Intel Core i5-14490F vs Intel Core Ultra 9 285T Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data delivers a definitive verdict: the Intel Core Ultra 9 285T wins all 17 recorded head-to-head comparisons. The Intel Core i5-14490F records zero wins in the database. This is not a marginal victory; the margin is substantial across both synthetic render workloads and PassMark's computational tests.

The Cinebench suite shows a consistent performance gap. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Ultra 9 285T scores 33573 against 23000 for the i5-14490F, a 31.5% advantage. The single-core result in R23 follows the same pattern: 4739 versus 3247, again a 31.5% delta. Cinebench R20 multi-core sees the Ultra 9 at 14100 versus 9660, and R20 single-core lands at 1990 versus 1363. The same 31.5% delta persists across R15 multi-core (3384 vs 2318) and R15 single-core (477 vs 327). The consistency of this percentage across the entire Cinebench lineage indicates a structural advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk.

PassMark's integer math test shows the Ultra 9 285T scoring 132433, a 33.7% lead over the i5-14490F's 87844. Floating-point math swings even harder: 137923 versus 66558, a 51.7% margin. The largest single delta in the entire dataset is in prime number finding, where the Ultra 9 285T scores 345 versus 122, a 64.6% advantage. Data encryption shows a 43.2% gap (32061 vs 18225), while extended instructions land at 27477 versus 21731, a 20.9% lead.

The compression workload is the closest contest in the dataset. The Ultra 9 285T scores 384140 against 340026, an 11.5% advantage. This is the narrowest delta recorded, suggesting that the i5-14490F's architecture remains competitive in memory-bound compression tasks. Random string sorting shows a 25.3% gap (47695 vs 35608), and the multithread PassMark score sits at 39931 versus 28662, a 28.2% difference. Physics scores 2842 versus 2093, a 26.4% lead for the Ultra 9.

Single-thread PassMark results show a 15.4% advantage for the Ultra 9 285T: 4576 versus 3873. This is the second-smallest delta in the dataset, behind only data compression. The i5-14490F's high boost clock helps narrow the single-thread gap, but it cannot overcome the newer architecture's per-core efficiency.

Where Each One Wins

The data shows no workload category where the Intel Core i5-14490F takes the lead. Every recorded benchmark, from render workloads to encryption to integer math, favors the Intel Core Ultra 9 285T. The i5-14490F's closest relative performance appears in data compression, where the 11.5% gap is the smallest, and in single-threaded PassMark tests, where the 15.4% delta reflects its strong per-core clock behavior.

The Ultra 9 285T's dominance is most pronounced in compute-heavy floating-point and prime-number workloads. A 51.7% lead in floating-point math and a 64.6% lead in prime finding indicate a substantial advantage in scientific and mathematical processing. Encryption also favors the Ultra 9 heavily at 43.2%, which matters for security-sensitive tasks. The 33.7% integer math lead reinforces the pattern across general computational workloads.

For users running Cinebench-style render tasks, the Ultra 9 285T delivers a uniform 31.5% improvement across every version of the benchmark. The i5-14490F remains a functional desktop processor, but the database shows it trailing in every measured category. The average benchmark score tells the same story: 51310 for the Ultra 9 285T versus 38149 for the i5-14490F.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel design generations. The i5-14490F uses Raptor Lake architecture on the Raptor Lake-R refresh, built on Intel's 10 nm process with a 215 mm² die. The Ultra 9 285T uses Arrow Lake architecture on the Arrow Lake-S design, fabricated by TSMC on a 3 nm process with a 243 mm² die and 17,800 million transistors.

Core configuration differs sharply. The i5-14490F has 10 cores and 16 threads, which indicates a hybrid layout with performance and efficiency cores. The Ultra 9 285T has 24 cores and 24 threads, meaning it does not use simultaneous multithreading; each core contributes exactly one thread. The cache hierarchy reflects this scale difference. The i5-14490F carries 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3. The Ultra 9 285T has 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 36 MB of shared L3.

Memory support also diverges. The i5-14490F supports both DDR4 and DDR5 in dual-channel configuration. The Ultra 9 285T supports DDR5 only, also dual-channel, but records a memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s in the database. ECC memory is supported on the Ultra 9 285T but not on the i5-14490F.

The Ultra 9 285T includes integrated graphics in the form of Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU, while the i5-14490F has no integrated graphics at all, which is consistent with the "F" suffix in its name. PCIe connectivity also differs: the i5-14490F provides Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes, while the Ultra 9 285T provides Gen 5 with 20 CPU lanes.

The sockets are incompatible. The i5-14490F uses Intel Socket 1700, while the Ultra 9 285T uses Intel Socket 1851. Both processors have locked multipliers, so neither supports unlocked overclocking. The production status for both is listed as Active.

Specification Differences

The recorded specifications show a clear generational split. The i5-14490F has a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. The Ultra 9 285T has a lower base clock of 1.40 GHz but a higher boost clock of 5.40 GHz. The power envelope is dramatically different: the i5-14490F has a 65 W TDP, while the Ultra 9 285T has a 35 W TDP despite having 14 more cores and 8 more threads.

Core and thread counts differ as described above: 10 cores and 16 threads for the i5-14490F versus 24 cores and 24 threads for the Ultra 9 285T. The process node shows 10 nm for Intel versus 3 nm for TSMC. The foundry is Intel for the i5-14490F and TSMC for the Ultra 9 285T. The die size is 215 mm² versus 243 mm².

Both processors use dual-channel memory, but the i5-14490F supports DDR4 and DDR5 while the Ultra 9 285T supports DDR5 exclusively. The Ultra 9 285T records 102.4 GB/s memory bandwidth; the i5-14490F has no bandwidth figure in the database. ECC support is present on the Ultra 9 285T and absent on the i5-14490F. The i5-14490F has no integrated graphics; the Ultra 9 285T includes Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU. PCIe lanes differ at 16 versus 20, both Gen 5.

The release dates are distinct: the i5-14490F launched on 2023-12-31, while the Ultra 9 285T launched on 2025-01-06. The launch MSRP for the Ultra 9 285T is $549; the i5-14490F has no launch MSRP recorded. Part numbers are SRN35 for the i5-14490F and SRQD3 for the Ultra 9 285T.

The percentile rankings reinforce the performance gap. The i5-14490F sits at the 86th percentile among all CPUs, while the Ultra 9 285T sits at the 91st. The nearest rivals for the i5-14490F include the Intel Core Ultra 5 245T at 38194 average score (0.1% behind) and the Intel Core i5-13600KF at 38103 (0.1% ahead). The Ultra 9 285T's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i9-14900T at 51015 (0.6% ahead) and the AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT at 50718 (1.2% ahead).

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 285T has 24 cores and 24 threads. The Intel Core i5-14490F has 10 cores and 16 threads.

Q: What is the performance gap in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Ultra 9 285T scores 33573 versus 23000 for the i5-14490F, a 31.5% advantage for the Ultra 9.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 285T supports ECC memory. The Intel Core i5-14490F does not.

Q: Do both processors have integrated graphics?

A: No. The Ultra 9 285T includes Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU. The i5-14490F has no integrated graphics.

Q: What is the largest benchmark delta between the two?

A: The largest delta is in PassMark find prime numbers, where the Ultra 9 285T scores 345 versus 122, a 64.6% advantage.

Q: How does the TDP compare between the two processors?

A: The i5-14490F has a 65 W TDP. The Ultra 9 285T has a 35 W TDP despite having more cores and a higher boost clock.

Q: Which socket does each processor use?

A: The i5-14490F uses Intel Socket 1700. The Ultra 9 285T uses Intel Socket 1851.