Intel Core i5-14500 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 336H Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data splits these two processors along clear use-case lines. The Intel Core i5-14500, a desktop part with 14 cores and 20 threads, takes 8 of the 17 head-to-head tests. The Intel Core Ultra 5 336H, a mobile processor with 16 cores and 16 threads, wins 9. The split is not arbitrary; it follows workload type closely.

The i5-14500 dominates in traditional multi-threaded productivity and memory-heavy tasks. Its wins include Cinebench R15 multicore (2435 vs 2418), Cinebench R20 multicore (10985 vs 10076), PassMark data compression (371294 vs 280340), integer math (108124 vs 62070), multithread (30777 vs 28545), and random string sorting (40980 vs 34402). The margins are large in several cases, especially integer math at 74.2% ahead. This pattern suggests the i5-14500 excels in workloads that rely on high core counts with hyper-threading and substantial cache bandwidth.

The Ultra 5 336H wins in single-core responsiveness and specialized compute tasks. It takes Cinebench R15 singlecore (341 vs 273), Cinebench R23 singlecore (3387 vs 1917, a 43.4% gap), Cinebench R23 multicore (23991 vs 15012, a 37.4% gap), PassMark extended instructions (24542 vs 22473), prime number finding (299 vs 106), floating point math (82415 vs 79576), physics (2682 vs 1746), and PassMark single-thread (4013 vs 3952). The R23 multicore result is particularly striking: the Ultra 5 wins by a huge margin despite having only 16 threads versus 20, indicating better per-thread efficiency.

The use-case split is therefore not simple desktop vs mobile. The i5-14500 is better for integer-heavy, data-heavy, and classic multithreaded workloads. The Ultra 5 336H is better for floating-point, physics simulation, single-core latency, and workloads that scale with newer instruction efficiency. The overall average benchmark scores reflect this: the i5-14500 sits at 38531 with an 86th percentile, while the Ultra 5 336H averages 34485 with an 84th percentile.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different Intel designs. The i5-14500 uses Raptor Lake, specifically Raptor Lake-R, built on a 10 nm process. It is a desktop chip on Intel Socket 1700 with a 65 W TDP. The Ultra 5 336H uses Panther Lake, built on a 3 nm process, and is a mobile chip on Intel BGA 2540 with a 25 W TDP. The process node difference alone explains much of the efficiency gap.

Core and thread counts differ in a meaningful way. The i5-14500 has 14 cores and 20 threads, indicating a hybrid layout with performance and efficiency cores plus hyper-threading. The Ultra 5 336H has 16 cores but only 16 threads, suggesting no hyper-threading, yet it still outperforms in several multithreaded tests. The cache hierarchy also diverges: the i5-14500 has 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and 24 MB shared L3. The Ultra 5 has 192 KB L1 per core, 2.5 MB L2 per core, and 18 MB shared L3. The larger per-core L1 and L2 on the Ultra 5 likely contribute to its single-core and floating-point advantages.

Memory support differs. The i5-14500 supports DDR4 and DDR5, dual-channel, with ECC memory enabled. The Ultra 5 336H supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X, dual-channel, with a recorded memory bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s, but no ECC. PCIe lanes also differ: the i5-14500 offers Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the Ultra 5 offers Gen 5 with 12 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics are different as well: UHD Graphics 770 on the i5-14500 versus Intel Xe3 Graphics on the Ultra 5.

The release dates are far apart. The i5-14500 launched on 2024-01-07 with a launch MSRP of $232. The Ultra 5 336H has a release date of 2026-01-04 and no launch MSRP recorded. The production status for both is Active. The i5-14500 has a part number SRN3T, while the Ultra 5 has SA4RD. Neither has an unlocked multiplier.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single win for the i5-14500 comes in PassMark integer math, where it scores 108124 against 62070, a 74.2% advantage. This is a decisive result for integer-heavy computation such as compression, sorting, and database work. The data compression test reinforces this: 371294 vs 280340, a 32.4% lead. Random string sorting also favors the i5-14500 by 19.1% (40980 vs 34402). These three results paint a consistent picture of strong integer throughput.

The Ultra 5 336H answers with equally decisive wins on the other side. Its largest margin is in Cinebench R23 singlecore, 3387 vs 1917, a 43.4% gap. The R23 multicore result is even more striking in absolute terms: 23991 vs 15012, a 37.4% lead despite the i5-14500 having 20 threads. Prime number finding shows a 64.5% gap (299 vs 106), and physics simulation shows a 34.9% gap (2682 vs 1746). Extended instructions favor the Ultra 5 by 8.4% (24542 vs 22473), and floating point by 3.4% (82415 vs 79576).

Some tests are close. Cinebench R15 multicore goes to the i5-14500 by just 0.7% (2435 vs 2418). Data encryption is nearly even, with the i5-14500 ahead by 0.8% (21457 vs 21291). PassMark single-thread is a 1.5% win for the Ultra 5 (4013 vs 3952). Cinebench R20 shows a split: the i5-14500 wins multicore by 9% (10985 vs 10076) but also takes singlecore by 9% (1550 vs 1422), which is an oddity given the Ultra 5's dominance in R23 singlecore.

The R20 and R23 results together suggest that the Ultra 5's advantage grows in newer, more demanding Cinebench workloads. In R15 singlecore, the Ultra 5 wins by 19.9% (341 vs 273). In R23 singlecore, the gap widens to 43.4%. This trend indicates that the Panther Lake architecture scales better with increased instruction complexity, while Raptor Lake holds its own in shorter or older workloads.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 336H has 16 cores, while the Intel Core i5-14500 has 14 cores. However, the i5-14500 has 20 threads versus 16 for the Ultra 5.

Q: Why does the Ultra 5 336H win Cinebench R23 multicore despite fewer threads?

A: The Ultra 5 scores 23991 versus 15012, a 37.4% advantage. Its larger per-core L1 (192 KB vs 80 KB) and L2 (2.5 MB vs 1.25 MB) caches, combined with a 3 nm process node, allow higher per-thread efficiency than the i5-14500's 10 nm Raptor Lake design.

Q: Is the i5-14500 better for all multithreaded workloads?

A: No. The i5-14500 wins Cinebench R15 and R20 multicore, plus PassMark multithread (30777 vs 28545), but loses Cinebench R23 multicore decisively. It wins integer-heavy tests like data compression and integer math, but the Ultra 5 wins floating-point and physics tests.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The Ultra 5 336H has a recorded memory bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s. The i5-14500 has no recorded memory bandwidth in the database, though it supports DDR4 and DDR5 dual-channel memory.

Q: Which processor has better single-core performance?

A: The Ultra 5 336H wins all single-core tests: Cinebench R15 singlecore (341 vs 273), R20 singlecore (1422 vs 1550, actually a loss), R23 singlecore (3387 vs 1917), and PassMark single-thread (4013 vs 3952). The R20 singlecore result is the exception, where the i5-14500 wins by 9%.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The i5-14500 supports ECC memory. The Ultra 5 336H does not.

The Verdict

The data indicates a clear split by workload type and platform. The Intel Core i5-14500 is the choice for desktop users who prioritize integer math, data compression, random string sorting, and classic multithreaded throughput. Its 74.2% lead in integer math and 32.4% lead in data compression are substantial. It also has a higher average benchmark score (38531 vs 34485) and a higher percentile ranking (86 vs 84). The i5-14500 offers ECC memory support and DDR4 compatibility, which matters for specific workstation environments.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 336H is the choice for mobile users and for workloads that favor single-core responsiveness, floating-point math, physics simulation, and the newest Cinebench versions. Its 43.4% lead in R23 singlecore and 37.4% lead in R23 multicore show that it is not merely efficient but genuinely faster in modern render workloads. The 64.5% lead in prime number finding and 34.9% lead in physics also indicate specialized compute strengths. The 3 nm process and larger per-core caches deliver these wins at a 25 W TDP, versus 65 W for the i5-14500, which is a major efficiency advantage.

The i5-14500 wins 8 tests, the Ultra 5 wins 9, but the margins tell the story. The i5-14500's wins are often by wide margins in integer-heavy tasks. The Ultra 5's wins are also wide, but concentrated in floating-point, single-core, and newer Cinebench workloads. For a desktop build with DDR4 or ECC needs, the i5-14500 is the data-backed choice. For a mobile platform or a workload mix heavy on rendering, physics, and single-threaded latency, the Ultra 5 336H is superior. Neither processor dominates the other; the right pick depends entirely on the task mix.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-14500 | Intel Core Ultra 5 336H |

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

| Cores | 14 | 16 |

| Threads | 20 | 16 |

| Base Clock | 2.60 GHz | 1.90 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.00 GHz | 4.60 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 25 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1700 | Intel BGA 2540 |

| Architecture | Raptor Lake | Panther Lake |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 3 nm |

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

| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core) | 2.5 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 24 MB (shared) | 18 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR5, LPDDR5X |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not recorded | 115.2 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 12 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 770 | Intel Xe3 Graphics |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Release Date | 2024-01-07 | 2026-01-04 |

| Launch MSRP | $232 | None recorded |

| Part Number | SRN3T | SA4RD |