Intel Core i5-14401E vs Intel Core Ultra 5 238V Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a decisive sweep for the Intel Core i5-14401E across all six head-to-head Cinebench comparisons. The Core i5-14401E wins every multi-core and single-core test, with deltas consistently hovering around 16.1% to 16.2%. This is not a marginal advantage; the consistency of the margin across different Cinebench versions (R15, R20, R23) indicates a stable performance gap rather than a workload-specific anomaly.

In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i5-14401E scores 18,161 against the Core Ultra 5 238V’s 15,645, a 16.1% advantage. The single-core R23 test shows a similar pattern: 2,564 versus 2,208, again a 16.1% delta. These results position the i5-14401E as the stronger raw compute part in both heavily threaded and lightly threaded scenarios.

The R20 multi-core test reinforces the trend, with the i5-14401E at 7,627 and the Ultra 5 238V at 6,570 (16.1% delta). Single-core R20: 1,076 versus 927 (16.1%). The R15 results mirror this exactly: multi-core 1,830 versus 1,576 (16.1%), single-core 258 versus 222 (16.2%). The near-identical percentage deltas across all six tests suggest the architectural differences between the two chips produce a uniform performance scaling factor, at least within the Cinebench suite.

However, the average benchmark score tells a different story when broader workloads are considered. The Core Ultra 5 238V has an average benchmark score of 21,981, placing it in the 75th percentile of all CPUs. The i5-14401E averages 5,253, which is only the 60th percentile. This discrepancy arises because the Ultra 5 238V’s average includes PassMark tests (data compression, encryption, floating-point math, integer math, and others) that are not recorded for the i5-14401E. The Cinebench-only head-to-head shows the i5-14401E ahead, but the database’s broader metric favors the Ultra 5 238V due to its additional test coverage and strong PassMark results.

The nearest rivals data further contextualizes each chip. The i5-14401E’s closest competitor is the Intel Xeon E5-2699A v4, with an average score of 5,259 (0.1% lower than the i5’s 5,253). The Core i7-11700B and Core i9-10850K are essentially tied with the i5-14401E, at 0.2% higher average scores. The Ultra 5 238V’s nearest rival is the Core i7-11700F, with a 21,988 average score, a 0% delta from the Ultra 5’s 21,981. The AMD Ryzen 5 3600X is also at 0% delta, while the Core Ultra 5 236V trails by 0.1% and the AMD EPYC 9534 by 0.4%.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core i5-14401E wins with a score of 18,161, which is 16.1% higher than the Core Ultra 5 238V’s 15,645.

Q: How does the Core Ultra 5 238V compare on single-threaded performance?

A: The i5-14401E also leads here. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the i5-14401E scores 2,564 versus 2,208 for the Ultra 5 238V, a 16.1% advantage.

Q: Why does the Core Ultra 5 238V have a much higher average benchmark score?

A: The Ultra 5 238V’s average of 21,981 includes PassMark tests (e.g., data compression at 176,532, floating-point math at 53,160, and integer math at 38,889) that are not recorded for the i5-14401E. The i5-14401E’s average of 5,253 is based solely on Cinebench results.

Q: What are the nearest rivals for each processor?

A: For the i5-14401E, the closest rival is the Intel Xeon E5-2699A v4 (average score 5,259, delta -0.1%). For the Ultra 5 238V, the closest rival is the Intel Core i7-11700F (average score 21,988, delta 0%).

Q: How do the core and thread counts differ?

A: The i5-14401E has 6 cores and 12 threads. The Ultra 5 238V has 8 cores but only 8 threads, meaning it lacks hyper-threading.

Q: Which processor occupies a higher performance percentile?

A: The Core Ultra 5 238V sits at the 75th percentile of all CPUs, while the i5-14401E sits at the 60th percentile.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent fundamentally different design philosophies from Intel. The Core i5-14401E uses the Raptor Lake architecture (specifically Raptor Lake-R) and is built on Intel’s 10 nm process with a die size of 215 mm². It is a desktop part with 6 cores and 12 threads, supporting hyper-threading. Its cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 20 MB of shared L3 cache. The i5-14401E supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory in dual-channel mode, includes ECC memory support, and offers PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU. Its integrated graphics is the UHD Graphics 730, and it uses the Intel Socket 1700.

The Core Ultra 5 238V, by contrast, is built on Lunar Lake architecture and fabricated by TSMC on a 3 nm process. It is a mobile part with 8 cores and 8 threads, with no hyper-threading. Its cache design is different: 192 KB of L1 per core, 2.5 MB of L2 per core, but only 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The memory support is listed as dependent on the motherboard, though it is dual-channel. It does not support ECC memory. PCIe connectivity is Gen 5 but limited to 4 lanes from the CPU. The integrated graphics is the Arc 130V, and it uses Intel BGA 2833 socket.

The core count advantage goes to the Ultra 5 238V (8 versus 6), but the thread count goes to the i5-14401E (12 versus 8). The i5-14401E’s larger L3 cache (20 MB versus 8 MB) and higher base clock (2.50 GHz versus 2.10 GHz) likely contribute to its Cinebench lead. Both processors boost to 4.70 GHz. The i5-14401E has a TDP of 65 watts, while the Ultra 5 238V is rated at 17 watts, indicating a stark difference in power envelope and thermal design. The process node advantage belongs to the Ultra 5 238V (3 nm versus 10 nm), but this efficiency gain does not translate into higher Cinebench scores in the recorded data.

The Verdict

The data presents two distinct profiles. The Intel Core i5-14401E is the faster processor in every measured Cinebench test, with a uniform 16.1% to 16.2% lead over the Core Ultra 5 238V. For workloads that mirror Cinebench’s rendering and compute tasks, the i5-14401E is the clear choice. Its 12 threads versus 8, combined with 20 MB of shared L3 cache, provides a tangible multi-threaded advantage. The 65 watt TDP and desktop socket (Intel Socket 1700) indicate a system designed for sustained performance rather than power efficiency.

The Core Ultra 5 238V, despite losing every head-to-head Cinebench match, holds a higher average benchmark score (21,981 versus 5,253) and a higher percentile (75th versus 60th). This is due to its PassMark results, which cover a broader set of operations including data compression, encryption, and math workloads. The Ultra 5 238V’s 8 cores, 17 watt TDP, and 3 nm process make it a more efficient part, and its Arc 130V integrated graphics is a more capable iGPU than the UHD Graphics 730. The mobile BGA 2833 socket and motherboard-dependent memory support place it in thin-and-light systems.

Users prioritizing raw Cinebench-style performance should select the i5-14401E. Users prioritizing a broader benchmark average, integrated graphics capability, and power efficiency should select the Core Ultra 5 238V. The choice hinges on workload type and system form factor, not on a single overall winner.

Specification Differences

• Cores: i5-14401E has 6; Ultra 5 238V has 8.
• Threads: i5-14401E has 12; Ultra 5 238V has 8.
• Base Clock: i5-14401E at 2.50 GHz; Ultra 5 238V at 2.10 GHz.
• Boost Clock: Both at 4.70 GHz.
• TDP: i5-14401E at 65 W; Ultra 5 238V at 17 W.
• Socket: i5-14401E uses Intel Socket 1700; Ultra 5 238V uses Intel BGA 2833.
• Architecture: i5-14401E is Raptor Lake; Ultra 5 238V is Lunar Lake.
• Process Node: i5-14401E on 10 nm (Intel); Ultra 5 238V on 3 nm (TSMC).
• Die Size: i5-14401E at 215 mm²; Ultra 5 238V not recorded.
• L1 Cache: i5-14401E at 80 KB per core; Ultra 5 238V at 192 KB per core.
• L2 Cache: i5-14401E at 1.25 MB per core; Ultra 5 238V at 2.5 MB per core.
• L3 Cache: i5-14401E at 20 MB shared; Ultra 5 238V at 8 MB shared.
• Memory Support: i5-14401E supports DDR4 and DDR5; Ultra 5 238V depends on motherboard.
• ECC Memory: i5-14401E supports it; Ultra 5 238V does not.
• PCIe Lanes: i5-14401E has 16 Gen 5 lanes; Ultra 5 238V has 4 Gen 5 lanes.
• Integrated Graphics: i5-14401E uses UHD Graphics 730; Ultra 5 238V uses Arc 130V.
• Market Segment: i5-14401E is Desktop; Ultra 5 238V is Mobile.
• Release Date: i5-14401E released 2024-06-30; Ultra 5 238V released 2024-09-23.