Intel Core i5-14490F vs Intel Core i9-14900 Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i9-14900 has an average benchmark score of 58115, while the Intel Core i5-14490F scores 38149. The i9-14900 also sits at the 92nd percentile versus all CPUs, compared to the 86th percentile for the i5-14490F.

Q: What is the core and thread count difference between the two?

A: The Intel Core i9-14900 has 24 cores and 32 threads. The Intel Core i5-14490F has 10 cores and 16 threads. This is a difference of 14 cores and 16 threads.

Q: Which chip wins in single-core Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core i5-14490F wins in Cinebench R23 single-core with a score of 3247, which is 46.8% ahead of the Intel Core i9-14900's score of 2212.

Q: Does the Intel Core i9-14900 support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the Intel Core i9-14900 has ECC memory support. The Intel Core i5-14490F does not support ECC memory.

Q: What are the boost clock speeds for each processor?

A: The Intel Core i9-14900 has a boost clock of 5.80 GHz. The Intel Core i5-14490F has a boost clock of 5.00 GHz.

Q: Which processor includes integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core i9-14900 includes UHD Graphics 770. The Intel Core i5-14490F has no integrated graphics (N/A).

The Verdict

The benchmark data clearly separates these two processors into different performance tiers. The Intel Core i9-14900 wins 15 of the 17 recorded head-to-head benchmarks, making it the dominant choice for multi-threaded and throughput-oriented workloads. Its average benchmark score of 58115 versus the i5-14490F's 38149 represents a substantial gap, and its 92nd percentile ranking versus 86th for the i5 confirms the performance hierarchy.

The Intel Core i5-14490F claims only two wins, but those wins are notable. In Cinebench R15 single-core, it scores 327 against 315 for the i9-14900, a 3.8% advantage. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 3247 against 2212, a commanding 46.8% lead. For applications that rely heavily on single-threaded performance in the R23 workload, the i5-14490F is the better choice.

For users selecting between these two, the decision hinges on workload character. The i9-14900 is the pick for rendering, data compression, encryption, and any task that scales with core count. The i5-14490F is the pick for specific single-threaded scenarios where the R23 test shows a large advantage, though its overall single-thread score in PassMark (3873) trails the i9-14900 (4323) by 10.4%. The i9-14900 also provides integrated graphics, ECC memory support, and a larger L3 cache, making it the more feature-complete package.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest margin of victory for the Intel Core i9-14900 appears in Cinebench R15 multi-core. The i9-14900 scores 4793, while the i5-14490F scores 2318, a 51.6% delta. This is the single biggest percentage gap in the entire comparison and reflects the massive core count difference between the two parts.

Cinebench R20 multi-core shows a 39.3% advantage for the i9-14900, with scores of 15910 versus 9660. Cinebench R23 multi-core narrows the gap somewhat, with the i9-14900 scoring 31070 against 23000 for the i5-14490F, a 26% delta. Even in this smaller gap, the i9-14900 remains clearly ahead.

PassMark integer math shows a near-doubling of performance for the i9-14900. The i9-14900 scores 175010, while the i5-14490F scores 87844, a 49.8% delta. Floating-point math follows a similar pattern, with the i9-14900 scoring 120262 versus 66558, a 44.7% delta. Data compression shows a 38.2% advantage for the i9-14900, scoring 550271 against 340026. Data encryption shows a 45.7% advantage, with scores of 33540 versus 18225.

The i9-14900 also leads in PassMark multi-thread with 44578 versus 28662, a 35.7% delta. Random string sorting favors the i9-14900 at 61060 versus 35608, a 41.7% delta. Extended instructions show a 29% delta, with the i9-14900 at 30624 and the i5-14490F at 21731. Find prime numbers shows a 35.1% delta, with scores of 188 and 122 respectively.

The two single-threaded tests where the i5-14490F wins are isolated to the Cinebench suite. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the i5-14490F scores 327 versus 315, a 3.8% delta. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the i5-14490F scores 3247 versus 2212, a 46.8% delta. The Cinebench R20 single-core test, however, goes the other way, with the i9-14900 scoring 2245 versus 1363, a 39.3% delta. This inconsistency suggests that the single-core advantage depends heavily on the specific benchmark methodology.

PassMark single-thread shows the i9-14900 ahead at 4323 versus 3873, a 10.4% delta. PassMark physics also favors the i9-14900 at 2486 versus 2093, a 15.8% delta.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts differ substantially. The Intel Core i9-14900 has 24 cores and 32 threads. The Intel Core i5-14490F has 10 cores and 16 threads.

Base clock speeds differ, with the i5-14490F running at 2.50 GHz and the i9-14900 at 2.00 GHz. Boost clocks also differ, with the i9-14900 reaching 5.80 GHz and the i5-14490F reaching 5.00 GHz. Both processors share the same 65 W TDP.

The L2 cache differs per core. The i5-14490F has 1.25 MB per core, while the i9-14900 has 2 MB per core. The L3 cache is larger on the i9-14900 at 36 MB shared, compared to 24 MB shared on the i5-14490F. L1 cache is identical at 80 KB per core.

Die size differs, with the i9-14900 measuring 257 mm² and the i5-14490F measuring 215 mm². Both use the Intel Socket 1700.

Memory support is identical for DDR4 and DDR5, both dual-channel. ECC memory support is present on the i9-14900 but absent on the i5-14490F.

Integrated graphics differ. The i9-14900 includes UHD Graphics 770, while the i5-14490F has none.

The release dates differ by a few days. The i5-14490F has a release date of 2023-12-31, and the i9-14900 has a release date of 2024-01-07. The i9-14900 has a launch MSRP of $549.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on the same Raptor Lake architecture and Raptor Lake-R codename, using the same 10 nm process node from Intel. The foundry is Intel for both. The generation for both is Core 14th Gen, with the i5-14490F classified as Core i5 (Raptor Lake Refresh) and the i9-14900 as Core i9 (Raptor Lake Refresh).

The PCIe configuration is identical: Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only). Both are desktop market segments with active production status. Neither has an unlocked multiplier.

The key architectural difference lies in the physical resource allocation. The i9-14900 uses a larger die at 257 mm² versus 215 mm² for the i5-14490F. The i9-14900 also allocates more L2 cache per core (2 MB versus 1.25 MB) and more shared L3 cache (36 MB versus 24 MB).

The i9-14900 includes integrated graphics in the form of UHD Graphics 770, which is absent on the i5-14490F. ECC memory support on the i9-14900 adds another architectural capability not present on the i5-14490F.

The part numbers differ, with the i5-14490F using SRN35 and the i9-14900 using SRN3V. Both share the same memory bus width and memory type support, indicating that the memory controller design is consistent between the two.