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

The Intel Core i7-14700KF and the Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus represent two distinct approaches to desktop processing from the same manufacturer, separated by a generation gap and a fundamental shift in core design philosophy. The data in the database shows a surprisingly close contest, with the i7-14700KF taking 9 benchmark wins and the Ultra 5 250K Plus taking 8, yet the margins and the nature of those victories tell a more complex story.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most dramatic disparities appear in the Cinebench suite, where the i7-14700KF establishes overwhelming dominance in single-core tests. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the i7-14700KF scores 628 against the Ultra 5 250K Plus's 328, a delta of 91.5% in favor of the older chip. This pattern repeats in Cinebench R23 single-core, where the i7-14700KF's 6235 score dwarfs the Ultra 5 250K Plus's 2261, producing a staggering 175.8% advantage. Similarly, Cinebench R20 single-core shows the i7-14700KF ahead by 0.6% (2618 vs 2603), though this margin is nearly negligible.

Multi-core results are more divided. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i7-14700KF scores 44167 versus 30867 for the Ultra 5 250K Plus, a decisive 43.1% lead. The i7-14700KF also edges ahead in Cinebench R20 multi-core with 18550 against 18442, a 0.6% difference, while the Ultra 5 250K Plus wins Cinebench R15 multi-core with 4640 over 4452, a 4.1% margin.

The Passmark suite reveals a split that favors each processor in different workloads. The i7-14700KF excels in integer-heavy tasks: Passmark integer math shows a 46.3% advantage (183056 vs 125091), and data compression goes to the i7-14700KF by 22.2% (694963 vs 568721). The i7-14700KF also wins random string sorting by 8.2% (74723 vs 69090) and multithread by a slim 1.6% (52425 vs 51596).

Conversely, the Ultra 5 250K Plus takes several notable victories. Passmark physics shows a 15.3% lead (3494 vs 2961), floating point math goes to the Ultra 5 by 17.4% (162692 vs 134393), and find prime numbers shows a massive 56.4% advantage for the Ultra 5 (486 vs 212). The Ultra 5 also wins data encryption by 5% (42144 vs 40046), extended instructions by 8.8% (44565 vs 40660), and single-thread by 5.8% (4757 vs 4480).

The overall average benchmark score favors the i7-14700KF at 70163 versus 66855 for the Ultra 5 250K Plus, placing the i7 in the 94th percentile of all CPUs compared to the 93rd for the Ultra 5.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-core Cinebench R23 score?

A: The Intel Core i7-14700KF, with a score of 6235 compared to 2261 for the Ultra 5 250K Plus, a difference of 175.8% in favor of the i7.

Q: Does the Ultra 5 250K Plus win any multi-core benchmarks?

A: Yes, the Ultra 5 250K Plus wins Cinebench R15 multi-core with 4640 versus 4452 for the i7-14700KF, a 4.1% margin, but loses Cinebench R20 and R23 multi-core tests.

Q: How do the two compare in Passmark single-thread performance?

A: The Ultra 5 250K Plus leads in Passmark single-thread with 4757 versus 4480 for the i7-14700KF, a 5.8% advantage.

Q: What is the biggest win for the Ultra 5 250K Plus?

A: The largest victory for the Ultra 5 is in Passmark find prime numbers, where it scores 486 against 212, a 56.4% lead over the i7-14700KF.

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The i7-14700KF has 20 cores and 28 threads, while the Ultra 5 250K Plus has 18 cores and 18 threads.

Q: What is the difference in overall average benchmark scores?

A: The i7-14700KF averages 70163 across all benchmarks, while the Ultra 5 250K Plus averages 66855, a gap of roughly 4.9% in favor of the i7.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from entirely different architectural lineages. The i7-14700KF is built on Raptor Lake, specifically the Raptor Lake-R refresh, using Intel's 10 nm process node and manufactured by Intel. The Ultra 5 250K Plus uses the Arrow Lake Refresh codename, built on a 3 nm process node by TSMC, with a transistor count of 17,800 million.

Core organization differs fundamentally. The i7-14700KF offers 20 cores and 28 threads, implying a hybrid arrangement with performance and efficiency cores. The Ultra 5 250K Plus has 18 cores and 18 threads, suggesting a design without simultaneous multithreading. Cache structures also diverge: the i7-14700KF 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 offers significantly more per-core cache with 192 KB L1 and 3 MB L2 per core, but a slightly smaller 30 MB shared L3.

Memory support reflects the generational split. The i7-14700KF supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the Ultra 5 250K Plus supports DDR5 only. The Ultra 5 250K Plus records a memory bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s, a figure not available for the i7-14700KF in the database. PCIe capabilities also differ, with the i7-14700KF providing Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only) and the Ultra 5 250K Plus offering Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only). The Ultra 5 250K Plus also includes integrated graphics (Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU), while the i7-14700KF has no integrated graphics listed.

Socket compatibility is not shared: the i7-14700KF uses Intel Socket 1700, while the Ultra 5 250K Plus uses Intel Socket 1851, making them incompatible with the same motherboards. Both processors support ECC memory and have unlocked multipliers.

Specification Differences

The base and boost clocks diverge notably. The i7-14700KF has a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.60 GHz, while the Ultra 5 250K Plus runs at a higher base of 4.20 GHz but a lower boost of 5.30 GHz. Both have a TDP of 125.

The die sizes are similar but not identical: the i7-14700KF measures 257 mm², and the Ultra 5 250K Plus measures 243 mm². The process node difference is stark, with 10 nm for the i7 versus 3 nm for the Ultra 5, and the foundry shifts from Intel to TSMC.

Release dates place the i7-14700KF in October 2023, while the Ultra 5 250K Plus arrives much later, in March 2026. The launch MSRP for the i7-14700KF is $384, and for the Ultra 5 250K Plus it is $199. The part numbers differ (SRN3Y for the i7, SA4UZ for the Ultra 5), and the i7-14700KF belongs to Core 14th Gen, while the Ultra 5 is part of Core Ultra Series 2.

The Verdict

The benchmark data clearly separates these two processors by workload type. The i7-14700KF dominates in scenarios that leverage its higher thread count and legacy single-core performance. Its 28 threads and 5.60 GHz boost clock translate into massive wins in Cinebench R23 single-core (175.8% ahead) and multi-core (43.1% ahead), as well as Passmark integer math (46.3% ahead) and data compression (22.2% ahead). For users running heavily threaded productivity applications, video encoding, or compression workloads, the i7-14700KF is the stronger choice based on the recorded scores.

The Ultra 5 250K Plus, by contrast, wins in tasks that benefit from its newer 3 nm process, higher base clock, and potentially more efficient core design. Its victories in Passmark physics (15.3% ahead), floating point math (17.4% ahead), and prime number finding (56.4% ahead) suggest a different optimization profile. The single-thread Passmark win (5.8% ahead) also indicates that the Ultra 5 offers competitive, sometimes superior, performance in certain single-threaded applications, despite its dramatic losses in the Cinebench single-core tests.

Given the overall average benchmark score, the i7-14700KF sits approximately 4.9% higher than the Ultra 5 250K Plus, and its 94th percentile ranking versus the 93rd for the Ultra 5 confirms a slight overall edge. However, the Ultra 5's wins are not trivial, and its integrated graphics and lower launch MSRP of $199 (versus $384 for the i7) may factor into system-level decisions, though those economic considerations are outside the scope of raw performance data.

Where Each One Wins

The i7-14700KF wins in: Cinebench R15 single-core, Cinebench R20 multi-core, Cinebench R20 single-core, Cinebench R23 multi-core, Cinebench R23 single-core, Passmark data compression, Passmark integer math, Passmark multithread, and Passmark random string sorting.

The Ultra 5 250K Plus wins in: Cinebench R15 multi-core, Passmark data encryption, Passmark extended instructions, Passmark find prime numbers, Passmark floating point math, Passmark physics, and both Passmark single-thread entries.

For users prioritizing Cinebench-style rendering performance, integer computation, and compression tasks, the i7-14700KF is the clear selection based on the data. For workloads involving encryption, extended instruction sets, floating-point calculations, and physics simulations, the Ultra 5 250K Plus demonstrates measurable superiority. The choice ultimately depends on the specific software mix, as the two processors rarely trade wins in the same category.