Intel Core i5-14500 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 235T Comparison

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235T and Intel Core i5-14500 are two 14-core desktop processors that land within 0.1% of each other in average benchmark score, making them direct competitors despite belonging to different Intel generations. The Ultra 5 235T, built on Arrow Lake, and the i5-14500, a Raptor Lake Refresh part, both target the 65 W desktop segment but achieve their performance through fundamentally different designs. Benchmark results reveal a split personality: the Core Ultra 5 235T dominates in most compute workloads, while the Core i5-14500 counters decisively in specific data-processing tasks.

FAQ

Q: How do the two processors compare in overall average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 235T averages 38,561 points, while the Intel Core i5-14500 averages 38,531 points. The Ultra 5 235T leads by a marginal 0.1%, placing both in the 86th percentile of all CPUs.

Q: Which processor wins the Cinebench R23 multi-core test?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 235T scores 26,232 versus 15,012 for the Core i5-14500, a substantial 74.7% advantage. This is the largest multi-core margin in the head-to-head data.

Q: Does the Core i5-14500 win any benchmark categories?

A: Yes, the Core i5-14500 wins three tests: PassMark data compression (371,294 vs 295,100, a 20.5% lead), integer math (108,124 vs 84,244, a 22.1% lead), and random string sorting (40,980 vs 35,377, a 13.7% lead).

Q: What is the difference in single-core Cinebench R23 performance?

A: The Ultra 5 235T scores 3,703 versus 1,917 for the i5-14500, representing a 93.2% advantage. This is the largest single-core delta in the entire comparison.

Q: Are both processors unlocked for overclocking?

A: No. Both the Intel Core Ultra 5 235T and the Intel Core i5-14500 have the multiplier unlocked field set to false, meaning neither is multiplier-unlocked.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Core i5-14500 supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 235T does not. Both support DDR5, but only the i5-14500 also supports DDR4.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent distinct architectural generations with divergent design philosophies. The Intel Core Ultra 5 235T uses the Arrow Lake architecture, specifically the Arrow Lake-S die, manufactured on a 3 nm process at TSMC. In contrast, the Intel Core i5-14500 is built on the Raptor Lake architecture (Raptor Lake-R) using Intel's 10 nm process. This process difference is significant: the 3 nm node enables a transistor count of 17,800 million on a 243 mm² die, while the i5-14500's 10 nm node has a smaller 215 mm² die with no transistor count listed in the data.

Core and thread configurations reveal a key divergence. Both processors have 14 cores, but the Ultra 5 235T implements 14 threads (one per core), while the i5-14500 implements 20 threads, indicating Hyper-Threading support on the latter. This means the i5-14500 can process more concurrent threads, yet the benchmark data shows the Ultra 5 235T generally outperforms it in multi-threaded workloads, suggesting the Arrow Lake cores are substantially more efficient per thread.

Cache hierarchies differ markedly. The Ultra 5 235T features 192 KB of L1 cache per core and 3 MB of L2 cache per core, while the i5-14500 has 80 KB of L1 and 1.25 MB of L2 per core. Both share 24 MB of L3 cache. The larger per-core caches on the Ultra 5 235T likely contribute to its single-core performance advantage.

Memory support and platform features separate the two. The Ultra 5 235T supports only DDR5 with dual-channel memory and a listed bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s, while the i5-14500 supports both DDR4 and DDR5 with dual-channel memory (no bandwidth figure listed). The i5-14500 also supports ECC memory, a feature absent from the Ultra 5 235T. PCIe connectivity differs: the Ultra 5 235T provides Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only), while the i5-14500 provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics also differ, with the Ultra 5 235T using Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 24EU and the i5-14500 using UHD Graphics 770.

The socket and platform requirements are incompatible. The Ultra 5 235T uses Intel Socket 1851, while the i5-14500 uses Intel Socket 1700. Both are active production parts, but the Ultra 5 235T launched on 2025-01-06, approximately one year after the i5-14500's 2024-01-07 release date.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark comparison shows the Intel Core Ultra 5 235T winning 14 of 17 tests, with the Core i5-14500 taking three. The magnitude of the wins varies enormously, from razor-thin margins to dominant blowouts.

Cinebench results strongly favor the Ultra 5 235T. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Ultra 5 235T scores 2,644 versus 2,435, an 8.6% lead. The single-core R15 test shows a 36.6% advantage (373 vs 273). Cinebench R20 narrows the gap: multi-core yields 11,017 versus 10,985, just 0.3% apart, and single-core shows 1,555 versus 1,550, also 0.3%. The Cinebench R23 results are where the Ultra 5 235T separates decisively: multi-core scores 26,232 against 15,012 (a 74.7% lead), and single-core scores 3,703 against 1,917 (a 93.2% lead). These R23 numbers suggest the Ultra 5 235T's architecture scales far better under sustained multi-threaded rendering loads.

PassMark results paint a more nuanced picture. The Ultra 5 235T wins data encryption (23,457 vs 21,457, 9.3%), extended instructions (23,212 vs 22,473, 3.3%), find prime numbers (318 vs 106, a 200% lead), floating point math (106,546 vs 79,576, 33.9%), physics (2,157 vs 1,746, 23.5%), single-thread (4,339 vs 3,952, 9.8%), and multithread (30,918 vs 30,777, 0.5%). The 200% lead in prime number finding is the largest percentage delta in any test, highlighting a dramatic efficiency advantage in integer-heavy algorithmic workloads.

The Core i5-14500's wins are concentrated in data manipulation tasks. Data compression favors the i5-14500 at 371,294 versus 295,100, a 20.5% lead. Integer math shows the i5-14500 ahead at 108,124 versus 84,244, a 22.1% margin. Random string sorting goes to the i5-14500 with 40,980 versus 35,377, a 13.7% advantage. These results indicate the i5-14500's higher thread count (20 vs 14) and potentially different instruction scheduling give it an edge in memory-intensive, branch-heavy workloads.

The average benchmark scores place both within 0.1% of each other (38,561 vs 38,531), and the nearest rivals list confirms their proximity. The Xeon w3-2525 sits 0.4% behind the Ultra 5 235T, and the Core 9 270H trails by 0.6%, while the Core Ultra 9 285H is 0.7% behind. This clustering shows that both processors occupy the same performance tier, despite the Ultra 5 235T's decisive wins in specific Cinebench tests.

The Verdict

The data indicates the Intel Core Ultra 5 235T is the superior processor for most compute-oriented workloads. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 26,232 versus 15,012 represents a 74.7% advantage, and the single-core R23 result of 3,703 versus 1,917 shows a 93.2% lead. For users running rendering, scientific computing, or any application that leverages Cinebench-style workloads, the Ultra 5 235T is the clear choice. The 200% lead in prime number finding and 33.9% lead in floating point math further cement its position for mathematical and physics-based computations.

The Intel Core i5-14500, however, is not without merit. Its 20.5% lead in data compression, 22.1% lead in integer math, and 13.7% lead in random string sorting suggest it handles data-heavy, branch-predictable workloads more effectively. For applications involving file compression, database operations, or sorting algorithms, the i5-14500's higher thread count and cache configuration provide measurable benefits. The i5-14500 also offers ECC memory support, a feature absent from the Ultra 5 235T, which may be a deciding factor for reliability-focused workstation builds.

Platform considerations may outweigh raw performance for some users. The Ultra 5 235T requires Socket 1851 and DDR5-only memory, while the i5-14500 fits Socket 1700 and supports both DDR4 and DDR5. The i5-14500's ECC support and broader memory compatibility make it more flexible for legacy systems or memory-intensive applications. Conversely, the Ultra 5 235T's larger per-core caches (192 KB L1 and 3 MB L2 vs 80 KB L1 and 1.25 MB L2) and 20 PCIe Gen 5 lanes (vs 16) offer advantages for high-throughput I/O scenarios.

In the overall average benchmark score, the difference is negligible at 0.1%, and both processors hold the 86th percentile ranking. Users should select based on workload profile: the Ultra 5 235T for single-thread and render performance, the i5-14500 for data compression and ECC requirements. The Ultra 5 235T wins 14 of 17 head-to-head tests, but the i5-14500's three wins are substantial in their respective domains.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core Ultra 5 235T | Intel Core i5-14500 |

|---|---|---|

| Series | Core Ultra Series 2 | Core 14th Gen |

| Threads | 14 | 20 |

| Base Clock | 2.20 GHz | 2.60 GHz |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1851 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Architecture | Arrow Lake | Raptor Lake |

| Codename | Arrow Lake-S | Raptor Lake-R |

| Generation | Ultra 5 (Arrow Lake) | Core i5 (Raptor Lake Refresh) |

| Process Node | 3 nm | 10 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Transistors | 17,800 million | Not listed |

| Die Size | 243 mm² | 215 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 192 KB (per core) | 80 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 3 MB (per core) | 1.25 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 24 MB (shared) | 24 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR5 | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 102.4 GB/s | Not listed |

| ECC Memory | false | true |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 20 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 24EU | UHD Graphics 770 |

| Release Date | 2025-01-06 | 2024-01-07 |

| Launch MSRP | $247 | $232 |

| Part Number | SRQES | SRN3T |