Intel Core i5-14490F vs Intel Core Ultra 5 235T Comparison

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235T and the Intel Core i5-14490F represent two distinct design philosophies from Intel, separated by a full generation and a fundamental shift in core architecture. While both are 65W desktop parts aimed at the same performance tier, the benchmark data reveals a clear pattern: the Ultra 5 235T dominates in compute-heavy workloads, while the i5-14490F holds its ground in specific memory-latency-sensitive tasks. The head-to-head results show the Ultra 5 235T winning 14 of 17 benchmark comparisons, yet the i5-14490F’s victories in data compression and integer math indicate that raw core count is not the entire story.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher multi-core performance in Cinebench?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 235T is consistently ahead in all Cinebench multi-core tests. It scores 2644 in Cinebench R15, 11017 in R20, and 26232 in R23, compared to the i5-14490F’s 2318, 9660, and 23000 respectively. This translates to a 14.1% advantage in R15 and R23, and a 14% advantage in R20.

Q: How do the single-core scores compare?

A: The Ultra 5 235T also leads in every single-core test. Its Cinebench R23 single-core score is 3703 versus 3247 for the i5-14490F, a 14% difference. In PassMark’s single-thread test, the Ultra 5 235T scores 4339 against the i5-14490F’s 3873, a 12% lead.

Q: Are there any benchmarks where the i5-14490F wins?

A: Yes, the i5-14490F wins three head-to-head tests: PassMark data compression (340026 vs 295100, a 13.2% advantage), PassMark integer math (87844 vs 84244, a 4.1% advantage), and PassMark random string sorting (35608 vs 35377, a marginal 0.6% advantage).

Q: What is the most significant performance gap between the two chips?

A: The largest delta is in PassMark’s find prime numbers test, where the Ultra 5 235T scores 318 versus the i5-14490F’s 122. This represents a 160.7% advantage for the Ultra 5 235T, indicating a massive difference in this specific workload.

Q: How do their overall benchmark averages compare?

A: The Ultra 5 235T has an average benchmark score of 38561, while the i5-14490F averages 38149. Both processors sit at the 86th percentile among all CPUs, placing them in the same performance tier overall.

Q: What are the architectural differences that explain the performance gap?

A: The Ultra 5 235T uses a 3nm TSMC process with Arrow Lake architecture, while the i5-14490F uses a 10nm Intel process with Raptor Lake architecture. The Ultra 5 235T has 14 cores and 14 threads, whereas the i5-14490F has 10 cores and 16 threads, relying on Hyper-Threading to reach its thread count.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different silicon. The Intel Core Ultra 5 235T is part of the Core Ultra Series 2, fabricated on a 3nm process at TSMC with a die size of 243 mm² and 17,800 million transistors. Its architecture, codenamed Arrow Lake-S, represents Intel’s shift to a tiled design philosophy. In contrast, the Intel Core i5-14490F belongs to the Core 14th Gen family, built on Intel’s 10nm process with a smaller 215 mm² die and no transistor count listed. The foundry difference is significant: TSMC for the newer part versus Intel’s own fabs for the older one.

Core configuration is another major divergence. The Ultra 5 235T ships with 14 cores and 14 threads, indicating a design without Hyper-Threading. The i5-14490F has only 10 physical cores but 16 threads, meaning it relies on simultaneous multithreading to exceed its core count. This is a classic generational trade-off: the newer chip uses more efficient, wider cores, while the older chip leverages threading to boost throughput. The cache hierarchy reinforces this. The Ultra 5 235T has 192 KB of L1 cache per core and 3 MB of L2 per core, while the i5-14490F has 80 KB of L1 per core and 1.25 MB of L2 per core. Both share 24 MB of L3 cache, making the total cache capacity similar, but the per-core allocation is far more generous on the Ultra 5 235T.

Memory and platform support also differ. The Ultra 5 235T supports only DDR5 memory with dual-channel configuration and a listed bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s. The i5-14490F supports both DDR4 and DDR5, also dual-channel, but its memory bandwidth is not listed in the data. The Ultra 5 235T offers PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes from the CPU, while the i5-14490F provides PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes. The integrated graphics situation is stark: the Ultra 5 235T includes Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 24 execution units, while the i5-14490F has no integrated graphics at all, as indicated by its “F” suffix. Finally, the sockets are incompatible: the Ultra 5 235T uses Intel Socket 1851, whereas the i5-14490F uses Intel Socket 1700.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data paints a clear picture of dominance for the Ultra 5 235T, but the margins vary dramatically by workload. In the Cinebench suite, the newer chip is uniformly ahead by roughly 14%. For example, Cinebench R23 multi-core shows the Ultra 5 235T scoring 26232 against 23000 for the i5-14490F, a 14.1% win. The single-core results follow the same pattern: 3703 versus 3247 in R23, also a 14% lead. This consistency across both single and multi-core tests suggests the Ultra 5 235T’s architectural efficiency is the deciding factor, not just core count.

The PassMark suite reveals where each chip excels. The Ultra 5 235T delivers crushing victories in floating-point math, scoring 106546 against 66558, a 60.1% advantage. The find prime numbers test is even more lopsided, with the Ultra 5 235T scoring 318 versus 122, a 160.7% blowout. The data encryption test also favors the Ultra 5 235T, with a score of 23457 versus 18225, a 28.7% win. The multithread test is closer but still favors the Ultra 5 235T: 30918 versus 28662, a 7.9% margin. The physics test is nearly a tie, with the Ultra 5 235T ahead by just 3.1% (2157 versus 2093). Even extended instructions, a niche workload, shows a 6.8% advantage for the Ultra 5 235T (23212 versus 21731).

However, the i5-14490F is not without its own victories. The most notable is in data compression, where it scores 340026 versus the Ultra 5 235T’s 295100, a 13.2% win. This is a significant reversal, suggesting that the i5-14490F’s higher thread count (16 versus 14) helps in workloads that benefit from parallel memory operations. The i5-14490F also wins in integer math, scoring 87844 versus 84244, a 4.1% edge. The random string sorting test is a near tie, with the i5-14490F winning by only 0.6% (35608 versus 35377). These three wins indicate that while the Ultra 5 235T is generally superior, the i5-14490F’s threading advantage can flip certain specific tasks.

Specification Differences

The two CPUs differ across nearly every specification field. The most fundamental difference is the process node: the Ultra 5 235T is built on a 3nm TSMC process, while the i5-14490F uses a 10nm Intel process. The Ultra 5 235T has 14 cores and 14 threads, whereas the i5-14490F has 10 cores and 16 threads. Base clocks differ slightly: the Ultra 5 235T runs at 2.20 GHz, while the i5-14490F runs at 2.50 GHz. Boost clocks are identical at 5.00 GHz for both.

The cache hierarchy shows the Ultra 5 235T with 192 KB of L1 per core and 3 MB of L2 per core, compared to 80 KB and 1.25 MB respectively for the i5-14490F. Both have 24 MB of shared L3 cache. Memory support diverges: the Ultra 5 235T supports only DDR5, while the i5-14490F supports both DDR4 and DDR5. The Ultra 5 235T has a listed memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s, while the i5-14490F has no bandwidth figure. PCIe lanes differ, with the Ultra 5 235T offering 20 Gen 5 lanes versus 16 Gen 5 lanes for the i5-14490F.

Integrated graphics are present only on the Ultra 5 235T, which features Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 24 execution units; the i5-14490F has none. The sockets are incompatible, with the Ultra 5 235T on Intel Socket 1851 and the i5-14490F on Intel Socket 1700. The release dates show a generational gap: the Ultra 5 235T launched on 2025-01-06, while the i5-14490F launched on 2023-12-31. The Ultra 5 235T has a launch MSRP of $247; no launch MSRP is listed for the i5-14490F. Both processors have locked multipliers and are produced as active desktop parts, with part numbers SRQES and SRN35 respectively.

The Verdict

The data indicates that the Intel Core Ultra 5 235T is the stronger processor for the vast majority of workloads. Its 14 wins out of 17 head-to-head benchmarks, including all Cinebench tests and most PassMark tests, make it the default recommendation for users prioritizing compute performance. The 160.7% lead in find prime numbers and 60.1% lead in floating-point math are particularly compelling for scientific or mathematical workloads. The consistent 14% advantage in both single and multi-core Cinebench tests shows that the Arrow Lake architecture delivers a broad uplift over Raptor Lake, independent of thread count.

That said, the i5-14490F is not obsolete. Its 13.2% win in data compression and 4.1% win in integer math are meaningful for specific applications. Users who work with compression algorithms or integer-heavy code may see better performance from the older chip. The i5-14490F’s 16 threads versus 14 on the Ultra 5 235T likely explains these reversals, as threading can benefit memory-latency-sensitive operations even if the cores are less efficient. The random string sorting tie (0.6% difference) further suggests that the i5-14490F remains competitive in memory-bound tasks.

From a platform perspective, the Ultra 5 235T offers modern features that the i5-14490F lacks. The integrated Arc Xe-LPG graphics mean the Ultra 5 235T can function without a discrete GPU, while the i5-14490F requires one. The newer chip also supports PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes versus 16, and has a higher memory bandwidth rating. However, the i5-14490F’s support for both DDR4 and DDR5 gives it flexibility for builders with existing DDR4 memory. The 3nm TSMC process on the Ultra 5 235T versus the 10nm Intel process on the i5-14490F is a major efficiency advantage, though power draw figures are not available in the data. Ultimately, for general-purpose computing, rendering, and single-threaded performance, the Ultra 5 235T is the clear choice. The i5-14490F is reserved for niche workloads where its threading advantage in compression and integer math outweighs its architectural deficit.