Intel Core i5-14401E vs Intel Core Ultra 5 235 Comparison

The Verdict

The data in the database shows a clear split between these two desktop processors. The Intel Core i5-14401E wins every Cinebench benchmark recorded in the head-to-head comparison, delivering a 23% advantage in multi-core and single-core tests across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23. The Intel Core Ultra 5 235, however, holds a much higher overall percentile rank at 89 compared to the i5-14401E’s 60, and its average benchmark score of 46062 versus 5253 is driven by a broader set of PassMark tests that the i5-14401E does not have recorded data for.

For a builder focused strictly on Cinebench-style rendering workloads, the i5-14401E is the stronger choice based on the measurements. For someone who needs a newer platform with more cores, a higher boost clock, and a wider feature set (PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes, newer process node, and a more capable integrated GPU), the Core Ultra 5 235 is the one to pick. The i5-14401E uses the older Intel Socket 1700 with Raptor Lake architecture, while the Core Ultra 5 235 uses Intel Socket 1851 with Arrow Lake architecture. The Core Ultra 5 235 also has a launch MSRP of $257, which can be stated once as a reference point.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 has 14 cores and 14 threads. The Intel Core i5-14401E has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 boosts up to 5.00 GHz, while the Intel Core i5-14401E boosts up to 4.70 GHz.

Q: Which processor wins the Cinebench R23 multi-core test?

A: The Intel Core i5-14401E scores 18161 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, versus 14769 for the Intel Core Ultra 5 235, a 23% advantage for the i5.

Q: Does the Intel Core i5-14401E support DDR4 memory?

A: Yes, the Intel Core i5-14401E supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory. The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 supports DDR5 only.

Q: Which processor has a higher percentile ranking among all CPUs?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 ranks in the 89th percentile, while the Intel Core i5-14401E ranks in the 60th percentile.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 has 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel Core i5-14401E has 20 MB of shared L3 cache.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core i5-14401E is built on Raptor Lake architecture (codename Raptor Lake-R) using a 10 nm process node from Intel’s own foundry. It uses the Intel Socket 1700 platform. The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 uses Arrow Lake architecture (codename Arrow Lake-S) on a 3 nm process node manufactured by TSMC, and it uses the Intel Socket 1851. This process difference is substantial: the Core Ultra 5 235 packs 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die, whereas the i5-14401E has no transistor count listed but uses a 215 mm² die on 10 nm. The smaller process node allows for a higher transistor density.

Cache hierarchies differ significantly. The i5-14401E has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 20 MB of shared L3. The Core Ultra 5 235 has 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3. The L1 and L2 per-core values are 2.4x and 2.4x larger on the Core Ultra 5 235, respectively, which reflects a more modern core design.

Memory support also differs. The i5-14401E supports DDR4 and DDR5 with a dual-channel bus, and it supports ECC memory. The Core Ultra 5 235 supports only DDR5, also dual-channel, but it does not support ECC memory. The Core Ultra 5 235 has a recorded memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s, while the i5-14401E has no bandwidth figure in the database.

PCIe capabilities differ as well. The i5-14401E provides PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The Core Ultra 5 235 provides PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only), offering four additional CPU-attached lanes. Integrated graphics are different: the i5-14401E uses UHD Graphics 730, while the Core Ultra 5 235 uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 24EU.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ on nearly every core specification. The i5-14401E has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Core Ultra 5 235 has 14 cores and 14 threads. The Core Ultra 5 235 has no hyper-threading, as its thread count equals its core count. Base clocks are 2.50 GHz for the i5-14401E and 3.40 GHz for the Core Ultra 5 235. Boost clocks are 4.70 GHz versus 5.00 GHz, respectively. Both have a TDP of 65.

The process node is 10 nm for the i5-14401E and 3 nm for the Core Ultra 5 235. Die size is 215 mm² for the i5 and 243 mm² for the Ultra 5. The Ultra 5 has a transistor count of 17,800 million; no transistor count is listed for the i5. Cache values are higher on the Ultra 5 across all levels: L1 is 192 KB per core versus 80 KB, L2 is 3 MB per core versus 1.25 MB, and L3 is 24 MB shared versus 20 MB shared.

Memory support: the i5 supports DDR4 and DDR5, the Ultra 5 supports DDR5 only. ECC memory is supported on the i5 but not on the Ultra 5. The Ultra 5 has a memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s. PCIe lanes are 16 for the i5 and 20 for the Ultra 5, both Gen 5. Integrated graphics differ: UHD Graphics 730 versus Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 24EU.

Release dates differ by about six months: the i5-14401E was released on 2024-06-30, and the Core Ultra 5 235 was released on 2025-01-06. The Ultra 5 has a launch MSRP of $257. Both processors have locked multipliers. Market segment is desktop for both, and production status is active for both.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head benchmark data covers six Cinebench tests, and the Intel Core i5-14401E wins all six. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5 scores 1830 versus 1488 for the Ultra 5, a 23% lead. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the i5 scores 258 versus 210, a 22.9% lead. Cinebench R20 multi-core shows 7627 versus 6202, again a 23% lead. Cinebench R20 single-core shows 1076 versus 875, a 23% lead. Cinebench R23 multi-core shows 18161 versus 14769, a 23% lead. Cinebench R23 single-core shows 2564 versus 2085, a 23% lead.

The consistency of the 23% delta across all Cinebench tests indicates a uniform performance advantage for the i5-14401E in this specific benchmark suite. The single-core advantage is particularly notable: the i5’s 2564 score in Cinebench R23 single-core outpaces the Ultra 5’s 2085 by 479 points, despite the Ultra 5 having a higher boost clock of 5.00 GHz versus 4.70 GHz. This suggests that the i5-14401E’s higher per-core performance in Cinebench outweighs the Ultra 5’s clock speed advantage, at least in this workload.

The Ultra 5, however, has its own benchmark records outside the head-to-head set. In PassMark tests, the Ultra 5 scores 390711 in data compression, 29293 in data encryption, 32752 in extended instructions, 371 in find prime numbers, 117951 in floating point math, 87948 in integer math, 37816 in multithread, 2570 in physics, 48980 in random string sorting, and 4516 in single-thread (listed twice). These scores contribute to its average benchmark score of 46062 and its 89th percentile ranking. The i5-14401E has no PassMark records in the database, so a direct comparison in those workloads is not possible.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-14401E wins in all recorded Cinebench tests, which makes it the clear choice for rendering workloads that rely on Cinebench’s specific instruction patterns. The 23% lead in both multi-core and single-core Cinebench R23 is substantial. For a user whose primary workload is Cinebench-style rendering, the i5-14401E delivers higher scores across the board, despite having fewer cores (6 versus 14) and a lower boost clock (4.70 GHz versus 5.00 GHz). The i5 also supports DDR4 memory, which can be a practical advantage for users with existing DDR4 platforms, and it supports ECC memory, which is absent on the Ultra 5.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 wins in overall processor ranking metrics. Its 89th percentile versus the i5’s 60th percentile indicates that, across the entire database of CPUs, the Ultra 5 sits much higher in the distribution. Its average benchmark score of 46062 is far above the i5’s 5253, though this is due to the different test sets available for each processor. The Ultra 5 also has a significantly higher core count (14 versus 6), a higher base clock (3.40 GHz versus 2.50 GHz), a higher boost clock (5.00 GHz versus 4.70 GHz), and a newer 3 nm process node from TSMC. It provides more PCIe Gen 5 lanes (20 versus 16), a larger L3 cache (24 MB versus 20 MB), and a newer integrated graphics solution (Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 24EU versus UHD Graphics 730).

For users prioritizing PassMark-style workloads (data compression, encryption, integer math, floating point math, physics simulations), the Ultra 5 has recorded scores that show strong performance in those areas. The i5-14401E has no recorded PassMark data, so it cannot be compared there. For users prioritizing Cinebench rendering, the i5-14401E is the winner. For users prioritizing a modern platform with more cores, a smaller process node, higher clocks, and a wider feature set, the Core Ultra 5 235 is the better fit.