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

Where Each One Wins

The recorded benchmark data presents a completely one-sided comparison. Across all 17 head-to-head tests, the Intel Core i9-14900F records the higher score, with the Intel Core i5-14490F failing to secure a single win. The performance gap is substantial in every workload category, but the margin varies considerably by test type.

The i9-14900F shows its largest advantages in integer math, floating-point math, and data encryption, where the core-count difference becomes most pronounced. The i5-14490F stays closest in single-threaded PassMark tests, where the gap narrows to 14%. This pattern indicates that the i9-14900F's advantage scales with thread utilization, while single-core performance remains comparatively closer.

For workloads that rely on heavy parallel processing, such as rendering, compression, and encryption, the i9-14900F is clearly the stronger option. The i5-14490F remains competitive in lightly threaded tasks, but it does not win any of the recorded comparisons. The data shows no scenario where the i5-14490F leads, making the use-case split straightforward: the i9-14900F is the pick for both multithreaded and single-threaded workloads, with the i5-14490F serving as the lower-core alternative within the same socket generation.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i9-14900F records an average benchmark score of 60008, compared to 38149 for the Intel Core i5-14490F. This places the i9-14900F at the 92nd percentile among all CPUs, while the i5-14490F sits at the 86th percentile.

Q: How large is the performance gap in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The i9-14900F scores 39551 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, while the i5-14490F scores 23000. The delta is 41.8% in favor of the i9-14900F, which is consistent with the gap seen in other Cinebench versions.

Q: Are both processors based on the same architecture?

A: Yes, both use Intel's Raptor Lake architecture with the Raptor Lake-R codename, and both are fabricated on a 10 nm process at Intel. The i9-14900F uses a larger die at 257 mm² compared to 215 mm² for the i5-14490F.

Q: Do these processors include integrated graphics?

A: No, neither processor includes integrated graphics. Both are listed with integrated graphics as "N/A", meaning a discrete GPU is required for display output.

Q: What is the difference in core and thread counts?

A: The i5-14490F has 10 cores and 16 threads, while the i9-14900F has 24 cores and 32 threads. The i9-14900F also has a larger L3 cache: 36 MB shared versus 24 MB shared, and a larger L2 cache at 2 MB per core versus 1.25 MB per core.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Core i9-14900F supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core i5-14490F does not. Both support DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data shows a consistent pattern of i9-14900F dominance, with deltas ranging from 14% to 50.4%. The largest single gap appears in PassMark integer math, where the i9-14900F scores 177066 against the i5-14490F's 87844, a 50.4% difference. This nearly doubles the integer throughput, reflecting the additional cores and threads available to the i9-14900F.

PassMark floating-point math shows a similar trend, with the i9-14900F at 119550 versus 66558 for the i5-14490F, a 44.3% gap. Data encryption also shows a wide margin: 34644 versus 18225, a 47.4% difference. These three tests highlight the i9-14900F's strength in arithmetic and cryptographic workloads.

In Cinebench tests, the gap is remarkably uniform. Cinebench R15 multi-core shows 3986 versus 2318, R20 multi-core shows 16611 versus 9660, and R23 multi-core shows 39551 versus 23000, all with a delta of 41.8%. Single-core Cinebench tests follow the same pattern, with R15 at 562 versus 327, R20 at 2344 versus 1363, and R23 at 5583 versus 3247, also at roughly 41.8% to 41.9% gaps.

The narrowest margin occurs in PassMark single-thread tests, where the i9-14900F scores 4506 and the i5-14490F scores 3873, a 14% difference. This indicates that the i9-14900F's higher boost clock of 5.80 GHz, compared to 5.00 GHz on the i5-14490F, provides a meaningful but smaller advantage in single-threaded performance.

PassMark physics shows a 27.8% gap (2899 versus 2093), and extended instructions show a 30.1% gap (31084 versus 21731). Random string sorting shows a 44.1% gap (63728 versus 35608), and data compression shows a 39.7% gap (564207 versus 340026). The i9-14900F also leads in find prime numbers, 209 versus 122, a 41.6% gap, and in PassMark multithread, 46532 versus 28662, a 38.4% gap.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in core count, thread count, clock speeds, cache sizes, die size, ECC support, release date, and part number. The i5-14490F has 10 cores and 16 threads, while the i9-14900F has 24 cores and 32 threads. Base clocks differ as well: the i5-14490F runs at 2.50 GHz, while the i9-14900F runs at 2.00 GHz. Boost clocks show the opposite relationship, with the i5-14490F reaching 5.00 GHz and the i9-14900F reaching 5.80 GHz.

Cache configurations differ in both L2 and L3. The i5-14490F has 1.25 MB of L2 per core and 24 MB of shared L3, while the i9-14900F has 2 MB of L2 per core and 36 MB of shared L3. L1 cache is identical at 80 KB per core. Die size also differs, with the i5-14490F at 215 mm² and the i9-14900F at 257 mm².

The i9-14900F supports ECC memory, while the i5-14490F does not. Both processors use the Intel Socket 1700, support DDR4 and DDR5 memory, and use Gen 5 PCIe with 16 lanes from the CPU. Neither has integrated graphics. The i5-14490F released on 2023-12-31, while the i9-14900F released on 2024-01-07. Part numbers are SRN35 for the i5-14490F and SRN3W for the i9-14900F. The i9-14900F has a launch MSRP of $524; the i5-14490F has no recorded launch MSRP.

Architecture Differences

Both processors share the same Raptor Lake architecture, the Raptor Lake-R codename, and the same 10 nm process node from Intel. The fundamental architecture is identical, so the performance differences stem from the physical configuration rather than design changes.

The i9-14900F uses a larger die at 257 mm², which accommodates the additional cores and cache. The i5-14490F's die measures 215 mm². Both use the same 80 KB L1 cache per core, but the i9-14900F doubles the L2 cache per core to 2 MB versus 1.25 MB, and increases shared L3 from 24 MB to 36 MB. These cache increases support the higher thread count and help feed the additional cores.

The i9-14900F also supports ECC memory, which the i5-14490F does not. This makes the i9-14900F suitable for error-sensitive workloads that require memory integrity checks. Both processors are locked (multiplier unlocked: false), so neither supports overclocking through multiplier adjustment. Both are actively in production and target the desktop market segment.

The core and thread difference is the most impactful architectural distinction. With 24 cores and 32 threads, the i9-14900F provides 140% more cores and 100% more threads than the i5-14490F. This directly translates into the large multithreaded benchmark advantages observed throughout the data.

The Verdict

The benchmark data supports a clear conclusion: the Intel Core i9-14900F is the superior processor in every recorded test. The i9-14900F wins all 17 head-to-head comparisons, with advantages ranging from 14% in single-threaded PassMark to 50.4% in integer math. Its average benchmark score of 60008 places it at the 92nd percentile, compared to 38149 and the 86th percentile for the i5-14490F.

The i9-14900F's closest rival in the database is the AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX, which scores 60099, a delta of 0.2% in favor of the AMD part. The i5-14490F's closest rival is the Intel Core Ultra 5 245T at 38194, a 0.1% delta against the i5. This positioning shows that the i5-14490F competes in a lower performance tier, despite sharing the same architecture and socket.

For users who need maximum multithreaded throughput, the i9-14900F is the obvious choice from this data. Its 24-core configuration delivers 41.8% higher Cinebench R23 multi-core scores and 44.3% higher floating-point math scores. For single-threaded workloads, the i9-14900F still leads, but by a smaller 14% margin, making the i5-14490F a closer alternative in that specific area.

The i5-14490F does not win any recorded benchmark, but it offers a lower core count within the same Raptor Lake architecture, a smaller die, and a lower boost clock. The i9-14900F also adds ECC memory support, a feature absent from the i5-14490F. The data indicates that the i9-14900F is the stronger processor for all measured performance categories, while the i5-14490F serves as the more modest option within the same generation and platform.