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

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head comparison between the Intel Core i5-14500HX and the Intel Core Ultra 5 336H reveals a surprisingly balanced contest, with the i5-14500HX winning 9 benchmarks and the Ultra 5 336H winning 8. The margin of victory, however, tells a more nuanced story than the win count suggests.

In the Cinebench suite, the Core i5-14500HX consistently edges ahead, but by remarkably slim margins. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i5-14500HX scores 2442 against 2418 for the Ultra 5 336H, a 1% advantage. The single-core R15 test shows a similar pattern: 344 versus 341, a 0.9% lead. This pattern repeats across R20 and R23, with the i5-14500HX holding a 1% lead in both multicore and single-core variants. In R20 multicore, the scores are 10178 versus 10076; in R20 single-core, 1436 versus 1422. For R23 multicore, the i5-14500HX posts 24234 against 23991, and in single-core, 3421 versus 3387. These are consistent, but the differences are within noise for many real-world workloads.

The Passmark suite is where the two processors diverge dramatically, and here the wins are far more decisive. The Core i5-14500HX dominates integer math with a score of 95584 versus 62070 for the Ultra 5 336H, a massive 54% advantage. Data compression also favors the i5-14500HX heavily: 333851 versus 280340, a 19.1% lead. Random string sorting goes to the i5-14500HX by 5.3%, with scores of 36219 versus 34402.

The Ultra 5 336H answers with equally emphatic wins in other Passmark tests. The most striking is find prime numbers, where the Ultra 5 336H scores 299 versus just 130 for the i5-14500HX, a 56.5% advantage. Floating point math also swings decisively to the Ultra 5 336H: 82415 versus 69442, a 15.7% lead. Extended instructions go to the Ultra 5 336H by 18.4%, with 24542 versus 20019. Physics performance favors the Ultra 5 336H at 2682 versus 1911, a 28.7% gap. Data encryption sees the Ultra 5 336H ahead by 8.4%, 21291 versus 19502. In single-thread performance, the Ultra 5 336H leads by 9.6%, scoring 4013 versus 3629, and the multithread test is essentially a tie at 28545 versus 28508, a 0.1% edge for the Ultra 5 336H.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data suggests a clear division of labor. The Intel Core i5-14500HX excels in integer-heavy and compression-oriented workloads. Its 54% lead in integer math is the single largest margin in the entire comparison, and the 19.1% advantage in data compression points to strong performance in file archiving, database operations, and general productivity tasks that rely on integer throughput. The smaller but consistent leads in Cinebench multicore tests (all at 1%) suggest that lightly threaded or moderately threaded workloads with balanced instruction mixes will favor the i5-14500HX, if only marginally.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 336H, by contrast, is the winner in floating-point and specialized instruction workloads. The 56.5% lead in prime number finding is a clear indicator of superior branch prediction or iteration efficiency. The 15.7% advantage in floating point math and the 18.4% lead in extended instructions suggest this chip handles scientific computing, numerical simulation, and SIMD-heavy code better. The 28.7% physics win reinforces this pattern. The 9.6% single-thread advantage is notable for responsiveness in lightly threaded applications, and the near-tie in multithread performance means the Ultra 5 336H holds its own in heavily parallel tasks despite losing most Cinebench multicore tests by a hair.

For users who primarily run productivity suites, spreadsheets, or compression tools, the i5-14500HX appears stronger. For users running scientific simulations, encryption workloads, or physics-based calculations, the Ultra 5 336H is the better choice. The single-thread score difference of 9.6% may also translate to snappier UI responsiveness in everyday use.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from entirely different design generations. The Intel Core i5-14500HX is built on Raptor Lake architecture, the Core 14th Gen series, using a 10 nm process node from Intel's own foundry. It has 14 cores and 20 threads, indicating a hybrid layout of performance and efficiency cores. Its base clock is 2.60 GHz with a boost of 4.90 GHz, and it carries a TDP of 55 watts. The die size is 257 mm². The cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. It supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, and it includes ECC memory support. The socket is Intel BGA 1964, and it offers PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU. Integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 770. The multiplier is unlocked.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 336H uses Panther Lake architecture from the Core Ultra Series 3 generation, built on a 3 nm process node, also from Intel's foundry. It has 16 cores but only 16 threads, which means it likely uses a different core arrangement without hyperthreading on all cores, or a mix of core types with no simultaneous multithreading. Its base clock is 1.90 GHz with a boost of 4.60 GHz, and its TDP is 25 watts, substantially lower than the i5-14500HX. The cache design differs: 192 KB of L1 per core, 2.5 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3 cache. The larger per-core L1 and L2 caches may explain the Ultra 5 336H's strong single-thread and floating-point results. Memory support is DDR5 and LPDDR5X, dual-channel, with a specified memory bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s. ECC memory is not supported. The socket is Intel BGA 2540, and PCIe is Gen 5 with 12 lanes from the CPU. Integrated graphics are Intel Xe3 Graphics. The multiplier is locked.

The process node difference is significant: 10 nm versus 3 nm, which likely explains the Ultra 5 336H's much lower 25-watt TDP while still achieving competitive or superior performance in several tests. The higher base clock of the i5-14500HX (2.60 GHz versus 1.90 GHz) and higher boost (4.90 GHz versus 4.60 GHz) contribute to its Cinebench leads, while the Ultra 5 336H's larger caches and newer architecture drive its wins in specialized workloads.

The Verdict

The data paints a picture of two processors that are close in overall capability but differ in character. The Intel Core i5-14500HX is the choice for integer-heavy, compression-oriented workloads, and its Cinebench scores are consistently ahead, albeit by only 1%. It also offers ECC memory support, an unlocked multiplier, and support for DDR4 in addition to DDR5, which may matter for specific system configurations.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 336H is the choice for floating-point, scientific, and specialized instruction workloads, with decisive wins in prime number finding (56.5%), physics (28.7%), extended instructions (18.4%), and floating point math (15.7%). It also has a significant single-thread lead of 9.6%, which could translate to better responsiveness in everyday applications. Its 25-watt TDP suggests substantially lower power draw, and the 3 nm process node indicates a more modern fabrication.

Both processors sit at the 84th percentile versus all CPUs in the database, and their average benchmark scores are close: 35094 for the i5-14500HX versus 34485 for the Ultra 5 336H. The i5-14500HX's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i9-12900HX (0.3% ahead), Intel Core i7-13800H (0.3% ahead), and Intel Core 7 253PTE (0.4% ahead), while the Ultra 5 336H's nearest rival is the Intel Core i7-13700HX (0.2% ahead). The selection between these two should depend on workload type rather than raw score.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher single-core score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 336H leads in Passmark single-thread with a score of 4013 versus 3629 for the Intel Core i5-14500HX, a 9.6% advantage. In Cinebench R23 single-core, however, the i5-14500HX is ahead at 3421 versus 3387, a 1% lead.

Q: How do the multicore Cinebench scores compare?

A: The Intel Core i5-14500HX leads in all three Cinebench multicore tests. In R15, it scores 2442 versus 2418; in R20, 10178 versus 10076; and in R23, 24234 versus 23991. Each lead is exactly 1%.

Q: Which processor is better for floating point math?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 336H is substantially better, scoring 82415 versus 69442 in Passmark floating point math, a 15.7% advantage. It also wins in physics by 28.7% (2682 versus 1911).

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 336H has 16 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core i5-14500HX has 14 cores and 20 threads. The i5-14500HX has more threads despite fewer cores, indicating hyperthreading support.

Q: What are the TDP differences?

A: The Intel Core i5-14500HX has a TDP of 55 watts, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 336H has a TDP of 25 watts. The Ultra 5 336H draws significantly less power.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: Only the Intel Core i5-14500HX supports ECC memory. The Intel Core Ultra 5 336H does not list ECC support in the database.

Specification Differences

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

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

| Cores | 14 | 16 |

| Threads | 20 | 16 |

| Base Clock | 2.60 GHz | 1.90 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.90 GHz | 4.60 GHz |

| TDP | 55 W | 25 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1964 | Intel BGA 2540 |

| Architecture | Raptor Lake | Panther Lake |

| Generation | Core i5 (Raptor Lake-HX Refresh) | Ultra 5 (Panther Lake-H) |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 3 nm |

| Die Size | 257 mm² | Not specified |

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

| L2 Cache | 2 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 specified | 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 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | Yes | No |

| Part Number | SRMXJ | SA4RD |

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