Intel Core i5-14600 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 225T Comparison

The Intel Core i5-14600 and the Intel Core Ultra 5 225T present a clear generational split in Intel’s desktop lineup. The i5-14600, a Raptor Lake Refresh part, and the Ultra 5 225T, an Arrow Lake-S part, both target the 65 W TDP class, but the benchmark data shows they excel in very different areas. The i5-14600 dominates the heavy multi-threaded and integer workloads, while the Ultra 5 225T shows a distinct edge in single-threaded PassMark tests and prime number calculations.

Where Each One Wins

The win distribution is lopsided. The i5-14600 claims 14 of the 17 head-to-head benchmark wins, while the Ultra 5 225T takes only 3. This split reveals a fundamental division of labor. The i5-14600 wins every Cinebench test, from R15 to R23, in both single-core and multi-core variants. Its multi-core Cinebench R23 score of 30464 versus the Ultra 5’s 21971 shows a 38.7% advantage, a gap that persists across all rendering tests. The i5-14600 also wins PassMark’s integer math, data compression, encryption, extended instructions, floating point, multithread, physics, and random string sorting tests.

The Ultra 5 225T’s wins are narrower but telling. It wins PassMark single-thread with a score of 4348 versus 4167, a 4.2% margin. It also wins the find prime numbers test with 284 versus 155, a massive 45.4% advantage in the i5-14600’s favor. This suggests the Ultra 5’s architecture handles certain algorithmic patterns more efficiently, despite losing overall single-core Cinebench races. The i5-14600’s single-core Cinebench R23 score of 4300 beats the Ultra 5’s 3101 by 38.7%, so the PassMark single-thread result is an outlier, not a trend.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different foundries and nodes. The i5-14600 uses Intel’s 10 nm process and is built on the Raptor Lake architecture with the Raptor Lake-R codename. The Ultra 5 225T uses TSMC’s 3 nm process, part of the Arrow Lake architecture with the Arrow Lake-S codename. The Ultra 5 packs 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die, while the i5-14600’s die size is listed at 257 mm² with no transistor count provided.

Core counts differ significantly. The i5-14600 has 14 cores and 20 threads, indicating a hybrid layout with performance and efficiency cores. The Ultra 5 225T has 10 cores and 10 threads, meaning no hyper-threading. Cache hierarchies also diverge. The i5-14600 has 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3. The Ultra 5 225T has 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 20 MB of shared L3. The larger per-core caches on the Ultra 5 explain its efficiency in some single-thread tasks, while the i5-14600’s larger total L3 helps in multi-threaded workloads.

Memory support differs. The i5-14600 supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the Ultra 5 225T supports only DDR5. Both use dual-channel memory buses, but the Ultra 5 has a listed memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s, a figure not provided for the i5-14600. ECC memory is supported on the i5-14600 but not on the Ultra 5. PCIe lanes also differ: the i5-14600 provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes, while the Ultra 5 225T provides Gen 5 with 20 lanes. Integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 770 on the i5-14600 versus Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 16EU on the Ultra 5.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench results are uniform. Every Cinebench test, R15, R20, and R23, in both single and multi-core, shows the i5-14600 winning by exactly 38.7% or 38.8%. For example, Cinebench R15 multi-core scores 3070 versus 2214, and R15 single-core scores 433 versus 312. Cinebench R20 multi-core scores 12794 versus 9227, and R20 single-core scores 1806 versus 1302. Cinebench R23 multi-core scores 30464 versus 21971, and R23 single-core scores 4300 versus 3101. This consistency indicates a fixed performance gap across the entire rendering suite.

PassMark results show wider variation. The i5-14600 wins integer math by 96.6%, scoring 117078 versus 59543. Data compression shows an 85.7% advantage, with 434620 versus 233998. Random string sorting goes to the i5-14600 by 67%, scoring 48043 versus 28774. Multithread performance favors the i5-14600 by 41.4%, with 35848 versus 25358. Data encryption shows a 37.1% edge, 25082 versus 18289. Extended instructions favor the i5-14600 by 27.8%, 25674 versus 20083. Physics shows a smaller 13.5% lead, 2330 versus 2053. Floating point math is close, with the i5-14600 ahead by only 3.6%, 85759 versus 82751.

The Ultra 5 225T’s wins are the exceptions. PassMark single-thread gives it 4348 versus 4167, a 4.2% edge. The find prime numbers test is its biggest victory, scoring 284 versus 155, a 45.4% lead in the Ultra 5’s favor. These two wins, plus the duplicate single-thread listing, account for its 3 total victories.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmarks overall?

A: The Intel Core i5-14600 wins 14 of the 17 head-to-head tests. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T wins 3.

Q: What is the largest single benchmark win for the Intel Core i5-14600?

A: The largest win is in PassMark integer math, where the i5-14600 scores 117078 versus the Ultra 5’s 59543, a delta of 96.6%.

Q: Where does the Intel Core Ultra 5 225T show an advantage?

A: The Ultra 5 wins PassMark single-thread (4348 versus 4167) and PassMark find prime numbers (284 versus 155). It also matches the i5-14600 in floating point math more closely than other tests, losing by only 3.6%.

Q: How do the Cinebench results compare?

A: The i5-14600 wins all six Cinebench tests, with deltas between 38.7% and 38.8%. For example, Cinebench R23 multi-core is 30464 versus 21971.

Q: Do the two processors use the same socket?

A: No. The i5-14600 uses Intel Socket 1700, while the Ultra 5 225T uses Intel Socket 1851.

Q: What are the core and thread counts?

A: The i5-14600 has 14 cores and 20 threads. The Ultra 5 225T has 10 cores and 10 threads.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification category. The i5-14600 belongs to the Core 14th Gen series, while the Ultra 5 225T belongs to the Core Ultra Series 2. The i5-14600 has 14 cores and 20 threads, the Ultra 5 has 10 cores and 10 threads. Base clocks are 2.70 GHz for the i5-14600 and 2.50 GHz for the Ultra 5. Boost clocks are 5.20 GHz versus 4.90 GHz. Both have a TDP of 65, but the i5-14600 uses a 10 nm process from Intel, while the Ultra 5 uses a 3 nm process from TSMC.

Cache configurations differ. The i5-14600 has 80 KB L1 per core, 2 MB L2 per core, and 24 MB shared L3. The Ultra 5 has 192 KB L1 per core, 3 MB L2 per core, and 20 MB shared L3. Memory support is DDR4 and DDR5 for the i5-14600, but only DDR5 for the Ultra 5. The Ultra 5 has a listed memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s, which is not provided for the i5-14600. ECC memory is supported on the i5-14600 but not on the Ultra 5. PCIe lanes are Gen 5 with 16 lanes for the i5-14600 and Gen 5 with 20 lanes for the Ultra 5. Integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 770 versus Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 16EU. The i5-14600 has a launch MSRP of $255; no launch MSRP is listed for the Ultra 5. Release dates are 2024-01-07 for the i5-14600 and 2024-12-31 for the Ultra 5.

The Verdict

The data points to the Intel Core i5-14600 as the stronger overall performer for most workloads. Its 38.7% lead across all Cinebench tests and 41.4% lead in PassMark multithread make it the clear choice for rendering, video encoding, and other heavily threaded applications. The i5-14600 also holds a 96.6% advantage in integer math and an 85.7% advantage in data compression, suggesting superior handling of general-purpose computing tasks. Its 14 cores and 20 threads provide a structural advantage over the Ultra 5’s 10 cores and 10 threads.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T is not without merit. Its 4.2% win in PassMark single-thread and its 45.4% win in find prime numbers indicate a more efficient per-core architecture in specific algorithmic contexts. The 3 nm TSMC process and larger per-core caches (192 KB L1, 3 MB L2) point to a design optimized for certain integer and logic-heavy workloads. However, these wins are isolated. The Ultra 5 loses every Cinebench test, including single-core, by 38.7%, which undercuts its claim to general single-thread superiority.

The i5-14600 also sits higher in the overall percentile ranking, at 89 versus the Ultra 5’s 82. Its average benchmark score of 44889 substantially exceeds the Ultra 5’s 30468. The i5-14600’s nearest rivals include the Intel Core i9-12900KS with a delta of -0.5% and the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D with a delta of 0.7%. The Ultra 5’s nearest rivals are lower-tier parts like the Intel Core i9-11980HK and AMD Ryzen 5 7640HS, both within 0.3% of its average score. This places the Ultra 5 in a different performance class entirely.

For users prioritizing raw multi-threaded throughput and broad application compatibility, the i5-14600 is the data-supported pick. It also retains DDR4 support and ECC memory, useful for certain workstation setups. The Ultra 5 225T offers a more modern socket (1851) and more PCIe lanes (20 versus 16), which may matter for future upgrade paths or high-bandwidth peripherals. Its memory bandwidth is also specified at 102.4 GB/s, a figure absent for the i5-14600. But based on the recorded benchmark results, the i5-14600 delivers superior performance in the majority of tests, and the Ultra 5 only shows a clear advantage in prime number calculation and one PassMark single-thread test. The verdict is straightforward: the i5-14600 is the stronger all-around processor, while the Ultra 5 225T is a specialized alternative with a more efficient node and a few targeted wins.