Intel Core i9-14900HX vs Intel Core Ultra 5 225T Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a dominant performance split between these two processors, with the Intel Core i9-14900HX winning 12 of the 17 head-to-head comparisons, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 225T takes 5 wins. The margin of victory in the i9's strongest tests is substantial, but the Ultra 5 counters with notable single-thread efficiency.

The largest delta appears in PassMark integer math, where the i9-14900HX scores 157,375 against 59,543 for the Ultra 5 225T, a 164.3% advantage. Data compression follows a similar pattern: 539,965 versus 233,998, a 130.8% gap. Random string sorting shows the i9 ahead by 111.5% (60,861 versus 28,774). These three tests point to workloads where the i9's wider core configuration and higher thread count deliver outsized results.

Cinebench R15 multicore reinforces the pattern. The i9 scores 4,574 versus 2,214, a 106.6% lead. Cinebench R20 multicore shows 15,616 versus 9,227, a 69.2% delta. The multithread PassMark test records 43,778 versus 25,358, a 72.6% advantage. Data encryption adds another win for the i9 at 78.4% (32,619 versus 18,289). Extended instructions favor the i9 by 55.6% (31,247 versus 20,083). Floating point math shows a 35.7% lead (112,273 versus 82,751). Cinebench R23 multicore is comparatively closer, with the i9 at 30,055 versus 21,971, a 36.8% margin. PassMark physics shows the i9 ahead by 28.5% (2,638 versus 2,053).

The Ultra 5 225T wins are concentrated in single-thread tests and one specialized workload. Cinebench R23 singlecore shows the Ultra 5 at 3,101 versus 2,181.5 for the i9, a 29.7% advantage. PassMark single-thread records 4,348 versus 4,175, a 4% edge. Cinebench R15 singlecore is essentially tied, with the Ultra 5 at 312 versus 310.5, a 0.5% margin. The PassMark find prime numbers test is the outlier win for the Ultra 5: 284 versus 193, a 32% lead. Notably, Cinebench R20 singlecore goes the other direction, with the i9 winning 2,204 versus 1,302, a 69.3% margin. That result is inconsistent with the other single-thread tests, suggesting the i9's boost behavior or the test conditions favored it disproportionately in that run.

The aggregate benchmark averages tell a clear story. The i9-14900HX has an average benchmark score of 56,004, placing it in the 91st percentile of all CPUs in the database. The Ultra 5 225T averages 30,468, sitting in the 82nd percentile. The i9's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 at an average score of 56,273 and the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 470 at 56,306, both within 0.5% of the i9. The Ultra 5's nearest competitors, such as the Intel Core i5-13600H at 30,548, are all within 0.3% of its score.

Architecture Differences

These two processors represent opposite ends of Intel's current design strategy. The Core i9-14900HX uses the Raptor Lake-HX architecture on a 10 nm process node fabricated by Intel. It has 24 cores and 32 threads, with a base clock of 2.20 GHz and a boost clock of 5.80 GHz. The Core Ultra 5 225T uses the Arrow Lake-S architecture on a 3 nm process node fabricated by TSMC. It has 10 cores and 10 threads, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz.

The transistor count differs sharply. The Ultra 5 packs 17,800 million transistors into a 243 mm² die, while the i9's die size is 257 mm² with no transistor count recorded. The smaller process node gives the Ultra 5 a density advantage, but the i9 compensates with more cores and higher boost clocks.

Cache hierarchies diverge as well. The i9-14900HX has 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 36 MB of shared L3. The Ultra 5 225T has 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 20 MB of shared L3. The per-core cache numbers favor the Ultra 5, but the i9's total L3 capacity is nearly double.

Memory support differs by generation. The i9 supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the Ultra 5 supports DDR5 only. Both use dual-channel memory buses. The Ultra 5 records a memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s; the i9 has no bandwidth figure in the data. ECC memory is supported on the i9 but not on the Ultra 5. PCIe lanes also differ: the i9 provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes, while the Ultra 5 provides Gen 5 with 20 lanes.

Integrated graphics separate the two clearly. The i9 uses UHD Graphics 770, while the Ultra 5 uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 16EU. The socket and market segment differ completely. The i9 uses Intel BGA 1964 and is a mobile part. The Ultra 5 uses Intel Socket 1851 and is a desktop part. The i9 has an unlocked multiplier; the Ultra 5 is locked. The i9's part number is SRMXF; the Ultra 5's part number is recorded as unknown. Release dates show the i9 arriving in early January 2024 and the Ultra 5 at the end of December 2024.

The Verdict

The data indicates a clear split by workload type and platform. For multi-threaded and parallel workloads, the Intel Core i9-14900HX is the decisive choice. Its 24 cores and 32 threads produce leads of 106.6% in Cinebench R15 multicore and 164.3% in PassMark integer math. The 36.8% margin in Cinebench R23 multicore, while smaller, still represents a substantial performance advantage. Any application that scales across cores, such as rendering, data compression, or encryption, will favor the i9 by a wide margin.

For single-thread-bound tasks, the Intel Core Ultra 5 225T holds the edge. Its Cinebench R23 singlecore score of 3,101 is 29.7% higher than the i9's 2,181.5. PassMark single-thread shows a smaller but consistent 4% lead. The find prime numbers test, which often rewards higher per-core efficiency, favors the Ultra 5 by 32%. The single exception in Cinebench R20 singlecore, where the i9 wins by 69.3%, appears anomalous relative to the other single-thread results, but it remains in the record.

Platform considerations also matter. The i9 is a mobile processor on Intel BGA 1964, suited for high-performance laptops. The Ultra 5 is a desktop processor on Intel Socket 1851, suited for fixed systems. The Ultra 5 uses a 3 nm TSMC process and supports DDR5 only, while the i9 uses a 10 nm Intel process and supports both DDR4 and DDR5. ECC memory support on the i9 adds a reliability feature absent on the Ultra 5. The Ultra 5 offers more PCIe lanes (20 versus 16) and a higher memory bandwidth figure (102.4 GB/s versus none recorded for the i9).

The percentile rankings confirm the qualitative difference. The i9 sits at the 91st percentile of all CPUs, while the Ultra 5 sits at the 82nd percentile. The average benchmark scores, 56,004 versus 30,468, place these processors in different performance tiers despite both being current Intel products.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i9-14900HX has 24 cores and 32 threads. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T has 10 cores and 10 threads.

Q: What is the largest performance gap in the head-to-head results?

A: The largest delta is in PassMark integer math, where the i9-14900HX scores 157,375 versus 59,543 for the Ultra 5 225T, a 164.3% advantage.

Q: In which single-thread test does the Ultra 5 225T show its biggest win?

A: In Cinebench R23 singlecore, the Ultra 5 scores 3,101 versus 2,181.5 for the i9, a 29.7% lead.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The i9-14900HX supports ECC memory, while the Ultra 5 225T does not.

Q: What process nodes do these processors use?

A: The i9-14900HX uses a 10 nm process from Intel. The Ultra 5 225T uses a 3 nm process from TSMC.

Q: Which processor has a higher base clock?

A: The Ultra 5 225T has a base clock of 2.50 GHz, compared to 2.20 GHz for the i9-14900HX. The i9 has the higher boost clock at 5.80 GHz versus 4.90 GHz.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i9-14900HX wins in every multi-threaded benchmark recorded. Cinebench R15 multicore, R20 multicore, and R23 multicore all favor the i9, with leads ranging from 36.8% to 106.6%. PassMark multithread shows a 72.6% advantage. Data compression, data encryption, extended instructions, floating point math, integer math, physics, and random string sorting all go to the i9, with deltas from 28.5% to 164.3%. This processor is the choice when workloads involve heavy parallel computation, large data sets, or sustained multi-core utilization.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T wins in single-thread efficiency tests. Cinebench R23 singlecore and PassMark single-thread both favor the Ultra 5, with margins of 29.7% and 4% respectively. The find prime numbers test, which often reflects per-core integer throughput, also goes to the Ultra 5 by 32%. Cinebench R15 singlecore is a near tie at 0.5% in favor of the Ultra 5. This processor is better suited for tasks dominated by single-thread performance, where its higher base clock and newer architecture provide an edge.

The Cinebench R20 singlecore result breaks the pattern, with the i9 winning by 69.3%. That single data point gives the i9 one additional win in a single-thread test, but the preponderance of single-thread evidence favors the Ultra 5. The overall win count stands at 12 for the i9 and 5 for the Ultra 5, but the distribution of those wins is meaningful: the i9 dominates throughput, while the Ultra 5 dominates latency-sensitive single-thread work.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i9-14900HX | Intel Core Ultra 5 225T |

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

| Series | Core 14th Gen | Core Ultra Series 2 |

| Cores | 24 | 10 |

| Threads | 32 | 10 |

| Base Clock | 2.20 GHz | 2.50 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.80 GHz | 4.90 GHz |

| TDP | 55 W | 65 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1964 | Intel Socket 1851 |

| Architecture | Raptor Lake | Arrow Lake |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 3 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Transistors | Not recorded | 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 | 36 MB shared | 20 MB shared |

| Memory Support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR5 |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not recorded | 102.4 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

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

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 770 | Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 16EU |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Multiplier Unlocked | Yes | No |

| Part Number | SRMXF | Unknown |

| Release Date | January 7, 2024 | December 31, 2024 |

The specification table shows two distinct design philosophies. The i9-14900HX maximizes core count, cache capacity, and boost frequency at the cost of a larger process node. The Ultra 5 225T uses a denser 3 nm process, higher per-core cache, and a higher base clock, but with fewer cores and a locked multiplier. The platform differences are absolute: one is a mobile BGA part, the other a desktop LGA part. Memory support, ECC capability, and PCIe lane counts further separate them for system integration purposes.