Intel Core i5-14500 vs Intel Core Ultra 7 366H Comparison

Intel Core i5-14500 vs Intel Core Ultra 7 366H

The benchmark data splits these two processors into distinct roles. The Intel Core Ultra 7 366H wins 14 of 17 head-to-head tests, dominating in rendering, floating-point math, and single-thread performance. The Intel Core i5-14500 takes 3 wins, all in Passmark workloads where its higher core count and thread count deliver an advantage: data compression, integer math, and random string sorting. The Ultra 7 366H also holds a higher average benchmark score (41263 vs 38531) and a higher percentile rank (87th vs 86th), confirming its overall performance edge.

Where Each One Wins

The Core Ultra 7 366H is the clear winner in CPU-heavy creative and scientific workloads. Its Cinebench results are substantially higher across every version: R15 multicore (2870 vs 2435), R20 multicore (11960 vs 10985), and R23 multicore (28477 vs 15012). The R23 multicore gap is especially pronounced, with the Ultra 7 366H scoring 89.7% higher. Single-core Cinebench scores also favor the Ultra 7 366H, with R23 single-core at 4020 versus 1917 for the i5-14500, a 109.7% advantage. Passmark physics (2880 vs 1746) and floating-point math (103615 vs 79576) further confirm this CPU-bound strength.

The i5-14500 wins in specific integer and data-manipulation tasks. Its Passmark integer math score of 108124 beats the Ultra 7 366H's 83695 by 29.2%. Data compression also favors the desktop chip, 371294 versus 327455, a 13.4% margin. Random string sorting is close but goes to the i5-14500, 40980 versus 39814. These wins point to workloads that scale with thread count and memory bandwidth rather than per-core efficiency. The i5-14500 has 20 threads versus 16 for the Ultra 7 366H, which explains its edge in parallel integer operations.

The Ultra 7 366H also wins the remaining Passmark tests: multithread (33429 vs 30777), data encryption (25845 vs 21457), extended instructions (26901 vs 22473), find prime numbers (326 vs 106), and single-thread (4043 vs 3952). The prime number test shows a massive 207.5% advantage for the Ultra 7 366H, indicating a much stronger per-core arithmetic capability.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every fundamental specification. The i5-14500 has 14 cores and 20 threads, while the Ultra 7 366H has 16 cores and 16 threads. The desktop chip has a higher base clock (2.60 GHz vs 2.00 GHz) and boost clock (5.00 GHz vs 4.80 GHz). Thermal design power differs significantly: the i5-14500 is rated at 65 W, the Ultra 7 366H at 25 W. The i5-14500 uses Intel Socket 1700 for desktop builds; the Ultra 7 366H uses Intel BGA 2540 for mobile systems. Process node also differs: the i5-14500 uses 10 nm, the Ultra 7 366H uses 3 nm. The i5-14500 has a 215 mm² die size; the Ultra 7 366H has no recorded die size. Cache configurations differ: the i5-14500 has 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and 24 MB shared L3. The Ultra 7 366H has 192 KB L1 per core, 2.5 MB L2 per core, and 18 MB shared L3. Memory support varies: the i5-14500 supports DDR4 and DDR5, the Ultra 7 366H supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X. The Ultra 7 366H has a recorded memory bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s; the i5-14500 does not have a recorded memory bandwidth. ECC memory is supported on the i5-14500 but not on the Ultra 7 366H. PCIe lanes differ: 16 lanes for the i5-14500 versus 12 lanes for the Ultra 7 366H, both Gen 5. Integrated graphics differ: UHD Graphics 770 on the i5-14500 versus Intel Xe3 Graphics on the Ultra 7 366H. The i5-14500 has a launch MSRP of $232; the Ultra 7 366H has no launch MSRP recorded.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more threads?

A: The Intel Core i5-14500 has 20 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 366H has 16 threads.

Q: Which processor is newer?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 366H has a release date of 2026-01-04, while the Intel Core i5-14500 has a release date of 2024-01-07.

Q: Does the Core Ultra 7 366H support ECC memory?

A: No. The Core Ultra 7 366H does not support ECC memory, while the Core i5-14500 does.

Q: Which processor has a smaller manufacturing process?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 366H uses a 3 nm process, while the Intel Core i5-14500 uses a 10 nm process.

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 366H has an average benchmark score of 41263, compared to 38531 for the Intel Core i5-14500.

Q: How many benchmark wins does each processor have in the head-to-head tests?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 366H wins 14 tests, and the Intel Core i5-14500 wins 3 tests.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single advantage for the Ultra 7 366H appears in Cinebench R23 multicore, where it scores 28477 versus 15012, a 47.3% delta. Cinebench R23 single-core shows a 52.3% delta, with 4020 versus 1917. Passmark find prime numbers shows a 67.5% delta (326 vs 106), and Passmark physics shows a 39.4% delta (2880 vs 1746). Passmark floating-point math also favors the Ultra 7 366H by 23.2%, scoring 103615 versus 79576. These are large, consistent margins across CPU-intensive tasks.

The i5-14500's wins are narrower in percentage terms but still meaningful. Its Passmark integer math score of 108124 beats the Ultra 7 366H's 83695 by 29.2%. Data compression shows a 13.4% delta, 371294 versus 327455. Random string sorting is the smallest win, 40980 versus 39814, a 2.9% delta. The i5-14500 also has a higher Cinebench R15 single-core score relative to its R15 multicore score, but the Ultra 7 366H still wins that test outright.

The single-thread Passmark tests are nearly tied, with the Ultra 7 366H at 4043 and the i5-14500 at 3952, a 2.3% delta. This shows that while the Ultra 7 366H has a clear per-core advantage in Cinebench, the Passmark single-thread metric is much closer. The Cinebench R20 tests also show a smaller gap: multicore is 11960 versus 10985 (8.2% delta), and single-core is 1688 versus 1550 (8.2% delta). These results indicate that the Ultra 7 366H's advantage grows with newer Cinebench versions and longer rendering workloads.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel architectures and generations. The i5-14500 is based on Raptor Lake, specifically the Raptor Lake-R refresh, part of Core 14th Gen. The Ultra 7 366H is based on Panther Lake, part of Core Ultra Series 3. The i5-14500 uses the Raptor Lake-R codename; the Ultra 7 366H uses the Panther Lake codename. The manufacturing process differs substantially: 10 nm for the i5-14500 versus 3 nm for the Ultra 7 366H. The i5-14500 has a die size of 215 mm², while the Ultra 7 366H has no recorded die size.

Core and cache layouts differ. The i5-14500 has 14 cores and 20 threads, indicating a hybrid layout with performance and efficiency cores. The Ultra 7 366H has 16 cores and 16 threads, meaning no hyper-threading. L1 cache is 80 KB per core on the i5-14500 versus 192 KB per core on the Ultra 7 366H. L2 cache is 1.25 MB per core versus 2.5 MB per core. Shared L3 cache is larger on the i5-14500 at 24 MB, compared to 18 MB on the Ultra 7 366H. The Ultra 7 366H's larger per-core caches likely contribute to its single-core performance advantage, despite the smaller shared L3.

The integrated graphics differ: UHD Graphics 770 on the i5-14500 versus Intel Xe3 Graphics on the Ultra 7 366H. The Ultra 7 366H is a mobile processor with a 25 W TDP, while the i5-14500 is a desktop processor with a 65 W TDP. Memory support also differs: the i5-14500 supports DDR4 and DDR5, the Ultra 7 366H supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X. The Ultra 7 366H has a recorded memory bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s, while the i5-14500 has no recorded memory bandwidth. The i5-14500 has 16 PCIe Gen 5 lanes (CPU only), while the Ultra 7 366H has 12 PCIe Gen 5 lanes (CPU only). ECC memory is supported on the i5-14500 but not on the Ultra 7 366H.

The Verdict

The data indicates a clear performance hierarchy. The Intel Core Ultra 7 366H is the stronger processor for most tasks, especially rendering, physics, floating-point math, and single-thread workloads. Its 14 benchmark wins out of 17 include the largest margins in the comparison, particularly in Cinebench R23 where it more than doubles the i5-14500's multicore score. The Ultra 7 366H also has a higher average benchmark score (41263 vs 38531) and a higher percentile rank (87 vs 86), placing it among the nearest rivals such as the Intel Core Ultra 7 356H and AMD Ryzen 9 5900X.

The Intel Core i5-14500 retains a role for specific workloads. Its 20 threads and larger shared L3 cache (24 MB) give it an edge in integer math, data compression, and random string sorting. These are tasks where raw thread count and cache capacity matter more than per-core efficiency. The i5-14500 also offers ECC memory support and a lower launch MSRP of $232, though the Ultra 7 366H has no recorded MSRP. For desktop users with DDR4 memory or ECC requirements, the i5-14500 remains a viable choice. For mobile users or anyone prioritizing single-thread and rendering performance, the Ultra 7 366H is the superior option based on the recorded data.