Intel Core i5-14600 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus Comparison

The Intel Core i5-14600 and the Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus represent two distinct approaches within Intel’s desktop lineup. The i5-14600 is a Raptor Lake Refresh part on the LGA 1700 socket, while the Ultra 5 250KF Plus belongs to the Arrow Lake Refresh family on the LGA 1851 socket. Benchmark data from the database shows a clear and consistent performance gap between the two, with the newer Ultra 5 securing a win in every single recorded test. The following analysis breaks down those results, examines where each processor excels, and explores the architectural reasons behind the differences.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database records 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons between these two processors, and the Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus wins all 17. The margin of victory varies significantly depending on the workload, but the pattern is unmistakable. In Cinebench tests, the Ultra 5 250KF Plus delivers a consistent 28.7% advantage across all six runs. For example, in Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i5-14600 scores 30,464 points while the Ultra 5 250KF Plus reaches 42,718 points. The single-core result in the same test shows 4,300 versus 6,030 points, again a 28.7% gap. The same percentage appears in Cinebench R15 and R20, both multi-core and single-core, indicating a uniform performance scaling in these rendering workloads.

PassMark results paint a more varied picture. The smallest gap appears in integer math, where the i5-14600 scores 117,078 and the Ultra 5 250KF Plus scores 123,030, a difference of only 4.8%. This suggests that raw integer throughput is relatively close, though the newer processor still holds the edge. In contrast, the largest gap emerges in the find prime numbers test, where the i5-14600 manages 155 points and the Ultra 5 250KF Plus scores 452 points, a 65.7% deficit for the older chip. Floating point math also shows a substantial difference: 85,759 versus 159,824 points, meaning the Ultra 5 250KF Plus leads by 46.3%. Extended instructions show a 40.1% advantage (25,674 versus 42,880), and data encryption shows a 39.3% lead (25,082 versus 41,292). The data compression test yields a 21.4% gap (434,620 versus 553,155), while multithread, physics, and random string sorting all show gaps between 26.8% and 28.5%. Single-thread performance, measured via PassMark, shows an 11.3% advantage for the Ultra 5 250KF Plus, with scores of 4,698 versus 4,167.

The consistency of the Cinebench deltas at exactly 28.7% across all tests is notable. It implies that the architectural improvements in the Ultra 5 250KF Plus affect both single-core and multi-core rendering equally, without a workload-specific bottleneck. The PassMark results, however, reveal that the performance advantage is not uniform. The prime numbers test, which often stresses integer division and branch prediction, shows the most dramatic improvement, while integer math shows the least. This variance suggests that the Ultra 5 250KF Plus has specific microarchitectural enhancements that benefit certain instruction patterns more than others.

Where Each One Wins

Given the head-to-head results, there is no benchmark category where the Intel Core i5-14600 comes out ahead. The database records zero wins for the i5-14600 and 17 wins for the Ultra 5 250KF Plus. That said, the magnitude of the losses varies, and that variation matters for real-world use. The i5-14600 is closest to parity in integer math, where it trails by only 4.8%. This means that workloads dominated by simple integer operations, such as some database transactions or legacy software, would see a modest performance difference. The single-thread PassMark gap of 11.3% is also relatively small, so lightly threaded applications that rely on a single core would still run adequately on the i5-14600, just not as fast.

The Ultra 5 250KF Plus dominates in every other category. Its 65.7% lead in prime number finding indicates a substantial advantage in algorithms that involve primality testing or similar mathematical operations. The 46.3% lead in floating point math makes it the clear choice for scientific simulations, 3D rendering, and any workload that relies heavily on FPU throughput. Data encryption, which shows a 39.3% gap, favors the Ultra 5 for security-related tasks like hashing and cryptographic operations. Extended instructions, with a 40.1% gap, point to advantages in multimedia encoding and vectorized workloads. The Cinebench results, consistently 28.7% higher, confirm that the Ultra 5 250KF Plus is simply faster for both single-threaded and multi-threaded rendering tasks.

For users already on the LGA 1700 platform, the i5-14600 remains a functional processor. Its 89th percentile ranking among all CPUs in the database shows that it outperforms the vast majority of processors ever tested. However, the Ultra 5 250KF Plus sits in the 93rd percentile, and its average benchmark score of 66,159 dwarfs the i5-14600’s 44,889. The average score difference is approximately 47%, which aligns with the mid-range gaps seen in individual tests. The i5-14600 is not a weak processor, but the data shows that the Ultra 5 250KF Plus is in a different performance class.

Architecture Differences

The architectural differences between these two processors explain much of the performance gap. The Intel Core i5-14600 uses the Raptor Lake architecture on a 10 nm process node, fabricated by Intel itself. The die size is 257 mm². It has 14 cores and 20 threads, with a base clock of 2.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.20 GHz. The thermal design power is 65 watts. It supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, and it includes integrated graphics in the form of UHD Graphics 770. The PCIe interface is Gen 5 with 16 lanes available from the CPU. The socket is Intel Socket 1700.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus uses the Arrow Lake Refresh codename with a 3 nm process node, fabricated by TSMC. The transistor count is 17,800 million, and the die size is 243 mm². It has 18 cores and 18 threads, meaning it relies on a different core topology without hyper-threading. The base clock is 4.20 GHz and the boost clock is 5.30 GHz. The thermal design power is 125 watts. It supports only DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, with a recorded memory bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s. It has no integrated graphics. The PCIe interface is Gen 5 with 20 lanes from the CPU. The socket is Intel Socket 1851, and the multiplier is unlocked.

The cache hierarchy also differs significantly. The i5-14600 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 250KF Plus has 192 KB of L1 cache per core, 3 MB of L2 cache per core, and 30 MB of shared L3 cache. The larger per-core caches in the Ultra 5 likely contribute to its superior single-thread performance, as more data can reside closer to the execution units. The 3 nm process node, combined with a higher base clock and boost clock, gives the Ultra 5 a fundamental frequency advantage. The absence of hyper-threading in the Ultra 5, despite having more physical cores, suggests that Intel opted for a design where each core is more powerful individually, rather than relying on thread duplication.

The memory support difference is another key factor. The i5-14600’s ability to run DDR4 may be attractive for budget upgrades, but the Ultra 5’s exclusive DDR5 support, with a bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s, allows for higher memory throughput. The extra PCIe lanes (20 versus 16) in the Ultra 5 also provide more headroom for expansion cards, storage devices, or other peripherals. The unlocked multiplier on the Ultra 5 means users can adjust the clock multiplier for overclocking, whereas the i5-14600 has a locked multiplier. The production status for both is listed as active, and both support ECC memory.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus outperforms the Intel Core i5-14600 in every recorded test. The database shows zero wins for the i5-14600 and 17 wins for the Ultra 5 250KF Plus. The average benchmark score for the Ultra 5 is 66,159, compared to 44,889 for the i5-14600, a difference of roughly 47%. The Ultra 5 also ranks higher in the percentile standings, sitting at 93 versus 89 for the i5-14600.

For anyone building a new system, the Ultra 5 250KF Plus is the obvious choice based on raw performance. Its advantages in floating point math, encryption, and extended instructions make it suitable for heavy computational tasks. The Cinebench results confirm that it is also superior for rendering and other multi-threaded workloads. The i5-14600, while still a capable processor that outperforms many older CPUs, cannot match the Ultra 5 in any measurable way according to the database.

The i5-14600 does retain some relevance for users who already own an LGA 1700 motherboard and wish to avoid a platform change. Its support for DDR4 memory means that existing DDR4 modules can be reused, which may lower the total cost of an upgrade, though the database does not provide pricing analysis. The lower thermal design power of 65 watts also means it is easier to cool in a compact system. However, for users starting fresh, the Ultra 5’s higher core count, larger caches, faster clocks, and superior benchmark scores make it the stronger candidate. The unlocked multiplier on the Ultra 5 adds further flexibility for those who want to push performance beyond stock settings.

The verdict is simple: the Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus is the faster processor in all measured dimensions. The i5-14600’s only advantages are platform compatibility and lower power consumption, not performance.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher score in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus scores 42,718 points, while the Intel Core i5-14600 scores 30,464 points, giving the Ultra 5 a 28.7% lead.

Q: Is there any benchmark where the Intel Core i5-14600 wins?

A: No. The database records 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, and the Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus wins all 17. The Intel Core i5-14600 records zero wins.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two processors?

A: The largest gap is in the PassMark find prime numbers test. The Intel Core i5-14600 scores 155 points, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus scores 452 points, a 65.7% difference.

Q: How do the core counts and threads compare?

A: The Intel Core i5-14600 has 14 cores and 20 threads. The Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus has 18 cores and 18 threads, meaning it has more physical cores but no hyper-threading.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core i5-14600 and the Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus are listed with ECC memory support in the database.

Q: What are the boost clocks of each processor?

A: The Intel Core i5-14600 has a boost clock of 5.20 GHz. The Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus has a boost clock of 5.30 GHz.

Specification Differences

The following fields differ between the Intel Core i5-14600 and the Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus in the database:

• Cores: 14 (i5-14600) versus 18 (Ultra 5 250KF Plus)
• Threads: 20 (i5-14600) versus 18 (Ultra 5 250KF Plus)
• Base Clock: 2.70 GHz (i5-14600) versus 4.20 GHz (Ultra 5 250KF Plus)
• Boost Clock: 5.20 GHz (i5-14600) versus 5.30 GHz (Ultra 5 250KF Plus)
• TDP: 65 watts (i5-14600) versus 125 watts (Ultra 5 250KF Plus)
• Socket: Intel Socket 1700 (i5-14600) versus Intel Socket 1851 (Ultra 5 250KF Plus)
• Codename: Raptor Lake-R (i5-14600) versus Arrow Lake Refresh (Ultra 5 250KF Plus)
• Process Node: 10 nm (i5-14600) versus 3 nm (Ultra 5 250KF Plus)
• Foundry: Intel (i5-14600) versus TSMC (Ultra 5 250KF Plus)
• Transistors: Not listed (i5-14600) versus 17,800 million (Ultra 5 250KF Plus)
• Die Size: 257 mm² (i5-14600) versus 243 mm² (Ultra 5 250KF Plus)
• L1 Cache: 80 KB per core (i5-14600) versus 192 KB per core (Ultra 5 250KF Plus)
• L2 Cache: 2 MB per core (i5-14600) versus 3 MB per core (Ultra 5 250KF Plus)
• L3 Cache: 24 MB shared (i5-14600) versus 30 MB shared (Ultra 5 250KF Plus)
• Memory Support: DDR4, DDR5 (i5-14600) versus DDR5 only (Ultra 5 250KF Plus)
• Memory Bandwidth: Not listed (i5-14600) versus 115.2 GB/s (Ultra 5 250KF Plus)
• PCIe: Gen 5, 16 Lanes CPU only (i5-14600) versus Gen 5, 20 Lanes CPU only (Ultra 5 250KF Plus)
• Integrated Graphics: UHD Graphics 770 (i5-14600) versus N/A (Ultra 5 250KF Plus)
• Release Date: 2024-01-07 (i5-14600) versus 2026-03-10 (Ultra 5 250KF Plus)
• Launch MSRP: $255 (i5-14600) versus $184 (Ultra 5 250KF Plus)
• Multiplier Unlocked: false (i5-14600) versus true (Ultra 5 250KF Plus)
• Part Number: SRN44 (i5-14600) versus SA4V3 (Ultra 5 250KF Plus)
• Percentile Vs All CPUs: 89 (i5-14600) versus 93 (Ultra 5 250KF Plus)
• Average Benchmark Score: 44,889 (i5-14600) versus 66,159 (Ultra 5 250KF Plus)