Intel Core i5-14401E vs Intel Core Ultra 5 338H Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H has 12 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Core i5-14401E has 6 cores and 12 threads. The Ultra 5 offers double the physical core count, but both have identical thread counts.

Q: What are the base and boost clock speeds for each chip?

A: The Core i5-14401E has a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. The Core Ultra 5 338H has a lower base clock of 1.90 GHz but matches the same 4.70 GHz boost clock.

Q: How do the two processors compare in Cinebench R23 multi-core performance?

A: The Core i5-14401E wins in Cinebench R23 multi-core with a score of 18,161 versus 16,331 for the Core Ultra 5 338H, a delta of 11.2% in favor of the i5.

Q: Which chip has the higher single-core score in Cinebench R20?

A: The Core Ultra 5 338H leads in Cinebench R20 single-core with 1,441 points against 1,076 for the Core i5-14401E, a 25.3% advantage for the Ultra 5.

Q: What process nodes are used by each processor?

A: The Core i5-14401E uses a 10 nm process node, while the Core Ultra 5 338H is built on a 3 nm node.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The Core i5-14401E supports ECC memory, while the Core Ultra 5 338H does not.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural lineages. The Intel Core i5-14401E belongs to the Core 14th Gen series and uses the Raptor Lake architecture, specifically the Raptor Lake-R codename. It is a desktop part built on a 10 nm process node with a die size of 215 mm². The Core Ultra 5 338H, on the other hand, is from the Core Ultra Series 3 and uses the Panther Lake architecture with the Panther Lake-H codename. This is a mobile processor built on a 3 nm node, and its die size is not recorded in the database.

Core configuration differs significantly. The i5-14401E has 6 cores and 12 threads, meaning each core supports two threads. The Ultra 5 338H has 12 cores and 12 threads, indicating a 1:1 core-to-thread ratio, likely from a hybrid or efficiency-focused design. Cache hierarchies also differ: the i5 has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 20 MB of shared L3 cache. The Ultra 5 has 192 KB of L1 per core, 2.5 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3.

Memory support separates them further. The i5-14401E supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, with no recorded memory bandwidth figure. The Ultra 5 338H supports LPDDR5X memory, also dual-channel, with a recorded bandwidth of 136.5 GB/s. ECC memory is available on the i5 but not on the Ultra 5.

PCIe lane counts differ as well. The i5-14401E offers Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the Ultra 5 338H provides Gen 5 with 4 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics are present on both: the i5 uses UHD Graphics 730, and the Ultra 5 uses Arc B370.

Form factors and sockets diverge. The i5-14401E is a desktop chip using Intel Socket 1700, while the Ultra 5 338H is a mobile chip using Intel BGA 2540. The i5 has a TDP of 65, while the Ultra 5 has a much lower TDP of 25. Both processors are currently Active in production status. The i5 was released on 2024-06-30, while the Ultra 5 was released on 2026-01-04. Neither chip has a recorded launch MSRP in the database.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data covers six Cinebench tests, with the Core Ultra 5 338H winning four and the Core i5-14401E winning two. The wins are split cleanly across test versions and workload types.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Ultra 5 338H scores 2,504 against 1,830 for the i5-14401E, a 26.9% advantage. In R15 single-core, the Ultra 5 scores 305 versus 258, a 15.4% lead. Moving to Cinebench R20, the Ultra 5 wins multi-core with 10,213 versus 7,627, a 25.3% edge, and single-core with 1,441 versus 1,076, another 25.3% edge.

The tables turn in Cinebench R23. In multi-core, the i5-14401E scores 18,161 versus 16,331 for the Ultra 5, an 11.2% win. In single-core, the i5 scores 2,564 versus 2,044, a 25.4% margin.

The pattern is clear: the Ultra 5 338H dominates in the older R15 and R20 test suites, while the i5-14401E takes both R23 tests. The single-core delta in R23 is almost identical in magnitude to the Ultra 5's single-core wins in R20, suggesting the i5's advantage in R23 is consistent and substantial. The multi-core picture is more mixed: the Ultra 5 leads by roughly a quarter in R15 and R20, but the i5 leads by 11.2% in R23.

Looking at the broader database, the i5-14401E sits at the 60th percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 5,253. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon E5-2699A v4 (average score 5,259, delta -0.1%), the Intel Core i7-11700B (5,241, delta 0.2%), the Intel Core i9-10850K (5,240, delta 0.2%), and the Intel Core i5-13400T (5,210, delta 0.8%). The Ultra 5 338H ranks much higher overall, at the 84th percentile, with an average benchmark score of 33,989. Its nearest rivals are the Intel Core Ultra 7 165H (34,083, delta -0.3%), the Intel Core i7-12800HX (33,875, delta 0.3%), the Intel Xeon 6353P (33,844, delta 0.4%), and the AMD EPYC 4244P (34,220, delta -0.7%).

The average benchmark score difference is stark: the Ultra 5's 33,989 is roughly 6.5 times higher than the i5's 5,253, but this figure is influenced by the Passmark workloads that only the Ultra 5 has recorded. The i5 has no Passmark entries in its benchmark list.

Specification Differences

The two chips differ across nearly every major specification field.

• Cores: 6 (i5-14401E) versus 12 (Ultra 5 338H)
• Threads: 12 for both
• Base clock: 2.50 GHz (i5) versus 1.90 GHz (Ultra 5)
• Boost clock: 4.70 GHz for both
• TDP: 65 (i5) versus 25 (Ultra 5)
• Socket: Intel Socket 1700 (i5) versus Intel BGA 2540 (Ultra 5)
• Process node: 10 nm (i5) versus 3 nm (Ultra 5)
• Die size: 215 mm² (i5) versus not recorded (Ultra 5)
• L1 cache: 80 KB per core (i5) versus 192 KB per core (Ultra 5)
• L2 cache: 1.25 MB per core (i5) versus 2.5 MB per core (Ultra 5)
• L3 cache: 20 MB shared (i5) versus 18 MB shared (Ultra 5)
• Memory support: DDR4, DDR5 (i5) versus LPDDR5X (Ultra 5)
• Memory bandwidth: not recorded (i5) versus 136.5 GB/s (Ultra 5)
• ECC memory: true (i5) versus false (Ultra 5)
• PCIe: Gen 5, 16 lanes (i5) versus Gen 5, 4 lanes (Ultra 5)
• Integrated graphics: UHD Graphics 730 (i5) versus Arc B370 (Ultra 5)
• Market segment: Desktop (i5) versus Mobile (Ultra 5)
• Release date: 2024-06-30 (i5) versus 2026-01-04 (Ultra 5)

Both processors have locked multipliers and use Intel as the foundry.

Where Each One Wins

The Core Ultra 5 338H wins in the Cinebench R15 and R20 test suites, both single-core and multi-core. Its margins range from 15.4% to 26.9%, with the largest advantage in R15 multi-core. The R20 single-core and multi-core results both show a 25.3% lead. The Ultra 5 also holds a commanding overall database position at the 84th percentile, with an average benchmark score of 33,989, placing it near the Core Ultra 7 165H and the Core i7-12800HX.

The Core i5-14401E wins exclusively in the Cinebench R23 tests. Its multi-core score of 18,161 beats the Ultra 5 by 11.2%, and its single-core score of 2,564 beats the Ultra 5 by 25.4%. The i5 also has a substantial lead in physical core efficiency for its desktop segment, offering ECC memory support, a larger shared L3 cache (20 MB versus 18 MB), and more PCIe lanes (16 versus 4). It uses a larger die (215 mm²) and a higher TDP (65 versus 25), which aligns with its desktop positioning.

For productivity workloads that rely on Cinebench R23, the i5-14401E is the stronger part. For older Cinebench versions or broad multi-threaded workloads that resemble R15 and R20, the Ultra 5 338H is clearly ahead. The Ultra 5's mobile design, with its 3 nm node and 25 TDP, delivers higher overall benchmark scores while consuming less power. The i5's desktop design trades efficiency for raw R23 performance and platform features like ECC and more PCIe lanes.

The Verdict

The database shows two processors with different strengths depending on the workload generation. The Core Ultra 5 338H wins four of the six head-to-head benchmarks, including all Cinebench R15 and R20 tests, with margins as large as 26.9%. It also holds a much higher overall percentile rank (84th versus 60th) and a significantly higher average benchmark score (33,989 versus 5,253). For users prioritizing the older Cinebench workloads or the broader average performance across all recorded tests, the Ultra 5 338H is the clear choice.

The Core i5-14401E takes the two Cinebench R23 tests, with a 25.4% single-core lead and an 11.2% multi-core lead. It also offers ECC memory, a desktop socket (Intel Socket 1700), 16 PCIe Gen 5 lanes, and DDR4/DDR5 memory support. For builders who need those platform features, or whose software correlates with R23 performance, the i5-14401E is the appropriate pick.

The data does not support a universal winner. The Core Ultra 5 338H is the better performer in most measured benchmarks and holds a superior overall standing in the database. The Core i5-14401E wins specifically in R23, which may reflect a different workload profile or a more recent optimization in that test version. Buyers should match the chip to their actual workload: R15/R20 dominant tasks favor the Ultra 5, while R23 dominant tasks and desktop platform requirements favor the i5.