Intel Core i5-14490F vs Intel Core Ultra 5 225F Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data splits these two CPUs into distinct personalities. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225F wins 12 of the 17 recorded head-to-head tests, while the Intel Core i5-14490F takes 5. The most decisive victory belongs to the i5-14490F in Cinebench R23 single-core, where it scores 3247 against the Ultra 5's 1893, a 71.5% advantage. That is not a small margin; it is a generational gap in single-threaded rendering performance. The i5-14490F also dominates Cinebench R23 multi-core, scoring 23000 versus 16467, a 39.7% lead. These two results alone define the i5-14490F as the stronger choice for Cinebench workloads.

The Ultra 5 225F counterattacks in the Passmark suite. Its floating-point math score of 92554 beats the i5-14490F's 66558 by 28.1%. The find-prime-numbers test shows an even larger gap: 352 versus 122, a 65.3% advantage for the Ultra 5. Extended instructions also favor the Ultra 5, 28027 against 21731, a 22.5% lead. Data encryption goes to the Ultra 5 at 22648 versus 18225, a 19.5% margin. The i5-14490F does win integer math decisively, 87844 versus 66417, a 32.3% advantage, and data compression, 340026 versus 310843, a 9.4% lead.

The Cinebench R15 and R20 results are mixed. The Ultra 5 wins R15 multi-core, 2660 versus 2318, a 12.9% margin, and R20 multi-core, 11059 versus 9660, a 12.7% margin. But the i5-14490F wins R15 single-core, 327 versus 287, a 13.9% lead. The R20 single-core result flips back to the Ultra 5, 1561 versus 1363, a 12.7% margin. The overall Passmark multithread score favors the Ultra 5, 31004 versus 28662, a 7.6% lead, while the single-thread Passmark score also goes to the Ultra 5, 4397 versus 3873, an 11.9% margin. Random string sorting, physics, and the duplicate single-thread tests all favor the Ultra 5 by smaller margins of 4.6%, 13.9%, and 11.9% respectively.

The average benchmark scores reflect this split. The i5-14490F has an average score of 38149, placing it in the 86th percentile of all CPUs. The Ultra 5 225F averages 37313, in the 85th percentile. The i5-14490F's nearest rivals include the Core Ultra 5 245T with a delta of -0.1%, the Core i5-13600KF at +0.1%, the Ryzen 7 250 at -0.2%, and the Core i5-13600HX at -0.3%. The Ultra 5 225F's neighbors are the Core i9-13900HK at -0.3%, the Ryzen 7 7735H at +0.4%, the Core i7-13700 at +0.5%, and the Ryzen 7 160 at +0.5%. These deltas show both chips sitting in a crowded performance band, but the i5-14490F holds a slight overall average edge.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has the higher single-core Cinebench R23 score?

A: The Intel Core i5-14490F scores 3247 in Cinebench R23 single-core, which is 71.5% higher than the Intel Core Ultra 5 225F's score of 1893.

Q: Does the Intel Core Ultra 5 225F win any multi-core tests?

A: Yes. The Ultra 5 225F wins Cinebench R15 multi-core (2660 versus 2318) and Cinebench R20 multi-core (11059 versus 9660), but the i5-14490F wins Cinebench R23 multi-core by a 39.7% margin.

Q: Which processor has better floating-point performance?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 225F scores 92554 in Passmark floating-point math, compared to 66558 for the i5-14490F, a 28.1% advantage for the Ultra 5.

Q: What is the difference in Passmark single-thread scores?

A: The Ultra 5 225F scores 4397 in Passmark single-thread, while the i5-14490F scores 3873, giving the Ultra 5 an 11.9% lead.

Q: How do the two chips compare in overall average benchmark score?

A: The i5-14490F has an average benchmark score of 38149, while the Ultra 5 225F averages 37313. The i5-14490F sits in the 86th percentile, the Ultra 5 in the 85th.

Q: Which chip wins more head-to-head tests?

A: The Ultra 5 225F wins 12 of the 17 recorded head-to-head benchmarks, while the i5-14490F wins 5.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-14490F is the clear pick for Cinebench R23 workloads. Its multi-core score of 23000 and single-core score of 3247 are far ahead of the Ultra 5's 16467 and 1893. It also dominates integer math, scoring 87844 versus 66417, a 32.3% margin, and data compression, 340026 versus 310843, a 9.4% lead. If the workload relies on integer operations, compression, or the specific Cinebench R23 rendering path, the i5-14490F is the stronger choice.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225F wins most other measured workloads. It leads in floating-point math, extended instructions, data encryption, and prime number finding. The physics test also goes to the Ultra 5, 2430 versus 2093, a 13.9% margin. The Passmark multithread and single-thread aggregate scores favor the Ultra 5 as well. For general-purpose Passmark workloads, especially those involving floating-point calculations, encryption, or SIMD-style extended instructions, the Ultra 5 is the better fit.

The Cinebench R15 and R20 tests are split. The Ultra 5 wins both multi-core versions and R20 single-core, while the i5-14490F wins R15 single-core. The R20 single-core result is notable: the Ultra 5 scores 1561 against the i5-14490F's 1363, a 12.7% margin, which contradicts the R23 single-core result. Users should note that the two Cinebench versions measure different instruction paths, and the results are not consistent across them.

Specification Differences

The two processors share the same core count of 10, but the thread counts differ. The i5-14490F has 16 threads, while the Ultra 5 225F has 10. Base clocks differ significantly: the i5-14490F runs at 2.50 GHz, the Ultra 5 at 3.30 GHz. Boost clocks are closer, with the i5-14490F at 5.00 GHz and the Ultra 5 at 4.90 GHz. Both have a TDP of 65 watts.

The sockets are different. The i5-14490F uses Intel Socket 1700, while the Ultra 5 225F uses Intel Socket 1851. Memory support also differs: the i5-14490F supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the Ultra 5 225F supports only DDR5. Both use dual-channel memory, but the Ultra 5 has a recorded memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s, while the i5-14490F has no bandwidth figure listed. Neither supports ECC memory. PCIe lanes differ: the i5-14490F has Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the Ultra 5 has Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only). Neither has integrated graphics. The release dates also differ, with the i5-14490F released on 2023-12-31 and the Ultra 5 on 2025-01-06. The Ultra 5 has a launch MSRP of $231.

Architecture Differences

The i5-14490F is built on the Raptor Lake architecture, specifically Raptor Lake-R, using Intel's 10 nm process node. The Ultra 5 225F uses the Arrow Lake architecture, specifically Arrow Lake-S, on a 3 nm process node manufactured by TSMC. The die sizes are close: the i5-14490F measures 215 mm², while the Ultra 5 measures 243 mm². The Ultra 5 has a transistor count of 17,800 million, while the i5-14490F's transistor count is not recorded.

Cache configurations differ substantially. The i5-14490F has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The Ultra 5 225F has 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 20 MB of shared L3 cache. The Ultra 5 has larger per-core L1 and L2 caches, but less total L3 cache. This cache layout likely contributes to the Ultra 5's strong floating-point and encryption scores, while the i5-14490F's larger L3 may help its Cinebench R23 results. The foundry difference is notable: Intel for the i5-14490F, TSMC for the Ultra 5.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear split based on workload. For Cinebench R23 rendering, the Intel Core i5-14490F is the undisputed winner, with a 39.7% multi-core lead and a 71.5% single-core lead. Its integer math and data compression scores also exceed the Ultra 5's. Anyone running Cinebench R23 or integer-heavy tasks should choose the i5-14490F.

For nearly everything else in the recorded benchmarks, the Intel Core Ultra 5 225F is the better performer. It wins 12 of 17 head-to-head tests, including floating-point math, extended instructions, data encryption, prime number finding, and the Passmark multithread and single-thread aggregates. The Ultra 5 also has a higher base clock, more PCIe lanes, and a newer 3 nm process node. Its larger per-core L1 and L2 caches likely support its performance in these tests.

The overall average benchmark score slightly favors the i5-14490F, 38149 versus 37313, a difference of about 2.2%. But the percentile ranking is nearly identical: 86th versus 85th. The i5-14490F's nearest rivals include the Core Ultra 5 245T at -0.1% and the Core i5-13600KF at +0.1%, while the Ultra 5's rivals include the Core i9-13900HK at -0.3% and the Ryzen 7 7735H at +0.4%. Both chips sit in a tight performance cluster.

The verdict is straightforward. Choose the i5-14490F for Cinebench R23 and integer-heavy workloads. Choose the Ultra 5 225F for floating-point math, encryption, extended instructions, and general Passmark workloads. The Ultra 5 also offers the advantage of DDR5-only memory support and a newer socket, but those are platform considerations, not performance advantages. The data does not declare a single overall winner; it declares two winners for two different job descriptions.