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

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-14700K has 20 cores and 28 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus has 18 cores and 18 threads. The i7-14700K therefore offers both more physical cores and hyper-threading, which the Ultra 5 lacks.

Q: How do the two processors compare in overall benchmark standing?

A: The i7-14700K achieves a 94th percentile ranking against all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 69355. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus sits at the 93rd percentile with an average score of 66855. The i7-14700K is roughly 3.7% ahead in average score.

Q: Which chip wins the most head-to-head benchmark comparisons?

A: The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus wins 9 of the 17 head-to-head tests, while the i7-14700K wins 8. The Ultra 5's wins are concentrated in single-thread and specialized workloads, while the i7-14700K dominates multi-threaded and integer-heavy tests.

Q: What are the key differences in manufacturing process?

A: The i7-14700K is built on Intel's 10 nm process with a die size of 257 mm². The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus uses a 3 nm process from TSMC, with a die size of 243 mm² and 17,800 million transistors.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

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

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus has a recorded memory bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s, while no memory bandwidth figure is listed for the i7-14700K in the database. The Ultra 5's dual-channel DDR5 support provides this specified bandwidth.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core i7-14700K belongs to the Raptor Lake generation, specifically the Raptor Lake Refresh, built on Intel's 10 nm process. It uses the Intel Socket 1700 platform. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus is part of the Core Ultra Series 2, with the Arrow Lake Refresh codename, built on a 3 nm process by TSMC and using the Intel Socket 1851. This represents a fundamental shift in foundry and node technology between the two generations.

Core configuration differs significantly. The i7-14700K packs 20 cores with 28 threads, meaning it supports simultaneous multithreading. The Ultra 5 250K Plus has 18 cores and 18 threads, indicating no hyper-threading support. This structural difference directly impacts multi-threaded performance, as the i7-14700K can process more threads concurrently.

Cache hierarchies also diverge. The i7-14700K has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 33 MB of shared L3 cache. The Ultra 5 250K Plus has a larger L1 at 192 KB per core and 3 MB of L2 per core, but a smaller 30 MB shared L3. The larger per-core caches on the Ultra 5 reflect the newer architecture's focus on per-thread efficiency.

Memory support differs: the i7-14700K supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the Ultra 5 supports only DDR5. Both use dual-channel memory buses. The Ultra 5 has a stated memory bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s, while the i7-14700K has no recorded bandwidth figure.

PCIe connectivity also differs. The i7-14700K provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the Ultra 5 250K Plus offers Gen 5 with 20 lanes from the CPU. This gives the Ultra 5 additional PCIe lanes for expansion.

Integrated graphics differ as well. The i7-14700K includes UHD Graphics 770, while the Ultra 5 features Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU. The Ultra 5's newer GPU architecture is part of the Arrow Lake design.

Clock speeds show the i7-14700K with a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.60 GHz. The Ultra 5 250K Plus has a higher base clock of 4.20 GHz but a lower boost clock of 5.30 GHz. Both have a TDP of 125 watts and unlocked multipliers.

The release dates are far apart: the i7-14700K launched on 2023-10-16, while the Ultra 5 250K Plus launched on 2026-03-10. Both are active production parts in the desktop market segment.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The multi-core Cinebench tests show the i7-14700K with a clear advantage. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i7-14700K scores 5035 versus 4640 for the Ultra 5, an 8.5% lead. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i7-14700K scores 33440.5 against 30867, an 8.3% margin. The Cinebench R20 multi-core result is nearly even: 18544 for the i7-14700K against 18442 for the Ultra 5, a slim 0.6% edge.

Single-core results favor the Ultra 5. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the Ultra 5 scores 328 versus 313.5, a 4.4% advantage. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Ultra 5 scores 2261 against 2160, a 4.5% lead. The Cinebench R20 single-core test goes the other way slightly: the i7-14700K scores 2617 versus 2603, a 0.5% margin.

PassMark tests reveal a split. The i7-14700K dominates integer math, scoring 182876 against 125091 for the Ultra 5, a massive 46.2% difference. Data compression also favors the i7-14700K heavily: 695234 versus 568721, a 22.2% margin. Random string sorting goes to the i7-14700K at 74733 versus 69090, an 8.2% lead. The multi-thread PassMark test shows the i7-14700K ahead at 52392 versus 51596, a 1.5% margin.

The Ultra 5 wins several specialized workloads. Prime number finding shows the Ultra 5 scoring 486 versus 212, a 56.4% advantage, the largest single delta in the comparison. Floating point math goes to the Ultra 5 at 162692 versus 134222, a 17.5% lead. Physics scores favor the Ultra 5 at 3494 versus 2964, a 15.2% margin. Extended instructions see the Ultra 5 at 44565 versus 40632, an 8.8% edge. Data encryption goes to the Ultra 5 at 42144 versus 40091, a 4.9% lead. Single-thread PassMark scores show the Ultra 5 at 4757 versus 4472, a 6% advantage, recorded in both single-thread tests.

The overall win tally stands at 9 for the Ultra 5 and 8 for the i7-14700K. However, the magnitude of wins differs: the i7-14700K's wins include very large margins in integer math and data compression, while the Ultra 5's wins are spread across several moderate-to-large deltas.

Specification Differences

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

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

| Cores | 20 | 18 |

| Threads | 28 | 18 |

| Base Clock | 3.40 GHz | 4.20 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.60 GHz | 5.30 GHz |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1700 | Intel Socket 1851 |

| Codename | Raptor Lake-R | Arrow Lake Refresh |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 3 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Transistors | Not listed | 17,800 million |

| Die Size | 257 mm² | 243 mm² |

| 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 listed | 115.2 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 16 Lanes | Gen 5, 20 Lanes |

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

| Release Date | 2023-10-16 | 2026-03-10 |

| Launch MSRP | $409 | $199 |

The i7-14700K uses an older process node and larger die, while the Ultra 5 uses a smaller 3 nm die from TSMC with a higher transistor count. The i7-14700K has more cores and threads, a higher boost clock, and larger L3 cache. The Ultra 5 has a higher base clock, larger L1 and L2 per-core caches, and more PCIe lanes.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-14700K is the clear choice for multi-threaded productivity workloads. Its 20 cores and 28 threads deliver decisive wins in Cinebench multi-core tests, with 8.5% and 8.3% margins over the Ultra 5 in R15 and R23 respectively. The 46.2% lead in PassMark integer math indicates strong performance in general-purpose computing, database operations, and code compilation. The 22.2% advantage in data compression makes it suitable for archiving, backup tools, and file servers. The i7-14700K also wins random string sorting, suggesting solid performance in text processing and sorting algorithms. Its higher boost clock of 5.60 GHz helps in bursty single-thread workloads where the scheduler can engage a single fast core.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus excels in single-thread and specialized math workloads. Its 4.20 GHz base clock, combined with the newer 3 nm architecture, produces wins in Cinebench R15 and R23 single-core tests by 4.4% and 4.5% respectively. The 56.4% lead in prime number finding shows a significant advantage in cryptographic and number-theory computations. Floating point math at 17.5% ahead makes it strong for scientific simulations, 3D rendering, and physics calculations. The 15.2% lead in PassMark physics suggests better performance in game physics and engineering simulations. The 8.8% edge in extended instructions points to strong SIMD and vector processing capabilities. Data encryption at 4.9% ahead gives it an edge in security workloads. The single-thread PassMark score of 4757 versus 4472 confirms its general single-thread superiority.

For mixed workloads, the database shows a balanced split: 8 wins for the i7-14700K and 9 for the Ultra 5. The i7-14700K wins where thread count matters most, while the Ultra 5 wins where per-core efficiency and modern instruction execution dominate. Users running heavily threaded rendering, video encoding, or database workloads would favor the i7-14700K. Users running scientific computing, encryption, or lightly-threaded applications would prefer the Ultra 5. The i7-14700K's 94th percentile ranking versus the Ultra 5's 93rd percentile reflects the slight overall edge in average benchmark score, but the Ultra 5's modern architecture delivers specific advantages that matter in targeted use cases.