Intel Core i9-14900KS vs Intel Core Ultra X9 378H Comparison

# Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data splits these two processors into clearly different roles. The Intel Core i9-14900KS wins 15 of the 17 head-to-head comparisons, while the Intel Core Ultra X9 378H takes only 2 wins. The i9-14900KS dominates in nearly every multi-core and single-core rendering workload, all Cinebench versions, and the majority of PassMark math and data tasks. Its largest margins come in integer math, data compression, and random string sorting, where it more than doubles the Ultra X9 378H results.

The Ultra X9 378H claims victory in prime number finding and physics simulation. In the prime number test, the mobile chip scores 357 against 244 for the desktop processor, a 31.7 percent advantage. The physics test is extremely close, with the Ultra X9 378H at 3404 and the i9-14900KS at 3381, a difference of only 0.7 percent. These two wins suggest the Ultra X9 378H has specific strengths in workloads that rely on certain instruction patterns or power-efficient sustained operation, but these are narrow niches within the broader benchmark suite.

Looking at the average benchmark scores, the i9-14900KS sits at 81127, while the Ultra X9 378H averages 47468. The desktop chip ranks in the 96th percentile of all CPUs in the database, while the mobile processor ranks in the 89th percentile. The nearest rivals for the i9-14900KS include the Intel Xeon w5-3535X at 81115, the AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX at 81103, and the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ PRO 395 at 80762. The Ultra X9 378H sits near the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 at 47527, the Intel Core Ultra 7 265T at 47697, and the Intel Core i7-13700KF at 47330.

The use-case split is stark. The i9-14900KS is built for desktop environments where power delivery is not constrained and maximum throughput matters. The Ultra X9 378H targets mobile systems where power efficiency and thermal limits shape performance. The data shows that in most computational tasks, the desktop part simply has more resources available, and it uses them to produce substantially higher scores.

# Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design philosophies within Intel's lineup. The i9-14900KS uses the Raptor Lake architecture, specifically Raptor Lake-R, built on a 10 nm process node. It belongs to the Core 14th Gen series and carries the generation label "Core i9 (Raptor Lake Refresh)". The die size is 257 mm², and the socket is Intel Socket 1700. This is a desktop-class part with a 150 TDP rating.

The Ultra X9 378H uses the Panther Lake codename, part of the Core Ultra Series 3, with the generation label "Ultra X9 (Panther Lake-H)". It is built on a 3 nm process node from Intel's foundry. The socket is Intel BGA 2540, indicating a mobile, surface-mounted design. The TDP is 25, which is dramatically lower than the desktop part. The architecture field is null in the database, meaning no specific microarchitecture name was recorded for this chip.

Core counts differ significantly. The i9-14900KS has 24 cores and 32 threads, while the Ultra X9 378H has 16 cores and 16 threads. The desktop chip supports simultaneous multithreading, the mobile chip does not. Base clocks are 3.20 GHz for the i9-14900KS and 2.00 GHz for the Ultra X9 378H. Boost clocks are 6.20 GHz and 5.00 GHz respectively.

Cache layouts reveal different design priorities. The i9-14900KS has 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 36 MB of shared L3. The Ultra X9 378H has 192 KB of L1 per core, 2.5 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3. The mobile chip has larger per-core L1 and L2 caches, but half the total L3. This suggests the mobile design emphasizes per-core efficiency, while the desktop chip relies on a larger shared pool for many-core workloads.

Memory support diverges completely. The i9-14900KS supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory over a dual-channel bus, with ECC memory support enabled. The Ultra X9 378H supports LPDDR5X only, also dual-channel, with a recorded memory bandwidth of 153.6 GB/s. ECC is not supported on the mobile chip. PCIe lanes also differ: the i9-14900KS provides Gen 5 with 16 CPU-only lanes, while the Ultra X9 378H provides Gen 5 with 4 CPU-only lanes.

Integrated graphics are present on both. The i9-14900KS uses UHD Graphics 770, while the Ultra X9 378H uses Arc B390. The Ultra X9 378H has an unlocked multiplier? No, it does not. The i9-14900KS has an unlocked multiplier, meaning overclocking is possible on the desktop part. The mobile chip is locked. Production status for both is Active. Release dates are March 13, 2024 for the i9-14900KS and April 3, 2026 for the Ultra X9 378H. The i9-14900KS has a launch MSRP of $689; the Ultra X9 378H has no recorded launch MSRP.

# Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench results are uniformly one-sided. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i9-14900KS scores 5140 against 3281, a 56.7 percent lead. Single-core R15 shows 725 versus 462, a 56.9 percent advantage. Cinebench R20 multi-core delivers 21417 versus 13672, a 56.6 percent gap, and single-core R20 is 3023 versus 1929, a 56.7 percent lead. Cinebench R23 multi-core shows 50995 versus 32553, a 56.7 percent difference, and single-core R23 is 7199 versus 4595, also 56.7 percent. These consistent margins across every Cinebench version indicate that the i9-14900KS has a substantial clock and core-count advantage that translates directly to rendering performance.

The PassMark suite reveals where the Ultra X9 378H can fight back. In data compression, the i9-14900KS scores 803368 versus 386591, a 107.8 percent advantage. Data encryption shows 47717 versus 29840, a 59.9 percent lead for the desktop chip. Extended instructions deliver 45524 versus 31315, a 45.4 percent margin. Floating point math is 153975 versus 114500, a 34.5 percent lead. Integer math is the largest gap: 212644 versus 92603, a 129.6 percent advantage for the i9-14900KS. Multi-threaded performance is 60012 versus 38298, a 56.7 percent difference. Random string sorting shows 89789 versus 44648, a 101.1 percent lead.

The two wins for the Ultra X9 378H stand out. Prime number finding scores 357 versus 244, which is a 31.7 percent advantage for the mobile chip. Physics scores 3404 versus 3381, a 0.7 percent edge. These are not large absolute differences in most cases, but they are consistent enough to indicate that the Panther Lake design has specific advantages in certain computational patterns.

Single-thread performance is closer than the Cinebench results might suggest. The i9-14900KS scores 4815 in PassMark single-thread, while the Ultra X9 378H scores 4453, a margin of 8.1 percent. This is the smallest single-core gap in the entire benchmark set. The Cinebench single-core margins are large, but the PassMark single-thread test shows that the mobile chip is not far behind in at least one measure of per-thread capability.

The overall pattern in the head-to-head data is that the i9-14900KS wins by very large margins in throughput-oriented tasks, while the Ultra X9 378H wins narrowly in two specific tests. The average benchmark score difference of 33659 points between the two chips places them in different performance tiers entirely, despite the Ultra X9 378H having a more modern 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 X9 378H has 16 cores and 16 threads. The desktop chip also has an unlocked multiplier, while the mobile chip does not.

Q: How do the two chips compare in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The i9-14900KS scores 50995 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, while the Ultra X9 378H scores 32553. This gives the desktop processor a 56.7 percent advantage in that test.

Q: Are there any benchmarks where the Ultra X9 378H wins?

A: Yes, the Ultra X9 378H wins in PassMark prime number finding with a score of 357 versus 244, a 31.7 percent advantage. It also wins in PassMark physics with 3404 versus 3381, a 0.7 percent edge.

Q: What is the process node difference between the two?

A: The i9-14900KS uses a 10 nm process node, while the Ultra X9 378H uses a 3 nm process node. Both are manufactured by Intel.

Q: How do memory support and bandwidth compare?

A: The i9-14900KS supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory with dual-channel bus and ECC support. The Ultra X9 378H supports LPDDR5X only, also dual-channel, with a recorded memory bandwidth of 153.6 GB/s and no ECC support.

Q: What are the average benchmark scores for each processor?

A: The i9-14900KS has an average benchmark score of 81127 and ranks in the 96th percentile of all CPUs. The Ultra X9 378H has an average benchmark score of 47468 and ranks in the 89th percentile.

# The Verdict

The recorded data points to a clear division of roles. The Intel Core i9-14900KS is the superior processor for almost every measured workload. Its 15 wins out of 17 benchmark comparisons include the largest margins in integer math, data compression, and random string sorting. The 56.7 percent lead across all Cinebench versions indicates that rendering, encoding, and other heavily threaded tasks will benefit substantially from choosing this chip. The 96th percentile ranking and average score of 81127 place it among the top desktop processors in the database.

The Intel Core Ultra X9 378H is not without merit, but its strengths are limited to specific workloads. The 31.7 percent win in prime number finding and the narrow 0.7 percent win in physics suggest that certain mathematical or physics simulation workloads may perform adequately, but these are exceptions rather than the rule. The 89th percentile ranking and average score of 47468 still place it above most CPUs, and its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-13700KF and the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 5945, which are capable desktop and workstation parts.

For a desktop system where power delivery is not constrained and maximum throughput is the goal, the i9-14900KS is the choice supported by the data. For a mobile system where the 25 TDP rating and BGA socket are necessary, the Ultra X9 378H is the only option among these two, and its performance is respectable for that class. The data does not support choosing the Ultra X9 378H for raw performance, but the mobile form factor requirement is a separate consideration that the benchmarks cannot override.

The launch MSRP for the i9-14900KS is $689. The Ultra X9 378H has no recorded launch MSRP. The release dates differ by roughly two years, with the desktop chip appearing in 2024 and the mobile chip in 2026. The production status for both is Active, meaning both are currently available in the market.

# Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i9-14900KS | Intel Core Ultra X9 378H |

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

| Series | Core 14th Gen | Core Ultra Series 3 |

| Cores | 24 | 16 |

| Threads | 32 | 16 |

| Base Clock | 3.20 GHz | 2.00 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 6.20 GHz | 5.00 GHz |

| TDP | 150 | 25 |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1700 | Intel BGA 2540 |

| Codename | Raptor Lake-R | Panther Lake |

| Generation | Core i9 (Raptor Lake Refresh) | Ultra X9 (Panther Lake-H) |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 3 nm |

| Die Size | 257 mm² | Not recorded |

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

| L2 Cache | 2 MB per core | 2.5 MB per core |

| L3 Cache | 36 MB shared | 18 MB shared |

| Memory Support | DDR4, DDR5 | LPDDR5X |

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Dual-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not recorded | 153.6 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 16 lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 4 lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 770 | Arc B390 |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Multiplier Unlocked | Yes | No |

| Launch MSRP | $689 | Not recorded |

| Release Date | 2024-03-13 | 2026-04-03 |

| Average Benchmark Score | 81127 | 47468 |

| Percentile vs All CPUs | 96 | 89 |