Intel Core i5-14500 vs Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus Comparison

The Intel Core i5-14500 and the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus occupy very different positions in the desktop processor market, and the benchmark data confirms a decisive performance gap between them. The Core Ultra 7 270K Plus wins every single recorded benchmark comparison, with the Core i5-14500 taking zero victories across all 17 head-to-head tests. The average benchmark score for the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus is 93,785, placing it in the 96th percentile of all CPUs, while the Core i5-14500 averages 38,531 and sits in the 86th percentile.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking difference appears in multi-threaded rendering workloads. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus scores 44,253 against the Core i5-14500's 15,012, a gap of 66.1 percent. That is the largest percentage margin in any Cinebench test. The Core Ultra 7 270K Plus also leads by 55.1 percent in Cinebench R20 multi-core (24,461 versus 10,985) and by 63.4 percent in Cinebench R15 multi-core (6,656 versus 2,435). These results indicate that the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus delivers more than double the multi-threaded throughput in several rendering scenarios, which aligns with its higher core count and newer architecture.

Single-core performance shows a smaller but still meaningful advantage for the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus scores 2,439 versus 1,917 for the Core i5-14500, a 21.4 percent lead. The Cinebench R20 single-core test shows a 55.1 percent margin (3,453 versus 1,550), while Cinebench R15 single-core shows a 22.9 percent gap (354 versus 273). The PassMark single-thread test confirms this trend with a 22 percent advantage for the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus (5,068 versus 3,952). These numbers suggest that the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus offers a consistent, though less dramatic, advantage in lightly threaded tasks.

The PassMark suite reveals where the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus excels most. The largest margin in any test is in PassMark find prime numbers, where the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus scores 615 versus 106 for the Core i5-14500, an 82.8 percent difference. This test is highly sensitive to integer arithmetic and memory latency, and the result indicates a substantial architectural improvement. PassMark data encryption also shows a 63.7 percent lead (59,097 versus 21,457), while PassMark extended instructions shows a 64.6 percent gap (63,506 versus 22,473). Floating-point math performance is 65.3 percent higher on the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus (229,491 versus 79,576), and integer math is 38.6 percent ahead (175,986 versus 108,124).

Other PassMark tests reinforce the pattern. PassMark multi-thread scores 68,574 for the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus versus 30,777 for the Core i5-14500, a 55.1 percent margin. PassMark physics shows a 57 percent gap (4,064 versus 1,746), and PassMark random string sorting shows a 57.7 percent difference (96,945 versus 40,980). Data compression performance is 53.8 percent higher on the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus (804,322 versus 371,294). The smallest recorded margin in the entire comparison is the 22 percent single-thread difference, which still favors the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus.

Where Each One Wins

The data does not provide a single category where the Core i5-14500 outperforms the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus. Every benchmark, from Cinebench to PassMark, records a win for the newer processor. The Core i5-14500 does have a lower base clock of 2.60 GHz and a lower boost clock of 5.00 GHz, but those specifications do not translate into any benchmark victory. The Core Ultra 7 270K Plus, with a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz, simply outruns the older chip in all measured scenarios.

For workloads that rely heavily on multi-threaded performance, such as video rendering, 3D simulation, or data compression, the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus offers a dominant advantage. The Cinebench R23 multi-core score is nearly three times that of the Core i5-14500, and the PassMark multi-thread score is more than double. For single-threaded tasks like legacy application logic or certain game physics, the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus still leads, but by a smaller margin of roughly 21 to 22 percent in most tests. The Core i5-14500 remains a functional processor, but its performance profile is strictly inferior in this comparison.

FAQ

Q: What is the average benchmark score difference between the two processors?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus has an average benchmark score of 93,785, while the Intel Core i5-14500 averages 38,531. That places the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus in the 96th percentile of all CPUs and the Core i5-14500 in the 86th percentile.

Q: Which processor wins in single-threaded performance?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus wins in all single-threaded tests. For example, in Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 2,439 versus 1,917 for the Core i5-14500, a 21.4 percent lead. The PassMark single-thread score is 5,068 versus 3,952, a 22 percent gap.

Q: What is the largest performance margin recorded in the head-to-head benchmarks?

A: The largest margin is in PassMark find prime numbers, where the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus scores 615 against 106 for the Core i5-14500, a difference of 82.8 percent.

Q: How do the two processors compare in multi-threaded Cinebench tests?

A: The Core Ultra 7 270K Plus leads by 66.1 percent in Cinebench R23 multi-core (44,253 versus 15,012), by 55.1 percent in Cinebench R20 multi-core (24,461 versus 10,985), and by 63.4 percent in Cinebench R15 multi-core (6,656 versus 2,435).

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

A: No. Across all 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus wins every single test. The Core i5-14500 records zero victories.

Q: How does the single-threaded performance gap compare to the multi-threaded gap?

A: The single-threaded gap is smaller. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus leads by 21.4 percent, whereas in multi-core the lead is 66.1 percent. PassMark single-thread shows a 22 percent gap, while PassMark multi-thread shows a 55.1 percent gap.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every fundamental specification. The Intel Core i5-14500 has 14 cores and 20 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus has 24 cores and 24 threads. The Core i5-14500 runs at a base clock of 2.60 GHz and boosts to 5.00 GHz, whereas the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus runs at 3.70 GHz base and 5.50 GHz boost. The thermal design power is 65 watts for the Core i5-14500 and 125 watts for the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus.

The platforms are not compatible. The Core i5-14500 uses Intel Socket 1700, while the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus uses Intel Socket 1851. The Core i5-14500 supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus supports only DDR5. The Core Ultra 7 270K Plus has a recorded memory bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s, while the Core i5-14500 has no bandwidth figure in the database. Both support ECC memory.

PCIe connectivity differs: the Core i5-14500 provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus provides Gen 5 with 20 lanes. The integrated graphics also differ, with the Core i5-14500 using UHD Graphics 770 and the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus using Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU. The Core Ultra 7 270K Plus has an unlocked multiplier, while the Core i5-14500 does not. The launch MSRP for the Core i5-14500 is $232, and for the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus it is $299.

Architecture Differences

The Core i5-14500 is based on the Raptor Lake architecture, specifically the Raptor Lake-R codename, and is part of the Core 14th Gen series. It uses a 10 nm process node manufactured by Intel, with a die size of 215 mm². The Core Ultra 7 270K Plus uses the Arrow Lake Refresh codename and belongs to the Core Ultra Series 2. It is built on a 3 nm process node by TSMC, with a die size of 243 mm² and 17,800 million transistors.

Cache hierarchy differs substantially. The Core i5-14500 has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core Ultra 7 270K Plus has 192 KB of L1 cache per core, 3 MB of L2 cache per core, and 36 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core Ultra 7 270K Plus also uses a newer generation label, Ultra 7 (Arrow Lake), compared to the Core i5 (Raptor Lake Refresh) for the Core i5-14500.

The process node transition from 10 nm to 3 nm is the most significant architectural shift. That change, combined with a larger die and more cache, allows the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus to achieve higher clock speeds and greater efficiency per core. The Core i5-14500 relies on an older design with fewer cores and smaller cache allocations.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous. The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus outperforms the Intel Core i5-14500 in every recorded benchmark. The Core Ultra 7 270K Plus delivers a 66.1 percent lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core, a 55.1 percent lead in PassMark multi-thread, and a 22 percent lead in single-thread tests. Its average benchmark score of 93,785 is more than double the Core i5-14500's 38,531, and its 96th percentile ranking places it among the fastest desktop CPUs in the database.

For anyone choosing strictly on performance, the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus is the clear selection. The Core i5-14500 offers a lower launch MSRP of $232 versus $299, but the performance gap is so large that the price difference does not offset the benchmark results. The Core Ultra 7 270K Plus also features an unlocked multiplier, 20 PCIe Gen 5 lanes, and a newer 3 nm process, which supports its higher clock speeds and larger cache. The Core i5-14500 retains compatibility with DDR4 memory and uses the Intel Socket 1700 platform, but those attributes do not translate into any measured performance advantage.

The verdict from the recorded data is that the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus is the superior processor in all tested categories. The Core i5-14500 remains a functional desktop CPU, but it is not competitive with the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus in any measured workload.