Intel Core i5-14600 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 338H Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a decisive overall victory for the Intel Core i5-14600, which wins 13 of the 17 recorded head-to-head tests. The most dramatic separation appears in Cinebench R23, where the i5-14600 scores 30,464 in multi-core against 16,331 for the Core Ultra 5 338H, a 86.5% advantage. The single-core gap in that same test is even larger: 4,300 versus 2,044, a 110.4% delta, which is the largest performance margin recorded between the two processors. These results indicate that the desktop part holds a commanding lead in sustained all-core and single-thread workloads as measured by Cinebench.

The i5-14600 also leads by wide margins in PassMark integer math, scoring 117,078 against 64,934, a 80.3% difference. Data compression shows a 57.2% advantage (434,620 versus 276,539), and random string sorting comes in at 41% ahead (48,043 versus 34,082). Multi-thread throughput in PassMark favors the i5-14600 by 24.8% (35,848 versus 28,717), while Cinebench R15 multi-core and R20 multi-core show 22.6% and 25.3% deltas, respectively. Even in single-core R15 and R20, the i5-14600 stays ahead by 42% and 25.3%, respectively, though the Core Ultra 5 338H scores slightly higher in PassMark single-thread tests (4,180 versus 4,167, a 0.3% delta).

The Core Ultra 5 338H takes the remaining four wins. Its most notable success is in PassMark find prime numbers, where it scores 304 against 155, a 49% advantage for the mobile chip. PassMark physics also favors the Core Ultra 5 338H: 2,697 versus 2,330, a 13.6% difference. The two remaining wins are the PassMark single-thread and singlethread tests, both showing the same 4,180 versus 4,167 result. These victories indicate that the Ultra 5 338H has specific strengths in integer prime searching and physics simulation, but they occur in a minority of the recorded benchmarks.

Looking at overall average benchmark scores, the i5-14600 reaches 44,889, while the Core Ultra 5 338H averages 33,989. The i5-14600 sits at the 89th percentile among all CPUs in the database, while the Ultra 5 338H sits at the 84th percentile. The i5-14600's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i9-12900KS (0.5% lower average score), AMD EPYC 4344P (0.5% lower), AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D (0.7% higher), and Intel Core Ultra X9 388H (1% higher). The Ultra 5 338H's nearest rivals include the Intel Core Ultra 7 165H (0.3% higher), Intel Core i7-12800HX (0.3% lower), Intel Xeon 6353P (0.4% lower), and AMD EPYC 4244P (0.7% higher). Both processors sit within a very tight band of their closest competitors, suggesting that each is well positioned within its own performance class.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-14600 dominates in nearly every multi-threaded production workload recorded. Cinebench R23 multi-core shows the largest gap, and the same pattern repeats across R15 and R20 multi-core tests. PassMark integer math and data compression also strongly favor the desktop chip, with deltas of 80.3% and 57.2%. These results point to a processor that is clearly built for heavy parallel tasks: rendering, compilation, scientific computing, and any workload that scales across many cores. The i5-14600's 14 cores and 20 threads provide a substantial parallel resource pool, and the data shows that this translates directly into benchmark wins across the board.

Data encryption favors the i5-14600 by 17.4%, and extended instructions favor it by 7.4%. Floating point math is nearly even, with the i5-14600 ahead by only 2%. These smaller deltas indicate that in certain instruction-heavy or floating-point-bound tasks, the two processors are much closer, though the i5-14600 still holds the edge. The single-core Cinebench results are also strongly in favor of the i5-14600, with R23 single-core showing a 110.4% advantage. This suggests that the desktop part's higher boost clock of 5.20 GHz delivers a significant per-thread performance advantage in at least some synthetic loads.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H wins in PassMark find prime numbers and PassMark physics, with deltas of 49% and 13.6% respectively. These two tests are notable because they do not follow the overall trend. Find prime numbers is a highly integer-intensive, cache-sensitive workload, and the Ultra 5 338H's larger L1 cache (192 KB per core versus 80 KB per core) and larger L2 cache (2.5 MB per core versus 2 MB per core) may explain its advantage there. The physics test likely benefits from the newer Panther Lake architecture's specific instruction handling. The PassMark single-thread result is essentially a tie at 4,180 versus 4,167, a 0.3% delta in favor of the mobile part, meaning that in a purely single-threaded PassMark scenario, the two chips are functionally equivalent.

The Verdict

The benchmark data clearly indicates that the Intel Core i5-14600 is the stronger processor in aggregate. It wins 13 of 17 head-to-head tests, holds a 32% higher average benchmark score (44,889 versus 33,989), and sits higher in the database's overall percentile ranking (89 versus 84). The largest margins are in Cinebench R23, where the i5-14600 is over 86% faster in multi-core and over 110% faster in single-core. For users focused on multi-threaded desktop workloads, rendering, or demanding single-thread tasks as measured by Cinebench, the i5-14600 is the clear choice from this data.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H wins in four tests, but three of those wins are narrow (physics at 13.6%, and the two single-thread PassMark tests at 0.3%). Only the find prime numbers result shows a substantial advantage for the Ultra 5 338H. This processor appears better suited to specific workloads: prime-number searching, physics simulation, and workloads that benefit from its specific cache hierarchy. Its lower TDP of 25 watts against the i5-14600's 65 watts also makes it a more power-efficient option, though the performance data shows that efficiency comes with a significant overall performance cost in most benchmarks.

Users who need maximum performance across a broad range of recorded tests should choose the i5-14600. Users who prioritize the specific workloads where the Ultra 5 338H wins, or who require a mobile form factor with a BGA 2540 socket, should consider the Ultra 5 338H. The data does not support a case for the Ultra 5 338H as a general-purpose performance leader against the i5-14600.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i5-14600 has an average benchmark score of 44,889, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H averages 33,989.

Q: What is the largest single benchmark margin between the two?

A: The largest margin is in Cinebench R23 single-core, where the Intel Core i5-14600 scores 4,300 against 2,044, a 110.4% advantage.

Q: Does the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H win any benchmark tests?

A: Yes, it wins four tests: PassMark find prime numbers (304 versus 155), PassMark physics (2,697 versus 2,330), and the two PassMark single-thread tests (4,180 versus 4,167).

Q: How do the two processors compare in percentile ranking?

A: The Intel Core i5-14600 sits at the 89th percentile among all CPUs, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H sits at the 84th percentile.

Q: What is the closest benchmark result between the two?

A: The closest result is in PassMark single-thread and singlethread tests, where the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H scores 4,180 and the Intel Core i5-14600 scores 4,167, a 0.3% difference.

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i5-14600 has 14 cores and 20 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H has 12 cores and 12 threads.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel architectures and target different market segments. The Intel Core i5-14600 is based on Raptor Lake, specifically the Raptor Lake-R refresh, and belongs to the Core 14th Gen series. Its process node is 10 nm, and it uses the Intel Socket 1700. The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H is based on Panther Lake, specifically the Panther Lake-H variant, and belongs to the Core Ultra Series 3. Its process node is 3 nm, and it uses the Intel BGA 2540 socket. The i5-14600 is a desktop processor, while the Ultra 5 338H is a mobile processor.

Cache layouts differ substantially. 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 338H has 192 KB of L1 cache per core, 2.5 MB of L2 cache per core, and 18 MB of shared L3 cache. The mobile part therefore has larger per-core L1 and L2 caches, but the desktop part has a larger total L3 cache. This may explain the Ultra 5 338H's advantage in find prime numbers, a workload sensitive to per-core cache capacity.

Integrated graphics differ: the i5-14600 uses UHD Graphics 770, while the Ultra 5 338H uses Arc B370. Memory support also differs, with the i5-14600 supporting DDR4 and DDR5 in a dual-channel configuration, while the Ultra 5 338H supports LPDDR5X in a dual-channel configuration with a recorded memory bandwidth of 136.5 GB/s. The i5-14600 supports ECC memory, while the Ultra 5 338H does not. PCIe lanes also differ: the i5-14600 offers Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the Ultra 5 338H offers Gen 5 with 4 lanes (CPU only).

The die size for the i5-14600 is recorded as 257 mm², while the Ultra 5 338H has no recorded die size. Both processors are manufactured by Intel, and both have an active production status. The i5-14600's part number is SRN44, while the Ultra 5 338H's part number is SA4REQ9EW.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts differ: the i5-14600 has 14 cores and 20 threads, while the Ultra 5 338H has 12 cores and 12 threads. The i5-14600 has a base clock of 2.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.20 GHz. The Ultra 5 338H has a base clock of 1.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. The TDP differs significantly: the i5-14600 is rated at 65 watts, while the Ultra 5 338H is rated at 25 watts.

The socket types are different, with the i5-14600 using Intel Socket 1700 and the Ultra 5 338H using Intel BGA 2540. The release dates differ: the i5-14600 was released on January 7, 2024, while the Ultra 5 338H was released on January 4, 2026. The i5-14600 has a recorded launch MSRP of $255, while the Ultra 5 338H has no recorded launch MSRP. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

The process nodes differ: the i5-14600 uses 10 nm, while the Ultra 5 338H uses 3 nm. The market segments differ: the i5-14600 is a desktop part, while the Ultra 5 338H is a mobile part. The i5-14600 supports ECC memory, while the Ultra 5 338H does not. The memory support differs: the i5-14600 supports DDR4 and DDR5, while the Ultra 5 338H supports LPDDR5X with a recorded memory bandwidth of 136.5 GB/s. The integrated graphics differ: UHD Graphics 770 for the i5-14600 versus Arc B370 for the Ultra 5 338H. PCIe lane counts differ: 16 lanes for the i5-14600 versus 4 lanes for the Ultra 5 338H, both Gen 5 and CPU only.