Intel Core i5-14490F vs Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF Comparison

The Intel Core i5-14490F and Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF represent two distinct approaches to desktop processing from the same manufacturer. One is a 10-core, 16-thread part built on Intel’s 10 nm process with a 65 W TDP, while the other is a 14-core, 14-thread design on TSMC’s 3 nm node with a 125 W TDP. The database shows a clear performance hierarchy, but the interesting details lie in how the newer chip achieves its dominance and what the older chip still offers.

Where Each One Wins

The recorded data shows a complete sweep for the Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF. Across all 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons in the database, the Ultra 5 245KF wins every single test, from Cinebench render workloads to PassMark’s focused math and sorting operations. The Core i5-14490F has zero wins in the head-to-head table.

That said, the magnitude of the Ultra 5 245KF’s victory varies significantly by workload type, and that variance defines the use-case split. In integer math, the Ultra 5 245KF scores 98854 against the i5-14490F’s 87844, a modest 11.1% advantage. This suggests that in purely integer-bound tasks, the older chip remains competitive despite its architectural disadvantages. The gap widens considerably in floating-point math, where the Ultra 5 245KF posts 131546 versus 66558, a 49.4% lead. Workloads that rely heavily on floating-point calculations, such as scientific simulations or certain rendering tasks, will see a much larger benefit from the newer processor.

The most extreme disparity appears in the PassMark find prime numbers test. The Ultra 5 245KF scores 416 while the i5-14490F manages only 122, a 70.7% differential. This test is highly sensitive to single-thread efficiency and clock speed, and the data indicates the Arrow Lake architecture has a substantial advantage in this specific operation. Similarly large gaps appear in data encryption (45.4% advantage for the Ultra 5 245KF) and extended instructions (42.7% advantage). These results indicate that the Ultra 5 245KF is particularly strong in security-related workloads, cryptography, and SIMD-heavy code.

The i5-14490F’s only comparative strength is relative, not absolute. Its smallest deficit is in integer math at 11.1%, followed by single-thread performance at 17.9%. This means that for general productivity tasks dominated by integer operations, the older chip is not as far behind as the overall benchmark averages might suggest. The i5-14490F also retains DDR4 memory support, which is absent on the Ultra 5 245KF, making it a more flexible option for users with existing DDR4 infrastructure.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF has an average benchmark score of 55093, placing it in the 91st percentile of all CPUs. The Intel Core i5-14490F has an average score of 38149 and sits in the 86th percentile.

Q: How do the core and thread counts differ between the two chips?

A: The Core Ultra 5 245KF has 14 cores and 14 threads, while the Core i5-14490F has 10 cores and 16 threads. The i5-14490F has more threads than cores due to Hyper-Threading, whereas the Ultra 5 245KF does not use simultaneous multithreading.

Q: What are the clock speed differences?

A: The Core Ultra 5 245KF has a base clock of 4.20 GHz and a boost clock of 5.20 GHz. The Core i5-14490F has a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz.

Q: Which processor supports DDR4 memory?

A: The Intel Core i5-14490F supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory. The Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF supports DDR5 only.

Q: Is the multiplier unlocked on either processor?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF has an unlocked multiplier. The Intel Core i5-14490F has a locked multiplier.

Q: What is the TDP of each processor?

A: The Intel Core i5-14490F has a TDP of 65 watts. The Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF has a TDP of 125 watts.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench suite shows a consistent 37.2% advantage for the Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF across all six tests. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Ultra 5 245KF scores 3693 against 2318 for the i5-14490F. Single-core R15 shows 521 versus 327. The R20 tests continue the pattern: 15391 versus 9660 in multi-core and 2172 versus 1363 in single-core. In R23, the most demanding of the three, the Ultra 5 245KF reaches 36647 in multi-core while the i5-14490F manages 23000. Single-core R23 shows 5173 against 3247. The consistency of the 37.2% delta across both single-threaded and multi-threaded render tests suggests the advantage comes from architectural efficiency rather than just core count.

The PassMark suite reveals a more varied picture. Data compression shows a 26.1% lead for the Ultra 5 245KF, with scores of 460123 versus 340026. Data encryption is a 45.4% gap, 33381 versus 18225. Extended instructions show a 42.7% difference, 37912 versus 21731. The find prime numbers test is the outlier at 70.7% in favor of the Ultra 5 245KF, with 416 versus 122. Floating-point math shows a 49.4% gap, 131546 versus 66558. Integer math is the closest result at 11.1%, 98854 versus 87844.

The multithreaded PassMark score gives a 33.5% advantage to the Ultra 5 245KF, 43110 versus 28662. Physics simulation shows a 30.2% gap, 2998 versus 2093. Random string sorting is 35.5% in favor of the Ultra 5 245KF, 55206 versus 35608. The single-thread PassMark score shows a 17.9% advantage, 4715 versus 3873.

The smallest margin in the entire head-to-head set is integer math at 11.1%. The largest is find prime numbers at 70.7%. This spread indicates that while the Ultra 5 245KF is universally faster, the degree of improvement depends heavily on the instruction mix of the workload.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every measurable specification. The Core Ultra 5 245KF uses 14 cores and 14 threads, while the Core i5-14490F uses 10 cores and 16 threads. Base clocks differ substantially: 4.20 GHz versus 2.50 GHz. Boost clocks are closer, with 5.20 GHz versus 5.00 GHz. TDP is nearly double on the newer chip: 125 watts versus 65 watts.

The sockets are incompatible. The Ultra 5 245KF uses Intel Socket 1851, while the i5-14490F uses Intel Socket 1700. Memory support differs as well: the Ultra 5 245KF supports DDR5 only, while the i5-14490F supports both DDR4 and DDR5. Both use dual-channel memory buses, but the Ultra 5 245KF has a specified memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s, while the i5-14490F has no recorded bandwidth figure.

PCIe connectivity differs. The Ultra 5 245KF provides Gen 5 with 20 lanes from the CPU, while the i5-14490F provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes. The Ultra 5 245KF has an unlocked multiplier, the i5-14490F does not. The release dates are nearly a year apart, with the i5-14490F released on December 31, 2023, and the Ultra 5 245KF released on October 23, 2024. The i5-14490F has no launch MSRP recorded in the database, while the Ultra 5 245KF has a launch MSRP of $294.

Architecture Differences

The architectural split is generational. The Core i5-14490F uses Raptor Lake, specifically the Raptor Lake-R refresh variant, built on Intel’s 10 nm process with a die size of 215 mm². The Core Ultra 5 245KF uses Arrow Lake, specifically Arrow Lake-S, built on TSMC’s 3 nm process with a die size of 243 mm² and 17,800 million transistors. The foundry change from Intel to TSMC is a notable shift in manufacturing strategy.

Cache hierarchies differ significantly. 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 245KF has 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. L3 capacity is identical at 24 MB, but the per-core L1 and L2 allocations are substantially larger on the Ultra 5 245KF. This explains part of the single-thread performance advantage, as more cache per core reduces memory latency for frequently accessed data.

The memory bandwidth figure of 102.4 GB/s on the Ultra 5 245KF reflects its DDR5-only design. The i5-14490F’s support for DDR4 alongside DDR5 gives it platform flexibility but likely limits its maximum achievable bandwidth. Neither processor includes integrated graphics, and both target the desktop market segment. Both are listed as active in production status. Neither supports ECC memory. The Ultra 5 245KF has a part number of SRQCY, while the i5-14490F is SRN35.

The Verdict

The data presents a straightforward hierarchy. The Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF outperforms the Intel Core i5-14490F in every recorded benchmark, with an average benchmark score of 55093 compared to 38149. The newer chip also ranks higher overall, sitting in the 91st percentile of all CPUs versus the 86th percentile for the i5-14490F.

The i5-14490F’s case rests on platform flexibility and efficiency. It supports DDR4 memory, which allows builders to reuse existing memory kits. Its 65 W TDP is nearly half the Ultra 5 245KF’s 125 W TDP, making it a lower-power option for systems where thermals and energy draw are primary concerns. Its locked multiplier and lower boost clock limit its ceiling, but its 16 threads provide strong multi-threaded throughput for a 10-core design.

The Ultra 5 245KF justifies its position with commanding leads in nearly every category. The 37.2% advantage across all Cinebench tests, the 49.4% lead in floating-point math, and the 70.7% lead in prime number calculation all point to a fundamentally more efficient architecture. The 17.9% single-thread advantage and 11.1% integer math advantage show that even in its weakest areas, it remains ahead. Its unlocked multiplier and 5.20 GHz boost clock offer headroom that the i5-14490F cannot match.

For workloads that depend on single-thread speed, cryptography, floating-point math, or heavy multi-threaded rendering, the Ultra 5 245KF is the clear choice based on the recorded data. For systems that prioritize lower power draw, DDR4 compatibility, or a less expensive platform, the i5-14490F remains a functional option, though every benchmark in the database shows it trailing its newer sibling.