Intel Core i5-14490F vs Intel Core Ultra 5 238V Comparison

The Intel Core i5-14490F and the Intel Core Ultra 5 238V represent two distinct approaches to processor design within Intel’s lineup. The i5-14490F is a desktop part built for raw throughput, while the Ultra 5 238V is a mobile-focused chip optimized for efficiency. Benchmark data from the database shows a clear performance hierarchy, but the story is not one-sided.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Core i5-14490F dominates the majority of recorded workloads, taking 14 of the 17 head-to-head benchmark wins. The largest margin appears in the PassMark integer math test, where the i5-14490F scores 87844 against 38889 for the Ultra 5 238V, a delta of 125.9%. This is the single biggest gap in the dataset and reflects the desktop chip’s superior sustained multi-threaded execution.

Multi-core Cinebench results follow the same pattern. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i5-14490F scores 23000 versus 15645, a 47% advantage. The R20 multi-core test shows 9660 against 6570, also a 47% delta, and R15 multi-core shows 2318 versus 1576, a 47.1% gap. These consistent margins indicate a structural advantage in parallel workloads rather than a test-specific anomaly.

Single-core Cinebench results also favor the i5-14490F, though the margins mirror the multi-core deltas. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the i5-14490F scores 3247 against 2208, a 47.1% lead. R20 single-core shows 1363 versus 927, a 47% delta, and R15 single-core shows 327 versus 222, a 47.3% lead.

The PassMark data compression test shows the i5-14490F scoring 340026 versus 176532, a 92.6% advantage. Data encryption favors the i5-14490F by 39.4%, with scores of 18225 against 13072. Extended instructions show a 41.3% lead for the i5-14490F (21731 versus 15377). Floating point math goes to the i5-14490F at 66558 versus 53160, a 25.2% margin. The multithread test shows 28662 versus 18407, a 55.7% lead. Physics tests favor the i5-14490F, 2093 versus 1546, a 35.4% margin. Random string sorting shows 35608 versus 21585, a 65% advantage for the desktop part.

The Ultra 5 238V claims three wins. The most substantial is the PassMark find prime numbers test, where it scores 174 against 122, a 29.9% advantage for the mobile chip. The other two wins are in the PassMark single-thread tests, where the Ultra 5 238V scores 3890 against 3873, a very narrow 0.4% margin. These results show that the Lunar Lake architecture has genuine strengths in specific workloads, but the overall throughput advantage clearly belongs to the i5-14490F.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different generations and are built on different manufacturing processes. The i5-14490F uses the Raptor Lake architecture, specifically Raptor Lake-R, on a 10 nm process node fabricated by Intel. The Ultra 5 238V uses the Lunar Lake architecture on a 3 nm process node fabricated by TSMC. This process difference is significant: the 3 nm node is the more advanced of the two, which helps explain the Ultra 5’s low power profile despite its smaller core count.

Core configurations differ substantially. The i5-14490F has 10 cores and 16 threads, while the Ultra 5 238V has 8 cores and 8 threads. The i5-14490F therefore supports simultaneous multithreading, while the Ultra 5 238V does not. This explains the wide multi-threaded performance gaps in the benchmarks. The i5-14490F also has a higher base clock of 2.50 GHz and a higher boost clock of 5.00 GHz, compared to 2.10 GHz base and 4.70 GHz boost for the Ultra 5 238V.

Cache hierarchies are completely different. The i5-14490F uses 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The Ultra 5 238V uses 192 KB of L1 per core, 2.5 MB of L2 per core, but only 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The larger per-core L1 and L2 on the Ultra 5 likely contributes to its single-thread performance, which is essentially tied with the i5-14490F in PassMark single-thread testing despite the lower clock speeds.

The i5-14490F has a TDP of 65 watts and uses the Intel Socket 1700 platform. The Ultra 5 238V has a TDP of just 17 watts and uses the Intel BGA 2833 socket, which is a soldered mobile package. The i5-14490F supports PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes, while the Ultra 5 238V supports PCIe Gen 5 with only 4 lanes. The i5-14490F has no integrated graphics, while the Ultra 5 238V includes Arc 130V integrated graphics.

Where Each One Wins

The i5-14490F is the clear choice for compute-heavy workloads that scale with core count and threads. Its 16 threads versus 8 threads, combined with higher clock speeds, delivers large advantages in Cinebench multi-core tests, PassMark multithread, integer math, and data compression. The 125.9% lead in integer math and the 92.6% lead in data compression indicate that the desktop chip is better suited for compilation, scientific computing, and large-scale data processing tasks. The 65% lead in random string sorting also points to strong performance in sorting-heavy algorithms.

The Ultra 5 238V wins in prime number finding, a workload that often benefits from efficient single-thread execution and low-latency memory access. Its 29.9% advantage in this test is notable given the i5-14490F’s higher clock speeds. The near-tie in PassMark single-thread testing (3890 versus 3873, a 0.4% margin) shows that the Ultra 5 238V can match the desktop chip in lighter, single-threaded tasks despite its much lower TDP. This makes it competitive in everyday responsiveness and lightly threaded applications.

The Ultra 5 238V also carries integrated graphics, which the i5-14490F lacks entirely. For systems that require a display output or hardware acceleration without a discrete GPU, the Ultra 5 238V has a functional advantage. The i5-14490F requires a separate graphics card.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every core specification. The i5-14490F has 10 cores and 16 threads, while the Ultra 5 238V has 8 cores and 8 threads. Base clocks are 2.50 GHz versus 2.10 GHz, and boost clocks are 5.00 GHz versus 4.70 GHz. The TDP is 65 watts for the i5-14490F and 17 watts for the Ultra 5 238V. Sockets are incompatible: Intel Socket 1700 for the desktop part, Intel BGA 2833 for the mobile part.

The process nodes differ as well, with the i5-14490F on Intel’s 10 nm process and the Ultra 5 238V on TSMC’s 3 nm process. Cache layouts diverge sharply: the i5-14490F has 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and 24 MB shared L3. The Ultra 5 238V has 192 KB L1 per core, 2.5 MB L2 per core, and 8 MB shared L3. The i5-14490F supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the Ultra 5 238V’s memory support is listed as dependent on the motherboard. Both use dual-channel memory buses.

PCIe lane counts differ: 16 lanes for the i5-14490F versus 4 lanes for the Ultra 5 238V, both Gen 5. The i5-14490F has no integrated graphics, while the Ultra 5 238V features Arc 130V graphics. The i5-14490F has a die size of 215 mm², while no die size is recorded for the Ultra 5 238V. The i5-14490F was released in late December 2023, while the Ultra 5 238V was released in late September 2024.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i5-14490F has 10 cores and 16 threads. The Intel Core Ultra 5 238V has 8 cores and 8 threads.

Q: How large is the performance gap in multi-threaded workloads?

A: In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i5-14490F scores 23000 versus 15645 for the Ultra 5 238V, a 47% advantage. The PassMark multithread test shows a 55.7% lead for the i5-14490F.

Q: Does the Ultra 5 238V win any benchmarks?

A: Yes, it wins 3 tests. It leads by 29.9% in PassMark find prime numbers, and by 0.4% in both PassMark single-thread and singlethread tests.

Q: What are the TDP differences between the two?

A: The i5-14490F has a 65 watt TDP, while the Ultra 5 238V has a 17 watt TDP.

Q: Do both processors have integrated graphics?

A: No. The i5-14490F has no integrated graphics. The Ultra 5 238V includes Arc 130V integrated graphics.

Q: How do the cache sizes compare?

A: The i5-14490F has 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and 24 MB shared L3. The Ultra 5 238V has 192 KB L1 per core, 2.5 MB L2 per core, and 8 MB shared L3.