 versus 25080, a 10.8% difference.

Some of the largest margins come in specialized workloads. PassMark find prime numbers shows the Ultra 5 at 220 versus just 80 for the i5-14400, a staggering 63.6% advantage. Floating point math follows with the Ultra 5 scoring 86540 versus 61549, a 28.9% lead. Physics simulation also favors the Ultra 5 at 1877 versus 1396, a 25.6% difference. Data encryption sees the Ultra 5 at 21428 versus 16731, a 21.9% edge.

The i5-14400 fights back in a few key areas. Cinebench R23 multi-core is its biggest victory: 21315 versus 14629.5, a 45.7% advantage. Cinebench R23 single-core shows an even larger relative gap at 52.8%, with scores of 3009 versus 1969. PassMark integer math goes to the i5-14400 at 82017 versus 68520, a 19.7% lead. Data compression also favors the desktop part at 314995 versus 283451, an 11.1% margin. The final win for the i5-14400 comes in Cinebench R15 single-core at 303 versus 288.5, a modest 5% edge.

The single-core picture is mixed. Cinebench R20 single-core goes to the Ultra 5 at 1417 versus 1263, a 10.9% lead, while Geekbench single-core also favors the Ultra 5 at 2151 versus 1905, an 11.4% margin. PassMark single-thread shows the Ultra 5 ahead at 4258 versus 3741, a 12.1% difference. Yet the older Cinebench R15 and R23 single-core tests both favor the i5-14400, with the R23 result being particularly lopsided.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Core i5-14400 belongs to the Raptor Lake architecture, specifically Raptor Lake-R, and is built on a 10 nm process node at Intel's own foundry. The Core Ultra 5 225H uses the Arrow Lake architecture, specifically Arrow Lake-H, and is manufactured on a 3 nm node by TSMC. This process advantage likely contributes to the Ultra 5's efficiency characteristics, though the recorded data does not include direct power consumption measurements.

Core counts differ significantly. The i5-14400 has 10 cores and 16 threads, while the Ultra 5 225H has 14 cores and 14 threads. The Ultra 5 has more physical cores but no hyper-threading, resulting in fewer total threads. Cache hierarchies also differ: the i5-14400 has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 20 MB of shared L3 cache. The Ultra 5 has 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3. The larger per-core caches on the Ultra 5 may help explain its strong showing in prime number finding and floating point workloads.

Memory support diverges as well. The i5-14400 supports both DDR4 and DDR5 in a dual-channel configuration, while the Ultra 5 225H supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X, also dual-channel. The Ultra 5 lists a memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s, while the i5-14400 has no recorded bandwidth figure. ECC memory is supported on the i5-14400 but not on the Ultra 5.

PCIe lanes differ: the i5-14400 provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the Ultra 5 225H offers Gen 5 with 8 lanes. Integrated graphics also differ, with the i5-14400 using UHD Graphics 730 and the Ultra 5 using Arc Graphics 130T. The desktop part uses Intel Socket 1700, while the mobile part uses Intel BGA 2049. The i5-14400 has a launch MSRP of $221, while the Ultra 5 has no recorded launch price.

The Verdict

The data points to two different usage profiles. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225H is the stronger all-around performer in the majority of recorded benchmarks, particularly in tasks that benefit from its higher core count and larger caches. Its wins in physics, floating point math, prime number finding, and encryption suggest it handles computational density well. The i5-14400, however, shows exceptional strength in Cinebench R23, a widely used render benchmark, where it leads by 45.7% in multi-core and 52.8% in single-core. The desktop part also wins in integer math and data compression.

The i5-14400's Cinebench R23 scores are notable because that test often reflects real-world rendering workloads. A 45.7% multi-core advantage in that specific test is substantial, even if the Ultra 5 wins the older R20 and R15 versions. The discrepancy between R20 and R23 results suggests the two processors respond differently to the test's workload evolution.

For users prioritizing the specific workloads where the i5-14400 wins, particularly Cinebench R23 rendering, integer math, and data compression, the desktop part is the clear choice. For everything else in the recorded data, the Ultra 5 225H offers better performance. Both processors sit at the 82nd percentile among all CPUs, indicating they belong to the same general performance tier despite their architectural differences.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-14400 | Intel Core Ultra 5 225H |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 10 | 14 |

| Threads | 16 | 14 |

| Base Clock | 2.50 GHz | 1.70 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.70 GHz | 4.90 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 28 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1700 | Intel BGA 2049 |

| Architecture | Raptor Lake | Arrow Lake |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 3 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| L1 Cache | 80 KB per core | 192 KB per core |

| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB per core | 3 MB per core |

| L3 Cache | 20 MB shared | 18 MB shared |

| Memory Support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR5, LPDDR5X |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not recorded | 102.4 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 16 lanes | Gen 5, 8 lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 730 | Arc Graphics 130T |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Release Date | 2024-01-07 | 2025-01-12 |

| Launch MSRP | $221 | Not recorded |

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 225H has 14 cores, while the Intel Core i5-14400 has 10 cores.

Q: Which processor wins in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Core i5-14400 wins with a score of 21315 versus 14629.5 for the Ultra 5 225H, a 45.7% advantage.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The i5-14400 has a TDP of 65 W, while the Ultra 5 225H has a TDP of 28 W.

Q: Does the Core Ultra 5 225H support ECC memory?

A: No, ECC memory is not supported on the Ultra 5 225H. The i5-14400 does support ECC memory.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Ultra 5 225H has a boost clock of 4.90 GHz, compared to 4.70 GHz for the i5-14400.

Q: How many benchmark wins does each processor have?

A: The Ultra 5 225H wins 14 recorded benchmarks, while the i5-14400 wins 5.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-14400 wins in Cinebench R23 multi-core and single-core, PassMark data compression, PassMark integer math, and Cinebench R15 single-core. These results point to strong rendering performance in the modern Cinebench version, efficient integer processing, and solid compression throughput. The R23 single-core result is particularly dominant at 52.8% ahead, which may matter for lightly threaded applications that use that specific test's workload.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225H wins in every other recorded benchmark category. Its advantages span Cinebench R15 and R20 multi-core, Cinebench R20 single-core, Geekbench multi-core and single-core, PassMark data encryption, extended instructions, prime number finding, floating point math, multithread, physics, random string sorting, and single-thread. The largest margins come in prime number finding at 63.6% and floating point math at 28.9%, suggesting the Ultra 5 excels at mathematical computation and physics simulation.

The use-case split is clear. For rendering workloads similar to Cinebench R23, the i5-14400 is the better choice. For general productivity, encryption, physics simulation, and floating point heavy tasks, the Ultra 5 225H holds the advantage. The Ultra 5's lower TDP of 28 W versus 65 W also makes it the more power-efficient option on paper, though the i5-14400's desktop socket allows for potentially different cooling solutions. The mobile BGA socket of the Ultra 5 indicates it is designed for laptops, while the i5-14400 targets desktops.