Intel Core i5-14401E vs Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a decisive performance gap between these two processors, though not without one notable exception. Across the six Cinebench head-to-head comparisons, the Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus claims five wins, while the Intel Core i5-14401E takes a single victory.

The largest margin appears in Cinebench R15 multicore, where the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus scores 4640 against the i5-14401E's 1830, a delta of 60.6% in favor of the newer chip. This pattern continues in Cinebench R20 multicore, with the Ultra 5 posting 18442 versus 7627, a 58.6% advantage. The R20 single-core test shows a similar gap: 2603 against 1076, a 58.7% lead for the Core Ultra 5. Cinebench R15 single-core delivers a smaller but still substantial margin, 328 versus 258, translating to a 21.3% edge.

The Cinebench R23 multicore result narrows the relative gap somewhat, with the Core Ultra 5 scoring 30867 against the i5-14401E's 18161, a 41.2% difference. While still a commanding victory, this represents the smallest multicore delta among the tested workloads.

The single win for the Intel Core i5-14401E comes in Cinebench R23 single-core, where it scores 2564 versus 2261 for the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus, a 13.4% advantage. This result is notable because it contradicts the R15 and R20 single-core outcomes, where the Ultra 5 held clear leads of 21.3% and 58.7% respectively. The R23 single-core result stands as an outlier within the broader pattern of Ultra 5 dominance.

Looking at aggregate positioning, the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus sits at the 93rd percentile among all CPUs in the database, while the i5-14401E ranks at the 60th percentile. The average benchmark score further underscores the division: the Ultra 5 averages 66855, while the i5-14401E averages 5253. The nearest rivals for the i5-14401E include the Intel Xeon E5-2699A v4 (0.1% lower), the Intel Core i7-11700B (0.2% higher), the Intel Core i9-10850K (0.2% higher), and the Intel Core i5-13400T (0.8% higher). The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus sits near the AMD EPYC 4465P (0.1% lower), Intel Xeon 6515P (0.2% lower), Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX (0.9% lower), and Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus (1.1% higher). These rival clusters place the two chips in entirely different performance strata.

The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus also carries additional PassMark workload data that the i5-14401E lacks in the database. These results include multithread at 51596, single-thread at 4757, integer math at 125091, floating point math at 162692, data compression at 568721, data encryption at 42144, extended instructions at 44565, physics at 3494, random string sorting at 69090, and prime number finding at 486. These figures indicate strong throughput in both integer and floating-point operations, with particularly high compression and encryption scores.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different Intel design eras. The i5-14401E belongs to the Core 14th Gen family, built on Raptor Lake architecture with the Raptor Lake-R codename and a Raptor Lake Refresh generation label. It uses a 10 nm process node manufactured by Intel. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus belongs to Core Ultra Series 2, using the Arrow Lake Refresh codename within the Ultra 5 (Arrow Lake) generation. Its process node is 3 nm, fabricated by TSMC, with a transistor count of 17,800 million and a die size of 243 mm². The i5-14401E has a die size of 215 mm².

Core and thread counts differ sharply. The i5-14401E provides 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus provides 18 cores and 18 threads. The Ultra 5 has no hyperthreading, meaning each core maps to a single thread. Clock speeds also favor the Ultra 5: its base clock is 4.20 GHz with a boost clock of 5.30 GHz, versus 2.50 GHz base and 4.70 GHz boost for the i5-14401E. The power envelope differs as well, with the i5-14401E rated at 65 W TDP and the Core Ultra 5 at 125 W TDP.

Cache hierarchies show a generational expansion. The i5-14401E has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 20 MB of shared L3. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus has 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 30 MB of shared L3. Both support ECC memory, and both use dual-channel memory buses. The i5-14401E supports DDR4 and DDR5, while the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus supports DDR5 only. The Ultra 5 has a recorded memory bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s; no bandwidth figure appears for the i5-14401E.

PCIe connectivity also differs. The i5-14401E provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus provides Gen 5 with 20 lanes from the CPU. Integrated graphics differ as well: the i5-14401E uses UHD Graphics 730, while the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU. The i5-14401E has a locked multiplier, while the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus has an unlocked multiplier. Sockets are incompatible: the i5-14401E uses Intel Socket 1700, and the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus uses Intel Socket 1851.

Release timing places the i5-14401E in mid-2024 and the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus in early 2026. Both processors are listed as Active in production status and target the desktop market segment. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus has a launch MSRP of $199; the i5-14401E has no recorded launch MSRP.

The Verdict

The recorded data supports a clear performance hierarchy. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus dominates multi-threaded workloads, delivering 60.6% higher Cinebench R15 multicore scores, 58.6% higher R20 multicore, and 41.2% higher R23 multicore than the i5-14401E. It also leads in R15 single-core by 21.3% and R20 single-core by 58.7%. The i5-14401E holds a 13.4% edge only in R23 single-core.

The 18-core, 18-thread configuration of the Ultra 5, combined with a 3 nm TSMC process, 30 MB of L3 cache, and higher clock speeds, explains the multicore margins. The 6-core, 12-thread Raptor Lake chip, despite its lower TDP and smaller footprint, cannot match the thread throughput of the newer design. The 93rd versus 60th percentile placement reinforces this distinction.

The i5-14401E remains relevant for workloads where a single specific benchmark, Cinebench R23 single-core, is the primary metric. Its 65 W TDP also indicates lower power draw, though the database does not include measured power consumption. For users constrained to Socket 1700 platforms or requiring DDR4 compatibility, the i5-14401E offers a path that the Socket 1851, DDR5-only Ultra 5 cannot. The Ultra 5 requires DDR5 memory and a newer socket, and its 125 W TDP suggests greater power delivery demands.

The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus is the stronger processor across nearly every measured dimension. Its unlocked multiplier, larger cache, higher core count, newer process node, and superior benchmark results position it well ahead. The i5-14401E wins only the single R23 single-core comparison and offers platform flexibility in the form of DDR4 support and a lower TDP.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher Cinebench R23 multicore score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus scores 30867, while the Intel Core i5-14401E scores 18161, a 41.2% difference in favor of the Ultra 5.

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

A: Yes, the i5-14401E wins Cinebench R23 single-core with a score of 2564 versus 2261 for the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus, a 13.4% advantage.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The i5-14401E has 6 cores and 12 threads. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus has 18 cores and 18 threads.

Q: Which processor supports DDR4 memory?

A: The Intel Core i5-14401E supports both DDR4 and DDR5. The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus supports DDR5 only.

Q: What is the process node for each chip?

A: The i5-14401E uses a 10 nm node from Intel. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus uses a 3 nm node from TSMC.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus has an average benchmark score of 66855, placing it at the 93rd percentile. The i5-14401E has an average score of 5253, placing it at the 60th percentile.

Q: Which processor has more PCIe lanes from the CPU?

A: The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus provides Gen 5 with 20 lanes from the CPU. The i5-14401E provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU.

Where Each One Wins

Multi-threaded rendering and content creation workloads belong to the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus. The Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multicore results all favor the Ultra 5 by margins ranging from 41.2% to 60.6%. The 18-core configuration and 30 MB of shared L3 cache provide substantial parallelism for heavily threaded tasks. The PassMark multithread score of 51596, along with integer math at 125091 and floating point math at 162692, reinforces this strength in compute-heavy operations.

Single-core performance is mostly the Ultra 5's domain as well, with 21.3% and 58.7% leads in R15 and R20 single-core respectively. However, the i5-14401E takes the R23 single-core test by 13.4%, making it the better choice for applications that rely specifically on that benchmark's workload characteristics. The R23 single-core result is the only head-to-head win recorded for the i5-14401E.

The i5-14401E offers advantages outside raw performance. Its 65 W TDP is lower than the Ultra 5's 125 W TDP, suggesting lighter cooling and power delivery requirements. It supports DDR4 memory, which may suit existing platforms. Its Socket 1700 compatibility and smaller die size of 215 mm² contrast with the Ultra 5's Socket 1851 and 243 mm² die.

The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus extends its lead in memory bandwidth with a recorded 115.2 GB/s, while no bandwidth figure exists for the i5-14401E. The Ultra 5 also provides more PCIe lanes (20 versus 16), an unlocked multiplier for overclocking, and a more capable integrated GPU in the Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU versus UHD Graphics 730. The 3 nm TSMC process and 17,800 million transistors indicate a denser, more modern design.

Data compression and encryption workloads show the Ultra 5's strength in the PassMark results, with compression at 568721 and encryption at 42144. Extended instructions score 44565, physics 3494, and random string sorting 69090. The i5-14401E has no equivalent PassMark results in the database, so direct comparison in these areas is not possible.

The i5-14401E's nearest rivals cluster around average scores of 5210 to 5259, placing it in the same league as older high-core-count Xeons and prior-generation Core i7 and i9 parts. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus sits among server-grade EPYC and Xeon parts, plus the Core Ultra 9 275HX, with average scores from 66159 to 67469. This positioning confirms that the Ultra 5 competes in a higher performance class entirely.

For platform-sensitive builds, the i5-14401E remains viable where DDR4 support, a 65 W TDP, or Socket 1700 compatibility are requirements. For everything else, the data points to the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus as the dominant processor across nearly all measured benchmarks, with the exception of the single R23 single-core result.