Intel Core i5-14490F vs Intel Core i5-14500 Comparison

The Intel Core i5-14500 and Intel Core i5-14490F are both 14th Generation desktop processors built on the Raptor Lake architecture, yet the benchmark data reveals two distinctly different performance profiles. While both CPUs occupy the 86th percentile among all CPUs, their average benchmark scores are remarkably close — 38531 for the i5-14500 versus 38149 for the i5-14490F — the distribution of wins is lopsided: the i5-14500 takes 12 of the 17 head-to-head tests, but the i5-14490F secures decisive victories in several critical single-threaded and multi-threaded workloads. This analysis breaks down where each processor excels, the architectural choices that explain the divergence, and the practical implications for different use cases.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking outcome in the head-to-head comparison is the Cinebench R23 result. The i5-14490F scores 23000 in multi-core, which is a staggering 34.7% ahead of the i5-14500’s 15012. This is the largest delta in either direction across all tests. The single-core R23 results follow a similar pattern: the i5-14490F posts 3247 versus 1917 for the i5-14500, a 41% advantage. These margins are enormous and suggest the i5-14490F operates in a different performance tier for heavily threaded rendering workloads.

However, the i5-14500 dominates the Cinebench R20 suite. It wins multi-core with 10985 against 9660, a 13.7% lead, and single-core with 1550 against 1363, also a 13.7% lead. The R15 results are split: the i5-14500 takes multi-core by 5% (2435 vs 2318), but the i5-14490F wins single-core by 16.5% (327 vs 273). The inconsistency across Cinebench versions indicates that the two chips respond very differently to workload scaling, likely due to core count and frequency behavior.

In the Passmark suite, the i5-14500 is the clear winner in most computational tests. Integer math shows a 23.1% lead (108124 vs 87844), floating-point math is 19.6% ahead (79576 vs 66558), and data encryption is 17.7% faster (21457 vs 18225). Data compression favors the i5-14500 by 9.2% (371294 vs 340026), and random string sorting is 15.1% ahead (40980 vs 35608). The i5-14500 also edges out the i5-14490F in single-thread performance, 3952 vs 3873, a 2% margin, and in multithread performance, 30777 vs 28662, a 7.4% lead. Extended instructions are 3.4% faster on the i5-14500 (22473 vs 21731).

The i5-14490F does claim two notable Passmark wins. Physics simulation shows it 16.6% ahead (2093 vs 1746), and prime number finding is 13.1% faster (122 vs 106). These results indicate that in specific algorithmic workloads, the i5-14490F’s architecture provides a substantial advantage, even though it loses the aggregate math tests.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-core performance in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core i5-14490F is significantly ahead, scoring 3247 compared to the i5-14500’s 1917, a 41% advantage in single-core R23 testing.

Q: How do the two CPUs compare in multi-core rendering?

A: The results are contradictory. The i5-14490F wins Cinebench R23 multi-core by 34.7% (23000 vs 15012), but the i5-14500 wins Cinebench R20 multi-core by 13.7% (10985 vs 9660) and Cinebench R15 multi-core by 5% (2435 vs 2318).

Q: Which processor is better for integer-heavy workloads?

A: The i5-14500 is substantially better, leading by 23.1% in Passmark integer math (108124 vs 87844) and also winning extended instructions by 3.4%.

Q: Is there a difference in integrated graphics support?

A: Yes. The i5-14500 includes UHD Graphics 770, while the i5-14490F has no integrated graphics (N/A). This is a critical distinction for systems without a discrete GPU.

Q: What are the average benchmark scores for each CPU?

A: The i5-14500 has an average benchmark score of 38531, while the i5-14490F averages 38149. Both sit at the 86th percentile of all CPUs.

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The i5-14500 has 14 cores and 20 threads, whereas the i5-14490F has 10 cores and 16 threads. The i5-14500 also has a higher base clock (2.60 GHz vs 2.50 GHz), while both share a 5.00 GHz boost clock.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on the Raptor Lake architecture using the Raptor Lake-R codename, manufactured on Intel’s 10 nm process node with a 215 mm² die size. They share identical L1 cache at 80 KB per core, L2 cache at 1.25 MB per core, and L3 cache at 24 MB shared. The memory support is the same — DDR4 and DDR5 with dual-channel bus — and both use the Intel Socket 1700.

The core configuration is the primary architectural divergence. The i5-14500 packs 14 cores and 20 threads, while the i5-14490F is limited to 10 cores and 16 threads. This four-core, four-thread difference explains why the i5-14500 wins multi-threaded Passmark tests and Cinebench R20, as it has more physical execution resources. However, the i5-14490F’s superior single-core and R23 results suggest that its individual cores are capable of sustaining higher frequencies or more efficient instruction execution, despite the lower base clock of 2.50 GHz versus 2.60 GHz.

Another key architectural difference is the integrated graphics. The i5-14500 features UHD Graphics 770, enabling display output without a discrete GPU. The i5-14490F has no integrated graphics, making it strictly a CPU for systems with a dedicated graphics card. Additionally, the i5-14500 supports ECC memory, while the i5-14490F does not, which positions the former for workstation-class reliability use cases.

Both chips are locked (multiplier unlocked: false), share the same PCIe Gen 5 interface with 16 lanes from the CPU, and are produced on the same 10 nm process with identical die size. The part numbers differ (SRN3T for the i5-14500, SRN35 for the i5-14490F), and the release dates are close, with the i5-14500 launching on 2024-01-07 and the i5-14490F on 2023-12-31.

Specification Differences

The specification table highlights the core count and clock speed distinctions. The i5-14500 has 14 cores and 20 threads versus 10 cores and 16 threads for the i5-14490F. Base clocks differ slightly: 2.60 GHz for the i5-14500 versus 2.50 GHz for the i5-14490F, while boost clocks are identical at 5.00 GHz. Both have a 65 TDP.

The most consequential difference for system builders is the integrated graphics: the i5-14500 ships with UHD Graphics 770, while the i5-14490F has none. ECC memory support is another split, with the i5-14500 supporting it and the i5-14490F lacking it. The launch MSRP is listed only for the i5-14500 at $232, with no MSRP data for the i5-14490F.

Both chips have identical cache hierarchies (L1: 80 KB per core, L2: 1.25 MB per core, L3: 24 MB shared), memory support (DDR4/DDR5, dual-channel), PCIe specifications (Gen 5, 16 lanes), socket (Intel Socket 1700), process node (10 nm), die size (215 mm²), and production status (Active). Neither has an unlocked multiplier.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-14500 is the better choice for general-purpose computing and multi-threaded productivity where the workload scales with core count. Its wins in Passmark multithread (30777 vs 28662), integer math (23.1% lead), floating-point math (19.6% lead), and data encryption (17.7% lead) make it the stronger option for software development, data processing, and encryption-heavy tasks. The 9.2% advantage in data compression and 15.1% lead in random string sorting further cement its position for database and file-handling workloads. The presence of UHD Graphics 770 and ECC memory support also makes the i5-14500 more versatile for entry-level workstations and systems where a discrete GPU is not mandatory.

The Intel Core i5-14490F, despite having fewer cores, is the superior processor for specific single-threaded and physics-based workloads. Its 41% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core and 16.5% lead in R15 single-core indicate that applications relying on high-frequency single-core performance will see significant benefits. The 34.7% advantage in R23 multi-core is paradoxical given the lower core count, but it suggests the i5-14490F’s cores are more efficient under sustained load in that benchmark. The 16.6% win in Passmark physics and 13.1% win in prime number finding point to strengths in simulation and mathematical computation. For users prioritizing rendering with Cinebench R23, physics simulations, or prime-number-centric algorithms, the i5-14490F delivers outsized performance.

The overall benchmark scores are nearly identical — 38531 versus 38149 — and both CPUs sit at the 86th percentile, indicating that neither is a clear overall winner. The i5-14500 wins more tests (12 versus 5), but the i5-14490F’s victories are in high-impact workloads. For a system requiring integrated graphics, ECC memory, and broad multi-threaded performance, the i5-14500 is the logical pick. For a dedicated rendering or physics machine with a discrete GPU, the i5-14490F’s exceptional Cinebench R23 and physics scores make it a compelling alternative despite its limited core count.