Intel Core i5-14490F vs Intel Core Ultra 7 266V Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a decisive overall victory for the Intel Core i5-14490F, which wins 14 of the 17 recorded comparisons. The Intel Core Ultra 7 266V takes only 3 wins, and two of those are the same PassMark single-thread test recorded under slightly different names.

The most lopsided result appears in PassMark integer math, where the i5-14490F scores 87,844 against the Ultra 7's 41,558. That is a 111.4% advantage, the largest margin in the entire comparison. Data compression also heavily favors the desktop chip: 340,026 versus 187,050, a gap of 81.8%. These two tests are particularly telling because they reflect workloads that scale with core count and memory bandwidth, both areas where the i5-14490F holds structural advantages.

The Cinebench results are remarkably consistent. Across R15, R20, and R23, the multicore and singlecore tests all show the i5-14490F ahead by roughly 39%. For example, Cinebench R23 multicore scores 23,000 for the i5-14490F and 16,544 for the Ultra 7, a 39% lead. The singlecore R23 result is 3,247 versus 2,335, again a 39.1% margin. This uniformity suggests the performance gap is not workload-specific but rather a general throughput advantage.

The Ultra 7 266V's wins are narrower. It edges out the i5-14490F in PassMark single-thread scoring, 3,943 to 3,873, a 1.8% margin. That is a modest but real advantage in lightly threaded, latency-sensitive tasks. The other win is in PassMark find prime numbers, where the Ultra 7 scores 191 against the i5's 122. That 36.1% improvement is substantial and indicates the Lunar Lake architecture handles this particular integer workload more efficiently per clock.

Several mid-range tests show smaller but still meaningful margins. Random string sorting goes to the i5-14490F by 55.5% (35,608 versus 22,905). Multithreaded PassMark shows a 47.3% lead (28,662 versus 19,461). Extended instructions favor the i5-14490F by 36.4% (21,731 versus 15,928). Data encryption is 31.9% ahead (18,225 versus 13,822), and physics simulation is 30.2% ahead (2,093 versus 1,608). Floating point math is the closest of the i5-14490F's wins, at 16.9% (66,558 versus 56,923).

The average benchmark score tells the same story. The i5-14490F sits at 38,149, which places it in the 86th percentile of all CPUs in the database. The Ultra 7 266V averages 23,297, good for the 76th percentile. The i5-14490F's nearest rivals in the database include the Intel Core Ultra 5 245T (38,194, a 0.1% difference), the Intel Core i5-13600KF (38,103, 0.1% difference), and the AMD Ryzen 7 250 (38,221, 0.2% difference). The Ultra 7 266V sits near the AMD Ryzen 7 5800H (23,277, 0.1% difference) and the Intel Core i9-11900F (23,254, 0.2% difference). In short, the i5-14490F competes with mid-range desktop parts from the current generation, while the Ultra 7 266V lands in the same performance class as several-year-old high-end mobile and desktop chips.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i5-14490F averages 38,149 across all recorded benchmarks, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 266V averages 23,297. The i5-14490F also ranks higher in the database, sitting at the 86th percentile of all CPUs compared to the Ultra 7's 76th percentile.

Q: Does the Intel Core Ultra 7 266V win any benchmark?

A: Yes. It wins PassMark single-thread with a score of 3,943 versus 3,873, a 1.8% margin, and PassMark find prime numbers with 191 versus 122, a 36.1% margin.

Q: How large is the Cinebench performance gap?

A: Across all Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 tests, the i5-14490F leads by approximately 39%. The multicore R23 scores are 23,000 for the i5-14490F and 16,544 for the Ultra 7, a 39% difference, and the singlecore R23 scores are 3,247 and 2,335, a 39.1% difference.

Q: What is the biggest single benchmark advantage for either processor?

A: The largest margin is in PassMark integer math, where the i5-14490F scores 87,844 against the Ultra 7's 41,558, a 111.4% advantage. The largest Ultra 7 win is PassMark find prime numbers at 36.1%.

Q: How do the two processors compare in memory bandwidth?

A: The Ultra 7 266V lists a memory bandwidth of 136.5 GB/s with LPDDR5X support. The i5-14490F supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, but no bandwidth figure is recorded for it in the database.

Q: What are the nearest rivals for each processor in the database?

A: The i5-14490F's closest rivals are the Intel Core Ultra 5 245T (average score 38,194, 0.1% higher), the Intel Core i5-13600KF (38,103, 0.1% lower), and the AMD Ryzen 7 250 (38,221, 0.2% higher). The Ultra 7 266V's closest rivals are the AMD Ryzen 7 5800H (23,277, 0.1% higher), the Intel Core i9-11900F (23,254, 0.2% higher), and the Intel Core Ultra 9 288V (23,219, 0.3% higher).

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from entirely different design lineages. The Intel Core i5-14490F uses the Raptor Lake architecture, specifically the Raptor Lake-R refresh, built on Intel's 10 nm process with a die size of 215 mm². It is a desktop part on Intel Socket 1700. The Intel Core Ultra 7 266V uses the Lunar Lake architecture and is manufactured by TSMC on a 3 nm process. It is a mobile processor on Intel BGA 2833.

Core organization differs substantially. The i5-14490F has 10 cores and 16 threads, meaning it uses hyper-threading to present 16 logical processors. The Ultra 7 266V has 8 cores and 8 threads, with no hyper-threading. Cache layouts also differ. 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 266V has 192 KB of L1 per core, 2.5 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The Ultra 7 thus has larger per-core caches but half the total L3.

Both processors have dual-channel memory buses, but the supported memory types differ. The i5-14490F supports DDR4 and DDR5, while the Ultra 7 266V supports LPDDR5X with a recorded bandwidth of 136.5 GB/s. PCIe connectivity also differs: the i5-14490F provides Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes, while the Ultra 7 266V provides Gen 5 with only 4 CPU lanes.

The integrated graphics situation is a major differentiator. The i5-14490F has no integrated graphics ("N/A" in the database), so it requires a discrete GPU for display output. The Ultra 7 266V includes the Arc 140V integrated GPU. Both processors have locked multipliers, so neither supports unlocked overclocking.

Release timing is also split. The i5-14490F was released at the end of 2023, while the Ultra 7 266V appeared in late September 2024. Both are listed as active production parts.

Specification Differences

The core counts differ: the i5-14490F has 10 cores and 16 threads, while the Ultra 7 266V has 8 cores and 8 threads. Base clocks also differ, with the i5-14490F at 2.50 GHz and the Ultra 7 at 2.20 GHz, though both boost to 5.00 GHz.

Thermal design power is dramatically different. The i5-14490F has a 65 W TDP, while the Ultra 7 266V has a 17 W TDP. That makes the Ultra 7 a much lower-power part, suited to thin-and-light mobile systems.

The process node and foundry differ: the i5-14490F uses Intel's 10 nm process, while the Ultra 7 266V uses TSMC's 3 nm process. The die size is recorded only for the i5-14490F at 215 mm²; no die size is listed for the Ultra 7.

Cache structures differ as described above: 80 KB L1 per core and 1.25 MB L2 per core for the i5-14490F, versus 192 KB L1 per core and 2.5 MB L2 per core for the Ultra 7. Shared L3 is 24 MB for the i5-14490F and 12 MB for the Ultra 7.

Memory support differs: DDR4 and DDR5 for the i5-14490F, LPDDR5X for the Ultra 7. The Ultra 7 has a recorded memory bandwidth of 136.5 GB/s, while no bandwidth figure exists for the i5-14490F. PCIe lanes differ as well: 16 CPU lanes for the i5-14490F versus 4 CPU lanes for the Ultra 7, both Gen 5.

The integrated GPU is absent on the i5-14490F and present as the Arc 140V on the Ultra 7. Sockets, market segments, and release dates all differ as noted in the architecture section. Part numbers are SRN35 for the i5-14490F and SRPMMSRPMY for the Ultra 7.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-14490F is the clear winner in heavily threaded productivity workloads. Its 16 threads and 24 MB of L3 cache drive large margins in integer math (111.4%), data compression (81.8%), random string sorting (55.5%), and multithreaded PassMark (47.3%). It also leads in every Cinebench test, both multicore and singlecore, by roughly 39%. For rendering, encoding, compilation, and other workloads that use all available cores, the data places the i5-14490F firmly ahead.

The i5-14490F also wins in encryption workloads, scoring 18,225 versus 13,822 (31.9%), and in physics simulation, 2,093 versus 1,608 (30.2%). Floating point math goes to the i5-14490F by 16.9%. These results indicate that the desktop chip's combination of more threads, larger L3 cache, and higher base clock translates into broad application-level advantages.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 266V wins in two specific areas. Its PassMark single-thread score of 3,943 is 1.8% above the i5-14490F's 3,873, which points to slightly better lightly threaded performance. The larger per-core L1 and L2 caches (192 KB and 2.5 MB versus 80 KB and 1.25 MB) likely contribute here. Its other win, PassMark find prime numbers at 191 versus 122 (36.1%), suggests an efficiency advantage in that particular integer workload.

The Ultra 7 also has structural advantages that the benchmark suite does not fully capture. Its 17 W TDP is far below the i5-14490F's 65 W, making it suited to systems where power draw and heat are primary constraints. Its integrated Arc 140V GPU means it can drive displays without a discrete graphics card, which the i5-14490F cannot do. The Ultra 7's 136.5 GB/s memory bandwidth with LPDDR5X also gives it a memory throughput advantage in mobile form factors.

The Verdict

The recorded data makes the performance hierarchy clear. The Intel Core i5-14490F is the stronger processor in nearly every benchmark, with an average score of 38,149 compared to 23,297 for the Intel Core Ultra 7 266V. Its 86th percentile ranking versus the Ultra 7's 76th percentile confirms that the desktop chip sits in a higher performance class overall.

Users who prioritize raw compute throughput should look to the i5-14490F. It delivers roughly 39% higher Cinebench scores across the board, more than doubles the integer math performance, and leads by over 80% in data compression. It also supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory and provides 16 PCIe Gen 5 lanes, making it the more expandable desktop platform. The lack of integrated graphics is a limitation, but for systems that pair the processor with a discrete GPU, the i5-14490F offers substantially higher compute performance.

Users who need a low-power mobile processor should consider the Ultra 7 266V. Its 17 W TDP is less than a third of the i5-14490F's 65 W, and its integrated Arc 140V GPU removes the need for a separate graphics card. It also edges out the i5-14490F in PassMark single-thread performance and in the find prime numbers test. For thin-and-light laptops where battery life and thermals matter more than peak multicore performance, the Ultra 7 266V is the appropriate choice.

Neither processor is unlocked, so overclocking is not a deciding factor. Both are active production parts. The i5-14490F is a desktop compute powerhouse, while the Ultra 7 266V is a mobile efficiency part with a small but real single-thread edge. The benchmark data supports the conclusion that these are designed for different roles, and the performance gap reflects that division of purpose.