Intel Core i5-14401E vs Intel Core Ultra 5 245K Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data splits cleanly between these two processors. The Intel Core Ultra 5 245K wins five of the six head-to-head comparisons, including every multi-threaded test and most single-threaded tests. The Intel Core i5-14401E manages only one victory, but it is a meaningful one in the Cinebench R23 single-core test.

For users focused on heavily threaded workloads, the Core Ultra 5 245K is the clear choice. Its multi-core scores across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 all land substantially higher than the Core i5-14401E, with deltas ranging from 27.5% to 52.5% in favor of the Ultra part. The 14-core, 14-thread configuration provides a wide execution width that shows up directly in these results.

The Core i5-14401E claims the Cinebench R23 single-core result with a score of 2564 against 2132 for the Ultra 5 245K, a 20.3% margin. This suggests that for lightly threaded applications where a single core's efficiency matters most, the older Raptor Lake design retains an edge. However, the Core Ultra 5 245K wins the other two single-core tests (R15 and R20), so the R23 result is not part of a consistent pattern.

The percentile data reinforces this split. The Core Ultra 5 245K sits at the 91st percentile of all CPUs in the database, while the Core i5-14401E sits at the 60th percentile. The average benchmark score for the Ultra 5 245K is 54053, compared to 5253 for the i5-14401E. The nearest rivals for each part confirm their respective tiers: the Ultra 5 245K trades blows with the Intel Core i7-14700F (0.8% ahead) and the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D (1.3% behind), while the i5-14401E sits close to the Intel Core i9-10850K and Intel Core i5-13400T.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel generations and use fundamentally different designs. The Core i5-14401E is based on Raptor Lake, specifically the Raptor Lake-R refresh, built on a 10 nm process node at Intel's own foundry. It has 6 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. The Core Ultra 5 245K uses Arrow Lake-S architecture, built on a 3 nm process node at TSMC, with 14 cores and 14 threads, a base clock of 4.20 GHz and a boost clock of 5.20 GHz.

The transistor counts differ dramatically. The Ultra 5 245K packs 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die, while the i5-14401E does not have a recorded transistor count but uses a 215 mm² die. The cache hierarchy also diverges. The i5-14401E has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 20 MB of shared L3. The Ultra 5 245K has 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3.

Memory support differs as well. The i5-14401E supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration. The Ultra 5 245K supports DDR5 only, also dual-channel, with a recorded memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s. Both support ECC memory, and both use PCIe Gen 5, though the i5-14401E has 16 CPU lanes while the Ultra 5 245K has 20.

Integrated graphics are different. The i5-14401E uses UHD Graphics 730, while the Ultra 5 245K uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU. The sockets are incompatible: LGA 1700 for the i5-14401E and LGA 1851 for the Ultra 5 245K.

The Ultra 5 245K has an unlocked multiplier, while the i5-14401E does not. The release dates are about four months apart, with the i5-14401E launching in June 2024 and the Ultra 5 245K in October 2024.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single margin in the recorded data comes from the Cinebench R15 multi-core test. The Core Ultra 5 245K scores 3850 against 1830 for the i5-14401E, a 52.5% advantage. This is the biggest gap in any test, and it reflects the massive difference in core count and thread count between the two parts.

The Cinebench R20 multi-core test shows a similar pattern. The Ultra 5 245K scores 15368, which is 50.4% ahead of the i5-14401E's 7627. The R20 single-core test also goes to the Ultra 5 245K, with 2169 against 1076, again a 50.4% margin. Interestingly, the single-core and multi-core deltas in R20 are identical, which suggests the architectural efficiency of the Arrow Lake design carries over across both scaling scenarios.

The Cinebench R23 multi-core test narrows the gap somewhat. The Ultra 5 245K scores 25066 against 18161, a 27.5% advantage. This is still a decisive win, but the smaller margin compared to R15 and R20 indicates that the i5-14401E scales better as the workload duration increases, likely due to its higher per-core clock behavior under sustained load.

The Cinebench R23 single-core test is the only win for the i5-14401E. It scores 2564 against 2132 for the Ultra 5 245K, a 20.3% margin. The R23 single-core test is known for being sensitive to sustained boost behavior, and the data suggests the Raptor Lake core can hold higher effective clocks for this specific workload than the Arrow Lake core can.

The Cinebench R15 single-core test goes to the Ultra 5 245K with 322 against 258, a 19.9% margin. This is close to the inverse of the R23 single-core result, which highlights that the two architectures respond differently to different single-threaded workloads. The Ultra 5 245K wins the shorter R15 single-core test but loses the longer R23 single-core test.

The PassMark suite results are only recorded for the Ultra 5 245K, so no direct comparison is possible for those tests. However, the available PassMark scores for the Ultra part show strong integer math (98524), floating point math (130678), and multithread (43047) performance. The data compression score of 458817 and encryption score of 33286 are notable for workloads involving data movement and security processing.

The Verdict

The data points to different buyers for each processor. The Core Ultra 5 245K is the stronger overall performer, with a 91st percentile ranking and an average benchmark score of 54053. Its five head-to-head wins and 14-core configuration make it suitable for users running multi-threaded workloads like video rendering, compilation, or scientific computation. The 27.5% to 52.5% multi-core advantages over the i5-14401E are substantial and consistent across all three Cinebench versions.

The Core i5-14401E serves a narrower role. Its single win in Cinebench R23 single-core, with a 20.3% margin, indicates that certain lightly threaded applications may run faster on the Raptor Lake design. The 60th percentile ranking and average score of 5253 place it in a lower performance tier overall, but the 6-core, 12-thread configuration still delivers respectable multi-core results (18161 in R23) for a desktop processor.

The socket difference is decisive for platform planning. The i5-14401E uses LGA 1700, while the Ultra 5 245K uses LGA 1851. These are not interchangeable, so the choice of processor dictates the motherboard. The Ultra 5 245K also requires DDR5 memory, while the i5-14401E can use either DDR4 or DDR5, which matters for users upgrading an existing DDR4 platform.

The launch MSRP for the Ultra 5 245K is $319. The i5-14401E has no recorded launch MSRP in the database.

For users who prioritize multi-threaded throughput and are building a new system, the Core Ultra 5 245K is the data-supported pick. For users who need the specific single-core behavior shown in Cinebench R23, or who want to reuse DDR4 memory, the i5-14401E remains a functional option, albeit one with substantially lower multi-core performance.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 245K has 14 cores and 14 threads. The Intel Core i5-14401E has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: What is the boost clock difference?

A: The Core Ultra 5 245K boosts to 5.20 GHz, while the Core i5-14401E boosts to 4.70 GHz.

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

A: The Core Ultra 5 245K scores 25066, which is 27.5% ahead of the i5-14401E's 18161.

Q: Does the i5-14401E win any benchmark?

A: Yes, it wins the Cinebench R23 single-core test with 2564 against 2132 for the Ultra 5 245K, a 20.3% margin.

Q: Are the sockets the same?

A: No. The i5-14401E uses Intel Socket 1700, and the Ultra 5 245K uses Intel Socket 1851.

Q: What memory types does each support?

A: The i5-14401E supports DDR4 and DDR5. The Ultra 5 245K supports DDR5 only, with a recorded memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-14401E | Intel Core Ultra 5 245K |

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

| Cores | 6 | 14 |

| Threads | 12 | 14 |

| Base clock | 2.50 GHz | 4.20 GHz |

| Boost clock | 4.70 GHz | 5.20 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 125 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1700 | Intel Socket 1851 |

| Architecture | Raptor Lake | Arrow Lake |

| Process node | 10 nm | 3 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Transistors | Not recorded | 17,800 million |

| Die size | 215 mm² | 243 mm² |

| 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) | 24 MB (shared) |

| Memory support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR5 |

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

| PCIe | Gen 5, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 20 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated graphics | UHD Graphics 730 | Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU |

| Multiplier unlocked | No | Yes |

| Release date | 2024-06-30 | 2024-10-23 |

| Launch MSRP | Not recorded | $319 |