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

Intel Core i9-14900KS and Intel Core Ultra 5 225T occupy opposite ends of Intel's desktop lineup. The i9-14900KS is a 24-core flagship built for maximum throughput, while the 225T is a 10-core, low-power part designed for efficiency. The recorded data shows a decisive overall victory for the i9-14900KS, which won 16 of the 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons. The single win for the Core Ultra 5 225T comes in a narrow, specialized test, but across every major metric of computational performance, the older flagship maintains a substantial lead.

Where Each One Wins

The use-case split is stark based on the benchmark results. The Intel Core i9-14900KS dominates in heavily threaded workloads and content creation. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 50995 against the 225T's 21971, a 132.1% advantage. This pattern repeats across all Cinebench versions, with the i9-14900KS delivering over double the score in every multi-core test. The data indicates this processor is the clear choice for rendering, video encoding, and any task that scales across many cores.

The i9-14900KS also wins in single-core performance, though by a smaller margin. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 7199 versus 3101 for the 225T, a 132.2% lead. The PassMark single-thread test shows a narrower gap: 4815 for the i9-14900KS against 4348 for the 225T, a 10.7% difference. This suggests the newer architecture of the 225T has improved per-core efficiency, but the i9-14900KS still holds the advantage due to its significantly higher boost clock of 6.20 GHz compared to 4.90 GHz.

The Core Ultra 5 225T wins exactly one benchmark: PassMark find prime numbers, scoring 284 versus 244 for the i9-14900KS, a 14.1% margin. This is a highly specific workload that measures integer operations in a particular algorithmic pattern. The result shows that the 225T's newer 3 nm process and 192 KB L1 cache per core provide an edge in this narrow test, but it does not translate into broader success.

For data compression and integer math, the i9-14900KS is overwhelming. In PassMark data compression, it scores 803368 against 233998, a 243.3% lead. In integer math, the margin is even larger at 257.1%, with scores of 212644 versus 59543. These results point to the i9-14900KS being far superior for database work, file archiving, and general computational tasks that rely on raw integer throughput.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel generations and are built on different process nodes. The i9-14900KS uses Raptor Lake architecture, specifically Raptor Lake-R, on Intel's 10 nm process. The Core Ultra 5 225T uses Arrow Lake architecture, specifically Arrow Lake-S, on a 3 nm node fabricated by TSMC. This represents a significant manufacturing shift, as the 225T is built on a more advanced process with a smaller transistor size.

The core counts differ substantially. The i9-14900KS has 24 cores and 32 threads, while the 225T has 10 cores and 10 threads. The i9-14900KS supports hyper-threading, which doubles its thread count, while the 225T does not, meaning its thread count equals its core count. This explains the massive multi-core performance gap.

Cache hierarchies also differ. The i9-14900KS has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 cache per core, and 36 MB of shared L3 cache. The 225T has 192 KB of L1 cache per core, 3 MB of L2 cache per core, but only 20 MB of shared L3 cache. While the 225T has larger per-core caches, the i9-14900KS has almost double the total L3 cache, which benefits workloads with large working sets.

The sockets are incompatible. The i9-14900KS uses Intel Socket 1700, while the 225T uses Intel Socket 1851. This means they cannot be swapped into the same motherboard. The i9-14900KS supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the 225T supports only DDR5. The 225T has a higher memory bandwidth specification at 102.4 GB/s, though the i9-14900KS does not list a bandwidth figure in the database.

Power characteristics differ greatly. The i9-14900KS has a TDP of 150 watts, while the 225T has a TDP of 65 watts. The i9-14900KS also has an unlocked multiplier, making it overclockable, while the 225T is locked. The i9-14900KS uses UHD Graphics 770 for integrated graphics, while the 225T uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 16EU.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench suite shows consistent dominance for the i9-14900KS. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 5140 versus 2214, a 132.2% lead. In R15 single-core, the scores are 725 versus 312, a 132.4% margin. The R20 multi-core test shows 21417 against 9227, a 132.1% difference, and R20 single-core shows 3023 versus 1302, a 132.2% margin. The R23 results mirror this pattern exactly, with the multi-core test at 50995 versus 21971 and single-core at 7199 versus 3101.

The PassMark suite reveals where the i9-14900KS is strongest. The largest margin comes in integer math, where the i9-14900KS scores 212644 against 59543, a 257.1% advantage. Data compression follows closely at 243.3%, with scores of 803368 versus 233998. Random string sorting shows a 212% lead, with 89789 versus 28774. Data encryption is less extreme but still substantial at 160.9%, with 47717 versus 18289.

The i9-14900KS also wins in floating-point math, scoring 153975 against 82751, an 86.1% margin. Extended instructions show a 126.7% lead, with 45524 versus 20083. The multi-thread PassMark test shows a 136.7% advantage, with 60012 versus 25358. Physics simulation shows the smallest multi-core margin at 64.7%, with 3381 versus 2053.

The single-thread PassMark results are the closest comparison between the two. The i9-14900KS scores 4815 against 4348, a 10.7% lead. This indicates that for lightly threaded tasks like web browsing or office applications, the performance difference is modest. The 225T's newer architecture and higher per-core cache help close the gap, but the i9-14900KS still wins.

The only benchmark won by the 225T is PassMark find prime numbers, where it scores 284 versus 244, a 14.1% advantage. This is a unique result where the 225T's architecture proves superior. The test measures a specific algorithmic pattern that apparently benefits from the 225T's larger L1 cache and newer process node.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i9-14900KS has 24 cores and 32 threads. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T has 10 cores and 10 threads. The i9-14900KS supports hyper-threading, while the 225T does not.

Q: What is the performance difference in multi-core workloads?

A: The i9-14900KS leads by 132.1% in Cinebench R23 multi-core, scoring 50995 versus 21971. In PassMark multi-thread, the lead is 136.7%, with scores of 60012 versus 25358.

Q: Does the Core Ultra 5 225T win any benchmarks?

A: Yes, it wins PassMark find prime numbers with a score of 284 versus 244 for the i9-14900KS, a 14.1% advantage. This is the only benchmark win out of 17 head-to-head comparisons.

Q: How do the single-core performances compare?

A: The i9-14900KS wins in single-core tests. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 7199 versus 3101, a 132.2% lead. In PassMark single-thread, the margin is much smaller at 10.7%, with scores of 4815 versus 4348.

Q: What are the TDP ratings for these processors?

A: The Intel Core i9-14900KS has a TDP of 150 watts. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T has a TDP of 65 watts.

Q: Are these processors compatible with the same motherboards?

A: No. The i9-14900KS uses Intel Socket 1700, while the Core Ultra 5 225T uses Intel Socket 1851. They require different motherboards.

Specification Differences

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

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

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

| Cores | 24 | 10 |

| Threads | 32 | 10 |

| Base Clock | 3.20 GHz | 2.50 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 6.20 GHz | 4.90 GHz |

| TDP | 150 W | 65 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1700 | Intel Socket 1851 |

| Architecture | Raptor Lake | Arrow Lake |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 3 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| 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 listed | 102.4 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

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

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

| Release Date | 2024-03-13 | 2024-12-31 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | Yes | No |

| Transistors | Not listed | 17,800 million |

| Launch MSRP | $689 | Not listed |

The i9-14900KS holds advantages in core count, thread count, clock speeds, L3 cache, and memory flexibility. The 225T counters with a smaller process node, larger per-core caches, higher memory bandwidth, more PCIe lanes, and a much lower TDP. The data shows the i9-14900KS as the performance leader across nearly every benchmark, while the 225T offers a more efficient alternative with a single specialized workload win.