Intel Core i5-14501E vs Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus and the Intel Core i5-14501E represent two very different tiers of Intel's lineup, and the recorded benchmark data reflects that gap clearly. The Ultra 9 290HX Plus holds an average benchmark score of 79,574 across all tested workloads, placing it in the 95th percentile of all CPUs in the database. The i5-14501E has no individual benchmark scores recorded, and its percentile ranking sits at 50, indicating a mid-pack position. This alone signals a large performance separation, but the specific workload results for the Ultra 9 290HX Plus provide a more detailed picture.

In multi-threaded rendering workloads, the Ultra 9 290HX Plus posts substantial numbers. Cinebench R23 multi-core yields a score of 39,684, while Cinebench R20 multi-core reaches 21,198 and Cinebench R15 multi-core lands at 5,981. These scores are consistent with a high-core-count processor handling parallel workloads. The single-core results are comparatively strong as well: Cinebench R23 single-core scores 2,356, Cinebench R20 single-core scores 2,992, and Cinebench R15 single-core scores 340. The single-core performance is competitive with desktop flagship parts, which matters for latency-sensitive tasks.

The PassMark suite reinforces this position. Integer math scores 164,839, floating point math scores 201,773, and extended instructions (SIMD) scores 51,290. Data compression reaches 658,724, while data encryption hits 50,008. Random string sorting completes at 80,327. The multithread score is 59,439, and the single-thread score is 4,951. Physics processing scores 3,387, and find prime numbers scores 519. These numbers indicate a processor that handles both integer-heavy and floating-point-heavy workloads with high throughput.

Comparing the Ultra 9 290HX Plus to its nearest rivals in the database provides context for its standing. The Intel Core i9-14900KF holds an average score of 79,371, which is 0.3% lower than the Ultra 9 290HX Plus. The AMD EPYC 7413 scores 80,041, which is 0.6% higher. The Intel Core i9-14900K scores 79,097, 0.6% lower. The Intel Xeon w5-2565X scores 80,671, 1.4% higher. The Ultra 9 290HX Plus therefore sits in a tight cluster with these heavy hitters, trading places by fractions of a percent. This is not a case of a mobile chip being far behind desktop parts; the data places it squarely among them.

For the i5-14501E, the absence of recorded benchmark scores means no direct head-to-head numbers exist in the database. The comparison must therefore rely on the structural differences between the two parts. The Ultra 9 290HX Plus uses a 3 nm process from TSMC, while the i5-14501E uses a 10 nm process from Intel. The Ultra 9 290HX Plus contains 24 cores and 24 threads, whereas the i5-14501E has 6 cores and 12 threads. Core count differences of this magnitude typically translate into multi-threaded performance advantages that are multiples, not small percentages. The Ultra 9 290HX Plus also carries 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die, versus the i5-14501E's 215 mm² die with no transistor count listed. Even without direct benchmark numbers, the architectural gap is clear.

The i5-14501E does have advantages in certain areas. Its base clock runs at 3.30 GHz and boost clock at 5.20 GHz, while the Ultra 9 290HX Plus has a base of 2.70 GHz and boost of 5.50 GHz. The i5-14501E has a lower boost ceiling by 0.30 GHz, but its higher base clock may help in lightly threaded or power-constrained scenarios. The i5-14501E also supports DDR4 memory in addition to DDR5, whereas the Ultra 9 290HX Plus supports only DDR5. For systems with existing DDR4 infrastructure, that is a practical advantage. The i5-14501E is a desktop part on Intel Socket 1700, while the Ultra 9 290HX Plus is a mobile part on Intel BGA 2114. The i5-14501E has a 65 W TDP, and the Ultra 9 290HX Plus has a 55 W TDP, so the mobile chip actually draws less power on paper despite its larger core count. The Ultra 9 290HX Plus has an unlocked multiplier, while the i5-14501E does not. The i5-14501E includes UHD Graphics 770, and the Ultra 9 290HX Plus includes Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU.

The Verdict

The data indicates that the Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus is the stronger processor for demanding, multi-threaded workloads. Its 24 cores and 24 threads, combined with a 95th percentile ranking and an average score of 79,574, place it in the same performance class as the Intel Core i9-14900K and i9-14900KF. The i5-14501E, with 6 cores and 12 threads and a 50th percentile ranking, cannot match that level of parallel throughput. Users who run rendering, data compression, encryption, or heavy scientific math workloads would see substantial benefits from the Ultra 9 290HX Plus. Its nearest rival deltas are all within 1.4%, meaning it trades blows with top-tier desktop parts rather than trailing them.

The i5-14501E is better suited to scenarios where the platform matters more than raw core count. It uses the desktop Intel Socket 1700, which allows for standard ATX motherboards and a wide range of cooling solutions. It supports DDR4 memory, which can lower system cost for users who already own DDR4 modules. Its higher base clock of 3.30 GHz, compared to 2.70 GHz for the Ultra 9 290HX Plus, may provide better responsiveness in single-threaded or lightly threaded tasks that do not scale across cores. The 65 W TDP is higher than the 55 W TDP of the Ultra 9 290HX Plus, but both are relatively modest for their respective categories.

Neither processor has a launch MSRP listed in the database, so no price comparison is possible. The choice comes down to workload type and platform preference. For multi-core performance, the Ultra 9 290HX Plus is the clear choice based on recorded data. For a desktop build with DDR4 support and a simpler cooling requirement, the i5-14501E offers a viable alternative, though its benchmark data is absent from the database.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different generations and manufacturing nodes. The i5-14501E belongs to the Core 14th Gen series, built on Raptor Lake architecture with the Raptor Lake-R codename. It uses a 10 nm process node manufactured by Intel, with a die size of 215 mm². The Ultra 9 290HX Plus belongs to the Core Ultra Series 2, built on the Arrow Lake-HX Refresh codename, using a 3 nm process node from TSMC. Its die size is 243 mm², and it contains 17,800 million transistors.

Core and thread configurations differ significantly. The i5-14501E has 6 cores and 12 threads, which means it uses hyper-threading to reach 12 threads from 6 physical cores. The Ultra 9 290HX Plus has 24 cores and 24 threads, which means it does not use hyper-threading at all; each core corresponds to one thread. This is a notable design choice, as the Ultra 9 290HX Plus relies on raw core count rather than simultaneous multithreading.

Cache hierarchies also differ. The i5-14501E has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The Ultra 9 290HX Plus has 192 KB of L1 cache per core, 3 MB of L2 cache per core, and 36 MB of shared L3 cache. The larger per-core caches on the Ultra 9 290HX Plus, combined with the larger shared L3, provide more room for data reuse in compute-heavy workloads.

Memory support differs as well. The i5-14501E supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory over a dual-channel bus, and it has ECC memory support. The Ultra 9 290HX Plus supports only DDR5 memory over a dual-channel bus, with a recorded memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s. It also supports ECC memory. PCIe connectivity differs: the i5-14501E provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the Ultra 9 290HX Plus provides Gen 5 with 20 lanes from the CPU.

Integrated graphics differ. The i5-14501E uses UHD Graphics 770, while the Ultra 9 290HX Plus uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU. The Ultra 9 290HX Plus is the mobile part, with an Intel BGA 2114 socket, while the i5-14501E is a desktop part on Intel Socket 1700. The Ultra 9 290HX Plus has an unlocked multiplier, while the i5-14501E does not.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus has 24 cores and 24 threads. The Intel Core i5-14501E has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each processor?

A: The Ultra 9 290HX Plus has an average benchmark score of 79,574 and sits in the 95th percentile of all CPUs. The i5-14501E has no recorded benchmark scores and sits in the 50th percentile.

Q: How does the Ultra 9 290HX Plus compare to the Intel Core i9-14900K?

A: The Ultra 9 290HX Plus has an average score of 79,574, which is 0.6% higher than the i9-14900K's score of 79,097.

Q: What memory types does each processor support?

A: The i5-14501E supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory. The Ultra 9 290HX Plus supports only DDR5 memory, with a memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Ultra 9 290HX Plus has a boost clock of 5.50 GHz, which is 0.30 GHz higher than the i5-14501E's boost clock of 5.20 GHz.

Q: Are both processors unlocked for overclocking?

A: No. The Ultra 9 290HX Plus has an unlocked multiplier. The i5-14501E does not have an unlocked multiplier.

Where Each One Wins

The Ultra 9 290HX Plus wins decisively in multi-threaded workloads. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 39,684 and PassMark multithread score of 59,439 indicate strong parallel scaling across 24 cores. Data compression at 658,724 and floating point math at 201,773 are high-throughput results that would benefit video encoding, 3D rendering, scientific simulation, and database workloads. The 95th percentile ranking places it among the top CPUs in the database, and its nearest rivals are all within 1.4%, meaning it competes directly with the Intel Core i9-14900K, i9-14900KF, AMD EPYC 7413, and Intel Xeon w5-2565X. For any workload that can utilize many cores, the Ultra 9 290HX Plus is the stronger part.

The i5-14501E wins in platform flexibility. It uses the desktop Intel Socket 1700, which is compatible with a broad range of motherboards and cooling solutions. Its support for DDR4 memory allows users to keep existing memory modules, reducing the cost of a new build. The higher base clock of 3.30 GHz, compared to 2.70 GHz for the Ultra 9 290HX Plus, may provide better responsiveness in single-threaded tasks that do not scale across cores. The 65 W TDP is higher than the 55 W TDP of the Ultra 9 290HX Plus, but both are modest power envelopes. The i5-14501E also has UHD Graphics 770, which may be sufficient for basic display output without a discrete GPU.

The Ultra 9 290HX Plus wins in raw compute capability, cache capacity, and memory bandwidth. Its 36 MB of shared L3 cache and 102.4 GB/s memory bandwidth support data-intensive workloads. Its 3 nm process node from TSMC provides a transistor density advantage, with 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die. The i5-14501E's 10 nm process and 215 mm² die cannot match that density. The Ultra 9 290HX Plus also has more PCIe lanes, 20 versus 16, which matters for multi-GPU or high-speed storage configurations.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every specification field. The i5-14501E has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Ultra 9 290HX Plus has 24 cores and 24 threads. Base clocks are 3.30 GHz for the i5-14501E and 2.70 GHz for the Ultra 9 290HX Plus. Boost clocks are 5.20 GHz and 5.50 GHz, respectively. TDP is 65 W for the i5-14501E and 55 W for the Ultra 9 290HX Plus.

The i5-14501E uses Intel Socket 1700, while the Ultra 9 290HX Plus uses Intel BGA 2114. The i5-14501E is built on a 10 nm process from Intel, while the Ultra 9 290HX Plus uses a 3 nm process from TSMC. The Ultra 9 290HX Plus has a transistor count of 17,800 million and a die size of 243 mm²; the i5-14501E has no transistor count listed and a die size of 215 mm².

Cache configurations differ: L1 is 80 KB per core for the i5-14501E and 192 KB per core for the Ultra 9 290HX Plus. L2 is 1.25 MB per core for the i5-14501E and 3 MB per core for the Ultra 9 290HX Plus. L3 is 24 MB shared for the i5-14501E and 36 MB shared for the Ultra 9 290HX Plus.

Memory support: the i5-14501E supports DDR4 and DDR5, while the Ultra 9 290HX Plus supports only DDR5. Both use dual-channel memory buses. The Ultra 9 290HX Plus has a recorded memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s; the i5-14501E has no bandwidth figure listed. Both support ECC memory. PCIe connectivity: the i5-14501E provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes, while the Ultra 9 290HX Plus provides Gen 5 with 20 lanes.

Integrated graphics differ: the i5-14501E has UHD Graphics 770, and the Ultra 9 290HX Plus has Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU. The market segment is desktop for the i5-14501E and mobile for the Ultra 9 290HX Plus. The i5-14501E has a locked multiplier, while the Ultra 9 290HX Plus has an unlocked multiplier. Release dates are June 30, 2024 for the i5-14501E and March 16, 2026 for the Ultra 9 290HX Plus. Both are listed as Active in production status.