Intel Core i5-14401E vs Intel Core Ultra 9 285K Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a decisive overall victory for the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K, which wins five of the six head-to-head Cinebench comparisons. The most dramatic gap appears in multi-core workloads. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Ultra 9 scores 6494 against 1830 for the Core i5-14401E, a delta of -71.8% from the i5's perspective. Cinebench R20 multi-core follows the same pattern: 24003 versus 7627, again -68.2%. The R23 multi-core test shows 42522 versus 18161, a -57.3% delta. These are not marginal differences; the Ultra 9 roughly triples the i5's multi-core output in R15 and R20, and more than doubles it in R23.

Single-core results are closer, but the Ultra 9 still leads in most tests. Cinebench R15 single-core shows 359 versus 258, a -28.1% delta. R20 single-core shows 3388 versus 1076, a -68.2% delta, which is surprisingly large for a single-threaded workload. However, the Core i5-14401E takes one clear victory: Cinebench R23 single-core, where it scores 2564 against the Ultra 9's 2377, a +7.9% delta. This is the only benchmark where the i5 wins, and it indicates that in certain lightly threaded scenarios, the older architecture can hold its own.

The average benchmark score tells a broader story. The Ultra 9 sits at 83807 average across its full benchmark suite, while the i5-14401E averages 5253. The percentile ranking reinforces this: the Ultra 9 lands in the 96th percentile of all CPUs in the database, whereas the i5-14401E sits at the 60th percentile. The nearest rivals for the Ultra 9 include the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus (delta -0.2%), AMD EPYC 4584PX (delta 0.9%), and AMD EPYC 9135 (delta 1%), showing it trades blows with high-end server and workstation parts. The i5-14401E's nearest rivals, such as the Intel Xeon E5-2699A v4 (delta -0.1%) and Intel Core i9-10850K (delta 0.2%), are older or lower-tier desktop parts.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 9 285K dominates in every multi-core benchmark recorded. This includes all three Cinebench multi-core tests (R15, R20, R23) and both R15 and R20 single-core tests. The data indicates this processor is built for sustained heavy workloads: rendering, compilation, simulation, and any task that scales across many threads. Its PassMark results, while not directly compared to the i5-14401E, show strong scores in integer math (172379), floating point math (224324), and multithread (67260), which align with its multi-core dominance. The 96th percentile ranking places it among the top tier of all processors in the database.

The Intel Core i5-14401E wins exactly one head-to-head test: Cinebench R23 single-core. This is a meaningful result for lightly threaded applications, such as older games or single-threaded productivity tools, where the i5's 2.50 GHz base and 4.70 GHz boost clock can deliver competitive responsiveness. Its 60th percentile ranking and average score of 5253 indicate it is a mid-range performer, adequate for everyday desktop tasks but not in the same class as the Ultra 9 for parallel workloads. The i5 also supports DDR4 memory in addition to DDR5, which could be relevant for users on existing platforms, though the benchmark data does not quantify memory performance differences.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design generations. The Intel Core i5-14401E uses Raptor Lake architecture, specifically the Raptor Lake-R refresh, built on Intel's 10 nm process. It has 6 cores and 12 threads, meaning it relies on Hyper-Threading to reach 12 threads from 6 physical cores. The Intel Core Ultra 9 285K uses Arrow Lake architecture (Arrow Lake-S), fabricated by TSMC on a 3 nm node. It has 24 cores and 24 threads, with no Hyper-Threading; all threads are physical. The process node difference is significant: 10 nm versus 3 nm, which explains part of the efficiency and performance gap.

Cache hierarchies differ substantially. The i5-14401E has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 20 MB of shared L3 cache. The Ultra 9 has 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 36 MB of shared L3 cache. That is more than double the L2 per core and nearly double the L3 total. The Ultra 9 also has a larger die size (243 mm² versus 215 mm²) and a massive transistor count of 17,800 million, while the i5-14401E has no listed transistor count.

Memory support differs as well. The i5-14401E supports both DDR4 and DDR5 in a dual-channel configuration. The Ultra 9 supports only DDR5, also dual-channel, but with a recorded memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s. The i5 has no listed memory bandwidth figure. Both processors support ECC memory. PCIe connectivity also differs: the i5 offers Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the Ultra 9 offers Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics differ: the i5 uses UHD Graphics 730, while the Ultra 9 uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU.

Specification Differences

The following fields differ between the two processors, based on the recorded data:

• Cores: 6 (i5-14401E) versus 24 (Ultra 9 285K)
• Threads: 12 versus 24
• Base clock: 2.50 GHz versus 3.70 GHz
• Boost clock: 4.70 GHz versus 5.70 GHz
• TDP: 65 W versus 125 W
• Socket: Intel Socket 1700 versus Intel Socket 1851
• Architecture: Raptor Lake versus Arrow Lake
• Codename: Raptor Lake-R versus Arrow Lake-S
• Generation: Core i5 (Raptor Lake Refresh) versus Ultra 9 (Arrow Lake)
• Process node: 10 nm versus 3 nm
• Foundry: Intel versus TSMC
• Transistors: not listed versus 17,800 million
• Die size: 215 mm² versus 243 mm²
• L1 cache: 80 KB per core versus 192 KB per core
• L2 cache: 1.25 MB per core versus 3 MB per core
• L3 cache: 20 MB shared versus 36 MB shared
• Memory support: DDR4, DDR5 versus DDR5 only
• Memory bandwidth: not listed versus 102.4 GB/s
• PCIe: Gen 5, 16 lanes versus Gen 5, 20 lanes
• Integrated graphics: UHD Graphics 730 versus Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU
• Release date: 2024-06-30 versus 2024-10-23
• Launch MSRP: none listed versus $589 (stated once here as launch MSRP)
• Multiplier unlocked: false versus true
• Part number: Q49JSRNJS versus SRQD5

Fields that are the same include manufacturer (Intel), memory bus (dual-channel), ECC support (true for both), market segment (Desktop), and production status (Active).

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 285K has 24 cores and 24 threads. The Intel Core i5-14401E has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: Does the Core i5-14401E ever beat the Ultra 9 in any benchmark?

A: Yes, in Cinebench R23 single-core, the i5-14401E scores 2564 versus 2377 for the Ultra 9, a +7.9% delta.

Q: What is the process node difference between the two?

A: The i5-14401E uses Intel's 10 nm process. The Ultra 9 285K uses TSMC's 3 nm process.

Q: Can both processors use ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the i5-14401E and the Ultra 9 285K have ECC memory support recorded as true.

Q: Which processor supports DDR4 memory?

A: Only the Intel Core i5-14401E supports DDR4, in addition to DDR5. The Ultra 9 285K supports DDR5 only.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each?

A: The i5-14401E has an average benchmark score of 5253. The Ultra 9 285K has an average benchmark score of 83807.

Q: Is the Ultra 9's multiplier unlocked?

A: Yes, the multiplier unlocked field is true for the Ultra 9 285K. It is false for the i5-14401E.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous for multi-core workloads. The Intel Core Ultra 9 285K is in a different performance class, with roughly three times the multi-core score in Cinebench R15 and R20, and more than double in R23. Its 96th percentile ranking and average score of 83807 place it among the fastest desktop processors recorded. Users running rendering, encoding, simulation, or any heavily threaded application should choose the Ultra 9 based on the benchmark results alone.

The Intel Core i5-14401E has one specific strength: Cinebench R23 single-core, where it beats the Ultra 9 by 7.9%. This suggests that for certain single-threaded applications, the i5 can deliver comparable or better performance. Its 65 W TDP is also lower than the Ultra 9's 125 W, and it supports DDR4 memory, which may matter for platform compatibility. The i5 sits at the 60th percentile, a solid mid-range performer, but its average score of 5253 is far below the Ultra 9's 83807.

The socket difference is critical: the i5-14401E uses Intel Socket 1700, while the Ultra 9 uses Intel Socket 1851. These are not interchangeable. The Ultra 9 also offers more PCIe lanes (20 versus 16), a larger cache hierarchy, and a newer 3 nm process from TSMC. The i5-14401E's only benchmark win is narrow and specific. For anyone prioritizing raw compute throughput, the Ultra 9 is the clear choice from the recorded data. For users with single-threaded workloads or existing DDR4 platforms, the i5-14401E has a case, but the benchmark evidence overwhelmingly favors the Ultra 9 across the board.