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

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark split between these two Raptor Lake refresh parts is not a clean sweep in either direction. The Intel Core i5-14500HX takes 11 of the 17 recorded head-to-head tests, while the Intel Core i5-14490F wins 6. The pattern is clear: the mobile HX chip dominates in rendering-style all-core workloads, while the desktop F-series part holds advantages in specific single-thread and specialized instruction tests.

The 14500HX wins every Cinebench iteration, from R15 through R23, in both single-core and multi-core runs. Its margins are consistent at roughly 5.1% across all six tests. This suggests a fundamental throughput advantage that scales with thread count, which aligns with its larger core and thread configuration.

The 14490F counterattacks in PassMark's suite. It wins single-thread performance by 6.7%, extended instructions by 8.6%, and physics by 9.5%. These are not small margins. The physics result is the largest single gap in the entire comparison, indicating the desktop chip handles certain simulation-style calculations with noticeably better efficiency.

The remaining wins split along workload type. The 14500HX takes integer math by 8.1%, floating point by 4.2%, prime number finding by 6.2%, data encryption by 6.5%, and random string sorting by 1.7%. The 14490F counters with data compression at 1.8% and multithread at a razor-thin 0.5%.

This distribution points to distinct use cases. The 14500HX is the choice for heavily threaded compute, especially anything that scales with core count. The 14490F shows surprising strength in single-thread-limited tasks and in physics simulations, where its 9.5% lead suggests architectural advantages beyond raw core count.

Architecture Differences

Both processors use the Raptor Lake architecture on Intel's 10 nm process, but they diverge in nearly every implementation detail. The 14490F is a desktop part with 10 cores and 16 threads, while the 14500HX packs 14 cores and 20 threads. That four-thread difference explains much of the multi-core gap.

The desktop chip runs at a 2.50 GHz base clock and boosts to 5.00 GHz. The mobile part starts at 2.60 GHz but tops out at 4.90 GHz. The desktop part's higher boost clock contributes to its single-thread wins, despite the mobile chip's higher base frequency.

Cache hierarchies differ at the L2 level. Both share 80 KB of L1 per core and 24 MB of L3, but the 14490F has 1.25 MB of L2 per core while the 14500HX carries 2 MB per core. This larger per-core L2 on the HX chip likely helps its integer and floating point results, where it holds substantial leads.

The sockets are incompatible: LGA 1700 for the desktop part versus BGA 1964 for the mobile chip. This alone determines platform choice, as the 14490F requires a desktop motherboard while the 14500HX is soldered into laptops.

Integrated graphics separate them clearly. The 14490F has no integrated GPU, marked as N/A, while the 14500HX includes UHD Graphics 770. This makes the mobile chip a self-contained option for systems without discrete graphics.

ECC memory support also differs. The 14500HX supports ECC while the 14490F does not. Both support DDR4 and DDR5 on dual-channel buses, and both use PCIe Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes.

The die sizes reflect their different roles: 215 mm² for the desktop part versus 257 mm² for the mobile part. The larger die on the HX chip accommodates the additional cores and integrated graphics.

Unlock behavior varies too. The 14490F has a locked multiplier, while the 14500HX is unlocked, allowing overclocking on the mobile platform.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

Cinebench results are uniformly in favor of the 14500HX. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the HX chip scores 24234 against the desktop's 23000, a 5.1% difference. The single-core R23 result shows 3421 versus 3247, also 5.1%. This consistency across all Cinebench versions suggests the mobile chip's extra cores and threads deliver steady scaling without any offsetting penalty.

PassMark integer math shows the largest multi-core gap outside Cinebench. The 14500HX scores 95584 versus 87844, an 8.1% lead. Floating point math follows at 69442 versus 66558, a 4.2% advantage. Prime number finding goes to the HX at 130 versus 122, a 6.2% margin.

The 14490F's strongest counter is in PassMark physics, where it scores 2093 against 1911, a 9.5% lead. This is the biggest single-test delta in either direction. Extended instructions also favor the desktop part by 8.6%, scoring 21731 versus 20019.

Single-thread performance splits oddly. The 14490F wins PassMark single-thread at 3873 versus 3629, a 6.7% margin. Yet in Cinebench R23 single-core, the 14500HX wins at 3421 versus 3247. This divergence between benchmark suites suggests the two chips respond differently to varying instruction mixes and workload patterns.

Data compression favors the 14490F at 340026 versus 333851, a modest 1.8% edge. Data encryption goes to the 14500HX at 19502 versus 18225, a 6.5% margin. Random string sorting is close, with the HX winning 36219 versus 35608, only 1.7% apart.

The multithread test is the tightest race. The 14490F wins 28662 versus 28508, a 0.5% margin that could easily fall within run-to-run variance. This result shows that despite having fewer cores, the desktop chip nearly matches the mobile part in this specific aggregate metric.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i5-14500HX has 14 cores and 20 threads. The Intel Core i5-14490F has 10 cores and 16 threads.

Q: Do both chips support the same memory types?

A: Yes, both support DDR4 and DDR5 on dual-channel buses. However, the 14500HX supports ECC memory while the 14490F does not.

Q: Which chip has integrated graphics?

A: The 14500HX includes UHD Graphics 770. The 14490F has no integrated graphics, marked as N/A.

Q: What is the largest benchmark margin between the two?

A: The 14490F leads in PassMark physics by 9.5%, scoring 2093 versus 1911. The 14500HX's largest lead is 8.1% in PassMark integer math, scoring 95584 versus 87844.

Q: Are these processors on the same socket?

A: No. The 14490F uses Intel Socket 1700, while the 14500HX uses Intel BGA 1964.

Q: Which chip has a higher boost clock?

A: The 14490F boosts to 5.00 GHz, while the 14500HX reaches 4.90 GHz. The 14500HX has a higher base clock at 2.60 GHz versus 2.50 GHz.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-14490F | Intel Core i5-14500HX |

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

| Cores | 10 | 14 |

| Threads | 16 | 20 |

| Base Clock | 2.50 GHz | 2.60 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.00 GHz | 4.90 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 55 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1700 | Intel BGA 1964 |

| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core) | 2 MB (per core) |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

| Integrated Graphics | N/A | UHD Graphics 770 |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Release Date | 2023-12-31 | 2024-01-07 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | Yes |

| Die Size | 215 mm² | 257 mm² |

| Part Number | SRN35 | SRMXJ |

The Verdict

The data shows two chips optimized for different environments. The 14500HX wins the majority of benchmarks, particularly in Cinebench all-core tests and integer math, where its 14 cores and 20 threads provide a structural advantage. Its 8.1% lead in integer math and consistent 5.1% Cinebench margins make it the stronger choice for heavily threaded productivity workloads.

The 14490F counters with meaningful single-thread wins and a 9.5% physics advantage. Its 6.7% lead in PassMark single-thread tests and 8.6% edge in extended instructions suggest it handles latency-sensitive and specialized workloads with greater responsiveness. The desktop chip also wins data compression, indicating strengths in storage and memory-intensive tasks.

Platform constraints will likely decide most purchases. The 14490F requires an LGA 1700 desktop motherboard, while the 14500HX is a BGA 1964 mobile part soldered into laptops. These are not interchangeable components.

The 14500HX also offers ECC memory support and integrated graphics, making it more versatile for systems that need those features. The 14490F's higher TDP of 65 watts versus 55 watts reflects its desktop orientation with less power constraint.

For pure multi-core compute, the 14500HX is the better performer. For single-thread responsiveness and physics-heavy simulations, the 14490F holds the edge. The percentile rankings confirm the closeness: the 14490F sits at 86th percentile versus the 14500HX's 84th, while the average benchmark scores favor the desktop chip at 38149 versus 35094. The overall picture is a mobile chip that wins more individual tests but a desktop chip that posts a higher aggregate score.