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

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a clear split between the Intel Core i5-14500HX and the Intel Core Ultra 5 225T, with the mobile Raptor Lake part winning 11 of 17 head-to-head tests while the desktop Arrow Lake chip takes 6. The most decisive victories for the i5-14500HX come in integer-heavy and compression workloads, where its advantage is substantial.

In PassMark integer math, the i5-14500HX scores 95,584 against 59,543 for the Ultra 5 225T, a 60.5% advantage. Data compression shows a similarly large gap: 333,851 versus 233,998, a 42.7% lead. Random string sorting also favors the i5-14500HX by 25.9%, with scores of 36,219 and 28,774. These results indicate that the 14-core, 20-thread configuration of the i5-14500HX delivers significantly higher throughput in workloads that scale with core count and thread parallelism.

The Cinebench suite consistently favors the i5-14500HX across all six tests. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the i5-14500HX scores 24,234 against 21,971 for the Ultra 5 225T, a 10.3% margin. The same 10.3% delta appears across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 in both single-core and multicore runs. Specifically, R15 multicore shows 2,442 versus 2,214, R20 multicore shows 10,178 versus 9,227, and R20 single-core shows 1,436 versus 1,302. The consistency of this 10.3% gap across all Cinebench versions suggests a stable architectural advantage in rendering workloads, not a test-specific anomaly.

PassMark multithread also goes to the i5-14500HX, with 28,508 versus 25,358, a 12.4% lead. Data encryption follows at 19,502 versus 18,289, a 6.6% edge. These wins reinforce the pattern: the i5-14500HX excels when many threads are active simultaneously.

The Ultra 5 225T counters in several single-threaded and specialized tests. Its PassMark single-thread score of 4,348 beats the i5-14500HX's 3,629 by 16.5%. This is the largest single-core margin in the data. Floating-point math also favors the Ultra 5 225T, scoring 82,751 against 69,442, a 16.1% advantage. Prime number finding shows the biggest relative gap in favor of the Ultra 5 225T: 284 versus 130, a 54.2% difference. Physics simulation goes to the Ultra 5 225T at 2,053 versus 1,911, a 6.9% lead. Extended instructions are nearly identical, with the Ultra 5 225T winning by a marginal 0.3% (20,083 versus 20,019).

The average benchmark score for the i5-14500HX is 35,094, placing it in the 84th percentile of all CPUs. The Ultra 5 225T averages 30,468, in the 82nd percentile. The i5-14500HX's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i9-12900HX (0.3% higher average) and the Intel Core i7-13800H (0.3% higher), while the Ultra 5 225T sits close to the AMD Ryzen 5 7640HS (0.3% lower average) and the Intel Core i5-13600H (0.3% higher). These rival deltas confirm that both chips occupy similar competitive tiers despite their different architectural approaches.

The Verdict

The data identifies the Intel Core i5-14500HX as the stronger overall performer. It wins 11 of 17 head-to-head tests and holds a 15.2% higher average benchmark score (35,094 versus 30,468). Its multicore dominance is comprehensive, with leads ranging from 6.6% in encryption to 60.5% in integer math. For workloads that use many threads, such as rendering, compression, or heavy multitasking, the i5-14500HX is the clear choice.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T wins in single-threaded performance, floating-point math, prime number finding, and physics simulation. Its 16.5% single-thread advantage and 16.1% floating-point lead indicate that it handles lightly threaded tasks and scientific calculations more efficiently. The 54.2% gap in prime number finding is particularly notable, suggesting a strong integer scalar pipeline despite the lower core count.

The i5-14500HX reaches a higher 84th percentile versus 82nd for the Ultra 5 225T. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core i9-12900HX, sits only 0.3% higher in average score, meaning the i5-14500HX performs at the level of a previous-generation flagship mobile HX chip. The Ultra 5 225T, by contrast, matches the AMD Ryzen 5 7640HS and Intel Core i5-13600H within 0.3%, placing it in the mid-range desktop segment.

Users who prioritize multi-threaded productivity should select the i5-14500HX. Users who need top single-thread speed and floating-point throughput, and who can tolerate lower multi-core scores, will find the Ultra 5 225T competitive in those specific areas. The overall database ranking, however, favors the i5-14500HX.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i5-14500HX averages 35,094 points, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 225T averages 30,468 points, a 15.2% difference in favor of the i5-14500HX.

Q: How large is the single-thread performance gap?

A: The Ultra 5 225T leads in PassMark single-thread with 4,348 versus 3,629 for the i5-14500HX, a 16.5% advantage. In Cinebench R23 single-core, however, the i5-14500HX leads with 3,421 versus 3,101, a 10.3% margin.

Q: Which chip wins in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The i5-14500HX scores 24,234 against 21,971 for the Ultra 5 225T, a 10.3% lead. The same 10.3% delta appears across all Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 tests, both single-core and multicore.

Q: What is the biggest performance gap in either direction?

A: The largest gap favors the i5-14500HX in PassMark integer math, where it leads by 60.5% (95,584 versus 59,543). The largest gap favoring the Ultra 5 225T is in PassMark prime number finding, where it leads by 54.2% (284 versus 130).

Q: How do these chips compare to their nearest rivals?

A: The i5-14500HX sits within 0.5% of the Intel Core i9-12900HX, Intel Core i7-13800H, Intel Core 7 253PTE, and Intel Core i7-12700K. The Ultra 5 225T sits within 0.3% of the Intel Core i9-11980HK, AMD Ryzen 5 7640HS, Intel Core i5-13600H, and AMD Ryzen 7 7736U.

Q: Which chip wins more head-to-head tests?

A: The i5-14500HX wins 11 tests, while the Ultra 5 225T wins 6 tests out of 17 total head-to-head benchmarks.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every core specification. The i5-14500HX uses 14 cores and 20 threads, while the Ultra 5 225T uses 10 cores and 10 threads. Base clocks are close, at 2.60 GHz for the i5-14500HX and 2.50 GHz for the Ultra 5 225T, but both boost to 4.90 GHz. Thermal design power differs, with the i5-14500HX rated at 55 W and the Ultra 5 225T at 65 W.

The i5-14500HX uses the Intel BGA 1964 socket and targets the mobile segment, while the Ultra 5 225T uses Intel Socket 1851 and targets desktop. The i5-14500HX supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the Ultra 5 225T supports only DDR5. The Ultra 5 225T has a higher rated memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s; the i5-14500HX does not have a recorded bandwidth figure. ECC memory is supported on the i5-14500HX but not on the Ultra 5 225T.

PCIe lanes differ: the i5-14500HX provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the Ultra 5 225T provides Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only). The i5-14500HX has an unlocked multiplier, while the Ultra 5 225T does not. The i5-14500HX uses UHD Graphics 770 as integrated graphics; the Ultra 5 225T uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 16EU. The i5-14500HX was released in January 2024, while the Ultra 5 225T was released in December 2024.

Architecture Differences

The i5-14500HX is built on Raptor Lake architecture with the Raptor Lake-HX codename, using a 10 nm process node fabricated by Intel. The Ultra 5 225T uses Arrow Lake architecture with the Arrow Lake-S codename, on a 3 nm process node fabricated by TSMC. The Ultra 5 225T contains 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die; the i5-14500HX has no recorded transistor count but uses a 257 mm² die.

Cache hierarchies differ substantially. The i5-14500HX has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 cache per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The Ultra 5 225T has 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 20 MB of shared L3 cache. The larger per-core L1 and L2 on the Ultra 5 225T contribute to its single-thread and floating-point wins, while the larger L3 and higher core count on the i5-14500HX support its multi-threaded dominance.

The manufacturing process difference is notable: 10 nm for the i5-14500HX versus 3 nm for the Ultra 5 225T. The smaller node, combined with TSMC fabrication, gives the Ultra 5 225T a different transistor density profile. The i5-14500HX belongs to the Core 14th Gen series, while the Ultra 5 225T belongs to the Core Ultra Series 2. Both are active production parts, but the i5-14500HX has a recorded part number (SRMXJ), while the Ultra 5 225T's part number is unknown in the database.

Where Each One Wins

The i5-14500HX wins in all multi-threaded rendering tests, all Cinebench versions, integer math, data compression, data encryption, multithread, and random string sorting. These wins cover rendering, database workloads, file compression, and general multi-core productivity. The 60.5% integer math lead and 42.7% compression lead make it the preferred choice for code compilation, data processing, and archival tasks.

The Ultra 5 225T wins in single-thread performance, floating-point math, prime number finding, physics simulation, and extended instructions. Its 16.5% single-thread lead and 16.1% floating-point lead suit interactive applications, scientific computing, and workloads with low thread counts but high per-core efficiency. The 54.2% prime number finding advantage indicates strong performance in sequential integer algorithms.

The i5-14500HX's 84th percentile ranking versus 82nd for the Ultra 5 225T reflects its overall lead in the database. Its nearest rivals, the Intel Core i9-12900HX and Intel Core i7-13800H, are both within 0.3% of its average score, placing it among high-end mobile HX chips. The Ultra 5 225T's rivals, including the AMD Ryzen 5 7640HS and Intel Core i5-13600H, confirm its mid-range desktop positioning.

For users running heavily threaded workloads, the i5-14500HX delivers a decisive advantage. For users focused on single-thread responsiveness and floating-point calculations, the Ultra 5 225T offers measurable wins in those specific tests. The overall benchmark data, however, ranks the i5-14500HX higher on average and in the majority of individual tests.