Intel Core i9-14900T vs Intel Core Ultra 5 245K Comparison

The Intel Core i9-14900T and Intel Core Ultra 5 245K represent two distinct philosophies from Intel: one is a power-sipping, thread-heavy processor from the Raptor Lake generation, while the other is a modern, higher-frequency Arrow Lake part built on a different foundry process. The benchmark data shows a clear split, with the Ultra 5 245K dominating most workloads but the i9-14900T posting surprising wins in specific integer and compression tasks. Despite the i9-14900T having a 35 W TDP and the Ultra 5 245K a 125 W TDP, the newer part’s 3 nm process and higher base clock of 4.20 GHz versus 1100.00 MHz give it a significant edge in raw speed. The data indicates that the Ultra 5 245K wins 15 of 17 head-to-head benchmarks, yet the i9-14900T’s two victories are massive ones, suggesting that core count and thread count still matter in certain legacy workloads.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i9-14900T has 24 cores and 32 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 245K has 14 cores and 14 threads. This means the i9-14900T offers simultaneous multithreading, whereas the Ultra 5 245K does not.

Q: What is the performance difference in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 245K scores 37001 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, which is 10.1% higher than the Intel Core i9-14900T’s score of 33264. This is a consistent 10.1% delta across all Cinebench tests, including R15, R20, and single-core variants.

Q: In which benchmarks does the Intel Core i9-14900T win?

A: The i9-14900T wins in PassMark integer math and data compression. It scores 144857 in integer math (46.5% ahead) and 485883 in data compression (5.1% ahead), proving its strength in specific arithmetic and compression workloads.

Q: How do the integrated graphics compare?

A: The Intel Core i9-14900T features UHD Graphics 770, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 245K includes Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU. The data does not provide benchmark scores for the iGPU, but the Ultra 5 245K’s Arc graphics are part of a newer architecture.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each CPU?

A: The Intel Core i9-14900T has an average benchmark score of 55778, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 245K has an average of 55304. The i9-14900T is 0.9% higher, placing it slightly ahead in overall average performance despite losing most individual tests.

Q: Which CPU has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i9-14900T has a boost clock of 5.50 GHz, which is higher than the Intel Core Ultra 5 245K’s 5.20 GHz. However, the Ultra 5 245K’s base clock of 4.20 GHz is significantly higher than the i9-14900T’s 1100.00 MHz base clock.

Q: Are both CPUs on the same socket?

A: No, the Intel Core i9-14900T uses Intel Socket 1700, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 245K uses Intel Socket 1851. This indicates they are not interchangeable between motherboards.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 5 245K is the clear winner in most productivity and synthetic benchmarks. It takes the top spot in all six Cinebench tests (R15, R20, R23, both single and multi-core), with a consistent 10.1% advantage. This suggests better per-core performance and clock scaling, which carries over to PassMark tests like physics (22.6% ahead), floating point math (25.7% ahead), and single-thread performance (11.4% ahead). The Ultra 5 245K also dominates in extended instructions (32.2% ahead) and prime number finding (57.2% ahead), indicating a stronger FPU and SIMD execution engine.

The Intel Core i9-14900T wins in two niche but important areas. Its 46.5% lead in PassMark integer math is the largest delta in the entire comparison, showing that its 24 cores and 32 threads can be leveraged effectively for integer-heavy calculations. The 5.1% win in data compression is also notable, as it suggests the i9-14900T’s larger 36 MB shared L3 cache (versus 24 MB on the Ultra 5) helps in memory-bandwidth-sensitive compression tasks. These wins are isolated but significant, making the i9-14900T a specialist for specific server-like or archive-heavy workloads.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two processors is stark. The Intel Core i9-14900T is built on Raptor Lake (Raptor Lake-R) using Intel’s 10 nm process, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 245K uses Arrow Lake (Arrow Lake-S) on a 3 nm process from TSMC. This node advantage gives the Ultra 5 245K a much higher transistor density, with 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die, compared to the i9-14900T’s 257 mm² die (transistor count not listed). The foundry shift to TSMC is a major architectural change for Intel’s desktop lineup.

The core layouts differ fundamentally. The i9-14900T relies on a hybrid design with 24 cores and 32 threads, implying a mix of performance and efficiency cores with hyperthreading. The Ultra 5 245K has 14 cores and 14 threads, meaning no hyperthreading, but each core has a larger L1 cache (192 KB per core versus 80 KB per core) and L2 cache (3 MB per core versus 2 MB per core). The L3 cache favors the i9-14900T at 36 MB shared, while the Ultra 5 245K has 24 MB shared. The Ultra 5 245K also supports PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes, while the i9-14900T offers 16 lanes, and only the Ultra 5 lists a memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s.

Specification Differences

The specification sheets highlight key divergences beyond the core counts and cache. The base clock is a major differentiator: the i9-14900T runs at 1100.00 MHz, while the Ultra 5 245K runs at 4.20 GHz. The boost clocks are closer, with the i9-14900T reaching 5.50 GHz and the Ultra 5 245K at 5.20 GHz. TDP figures are dramatically different: the i9-14900T is rated at 35 W, while the Ultra 5 245K is rated at 125 W, reflecting the low-power nature of the former.

Memory support differs, with the i9-14900T supporting both DDR4 and DDR5, while the Ultra 5 245K supports only DDR5. Both support ECC memory and dual-channel memory buses. The i9-14900T is not multiplier-unlocked, while the Ultra 5 245K is, offering overclocking flexibility. Release dates are also distinct: the i9-14900T launched on 2024-01-07, while the Ultra 5 245K launched later on 2024-10-23. The integrated graphics are different, with UHD Graphics 770 on the i9-14900T versus Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU on the Ultra 5 245K.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result is the near-uniform 10.1% win for the Intel Core Ultra 5 245K across all Cinebench versions. Whether it is R15 multi-core (3729 versus 3352), R20 multi-core (15540 versus 13970), or R23 multi-core (37001 versus 33264), the delta remains exactly 10.1%. The same 10.1% appears in single-core tests, with the Ultra 5 245K scoring 526 versus 473 in R15, 2193 versus 1972 in R20, and 5223 versus 4696 in R23. This consistency suggests a clock-for-clock architectural advantage, not a workload-specific fluke.

In PassMark, the Ultra 5 245K continues its dominance but with varying margins. The biggest win is in find prime numbers, where it scores 423 versus 181, a 57.2% advantage. Extended instructions show a 32.2% lead (37822 versus 25639), and floating point math is 25.7% higher (131107 versus 97406). The physics test also favors the Ultra 5 245K by 22.6% (3348 versus 2591), and multithread performance is 8.8% higher (43527 versus 39707). Even single-thread performance shows an 11.4% lead (4700 versus 4165).

The Intel Core i9-14900T’s two wins are enormous. In integer math, it scores 144857 against the Ultra 5 245K’s 98850, a 46.5% advantage that flips the narrative. In data compression, it scores 485883 versus 462110, a modest 5.1% win. The random string sorting test is nearly a tie, with the Ultra 5 245K winning by only 0.5% (55882 versus 55594). Data encryption also goes to the Ultra 5 245K by 9.5% (33481 versus 30305).

The Verdict

The data clearly favors the Intel Core Ultra 5 245K for general-purpose performance. It wins 15 of 17 benchmarks, including all rendering tests, all single-thread tests, and the majority of math and encryption workloads. Its 3 nm process and 4.20 GHz base clock deliver a consistent 10.1% advantage in Cinebench, which is the most representative of multi-threaded productivity. Users prioritizing video rendering, scientific simulation, or everyday responsiveness should choose the Ultra 5 245K.

The Intel Core i9-14900T is the pick only for specialized workloads that match its strengths. Its 46.5% lead in integer math and 5.1% lead in data compression indicate that applications heavily reliant on integer arithmetic or archive/compression algorithms will run significantly faster. The i9-14900T also has a higher boost clock of 5.50 GHz, which may help in single-threaded tasks, though the benchmark data shows the Ultra 5 245K still wins those. For a 35 W part, the i9-14900T’s performance is impressive, but its lower base clock and older architecture make it a niche choice. The average benchmark scores are close (55778 versus 55304), but the distribution of wins is not. Choose the Ultra 5 245K for versatility, the i9-14900T for integer-heavy or compression-specific tasks.