Intel Core i5-14490F vs Intel Core Ultra 7 265F Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Core Ultra 7 265F wins every single recorded test, taking all 17 head-to-head comparisons. The Core i5-14490F does not score a single victory across Cinebench or Passmark workloads. The margins are substantial across the board, with the smallest gap appearing in single-threaded Passmark tests at 18.5%, while the largest deficit reaches 70.7%.

The most decisive separation occurs in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the Ultra 7 265F scores 41,980 versus the i5-14490F's 23,000, a 45.2% delta. This pattern repeats across all five Cinebench tests, each showing exactly 45.2% differences. The single-core Cinebench R23 result shows 5,926 against 3,247, while R20 single-core shows 2,488 against 1,363. These consistent percentages indicate the architectural advantage is uniform across rendering workloads.

Passmark results show more varied deltas. The widest gap is in prime number finding, where the Ultra 7 265F scores 416 against the i5-14490F's 122, a 70.7% difference. Floating point math shows a 61.7% gap with scores of 173,855 versus 66,558. Data encryption shows the second-largest delta at 53.8%, with scores of 39,468 and 18,225. These workloads benefit disproportionately from the newer architecture's capabilities.

The narrowest margin is in Passmark single-thread, where the Ultra 7 265F scores 4,750 against 3,873, an 18.5% advantage. This is still a meaningful single-thread lead, but it is far smaller than the multi-threaded gaps. The data compression test shows a 32.9% delta (507,018 versus 340,026), while integer math shows 36.4% (138,078 versus 87,844). Extended instructions show 44.6% (39,235 versus 21,731), and random string sorting shows 43% (62,439 versus 35,608).

The average benchmark score tells the same story. The Ultra 7 265F averages 64,438 points, placing it in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs. The i5-14490F averages 38,149 points, placing it in the 86th percentile. The nearest rivals for the Ultra 7 265F include the Intel Core Ultra 7 265 at 64,640 (0.3% ahead), the AMD EPYC 7343 at 64,202 (0.4% behind), and the Intel Core i9-13900KS at 64,051 (0.6% behind). The i5-14490F's closest competitors include the Intel Core Ultra 5 245T at 38,194 (0.1% ahead) and the Intel Core i5-13600KF at 38,103 (0.1% ahead).

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design generations. The Core i5-14490F uses Raptor Lake architecture, specifically the Raptor Lake-R refresh, built on Intel's 10 nm process. The Core Ultra 7 265F uses Arrow Lake architecture, specifically Arrow Lake-S, built on TSMC's 3 nm process. This process shift is significant: the Ultra 7 265F contains 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die, while the i5-14490F has no transistor count recorded but uses a 215 mm² die.

Core counts differ dramatically. The i5-14490F has 10 cores and 16 threads, indicating a hybrid layout with performance and efficiency cores. The Ultra 7 265F has 20 cores and 20 threads, meaning every core is a full thread. The Ultra 7 265F has double the cores and four additional threads. Clock speeds also differ: the i5-14490F has a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, while the Ultra 7 265F has a base clock of 2.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz. The Ultra 7 265F boosts 0.30 GHz higher despite its lower base frequency.

Cache configurations show the Ultra 7 265F's advantage. The i5-14490F uses 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3. The Ultra 7 265F uses 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 30 MB of shared L3. Both L1 and L2 per-core capacities are larger on the Ultra 7 265F, and the shared L3 pool is 6 MB larger.

Memory support differs substantially. The i5-14490F supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the Ultra 7 265F supports DDR5 only. Both use dual-channel memory buses. The Ultra 7 265F has a recorded memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s, while the i5-14490F has no memory bandwidth figure recorded. Neither processor supports ECC memory.

PCIe connectivity also differs. The i5-14490F offers Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The Ultra 7 265F offers Gen 5 with 20 lanes from the CPU, four additional lanes. Both use different sockets: the i5-14490F uses Intel Socket 1700, while the Ultra 7 265F uses Intel Socket 1851. Neither processor has integrated graphics, and both are locked (multiplier not unlocked).

The release timeline shows the i5-14490F launched on 2023-12-31, while the Ultra 7 265F launched on 2025-01-06. Both are currently marked as active production. The Ultra 7 265F has a recorded launch MSRP of $379, while the i5-14490F has no launch MSRP recorded.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 265F scores 41,980 versus the Core i5-14490F's 23,000, a 45.2% advantage.

Q: How large is the single-thread performance gap?

A: In Passmark single-thread, the Ultra 7 265F scores 4,750 against the i5-14490F's 3,873, an 18.5% difference. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the gap is 45.2% with scores of 5,926 and 3,247.

Q: What is the core and thread configuration of each CPU?

A: The Core i5-14490F has 10 cores and 16 threads. The Core Ultra 7 265F has 20 cores and 20 threads.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?

A: No. The i5-14490F supports DDR4 and DDR5, while the Ultra 7 265F supports DDR5 only. Both are dual-channel.

Q: Which CPU has a higher boost clock?

A: The Ultra 7 265F boosts to 5.30 GHz, while the i5-14490F boosts to 5.00 GHz. The i5-14490F has a higher base clock at 2.50 GHz versus 2.40 GHz.

Q: How do the two compare in percentile ranking?

A: The Ultra 7 265F is in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs with an average benchmark score of 64,438. The i5-14490F is in the 86th percentile with an average score of 38,149.

The Verdict

The recorded data shows a clear hierarchy. The Intel Core Ultra 7 265F is the superior processor in every measured workload, with no exceptions. Its average benchmark score of 64,438 places it 26,289 points higher than the i5-14490F's 38,149 average. The 17-0 head-to-head record confirms this dominance is not workload-specific but represents a comprehensive performance advantage.

For users processing heavily threaded workloads, the Ultra 7 265F's 20-core, 20-thread configuration delivers more than 80% higher multi-core Cinebench scores. The 45.2% deltas across all Cinebench tests indicate the advantage scales consistently from single-core to multi-core rendering. The Passmark physics test shows a 34% advantage (3,172 versus 2,093), while multithread shows 42% (49,410 versus 28,662).

The i5-14490F retains relevance primarily through platform flexibility. Its support for both DDR4 and DDR5 memory allows it to drop into existing Socket 1700 systems with either memory type. The 65 W TDP matches the Ultra 7 265F's 65 W TDP, meaning power envelopes are identical. For users already on a Socket 1700 platform, the i5-14490F offers a straightforward upgrade path without changing memory or motherboard.

The Ultra 7 265F's advantages in cache, process node, and PCIe lane count make it the stronger architectural choice for new builds. Its 3 nm TSMC process, 30 MB of L3 cache, and 20 Gen 5 PCIe lanes provide headroom that the 10 nm Raptor Lake design cannot match. The 102.4 GB/s memory bandwidth also exceeds whatever the i5-14490F achieves, since no bandwidth figure is recorded for it.

Specification Differences

The following specifications differ between the two processors:

• Series: Core 14th Gen versus Core Ultra Series 2
• Cores: 10 versus 20
• Threads: 16 versus 20
• Base Clock: 2.50 GHz versus 2.40 GHz
• Boost Clock: 5.00 GHz versus 5.30 GHz
• Socket: Intel Socket 1700 versus Intel Socket 1851
• Architecture: Raptor Lake versus Arrow Lake
• Codename: Raptor Lake-R versus Arrow Lake-S
• Generation: Core i5 (Raptor Lake Refresh) versus Ultra 7 (Arrow Lake)
• Process Node: 10 nm versus 3 nm
• Foundry: Intel versus TSMC
• Transistors: Not recorded versus 17,800 million
• Die Size: 215 mm² versus 243 mm²
• L1 Cache: 80 KB per core versus 192 KB per core
• L2 Cache: 1.25 MB per core versus 3 MB per core
• L3 Cache: 24 MB shared versus 30 MB shared
• Memory Support: DDR4, DDR5 versus DDR5
• Memory Bandwidth: Not recorded versus 102.4 GB/s
• PCIe: Gen 5, 16 Lanes versus Gen 5, 20 Lanes
• Release Date: 2023-12-31 versus 2025-01-06
• Launch MSRP: Not recorded versus $379
• Part Number: SRN35 versus SRQCV

Where Each One Wins

The Core Ultra 7 265F wins in every benchmark category recorded. Its largest advantages appear in prime number finding (70.7% ahead), floating point math (61.7% ahead), and data encryption (53.8% ahead). These workloads heavily favor the newer Arrow Lake architecture, the larger cache hierarchy, and the doubled core count. The Ultra 7 265F also wins in rendering, data compression, string sorting, integer math, and physics tests, with advantages ranging from 32.9% to 44.6%.

The Core i5-14490F has no recorded benchmark wins, but its strengths lie in platform compatibility rather than raw performance. Its Socket 1700 compatibility and DDR4 memory support make it suitable for upgrading existing systems that cannot accept a Socket 1851 board. Its higher base clock of 2.50 GHz versus 2.40 GHz means it starts from a higher frequency, though this does not translate into any benchmark victories.

For new system builds, the data strongly favors the Ultra 7 265F. Its 20 Gen 5 PCIe lanes provide more expansion headroom than the i5-14490F's 16 lanes. Its 3 nm process and TSMC foundry deliver the transistor density and efficiency that the 10 nm Intel process cannot match. The 30 MB L3 cache versus 24 MB L3 cache, combined with larger per-core L1 and L2 caches, supports its superior benchmark performance across all recorded tests.

For workloads involving heavy encryption, scientific math, or prime number calculations, the Ultra 7 265F is the clear choice based on the 50% to 70% advantages in those specific Passmark tests. For general productivity and single-threaded tasks, the 18.5% single-thread advantage still favors the Ultra 7 265F, though the gap narrows considerably. The i5-14490F remains a functional processor, but the recorded data shows no scenario where it outperforms the Ultra 7 265F.