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

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark comparison between the Intel Core i5-14490F and the Intel Core Ultra 5 225T shows a clear split: the Core i5-14490F dominates in traditional CPU workloads, while the Core Ultra 5 225T counters in specific math and single-thread tests. Across 17 recorded benchmarks, the Core i5-14490F wins 12, while the Core Ultra 5 225T wins 5.

The most decisive victory for the Core i5-14490F comes in PassMark data compression, where it scores 340026 against 233998, a 45.3% lead. Integer math follows a similar pattern: 87844 versus 59543, a 47.5% advantage. These two results alone establish the Core i5-14490F as the stronger chip for workloads that rely on integer arithmetic and data throughput.

The Core i5-14490F also holds a consistent edge in Cinebench tests. In Cinebench R23 multicore, it scores 23000 versus 21971, a 4.7% lead. Single-core R23 shows the same 4.7% delta, with 3247 against 3101. The pattern repeats across R20 and R15: every Cinebench variant, whether single-core or multi-core, lands at exactly 4.7% to 4.8% in favor of the Core i5-14490F. This consistency suggests a stable clock and architecture advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk.

Multithreaded PassMark results reinforce the Core i5-14490F's lead. It scores 28662 versus 25358, a 13% margin. Random string sorting goes to the Core i5-14490F at 35608 versus 28774, a 23.8% advantage. Extended instructions also favor the Core i5-14490F, 21731 versus 20083, an 8.2% gap. Physics simulation is close, with 2093 versus 2053, a 1.9% lead for the Core i5-14490F.

The Core Ultra 5 225T takes its wins in areas where its newer architecture shows clear strengths. The largest is in PassMark find prime numbers, where it scores 284 against 122, a 57% advantage. This is the single biggest delta in either direction. Floating point math also goes to the Core Ultra 5 225T, 82751 versus 66558, a 19.6% lead. Single-thread PassMark shows the Core Ultra 5 225T ahead at 4348 versus 3873, a 10.9% margin. Data encryption is essentially a tie, with 18289 versus 18225, a 0.3% edge for the Core Ultra 5 225T.

Where Each One Wins

The Core i5-14490F wins in general multi-core throughput, integer-heavy tasks, and compression workloads. Its 16 threads versus 10 threads gives it a structural advantage in parallelizable tasks. The 13% lead in PassMark multithread and the 45.3% lead in data compression show that when a workload can use many threads, the Core i5-14490F pulls away clearly. The 47.5% integer math advantage further confirms this is the chip for general-purpose compute, database work, and software compilation where integer operations dominate.

The Core Ultra 5 225T wins in specialized math and single-thread responsiveness. Its 57% lead in prime number finding suggests the Arrow Lake architecture handles certain algorithm patterns far more efficiently, likely due to the per-core cache layout and newer instruction handling. Floating point math at 19.6% ahead shows the Core Ultra 5 225T is the better choice for scientific simulations, 3D rendering calculations, and financial modeling that rely on floating-point operations. Its 10.9% single-thread PassMark lead means snappier response in lightly threaded applications like web browsing, office documents, and older games that scale poorly across cores.

The Cinebench results, however, tell a different story for single-core performance. The Core i5-14490F leads all Cinebench single-core tests by 4.7% to 4.8%, which contradicts the PassMark single-thread result. This discrepancy indicates that the Core Ultra 5 225T's advantage is workload-specific, not a universal single-thread superiority. The Core i5-14490F's higher boost clock of 5.00 GHz versus 4.90 GHz likely explains its Cinebench single-core edge.

The Verdict

The data points to the Intel Core i5-14490F for users who run heavily threaded applications. Its 16 threads, 24 MB of shared L3 cache, and higher boost clock deliver consistent wins across Cinebench multicore, PassMark multithread, and integer-intensive workloads. The 13% multithread lead and the 45.3% data compression advantage are substantial margins that translate into real time savings for video encoding, batch file processing, and virtualization workloads.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T is the pick for users who prioritize floating point math and specific algorithm efficiency. Its 19.6% floating point lead and 57% prime number advantage indicate a fundamentally different compute profile. For workloads like scientific computing, physics simulations, or financial risk calculations that use floating-point operations heavily, the Core Ultra 5 225T delivers meaningfully better results despite having fewer threads.

The average benchmark scores put the Core i5-14490F at 38149 against 30468 for the Core Ultra 5 225T. The percentile ranking also favors the Core i5-14490F at 86 versus 82. The nearest rivals for the Core i5-14490F include the Intel Core Ultra 5 245T at 38194, a 0.1% difference, and the Intel Core i5-13600KF at 38103, also a 0.1% delta. The Core Ultra 5 225T sits near the Intel Core i9-11980HK at 30422, a 0.2% gap, and the AMD Ryzen 5 7640HS at 30390, a 0.3% gap. These rival positions confirm that the Core i5-14490F competes in a higher performance class overall.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The Intel Core i5-14490F scores 23000, which is 4.7% ahead of the Intel Core Ultra 5 225T's 21971.

Q: Does the Core Ultra 5 225T ever beat the Core i5-14490F?

A: Yes, it wins 5 of 17 benchmarks. The largest wins are in PassMark find prime numbers, where it leads 284 versus 122, a 57% advantage, and floating point math, where it leads 82751 versus 66558, a 19.6% margin.

Q: Which CPU has better single-thread performance?

A: It depends on the test. The Core Ultra 5 225T leads PassMark single-thread with 4348 versus 3873, a 10.9% margin. However, the Core i5-14490F leads all Cinebench single-core tests by 4.7% to 4.8%, including R23 single-core at 3247 versus 3101.

Q: How many threads does each CPU support?

A: The Intel Core i5-14490F has 16 threads across 10 cores. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T has 10 threads across 10 cores.

Q: Which CPU is better for data compression?

A: The Intel Core i5-14490F is far ahead, scoring 340026 in PassMark data compression versus 233998 for the Core Ultra 5 225T, a 45.3% lead.

Q: What is the average benchmark score difference?

A: The Core i5-14490F averages 38149, while the Core Ultra 5 225T averages 30468. The Core i5-14490F also ranks higher at the 86th percentile versus the 82nd percentile.

Architecture Differences

The two CPUs come from different Intel families with fundamentally different designs. The Intel Core i5-14490F uses the Raptor Lake architecture, specifically Raptor Lake-R, built on Intel's 10 nm process. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T uses the Arrow Lake architecture, Arrow Lake-S, built on TSMC's 3 nm process with 17,800 million transistors.

The process node difference is significant. The 3 nm TSMC process allows the Core Ultra 5 225T to fit more transistors in a similar die area. Its die size is 243 mm² versus 215 mm² for the Core i5-14490F, but it packs far more transistors into that space. This explains why the Core Ultra 5 225T can deliver higher performance per thread in certain math workloads despite lower boost clocks.

Cache organization differs substantially. The Core i5-14490F uses 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3. The Core Ultra 5 225T uses 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 20 MB of shared L3. The Core Ultra 5 225T has much larger per-core L1 and L2 caches, which likely contributes to its floating point and prime number advantages. The Core i5-14490F has more shared L3 cache, which helps its multi-threaded workloads.

Memory support also differs. The Core i5-14490F supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the Core Ultra 5 225T supports only DDR5. The Core Ultra 5 225T has a recorded memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s, a figure not available for the Core i5-14490F. Both use dual-channel memory buses.

PCIe connectivity differs. The Core i5-14490F provides Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes, while the Core Ultra 5 225T provides Gen 5 with 20 CPU lanes. The Core Ultra 5 225T also includes integrated graphics, specifically Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 16EU, while the Core i5-14490F has no integrated graphics.

Sockets differ as well. The Core i5-14490F uses Intel Socket 1700, while the Core Ultra 5 225T uses Intel Socket 1851. This means they are not interchangeable in motherboards.

Specification Differences

The two CPUs differ in several key specifications. The Core i5-14490F has 10 cores and 16 threads, while the Core Ultra 5 225T has 10 cores and 10 threads. The Core i5-14490F uses hyper-threading, the Core Ultra 5 225T does not.

Boost clocks differ slightly. The Core i5-14490F boosts to 5.00 GHz, while the Core Ultra 5 225T boosts to 4.90 GHz. Both have a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a TDP of 65 watts.

The process node favors the Core Ultra 5 225T at 3 nm from TSMC, versus 10 nm from Intel for the Core i5-14490F. The Core Ultra 5 225T uses 17,800 million transistors, while the Core i5-14490F has no recorded transistor count. Die size is 243 mm² for the Core Ultra 5 225T and 215 mm² for the Core i5-14490F.

Cache sizes differ in every level. The Core i5-14490F has 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and 24 MB shared L3. The Core Ultra 5 225T has 192 KB L1 per core, 3 MB L2 per core, and 20 MB shared L3. The Core Ultra 5 225T has more L1 and L2 cache per core, but less L3 overall.

Memory support differs: the Core i5-14490F supports DDR4 and DDR5, while the Core Ultra 5 225T supports only DDR5. Memory bandwidth is recorded at 102.4 GB/s for the Core Ultra 5 225T, with no comparable figure for the Core i5-14490F.

PCIe lane count differs: 16 CPU lanes for the Core i5-14490F versus 20 for the Core Ultra 5 225T, both Gen 5. Integrated graphics are present only on the Core Ultra 5 225T, with Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 16EU. The Core i5-14490F has no integrated graphics.

Release dates differ: the Core i5-14490F launched in late December 2023, while the Core Ultra 5 225T launched in late December 2024. Neither has a recorded launch MSRP. The Core i5-14490F has the part number SRN35, while the Core Ultra 5 225T has an unknown part number. Both are active in production and neither has an unlocked multiplier. Both target the desktop market segment, and neither supports ECC memory.