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

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 235T has 14 cores and 14 threads, while the Intel Core i5-14401E has 6 cores and 12 threads. The Ultra 5 has more physical cores, but both processors have a thread count that does not exceed their core count in the Ultra 5's case.

Q: How do the two processors compare in single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 235T is significantly faster in single-core workloads. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Ultra 5 scores 3703 versus 2564 for the i5-14401E, a 30.8% advantage. The same 30.8% delta appears in Cinebench R15 and R20 single-core tests.

Q: What is the difference in multi-core performance?

A: The Ultra 5 235T leads by 30.8% in every multi-core Cinebench test. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 26232 compared to 18161 for the i5-14401E. The R20 multi-core result shows 11017 versus 7627, and R15 multi-core shows 2644 versus 1830.

Q: Which processor uses a more advanced manufacturing process?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 235T uses a 3 nm process from TSMC, while the Intel Core i5-14401E uses Intel's 10 nm process. The Ultra 5 also has a larger die size at 243 mm² with 17,800 million transistors, compared to 215 mm² for the i5-14401E.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?

A: No. The Intel Core i5-14401E supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 235T supports only DDR5. Both use a dual-channel memory bus, but the Ultra 5 has a recorded memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s, a figure not listed for the i5-14401E.

Q: What are the integrated graphics options?

A: The Intel Core i5-14401E includes UHD Graphics 730, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 235T includes Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 24EU. The Ultra 5 also supports ECC memory, which the i5-14401E does not.

Q: How do their overall benchmark averages compare?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 235T has an average benchmark score of 38561, placing it in the 86th percentile of all CPUs. The Intel Core i5-14401E has an average score of 5253, placing it in the 60th percentile. The Ultra 5 is far ahead in aggregate performance.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations. The Intel Core i5-14401E is built on Raptor Lake, specifically the Raptor Lake-R refresh, and belongs to the Core 14th Gen series. The Intel Core Ultra 5 235T uses Arrow Lake, specifically Arrow Lake-S, and belongs to the Core Ultra Series 2. This is a fundamental split: the i5-14401E is a conventional Core i5 part, while the Ultra 5 235T is part of Intel's newer Ultra branding.

Manufacturing processes differ sharply. The i5-14401E uses Intel's 10 nm process with a 215 mm² die, while the Ultra 5 235T uses TSMC's 3 nm process with a 243 mm² die and 17,800 million transistors. The smaller process node on the Ultra 5 allows for a much higher transistor count in a modestly larger package, which contributes to its performance lead.

Core counts tell a clear story. The i5-14401E has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Ultra 5 235T has 14 cores and 14 threads. The Ultra 5 does not use hyper-threading, hence 14 threads from 14 cores, while the i5-14401E relies on 6 cores with 12 threads. The cache hierarchy also differs: the i5-14401E has 80 KB L1 and 1.25 MB L2 per core, with 20 MB shared L3. The Ultra 5 235T has 192 KB L1 and 3 MB L2 per core, with 24 MB shared L3. Every level of cache is larger on the Ultra 5.

Memory support is another divider. The i5-14401E supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the Ultra 5 235T supports only DDR5. The Ultra 5 has a recorded memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s, a figure not provided for the i5-14401E. The sockets are incompatible: the i5-14401E uses Intel Socket 1700, while the Ultra 5 235T uses Intel Socket 1851. PCIe lanes also differ, with the i5-14401E providing Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes and the Ultra 5 235T providing Gen 5 with 20 CPU lanes.

Integrated graphics differ as well. The i5-14401E uses UHD Graphics 730, while the Ultra 5 235T uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 24EU. ECC memory support is present on the i5-14401E but absent on the Ultra 5 235T. Both processors have a 65 W TDP and are not multiplier-unlocked. The i5-14401E was released on 2024-06-30, while the Ultra 5 235T was released on 2025-01-06 with a launch MSRP of $247.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data covers six Cinebench tests, and the Intel Core Ultra 5 235T wins all of them by the same 30.8% margin. This uniform delta is remarkable because it holds across both single-core and multi-core workloads, indicating a consistent architectural advantage rather than a workload-specific one.

In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Ultra 5 235T scores 26232 against 18161 for the i5-14401E. That is a large absolute gap of 8071 points in favor of the Ultra 5. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Ultra 5 scores 3703 against 2564, a gap of 1139 points. The percentage lead remains 30.8% in both cases, which suggests the Ultra 5's advantage scales evenly across core and thread utilization.

Cinebench R20 shows the same pattern. Multi-core results are 11017 for the Ultra 5 versus 7627 for the i5-14401E. Single-core results are 1555 versus 1076. The delta is again 30.8%. Cinebench R15 follows with multi-core scores of 2644 versus 1830 and single-core scores of 373 versus 258. No test in the recorded data shows the i5-14401E ahead. The i5-14401E has zero wins in the head-to-head set, while the Ultra 5 235T has six.

The nearest rivals provide context for each processor's standing. The i5-14401E's average benchmark score of 5253 places it just 0.1% behind the Intel Xeon E5-2699A v4, 0.2% ahead of the Intel Core i7-11700B, 0.2% ahead of the Intel Core i9-10850K, and 0.8% ahead of the Intel Core i5-13400T. The Ultra 5 235T's average of 38561 puts it 0.1% ahead of the Intel Core i5-14500, 0.4% ahead of the Intel Xeon w3-2525, 0.6% ahead of the Intel Core 9 270H, and 0.7% ahead of the Intel Core Ultra 9 285H. The percentile ranking confirms the gap: the Ultra 5 sits in the 86th percentile of all CPUs, while the i5-14401E sits in the 60th.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several specification fields. The i5-14401E has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Ultra 5 235T has 14 cores and 14 threads. Base clocks are 2.50 GHz for the i5-14401E and 2.20 GHz for the Ultra 5 235T, but boost clocks are 4.70 GHz and 5.00 GHz respectively. The Ultra 5 has the higher maximum boost despite the lower base clock.

The socket changes from Intel Socket 1700 on the i5-14401E to Intel Socket 1851 on the Ultra 5 235T. The architecture changes from Raptor Lake to Arrow Lake, and the process node changes from Intel 10 nm to TSMC 3 nm. The foundry also changes from Intel to TSMC. The Ultra 5 235T lists 17,800 million transistors, while the i5-14401E has no recorded transistor count.

Cache sizes are larger on the Ultra 5. L1 cache goes from 80 KB per core to 192 KB per core. L2 cache goes from 1.25 MB per core to 3 MB per core. L3 cache goes from 20 MB shared to 24 MB shared. Memory support narrows from DDR4 and DDR5 on the i5-14401E to DDR5 only on the Ultra 5 235T. The Ultra 5 has a recorded memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s, which is not listed for the i5-14401E.

ECC memory support is present on the i5-14401E but absent on the Ultra 5 235T. PCIe lanes increase from Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes to Gen 5 with 20 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics change from UHD Graphics 730 to Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 24EU. The release dates differ by about six months, with the i5-14401E launching on 2024-06-30 and the Ultra 5 235T launching on 2025-01-06. Both have a 65 W TDP, neither is multiplier-unlocked, and both are listed as Active in production status.

The Verdict

The recorded data points to a clear performance hierarchy. The Intel Core Ultra 5 235T wins every single benchmark in the head-to-head comparison, with a consistent 30.8% advantage across all six Cinebench tests. Its average benchmark score of 38561 is more than seven times higher than the i5-14401E's 5253, although this difference is inflated by the different benchmark sets recorded for each processor. The percentile rankings are more meaningful: the Ultra 5 sits in the 86th percentile of all CPUs, while the i5-14401E sits in the 60th.

The i5-14401E is not without merits. It supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, which gives it flexibility for builds using older memory. It also supports ECC memory, a feature absent on the Ultra 5 235T. Its 65 W TDP matches the Ultra 5, so power draw is on par. However, in raw compute performance, the data shows no scenario where the i5-14401E comes out ahead. The Ultra 5 235T delivers higher multi-core and single-core scores, a larger cache at every level, more cores, a higher boost clock, and a more advanced 3 nm process.

The i5-14401E's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-11700B and Intel Core i9-10850K, both of which it matches within 0.2%. The Ultra 5 235T's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-14500 and Intel Xeon w3-2525, both of which it matches within 0.4%. This shows that the i5-14401E competes with older high-end parts, while the Ultra 5 235T competes with newer mid-range and workstation parts. The i5-14401E is a sensible choice for a system with DDR4 memory or ECC requirements, but the Ultra 5 235T is the stronger processor by every measured performance metric.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235T wins in all six head-to-head Cinebench tests, covering both single-core and multi-core workloads. It wins Cinebench R15 multi-core with 2644 versus 1830, Cinebench R15 single-core with 373 versus 258, Cinebench R20 multi-core with 11017 versus 7627, Cinebench R20 single-core with 1555 versus 1076, Cinebench R23 multi-core with 26232 versus 18161, and Cinebench R23 single-core with 3703 versus 2564. Every win carries the same 30.8% margin, so the Ultra 5 is uniformly faster rather than dominant in only one workload type.

The Intel Core i5-14401E has no benchmark wins in the recorded head-to-head data. Its advantages are not in performance but in platform flexibility. It supports DDR4 memory, which the Ultra 5 does not, and it supports ECC memory, which the Ultra 5 does not. For a user with existing DDR4 modules or a workflow that requires ECC, the i5-14401E is the only one of the two that fits. Its socket, Intel Socket 1700, is also different from the Ultra 5's Intel Socket 1851, so motherboard choice is a factor.

The Ultra 5 235T also has the advantage in cache capacity, with 192 KB L1 per core, 3 MB L2 per core, and 24 MB shared L3, versus 80 KB, 1.25 MB, and 20 MB on the i5-14401E. It has more cores, a higher boost clock of 5.00 GHz versus 4.70 GHz, and more PCIe lanes at 20 versus 16. Its 3 nm process and 17,800 million transistors indicate a more modern design. The data shows the Ultra 5 235T as the superior choice for compute-heavy tasks, while the i5-14401E remains relevant only for specific platform requirements like DDR4 support or ECC memory.