Intel Core i5-14500 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 225T Comparison

The Intel Core i5-14500 and the Intel Core Ultra 5 225T present two very different interpretations of a 65-watt desktop processor. The benchmark data shows a clear split: the i5-14500 wins 9 of 17 head-to-head tests with an average benchmark score of 38531, while the Ultra 5 225T wins 8 tests with an average score of 30468. The i5-14500 achieves an 86th percentile ranking among all CPUs, while the Ultra 5 225T sits at the 82nd percentile. Neither processor holds a universal advantage; instead, the data reveals that each chip is optimized for distinct workloads, making the choice heavily dependent on the intended use case.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-14500 establishes dominance in multi-threaded throughput and data-heavy integer workloads. Its most decisive victory comes in Passmark integer math, where it scores 108124 against 59543 for the Ultra 5 225T, a massive 81.6% advantage. Data compression shows a similar pattern, with the i5-14500 posting 371294 versus 233998, a 58.7% lead. Passmark multithread results confirm this trend, showing 30777 for the i5-14500 against 25358 for the Ultra 5 225T, a 21.4% margin. The older chip also wins in random string sorting by 42.4% (40980 vs 28774) and in data encryption by 17.3% (21457 vs 18289). In Cinebench R20 multicore, the i5-14500 leads with 10985 versus 9227, a 19.1% advantage, and in Cinebench R15 multicore it wins by 10% (2435 vs 2214).

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T counters with superior single-thread performance and specific computational strengths. Its largest win is in Passmark find prime numbers, scoring 284 against 106, a 62.7% lead. In Cinebench R23, the Ultra 5 225T wins both multicore and single-core tests decisively: it scores 21971 versus 15012 in multicore (a 31.7% lead) and 3101 versus 1917 in single-core (a 38.2% lead). The chip also takes Passmark physics (2053 vs 1746, a 15% lead), Passmark single-thread (4348 vs 3952, a 9.1% lead), and Passmark floating point math (82751 vs 79576, a 3.8% lead). The Cinebench R15 single-core test goes to the Ultra 5 225T by 12.5% (312 vs 273), though the R20 single-core test is won by the i5-14500 by 19% (1550 vs 1302).

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design eras. The Intel Core i5-14500 uses Raptor Lake architecture on a 10 nm process node, built by Intel's own foundry. It features 14 cores and 20 threads, combining performance and efficiency cores. The die size measures 215 mm². The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T uses the newer Arrow Lake architecture on a 3 nm process node, manufactured by TSMC. It has 10 cores and 10 threads, with a die size of 243 mm² and a transistor count of 17,800 million. The Arrow Lake design relies on a larger physical die but a much smaller process node, allowing for a different core layout.

Cache hierarchies differ substantially. The i5-14500 provides 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The Ultra 5 225T provides 192 KB of L1 cache per core, 3 MB of L2 cache per core, and 20 MB of shared L3 cache. This gives the newer chip significantly more per-core cache, which explains its strong single-thread performance. Memory support also differs: the i5-14500 supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the Ultra 5 225T supports only DDR5. The Ultra 5 225T offers a rated memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s, while the i5-14500 has no such figure recorded. The i5-14500 supports ECC memory, a feature absent on the Ultra 5 225T.

The processors use different sockets. The i5-14500 fits Intel Socket 1700, while the Ultra 5 225T uses Intel Socket 1851. PCIe connectivity differs as well: the i5-14500 provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the Ultra 5 225T provides Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics also diverge: the i5-14500 uses UHD Graphics 770, while the Ultra 5 225T uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 16EU. Both processors have locked multipliers, meaning no overclocking. The i5-14500 was released on 2024-01-07 with a launch MSRP of $232, while the Ultra 5 225T was released on 2024-12-31 with no recorded MSRP.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i5-14500 has 14 cores and 20 threads. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T has 10 cores and 10 threads.

Q: How do the two compare in Cinebench R23 multicore performance?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T wins decisively, scoring 21971 against 15012 for the i5-14500, a 31.7% advantage.

Q: Which processor is better for integer-heavy workloads?

A: The Intel Core i5-14500 dominates in Passmark integer math with a score of 108124 versus 59543 for the Ultra 5 225T, an 81.6% lead.

Q: Do both processors support DDR5 memory?

A: Yes, both support DDR5. The i5-14500 also supports DDR4, while the Ultra 5 225T supports only DDR5.

Q: What is the process node difference between the two?

A: The i5-14500 uses a 10 nm process node from Intel, while the Ultra 5 225T uses a 3 nm process node from TSMC.

Q: Which processor has a higher single-thread score in Passmark?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T scores 4348 in Passmark single-thread, compared to 3952 for the i5-14500, a 9.1% lead.

Specification Differences

The recorded specifications show clear differences across nearly every category. The i5-14500 offers 14 cores and 20 threads, while the Ultra 5 225T offers 10 cores and 10 threads. Base clocks are similar, with the i5-14500 at 2.60 GHz and the Ultra 5 225T at 2.50 GHz, but boost clocks are also close: 5.00 GHz versus 4.90 GHz. Both have a TDP of 65. The i5-14500 uses Socket 1700, while the Ultra 5 225T uses Socket 1851. The i5-14500 is built on a 10 nm process by Intel, while the Ultra 5 225T uses a 3 nm process by TSMC. The die size favors the i5-14500 at 215 mm², while the Ultra 5 225T is larger at 243 mm², with the latter having a recorded transistor count of 17,800 million.

Cache configurations diverge sharply. The i5-14500 has 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and 24 MB shared L3. The Ultra 5 225T has 192 KB L1 per core, 3 MB L2 per core, and 20 MB shared L3. Memory support sees the i5-14500 accept DDR4 and DDR5, while the Ultra 5 225T accepts only DDR5. The Ultra 5 225T has a recorded memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s, while the i5-14500 has none listed. ECC memory is supported only on the i5-14500. PCIe lanes differ, with the i5-14500 offering 16 Gen 5 lanes and the Ultra 5 225T offering 20 Gen 5 lanes. Integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 770 on the i5-14500 and Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 16EU on the Ultra 5 225T. The release dates differ by nearly a year, and the i5-14500 has a launch MSRP of $232, while the Ultra 5 225T has none recorded.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single benchmark margin belongs to the i5-14500 in Passmark integer math, where it leads by 81.6%. This result aligns with the i5-14500's higher core and thread count, which favors parallel integer operations. The second-largest margin is also for the i5-14500, in data compression, at 58.7%. These two workloads, plus random string sorting at 42.4%, show a consistent pattern of the older chip handling data manipulation tasks with far greater efficiency.

The Ultra 5 225T counters with a 62.7% win in Passmark find prime numbers, a task that benefits from the newer architecture's per-core cache. Its Cinebench R23 wins are also substantial: 31.7% in multicore and 38.2% in single-core. The Cinebench R23 results are notable because they contradict the R15 and R20 multicore results, where the i5-14500 wins. This suggests the R23 workload scales differently with the Ultra 5 225T's architecture. In single-core tests, the Ultra 5 225T wins Passmark single-thread (9.1%), Cinebench R15 (12.5%), and Cinebench R23 (38.2%), but loses Cinebench R20 single-core by 19%.

The remaining wins are split. The i5-14500 takes Passmark multithread (21.4%), data encryption (17.3%), and extended instructions (11.9%). The Ultra 5 225T takes Passmark physics (15%) and floating point math (3.8%). The average benchmark scores place the i5-14500 at 38531, with its nearest rival being the Intel Core Ultra 5 235T at 38561, a 0.1% difference. The Ultra 5 225T averages 30468, with the Intel Core i5-13600H at 30548 as a close rival, showing a 0.3% gap.

The Verdict

The data points to two distinct profiles. The Intel Core i5-14500 is the choice for users whose workloads involve heavy multi-threading, large data sets, integer math, compression, and encryption. Its wins in Passmark multithread, integer math, and data compression, combined with its 14-core, 20-thread configuration, make it the stronger all-around parallel processor. The 86th percentile ranking and higher average score of 38531 confirm its broader appeal across the benchmark suite.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T is the better option for single-thread responsiveness and specific computational tasks. Its wins in Cinebench R23, Passmark find prime numbers, and Passmark single-thread, along with its larger per-core cache, indicate an architecture tuned for latency-sensitive and scalar workloads. The 82nd percentile ranking and lower average score of 30468 show that while it excels in certain areas, it does not match the i5-14500's overall range. The choice depends on which benchmark categories matter more: the i5-14500 for integer and data-heavy parallel tasks, or the Ultra 5 225T for single-thread and prime-number-focused workloads.