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

The Verdict

The data delivers a clear and unambiguous verdict: the Intel Core Ultra 7 265HX wins every single benchmark recorded in the database. Out of 17 head-to-head tests, the Ultra 7 265HX takes all 17, with the Core i5-14490F recording zero wins. This is not a close contest; the performance gap is systematic and substantial across every workload category.

The Core Ultra 7 265HX sits in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs tracked, while the Core i5-14490F sits in the 86th percentile. Its average benchmark score of 63173 dwarfs the i5-14490F's 38149. The nearest rivals for the Ultra 7 265HX include the Intel Core i7-13790F (0.1% higher average score) and the AMD Ryzen AI 7 450G (0.2% lower), placing it firmly in upper-tier performance territory. The i5-14490F, by contrast, trades blows with the Intel Core Ultra 5 245T (0.1% lower average score) and the Intel Core i5-13600KF (0.1% higher), indicating it belongs to a much lower performance class.

For a desktop user on Socket 1700 with DDR4 or DDR5 memory, the i5-14490F remains a functional part, but the data shows it is outperformed by roughly 40% or more in multi-threaded workloads. For a mobile platform on BGA 2114 with DDR5 only, the Ultra 7 265HX delivers top-quartile performance with a lower 55 W TDP. The verdict is simple: the Ultra 7 265HX is the superior processor by every measured metric, and the i5-14490F is a mid-range desktop option that cannot match the newer, larger Arrow Lake design.

Architecture Differences

The architectural split between these two Intel parts is fundamental. The Core i5-14490F uses the Raptor Lake-R architecture on a 10 nm process node fabricated by Intel. It has 10 cores and 16 threads, a configuration that relies on Intel's hybrid design with performance and efficiency cores. The die size is 215 mm². The Core Ultra 7 265HX uses the Arrow Lake-HX architecture on a 3 nm process node fabricated by TSMC. It has 20 cores and 20 threads, meaning it does not use simultaneous multi-threading; each core is a distinct hardware thread. The die is larger at 243 mm² and packs 17,800 million transistors.

Cache configurations differ sharply. The i5-14490F has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The Ultra 7 265HX has 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 30 MB of shared L3 cache. Every cache level is larger on the Ultra 7 265HX, which contributes to its higher single-thread and multi-thread scores.

Memory support also diverges. The i5-14490F supports both DDR4 and DDR5 with a dual-channel bus. The Ultra 7 265HX supports only DDR5, also dual-channel, but with a recorded memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s. The i5-14490F has no integrated graphics, while the Ultra 7 265HX includes Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 64 execution units. PCIe connectivity differs as well: the i5-14490F provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the Ultra 7 265HX provides Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only).

The socket and market segment reinforce the divide. The i5-14490F is a desktop part on Intel Socket 1700, released at the end of 2023. The Ultra 7 265HX is a mobile part on Intel BGA 2114, released in early 2025. The multiplier is locked on the i5-14490F but unlocked on the Ultra 7 265HX, a notable inversion of typical desktop versus mobile expectations.

Where Each One Wins

Given that the Ultra 7 265HX wins all 17 head-to-head benchmarks, there is no workload category in which the i5-14490F comes out ahead. The analysis must therefore focus on the magnitude of the losses for the i5-14490F and what that means for each processor's utility.

The Core Ultra 7 265HX excels most dramatically in integer-heavy and floating-point workloads. In PassMark find prime numbers, it scores 406 versus 122 for the i5-14490F, a 70% advantage. Floating-point math shows a 58.8% gap (161605 versus 66558). Data encryption shows a 53.8% gap (39472 versus 18225). These are computationally dense tasks where the combination of 20 cores, larger caches, and the 3 nm process yield massive gains.

The i5-14490F's closest relative performance comes in single-threaded tests. In PassMark single-thread, the Ultra 7 265HX leads by 13.9% (4500 versus 3873), and in Cinebench R23 single-core, the lead is 43.4% (5737 versus 3247). Even here, the i5-14490F cannot claim a win, but the single-thread gap is narrower than the multi-thread gaps, which range from 29.7% (PassMark physics) to 70% (find prime numbers).

For users prioritizing multi-core rendering, data compression, or encryption, the Ultra 7 265HX is the only rational choice. The i5-14490F remains a viable desktop CPU for basic tasks, but the recorded data provides no scenario where it outperforms the Ultra 7 265HX.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 265HX has 20 cores and 20 threads. The Intel Core i5-14490F has 10 cores and 16 threads. The Ultra 7 265HX has double the core count, while the i5-14490F has fewer cores but more threads than cores due to simultaneous multi-threading.

Q: What are the clock speed differences?

A: The i5-14490F has a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. The Ultra 7 265HX has a base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz. The Ultra 7 265HX is slightly higher in both metrics.

Q: Which CPU has a larger L3 cache?

A: The Ultra 7 265HX has 30 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i5-14490F has 24 MB. The Ultra 7 265HX also has larger per-core L1 (192 KB versus 80 KB) and L2 (3 MB versus 1.25 MB) caches.

Q: Do these CPUs support the same memory types?

A: No. The i5-14490F supports both DDR4 and DDR5. The Ultra 7 265HX supports only DDR5. Both use a dual-channel memory bus, but the Ultra 7 265HX has a recorded memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The Ultra 7 265HX includes Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 64 execution units. The i5-14490F has no integrated graphics (N/A).

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The i5-14490F has a TDP of 65 W, while the Ultra 7 265HX has a TDP of 55 W. The Ultra 7 265HX delivers significantly higher performance while drawing less power according to the TDP figures.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data presents a uniform picture: the Ultra 7 265HX wins every test, with deltas ranging from 13.9% to 70%. The largest single advantage appears in PassMark find prime numbers, where the Ultra 7 265HX scores 406 against 122 for the i5-14490F, a 70% gap. This test is highly sensitive to core count and cache, and the 20-core Arrow Lake part dominates.

In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Ultra 7 265HX scores 40642 versus 23000 for the i5-14490F, a 43.4% advantage. The same 43.4% delta appears across all Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core and single-core tests, indicating a consistent structural performance lead rather than a workload-specific anomaly. For example, Cinebench R15 multi-core shows 4096 versus 2318, and Cinebench R20 single-core shows 2409 versus 1363.

PassMark integer math shows a 30.8% gap (126954 versus 87844), while floating-point math shows a 58.8% gap (161605 versus 66558). Data compression shows a 33.6% gap (511817 versus 340026), and data encryption shows a 53.8% gap (39472 versus 18225). Extended instructions show a 46.7% gap (40741 versus 21731). Random string sorting shows a 43% gap (62458 versus 35608). Multithread score shows a 40.3% gap (47985 versus 28662). Physics shows a 29.7% gap (2978 versus 2093).

The narrowest gap is in PassMark single-thread, where the Ultra 7 265HX leads by 13.9% (4500 versus 3873). This confirms that even in purely single-threaded execution, the newer architecture's higher boost clock, larger caches, and 3 nm process deliver a measurable edge. The i5-14490F's best performance relative to the Ultra 7 265HX is still a loss, and the worst-case scenario for the Ultra 7 265HX is still a comfortable win.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every specification category. The i5-14490F is a 10-core, 16-thread desktop CPU on Intel Socket 1700 with a 65 W TDP. The Ultra 7 265HX is a 20-core, 20-thread mobile CPU on Intel BGA 2114 with a 55 W TDP. The i5-14490F uses the Raptor Lake-R architecture on Intel's 10 nm node, while the Ultra 7 265HX uses Arrow Lake-HX on TSMC's 3 nm node.

Clock speeds favor the Ultra 7 265HX: 2.60 GHz base and 5.30 GHz boost versus 2.50 GHz base and 5.00 GHz boost. The Ultra 7 265HX has 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die, while the i5-14490F has no transistor count recorded and a 215 mm² die. Cache sizes are uniformly larger on the Ultra 7 265HX: 192 KB L1 per core versus 80 KB, 3 MB L2 per core versus 1.25 MB, and 30 MB shared L3 versus 24 MB.

Memory support and bandwidth differ: the i5-14490F supports DDR4 and DDR5, while the Ultra 7 265HX supports only DDR5. The Ultra 7 265HX records 102.4 GB/s memory bandwidth; the i5-14490F has no such figure. Both use dual-channel buses. ECC memory is not supported by either. PCIe lanes favor the Ultra 7 265HX with Gen 5, 20 lanes versus Gen 5, 16 lanes on the i5-14490F.

Integrated graphics exist only on the Ultra 7 265HX (Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU). The i5-14490F has none. The multiplier is unlocked on the Ultra 7 265HX but locked on the i5-14490F. Release dates differ by over a year: the i5-14490F launched at the end of 2023, the Ultra 7 265HX in early 2025. Neither processor has a recorded launch MSRP. Both are marked as Active in production. The part numbers are SRN35 for the i5-14490F and SRVFH for the Ultra 7 265HX.