Intel Core i5-14490F vs Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX Comparison

Intel Core i5-14490F and Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX represent two distinct generations and market segments within Intel's lineup. The data shows a decisive overall victory for the Ultra 9 275HX, winning 16 out of 17 head-to-head comparisons, with the i5-14490F securing a single win. However, the nature of those victories reveals a clear split between raw multi-threaded throughput and specific single-threaded workloads.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX dominates in nearly every multi-threaded and throughput-oriented benchmark. This includes all Cinebench multi-core tests, where its advantage ranges from 35.4% to 58.8% depending on the test version. The Ultra 9 also wins every PassMark workload, including integer math, floating point math, data compression, data encryption, extended instructions, prime number finding, random string sorting, and the multithreaded suite. Its physics score is 37.3% higher, indicating a substantial lead in simulated physics calculations. The single-threaded PassMark test also favors the Ultra 9, with a 17.8% higher score.

The Intel Core i5-14490F has exactly one area of supremacy: Cinebench R23 single-core. Here, it scores 3247 against the Ultra 9's 2204, a massive 47.3% advantage. This is an outlier in the data, as the Ultra 9 wins the older Cinebench R15 and R20 single-core tests by margins of 2.1% and 51.5% respectively. The i5-14490F's win in R23 single-core suggests a specific workload that favors its architecture, but it does not translate to other single-threaded tests.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different designs. The Core i5-14490F is a desktop part from the Core 14th Gen series, using the Raptor Lake architecture on a 10 nm process node manufactured by Intel. It features 10 cores and 16 threads, a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. Its cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The die size is 215 mm², and it uses the Intel Socket 1700. It supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, but does not have integrated graphics.

The Core Ultra 9 275HX is a mobile flagship from the Core Ultra Series 2, built on the Arrow Lake architecture with a 3 nm process node from TSMC. It has 24 cores and 24 threads, with a base clock of 2.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. It uses a larger die at 243 mm² and integrates 17,800 million transistors. Its cache is significantly larger: 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 36 MB of shared L3 cache. It is designed for the Intel BGA 2114 socket and supports only DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, with a memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s. It includes integrated Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 64 execution units, and its PCIe implementation offers Gen 5 with 20 lanes from the CPU.

The core count difference is the primary driver of the multi-threaded results. The Ultra 9 has 14 more cores, even though it lacks Hyper-Threading, resulting in 24 threads versus the i5's 16. The Ultra 9 also has a higher boost clock by 0.40 GHz and a substantially larger L3 cache. The process node difference (3 nm versus 10 nm) and the TSMC foundry versus Intel's own fabs point to different design philosophies and power characteristics, though the data does not include direct power measurements. The i5-14490F has a TDP of 65 watts, while the Ultra 9 has a TDP of 55 watts, making the higher-performing part also the one with the lower rated thermal envelope.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result is in Cinebench R23 single-core, where the i5-14490F wins with a score of 3247 versus 2204, a 47.3% delta. This is the only test the i5 wins and stands in contrast to its performance in other single-threaded tests. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the Ultra 9 wins narrowly at 334 versus 327, a 2.1% margin. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the Ultra 9 wins decisively at 2809 versus 1363, a 51.5% margin. The inconsistency between R20 and R23 single-core results suggests that the benchmark versions stress different instruction paths, with the i5-14490F's architecture having a specific advantage in the R23 workload.

In multi-core tests, the Ultra 9's lead grows with the workload's scaling. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 5619.5 against 2318, a 58.8% advantage. Cinebench R20 multi-core shows a 51.5% lead, with scores of 19899 and 9660. Cinebench R23 multi-core narrows the gap slightly to 35.4%, with 35589 versus 23000. The PassMark suite shows consistent Ultra 9 dominance. Floating point math shows a 65.2% lead (191186 versus 66558), while integer math shows a 43.4% lead (155218 versus 87844). Data compression favors the Ultra 9 by 44.1% (608381 versus 340026), and data encryption by 61.3% (47112 versus 18225). Extended instructions show a 53.8% lead (47016 versus 21731), and find prime numbers shows the largest gap at 72.8% (448 versus 122). The PassMark multithread score favors the Ultra 9 by 48.6% (55759 versus 28662), and physics by 37.3% (3338 versus 2093). Random string sorting is 52.1% higher for the Ultra 9 (74320 versus 35608). PassMark single-thread shows a 17.8% lead for the Ultra 9 (4713 versus 3873).

The average benchmark score reflects the overall picture. The Ultra 9 275HX has an average score of 67469, placing it in the 94th percentile of all CPUs. The i5-14490F has an average score of 38149, placing it in the 86th percentile. The nearest rivals for the Ultra 9 include the Intel Xeon w5-3525, AMD EPYC 4484PX, AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5955WX, and Intel Xeon 6515P, with average scores ranging from 67006 to 67868. The i5-14490F's nearest rivals include the Intel Core Ultra 5 245T, Intel Core i5-13600KF, AMD Ryzen 7 250, and Intel Core i5-13600HX, with average scores tightly clustered between 38103 and 38261.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous for multi-threaded workloads. The Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX is the superior processor for any task that scales across cores. Its 24 cores and 24 threads, combined with a higher boost clock and larger cache, deliver leads of 35% to over 70% across Cinebench multi-core and PassMark throughput tests. It also wins the standard single-threaded PassMark test and two of the three Cinebench single-core versions. Its 94th percentile ranking versus the i5's 86th percentile confirms its higher absolute performance class. The Ultra 9's nearest rivals are workstation and server-class chips, while the i5's rivals are mainstream desktop and mobile parts.

The Intel Core i5-14490F is the choice only for a narrow use case involving Cinebench R23 single-core performance, where it leads by 47.3%. Outside of that specific benchmark, it trails in every other measured category. Its lower core count and older architecture make it less competitive for rendering, data processing, and physics simulations. The i5 does have a lower TDP at 65 watts versus 55 watts for the Ultra 9, but the benchmark data does not include power consumption measurements, so a direct efficiency comparison cannot be made from these results. For users prioritizing raw multi-threaded performance, the Ultra 9 275HX is the clear winner. For users running only the specific R23 single-threaded workload, the i5-14490F holds a distinct advantage.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX has 24 cores and 24 threads. The Intel Core i5-14490F has 10 cores and 16 threads.

Q: What is the difference in their boost clock speeds?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX has a boost clock of 5.40 GHz, while the Intel Core i5-14490F has a boost clock of 5.00 GHz.

Q: In which benchmark does the Intel Core i5-14490F win?

A: The i5-14490F wins only in Cinebench R23 single-core, scoring 3247 versus the Ultra 9's 2204, a 47.3% advantage.

Q: How much faster is the Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Ultra 9 scores 35589 versus the i5's 23000, a 35.4% lead.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX includes integrated Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 64 execution units. The Intel Core i5-14490F has no integrated graphics.

Q: What are the average benchmark scores for each processor?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX has an average benchmark score of 67469, while the Intel Core i5-14490F has an average score of 38149.