Intel Core i5-14501E vs Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX Comparison

FAQ

Q: How do the core counts compare between the Intel Core i5-14501E and the Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX?

A: The Core i5-14501E has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Core Ultra 9 285HX has 24 cores and 24 threads. The Ultra 9 has no hyperthreading but quadruples the physical core count.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Core Ultra 9 285HX boosts to 5.50 GHz, while the Core i5-14501E boosts to 5.20 GHz. The base clocks are closer, with the i5 at 3.30 GHz and the Ultra 9 at 2.80 GHz.

Q: What are the cache differences?

A: The Core i5-14501E has 80 KB L1 and 1.25 MB L2 per core, plus 24 MB shared L3. The Core Ultra 9 285HX has 192 KB L1 and 3 MB L2 per core, plus 36 MB shared L3. The Ultra 9 has substantially more cache at every level.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the Core i5-14501E and the Core Ultra 9 285HX list ECC memory support as true.

Q: Which processor has more PCIe lanes?

A: The Core Ultra 9 285HX provides Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only), while the Core i5-14501E provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The Ultra 9 offers 4 additional lanes.

Q: What is the process node for each chip?

A: The Core i5-14501E uses a 10 nm process built by Intel, with a die size of 215 mm². The Core Ultra 9 285HX uses a 3 nm process built by TSMC, with a die size of 243 mm² and 17,800 million transistors.

The Verdict

The recorded data shows an unmistakable performance hierarchy. The Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX sits in the 95th percentile of all CPUs in the database, with an average benchmark score of 76,155. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX (delta -0.1%), AMD EPYC Embedded 8224P (delta -0.4%), AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9945WX (delta -0.5%), and AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D (delta +0.5%). The Ultra 9 is effectively trading blows with top-tier desktop and workstation processors, beating some by half a percent or less.

The Core i5-14501E has no recorded benchmark scores in the database and sits in the 50th percentile. There are zero head-to-head benchmark results between the two, and the i5 has zero wins in any recorded comparison. This is not a close contest; the data indicates the Core Ultra 9 285HX is in a completely different performance class.

For a desktop user needing a solid 6-core, 12-thread platform with 65 W TDP on Socket 1700, the i5-14501E is the only choice between these two. For anyone needing heavy multi-threaded throughput, the Core Ultra 9 285HX delivers roughly six times the multi-core score in Cinebench R23 (36,429.5 versus no recorded score for the i5) and carries a 95th percentile ranking. The mobile Ultra 9 is also unlocked for overclocking, which the locked i5 is not.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database contains no head-to-head benchmark entries comparing these two processors directly. However, the Core Ultra 9 285HX has a full suite of 16 individual benchmark scores, while the Core i5-14501E has none. The comparison is therefore one-sided but still conclusive.

In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Core Ultra 9 285HX scores 36,429.5. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, it scores 20,236. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 5,656.5. These numbers place it far above typical desktop processors. The single-core scores are equally telling: Cinebench R23 single-core at 2,187.5, Cinebench R20 single-core at 2,856, and Cinebench R15 single-core at 323.5.

PassMark results reinforce the multi-threaded strength. The Ultra 9 scores 56,902 in multithread, 194,998 in floating point math, 155,076 in integer math, and 631,885 in data compression. Single-thread performance is also strong at 4,618 in both passmark_single_thread and passmark_singlethread. The i5-14501E has no recorded scores to compare against any of these.

The nearest rivals for the Ultra 9 show how tight the competition is at the top. The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX scores 76,212 on average, just 0.1% higher than the Ultra 9. The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D scores 75,779, 0.5% lower. The Ultra 9 is within a rounding error of these flagship parts, meaning its 24 cores and 5.50 GHz boost are delivering near-elite results.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in almost every core specification. The Core i5-14501E has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Core Ultra 9 285HX has 24 cores and 24 threads. Base clocks differ: 3.30 GHz for the i5 versus 2.80 GHz for the Ultra 9. Boost clocks also differ: 5.20 GHz versus 5.50 GHz, favoring the Ultra 9.

TDP ratings are close but not identical: 65 W for the i5 versus 55 W for the Ultra 9. The socket is completely different: Intel Socket 1700 for the i5, Intel BGA 2114 for the Ultra 9. The i5 is a desktop part; the Ultra 9 is a mobile part.

Memory support differs. The i5 supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the Ultra 9 supports DDR5 only. Both use dual-channel memory buses. The Ultra 9 has a recorded memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s, while the i5 has no recorded bandwidth figure. Both support ECC memory.

PCIe configurations differ: the i5 has Gen 5 with 16 lanes, the Ultra 9 has Gen 5 with 20 lanes. Integrated graphics are different: the i5 uses UHD Graphics 770, while the Ultra 9 uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU.

The multiplier is unlocked on the Ultra 9 but locked on the i5. Release dates differ: the i5 launched on 2024-06-30, the Ultra 9 on 2025-01-12. Both are listed as Active in production status.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap is generational and fundamental. The Core i5-14501E is built on Raptor Lake, codename Raptor Lake-R, part of the Core 14th Gen series. It uses a 10 nm process node fabricated by Intel, with a die size of 215 mm². The Core Ultra 9 285HX is built on Arrow Lake, codename Arrow Lake-HX, part of the Core Ultra Series 2. It uses a 3 nm process node fabricated by TSMC, with a die size of 243 mm² and 17,800 million transistors.

The transistor count difference is stark: the Ultra 9 packs 17,800 million transistors against no recorded count for the i5. The smaller process node allows for a significantly denser and more power-efficient design despite the larger physical die.

Cache architecture differs at every level. The i5 has 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and 24 MB shared L3. The Ultra 9 has 192 KB L1 per core, 3 MB L2 per core, and 36 MB shared L3. The Ultra 9's per-core L1 is 2.4 times larger, its per-core L2 is 2.4 times larger, and its shared L3 is 50% larger.

The generation labels confirm the split: the i5 is a Raptor Lake Refresh part, while the Ultra 9 is an Arrow Lake-HX part. The Ultra 9 uses a hybrid core topology with 24 cores and 24 threads, indicating no hyperthreading, while the i5 uses 6 cores and 12 threads with hyperthreading enabled. The Ultra 9 also carries an unlocked multiplier, enabling overclocking headroom that the i5 lacks.

The foundry shift is notable: Intel fabricated the i5 in-house, while TSMC fabricated the Ultra 9. This represents a major architectural divergence for Intel, moving its highest-end mobile parts to an external foundry for the 3 nm node.

Where Each One Wins

The Core Ultra 9 285HX wins in every measurable category where data exists. Its multi-core scores are exceptional: 36,429.5 in Cinebench R23 and 20,236 in Cinebench R20. The 24 physical cores deliver massive parallel throughput for rendering, compilation, scientific computing, and virtual machine workloads. The PassMark multithread score of 56,902 and data compression score of 631,885 confirm this strength in heavily threaded tasks.

The Ultra 9 also wins in single-core performance, posting 4,618 in PassMark single-thread and 2,187.5 in Cinebench R23 single-core. The 5.50 GHz boost clock drives this advantage. For applications that rely on fast single-thread response, such as many legacy games and lightly threaded productivity tools, the Ultra 9 remains ahead.

The Ultra 9 wins in memory bandwidth with 102.4 GB/s, a figure the i5 does not record. It also wins in PCIe lane count at 20 lanes versus 16 lanes, and in integrated graphics capability with Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU versus UHD Graphics 770. The larger L3 cache (36 MB versus 24 MB) gives it an advantage in cache-sensitive workloads.

The Core i5-14501E has no recorded benchmark wins. Its strengths are structural rather than measured. It uses a desktop Socket 1700, which offers upgrade flexibility on existing platforms. It supports DDR4 memory, allowing builders to reuse older RAM. Its 65 W TDP is close to the Ultra 9's 55 W, but the i5 targets a completely different power and thermal envelope given its desktop form factor.

For a compact desktop build where 6 cores suffice, the i5-14501E provides a straightforward path with broad memory compatibility. For any workload that scales with cores, threads, cache, or memory bandwidth, the Core Ultra 9 285HX dominates with a 95th percentile ranking and near parity with AMD's top-end Ryzen 9 parts. The data shows no scenario where the i5 outperforms the Ultra 9 in measured performance.