Intel Core i5-14490F vs Intel Core Ultra 3 105UL Comparison

The Intel Core i5-14490F and the Intel Core Ultra 3 105UL occupy different corners of the desktop market, and the benchmark data reflects a wide performance gulf. The i5-14490F, a Raptor Lake Refresh part, is positioned firmly as a high-performance desktop processor, while the Ultra 3 105UL, a Meteor Lake-PS chip, is built for efficiency and low power draw. The recorded measurements show the i5-14490F winning all 17 head-to-head comparisons, but the nature of those wins varies from a modest single-thread edge to a crushing multi-core advantage.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most lopsided result comes from PassMark's extended instructions test, where the i5-14490F scores 21731 against the Ultra 3's 5634, a 285.7% advantage. This indicates the i5-14490F's significantly stronger SIMD and vector processing capabilities. Similarly, the data compression workload shows a 261.9% lead for the i5-14490F, with scores of 340026 versus 93961. This suggests the older architecture has far more headroom for heavily threaded, data-intensive tasks.

The Cinebench suite shows a consistent pattern. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i5-14490F scores 23000 compared to the Ultra 3's 8742, a 163.1% difference. The single-core test tells the same story, with the i5-14490F at 3247 and the Ultra 3 at 1234, also a 163.1% gap. This consistency across R15, R20, and R23 reinforces that the i5-14490F is not just faster in one specific workload, but maintains a roughly 163% advantage across the entire rendering workload family.

The narrowest win for the i5-14490F appears in the PassMark single-thread test, where it scores 3873 against the Ultra 3's 3382, a 14.5% lead. While still a clear victory, this is the only benchmark where the Ultra 3 comes within striking distance, indicating that its newer architecture does provide respectable per-core performance despite its low power design.

Other notable results include the PassMark multi-thread test, where the i5-14490F scores 28662 versus 10285, a 178.7% win, and the physics test, where it leads 2093 to 718, a 191.5% margin. The floating point math test shows a 116.4% lead (66558 vs 30750), and the integer math test shows a 113.4% lead (87844 vs 41171). The data encryption test shows an 186.8% advantage (18225 vs 6354), while prime number finding and random string sorting show 177.3% and 218.5% leads respectively. The i5-14490F's average benchmark score of 38149 places it in the 86th percentile of all CPUs, while the Ultra 3's 13061 average places it in the 68th percentile.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different platforms. The i5-14490F uses the Raptor Lake architecture, specifically the Raptor Lake-R codename, and is fabricated on Intel's 10 nm process node. It features 10 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. Its cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The die size is 215 mm², and it uses the Intel Socket 1700.

The Ultra 3 105UL uses the Meteor Lake architecture, specifically the Meteor Lake-PS codename, on a 7 nm process node. It has 8 cores and 10 threads, a base clock of 1.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.20 GHz. The cache configuration differs notably: it has 112 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, but only 10 MB of shared L3 cache. It uses the newer Intel Socket 1851.

Memory support diverges as well. The i5-14490F supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the Ultra 3 supports DDR5 only, with the exact type depending on the motherboard. Both use dual-channel memory buses. The Ultra 3 has a recorded memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, while no bandwidth figure is recorded for the i5-14490F. PCIe connectivity also differs, with the i5-14490F offering Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes, while the Ultra 3 provides Gen 4 with 8 CPU lanes. A major functional difference is integrated graphics: the i5-14490F has no integrated GPU, while the Ultra 3 includes an Arc Xe-LPG 48EU iGPU. The i5-14490F has a TDP of 65 watts, while the Ultra 3 is rated for just 15 watts.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i5-14490F has an average benchmark score of 38149, placing it in the 86th percentile of all CPUs. The Intel Core Ultra 3 105UL has an average score of 13061, placing it in the 68th percentile.

Q: How does the i5-14490F compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The i5-14490F is nearly tied with the Intel Core Ultra 5 245T, which scores 38194, a 0.1% difference. It is also 0.1% ahead of the Intel Core i5-13600KF (38103) and 0.2% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 7 250 (38221).

Q: What is the biggest performance gap between these two processors?

A: The largest gap is in the PassMark extended instructions test, where the i5-14490F leads by 285.7%. The smallest gap is in the PassMark single-thread test, where the i5-14490F leads by only 14.5%.

Q: Does the Ultra 3 105UL have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, the Ultra 3 105UL includes an Arc Xe-LPG 48EU integrated GPU. The i5-14490F has no integrated graphics, so it requires a discrete graphics card for display output.

Q: What are the TDP ratings for each processor?

A: The i5-14490F has a TDP of 65 watts. The Ultra 3 105UL has a TDP of 15 watts, making it a much lower-power design.

Q: Which processor supports DDR4 memory?

A: The i5-14490F supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory. The Ultra 3 105UL supports DDR5 only, with support depending on the motherboard.

Specification Differences

The core counts differ: the i5-14490F has 10 cores and 16 threads, while the Ultra 3 has 8 cores and 10 threads. Clock speeds are also distinct, with the i5-14490F running at 2.50 GHz base and 5.00 GHz boost, versus the Ultra 3's 1.50 GHz base and 4.20 GHz boost. The process nodes differ, with the i5-14490F on 10 nm and the Ultra 3 on 7 nm.

Cache configurations are not shared. The i5-14490F has 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and 24 MB shared L3. The Ultra 3 has 112 KB L1 per core, 2 MB L2 per core, and 10 MB shared L3. The sockets are incompatible: the i5-14490F uses Intel Socket 1700, while the Ultra 3 uses Intel Socket 1851.

Memory support differs, with the i5-14490F accepting DDR4 and DDR5, while the Ultra 3 accepts DDR5 only. The Ultra 3 has a recorded memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s; no bandwidth figure is recorded for the i5-14490F. PCIe capability differs, with the i5-14490F offering Gen 5, 16 lanes, and the Ultra 3 offering Gen 4, 8 lanes. The integrated graphics situation is opposite, with the i5-14490F having none and the Ultra 3 having Arc Xe-LPG 48EU. The TDP is 65 watts for the i5-14490F and 15 watts for the Ultra 3. The i5-14490F has a die size of 215 mm², while no die size is recorded for the Ultra 3. The release dates differ, with the i5-14490F released in late 2023 and the Ultra 3 in early 2024. The Ultra 3 has a recorded launch MSRP of $295, while the i5-14490F has none recorded.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous. The i5-14490F wins every single recorded test, from the 14.5% single-thread margin to the 285.7% extended instructions blowout. Its average benchmark score of 38149 is nearly three times the Ultra 3's 13061. The i5-14490F sits in the 86th percentile of all CPUs, surrounded by parts like the Core Ultra 5 245T and the Core i5-13600KF, while the Ultra 3 sits in the 68th percentile, near the Core i5-9400F and the Core i7-7700K. For any workload that benefits from CPU compute, the i5-14490F is the clearly stronger processor.

The Ultra 3 105UL does have its own advantages, but they are not visible in raw performance numbers. Its 15 watt TDP is drastically lower than the i5-14490F's 65 watts, making it the obvious choice for systems where power consumption is the primary constraint. It also includes an integrated Arc Xe-LPG 48EU GPU, which means a system built around it does not require a discrete graphics card for basic display output. Its 7 nm process node and newer Meteor Lake architecture offer a more modern foundation, and its support for DDR5 memory with a recorded 89.6 GB/s bandwidth shows it is not outdated in platform connectivity.

The i5-14490F, by contrast, requires a discrete GPU because it has no integrated graphics. Its higher 65 watt TDP and older 10 nm process node point to a design focused on maximum throughput rather than efficiency. Its support for DDR4 as well as DDR5 gives it broader memory compatibility, which can be an advantage for builders reusing older memory.

Where Each One Wins

The i5-14490F is the choice for compute-heavy desktop workloads. The data shows it leading by over 260% in data compression and by over 185% in data encryption, making it far more suitable for content creation, rendering, software compilation, and other multi-threaded tasks. Its 5.00 GHz boost clock and 24 MB of shared L3 cache contribute to strong single-thread performance as well, evidenced by the 14.5% lead in the PassMark single-thread test and the 163.1% lead in Cinebench single-core tests. It is the processor to pick when raw speed across all core counts is the priority.

The Ultra 3 105UL wins in scenarios where power draw is the limiting factor. Its 15 watt TDP is one quarter of the i5-14490F's 65 watt rating, which makes it suitable for compact, low-power, or passively cooled systems. The inclusion of an Arc Xe-LPG 48EU integrated GPU means a basic system can be built without a separate graphics card. Its memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s and support for DDR5 provide a modern platform foundation. It also uses the newer Intel Socket 1851, which may be relevant for platform longevity. The Ultra 3 is not competitive on raw performance, but for users who need a functional desktop CPU with minimal power draw and integrated display output, the data suggests it serves that role.