Intel Core i7-14700 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a remarkably one-sided contest. The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus wins 16 of the 17 recorded head-to-head comparisons, with the Intel Core i7-14700 managing a single victory. The overall average benchmark scores confirm the gap: the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus records an average score of 66855 against 52301 for the Core i7-14700, a difference that places the newer chip in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs versus the 91st percentile for the older part.

The largest margin comes in the PassMark find prime numbers test, where the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus scores 486 against 164, a delta of -66.3 percent from the perspective of the Core i7-14700. That is more than a threefold advantage in a pure integer workload that stresses the processor's arithmetic capabilities. Similarly lopsided results appear in extended instructions (44565 versus 28388, a -36.3 percent delta), floating point math (162692 versus 106716, -34.4 percent), and physics (3494 versus 2226, -36.3 percent). These are not marginal improvements; they represent substantial architectural gains in computational throughput.

The Cinebench suite tells a consistent story. In Cinebench R20 multicore, the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus scores 18442 against 14388, a -22 percent delta. The single-core version shows the same -22 percent gap, with scores of 2603 and 2031. Cinebench R23 narrows the margin somewhat: multicore shows 30867 versus 28398 (-8 percent) and single-core shows 2261 versus 2080 (-8 percent). The R15 tests follow the same pattern, with the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus ahead by -12.5 percent in multicore (4640 versus 4061) and -8.8 percent in single-core (328 versus 299).

The Core i7-14700's only win comes in PassMark integer math, where it scores 154535 against 125091, a 23.5 percent advantage. This is a notable result because integer math underpins many general-purpose computing tasks, from office productivity to database operations. However, the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus answers in the closely related prime number test with a crushing -66.3 percent delta, suggesting the older chip's integer win is workload-specific rather than a general trend.

Where Each One Wins

The data indicates the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus dominates across nearly every measured category. Its strengths are most pronounced in floating-point and vectorized workloads, as shown by the floating point math score of 162692 and the extended instructions score of 44565. These results point to advantages in scientific computing, video encoding, 3D rendering, and any task that relies on SIMD instructions or heavy arithmetic. The physics score of 3494 versus 2226 reinforces this pattern, as physics simulations in benchmark suites typically stress floating-point throughput.

Data compression and encryption also favor the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus. The compression test shows 568721 versus 498198 (-12.4 percent), while encryption shows 42144 versus 29601 (-29.8 percent). The larger encryption gap suggests the newer processor's architecture handles cryptographic operations more efficiently, which matters for file encryption, VPN traffic, and secure communications. Random string sorting, another memory-intensive workload, favors the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus at 69090 versus 54340 (-21.3 percent).

The Core i7-14700's integer math victory (154535 versus 125091) represents its one clear use case advantage. Integer-heavy workloads that do not rely on the newer processor's strengths, such as certain compression algorithms or legacy software paths, may see better performance on the older chip. However, the prime number test result (486 versus 164) shows that even within the integer domain, the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus is not universally slower. The Core i7-14700 also holds a multithread score of 40318, but the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus beats that with 51596 (-21.9 percent), so the older chip's higher thread count does not translate into a win in this aggregate measure.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent different generations and entirely different design philosophies. The Core i7-14700 uses the Raptor Lake architecture, specifically Raptor Lake-R, built on Intel's 10 nm process with a die size of 257 mm². It belongs to the Core 14th Gen series. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus uses the Arrow Lake Refresh codename, part of the Core Ultra Series 2, and is built by TSMC on a 3 nm process with a die size of 243 mm². The process node difference alone (10 nm versus 3 nm) explains much of the efficiency and transistor density advantage for the newer chip.

The core counts differ: the Core i7-14700 has 20 cores and 28 threads, while the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus has 18 cores and 18 threads. The Core i7-14700 supports simultaneous multithreading, giving it 28 threads from 20 cores. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus does not appear to support SMT, as its thread count equals its core count. Despite having 10 fewer threads, the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus still wins the multithread benchmark by -21.9 percent, indicating its per-core efficiency far exceeds the older design.

Cache hierarchies differ substantially. The Core i7-14700 has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 33 MB of shared L3. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus has 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 30 MB of shared L3. The newer chip offers more than double the L1 cache per core and 50 percent more L2 per core, while giving up only 3 MB of shared L3. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus also has a rated memory bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s, a figure not recorded for the Core i7-14700.

Base and boost clocks also diverge. The Core i7-14700 runs at a 2.10 GHz base clock with a 5.40 GHz boost. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus runs at 4.20 GHz base and 5.30 GHz boost. The higher base clock on the newer chip likely contributes to its single-thread advantages in Cinebench R15 (328 versus 299) and PassMark single-thread (4757 versus 4236). The power envelope differs as well: the Core i7-14700 has a 65 watt TDP versus 125 watts for the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus. This higher power allowance helps explain the performance gap.

The transistor count for the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus is recorded as 17,800 million, while no figure is listed for the Core i7-14700. Both processors support ECC memory, but the Core i7-14700 supports DDR4 and DDR5 while the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus supports DDR5 only. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus offers 20 PCIe Gen 5 lanes from the CPU versus 16 for the Core i7-14700. The integrated graphics differ: the Core i7-14700 has UHD Graphics 770, while the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-14700 has 20 cores and 28 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus has 18 cores and 18 threads. The Core i7-14700 benefits from simultaneous multithreading, which the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus does not appear to use.

Q: How much faster is the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus in Cinebench R20 multicore?

A: The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus scores 18442 in Cinebench R20 multicore versus 14388 for the Core i7-14700, a -22 percent delta. This is one of the largest margins in the Cinebench suite.

Q: In which benchmark does the Core i7-14700 win?

A: The Core i7-14700 wins only PassMark integer math, scoring 154535 against 125091 for the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus, a 23.5 percent advantage.

Q: What are the base clock speeds of the two processors?

A: The Core i7-14700 has a base clock of 2.10 GHz, while the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus has a base clock of 4.20 GHz. Boost clocks are closer: 5.40 GHz for the Core i7-14700 and 5.30 GHz for the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the Core i7-14700 and the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus have ECC memory support enabled. The Core i7-14700 supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus supports only DDR5.

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus has an average benchmark score of 66855, placing it in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs. The Core i7-14700 has an average score of 52301, in the 91st percentile.

The Verdict

The recorded data leaves little ambiguity. The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus outperforms the Intel Core i7-14700 in 16 of 17 benchmarks, with margins ranging from -8 percent in Cinebench R23 to -66.3 percent in PassMark find prime numbers. The newer processor's wins span single-core, multicore, memory-intensive, and specialized instruction workloads. Its average benchmark score of 66855 sits 27.8 percent above the Core i7-14700's 52301.

The Core i7-14700 retains one meaningful advantage: PassMark integer math, where it leads by 23.5 percent. For workloads that are heavily integer-bound and do not leverage the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus's architectural improvements, the older chip may still be the better choice. Its 28 threads versus 18 could also matter in specific parallel workloads that scale with thread count, though the multithread benchmark (40318 versus 51596) shows the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus overcoming that thread deficit.

The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus also brings a newer process node (3 nm from TSMC versus 10 nm from Intel), a higher base clock (4.20 GHz versus 2.10 GHz), more PCIe lanes (20 versus 16), and a higher TDP (125 watts versus 65 watts). Its launch MSRP is $199. The Core i7-14700's launch MSRP is $384. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus delivers superior performance across nearly all recorded tests while carrying a lower launch price, according to the database figures.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i7-14700 | Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 20 | 18 |

| Threads | 28 | 18 |

| Base Clock | 2.10 GHz | 4.20 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.40 GHz | 5.30 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 125 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1700 | Intel Socket 1851 |

| Architecture | Raptor Lake | Arrow Lake Refresh |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 3 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Die Size | 257 mm² | 243 mm² |

| Transistors | Not recorded | 17,800 million |

| L1 Cache | 80 KB (per core) | 192 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 2 MB (per core) | 3 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 33 MB (shared) | 30 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR5 |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not recorded | 115.2 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 20 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 770 | Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | Yes |

| Launch MSRP | $384 | $199 |

| Release Date | 2024-01-07 | 2026-03-10 |

| Part Number | SRN40 | SA4UZ |