Intel Core i9-14901E vs Intel Core Ultra 5 135HL Comparison

The Verdict

The Intel Core i9-14901E and the Intel Core Ultra 5 135HL serve distinctly different purposes within the desktop segment. The i9-14901E is a high-performance desktop part with an 86th percentile ranking among all CPUs, while the Core Ultra 5 135HL sits at the 50th percentile. The data indicates the i9-14901E is for users who need maximum single-threaded responsiveness and heavy multi-threaded workloads, whereas the Core Ultra 5 135HL offers a lower-power alternative with a more modern integrated GPU. The i9-14901E carries a 65 W TDP and boosts to 5.60 GHz, making it the clear choice for compute-intensive tasks. The Core Ultra 5 135HL, with its 45 W TDP and 4.60 GHz boost, is positioned for efficiency-conscious builds that still need 14 cores and 18 threads.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel generations and use different process nodes. The Core i9-14901E is built on Raptor Lake architecture, specifically the Raptor Lake-R codename, and uses a 10 nm process with a die size of 257 mm². It belongs to the Core 14th Gen series and is a Core i9 part from the Raptor Lake Refresh generation. In contrast, the Core Ultra 5 135HL uses Meteor Lake architecture with the Meteor Lake-PS codename, built on a 7 nm process. The die size for the Core Ultra 5 is not recorded in the database.

The core configurations differ significantly. The i9-14901E has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Core Ultra 5 135HL has 14 cores and 18 threads. This indicates a hybrid arrangement for the Ultra 5, though the database does not specify performance versus efficiency core counts. Clock speeds show the i9-14901E with a base clock of 2.80 GHz and a boost clock of 5.60 GHz. The Core Ultra 5 135HL runs at a 1.70 GHz base and a 4.60 GHz boost.

Cache hierarchies also differ. The i9-14901E provides 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 cache per core, and a substantial 36 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core Ultra 5 135HL offers 112 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 cache per core, but only 18 MB of shared L3 cache. The larger L3 on the i9-14901E is a major advantage for workloads that benefit from a large shared cache pool.

The integrated graphics differ as well. The i9-14901E uses UHD Graphics 770, while the Core Ultra 5 135HL features Arc Xe-LPG 128EU. The memory support also varies: the i9-14901E supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the Core Ultra 5 135HL supports DDR5 with the database noting "depends on motherboard." The Ultra 5 has a recorded memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, while the i9-14901E's bandwidth is not listed.

Platform connectivity shows another split. The i9-14901E uses Intel Socket 1700 with PCIe Gen 5 and 16 lanes (CPU only). The Core Ultra 5 135HL uses Intel Socket 1851 with PCIe Gen 4 and 8 lanes (CPU only). ECC memory support is present on the i9-14901E but absent on the Core Ultra 5 135HL.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i9-14901E boosts to 5.60 GHz, significantly higher than the Core Ultra 5 135HL's 4.60 GHz boost.

Q: How do the core counts compare?

A: The Core Ultra 5 135HL has 14 cores and 18 threads, while the Core i9-14901E has 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: Which CPU has more L3 cache?

A: The Core i9-14901E has 36 MB of shared L3 cache, double the 18 MB found on the Core Ultra 5 135HL.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The Core i9-14901E supports ECC memory, while the Core Ultra 5 135HL does not.

Q: What are the TDP ratings?

A: The Core i9-14901E has a 65 W TDP, and the Core Ultra 5 135HL has a 45 W TDP.

Q: Which CPU uses a newer PCIe standard?

A: The Core i9-14901E uses PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes, while the Core Ultra 5 135HL uses PCIe Gen 4 with 8 lanes.

Q: What is the process node for each?

A: The Core i9-14901E is fabricated on a 10 nm process, and the Core Ultra 5 135HL uses a 7 nm process.

Specification Differences

The database records the following differences between the two processors:

• Cores: 8 on the i9-14901E versus 14 on the Core Ultra 5 135HL
• Threads: 16 on the i9-14901E versus 18 on the Core Ultra 5 135HL
• Base clock: 2.80 GHz on the i9-14901E versus 1.70 GHz on the Core Ultra 5 135HL
• Boost clock: 5.60 GHz on the i9-14901E versus 4.60 GHz on the Core Ultra 5 135HL
• TDP: 65 W on the i9-14901E versus 45 W on the Core Ultra 5 135HL
• Socket: Intel Socket 1700 on the i9-14901E versus Intel Socket 1851 on the Core Ultra 5 135HL
• Architecture: Raptor Lake on the i9-14901E versus Meteor Lake on the Core Ultra 5 135HL
• Process node: 10 nm on the i9-14901E versus 7 nm on the Core Ultra 5 135HL
• L1 cache: 80 KB per core on the i9-14901E versus 112 KB per core on the Core Ultra 5 135HL
• L3 cache: 36 MB shared on the i9-14901E versus 18 MB shared on the Core Ultra 5 135HL
• Memory support: DDR4 and DDR5 on the i9-14901E versus DDR5 only (motherboard dependent) on the Core Ultra 5 135HL
• Memory bandwidth: Not listed for the i9-14901E versus 89.6 GB/s for the Core Ultra 5 135HL
• ECC memory: Supported on the i9-14901E, not supported on the Core Ultra 5 135HL
• PCIe: Gen 5, 16 lanes on the i9-14901E versus Gen 4, 8 lanes on the Core Ultra 5 135HL
• Integrated graphics: UHD Graphics 770 on the i9-14901E versus Arc Xe-LPG 128EU on the Core Ultra 5 135HL
• Release date: 2024-06-30 for the i9-14901E versus 2024-04-07 for the Core Ultra 5 135HL

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database contains no head-to-head benchmark results between these two processors. The Core i9-14901E has a full set of benchmark scores, while the Core Ultra 5 135HL has no recorded benchmarks and an average benchmark score of zero. This means direct comparisons must rely on the available i9-14901E scores and its nearest rivals.

The i9-14901E achieves a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 25753 and a single-core score of 3635. In Cinebench R20, it scores 10816 multi-core and 1526 single-core. Cinebench R15 results show 2595 multi-core and 366 single-core. PassMark tests show a multi-thread score of 30298 and a single-thread score of 4354.

The i9-14901E's nearest rivals in the database provide context. The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 has an average score of 37904, essentially matching the i9-14901E with a 0% delta. The AMD Ryzen 7 9700X scores 37943, which is 0.1% higher. The Intel Core 5 211E scores 37829, a 0.2% difference, and the AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P132 scores 37804, a 0.3% difference. These rivals are all extremely close to the i9-14901E's average benchmark score of 37911.

The Core Ultra 5 135HL has no benchmark data, so its performance cannot be quantified relative to the i9-14901E. The percentile ranking shows a clear divide: the i9-14901E sits at the 86th percentile of all CPUs, while the Core Ultra 5 135HL sits at the 50th percentile.

Where Each One Wins

The Core i9-14901E wins decisively in raw performance metrics based on its benchmark scores and specifications. Its boost clock of 5.60 GHz gives it a substantial single-thread advantage, which is reflected in the Cinebench R23 single-core score of 3635. The PassMark single-thread score of 4354 confirms this strength. For multi-threaded workloads, the i9-14901E's 36 MB of L3 cache and higher clock speeds compensate for its lower core count, producing a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 25753.

The Core Ultra 5 135HL wins in efficiency and platform features. Its 45 W TDP is lower than the i9-14901E's 65 W, indicating lower power draw. The 7 nm process node is more advanced than the 10 nm node on the i9-14901E. The Arc Xe-LPG 128EU integrated graphics are a newer generation than UHD Graphics 770, which may deliver better iGPU performance. The Core Ultra 5 also has a higher L1 cache per core at 112 KB versus 80 KB, and a recorded memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s.

The i9-14901E is the choice for workloads that demand maximum clock speeds and large cache. The data shows it at the 86th percentile overall, with nearest rivals all within 0.3% of its average score, placing it in the upper tier of desktop processors. Its PCIe Gen 5 support with 16 lanes provides more bandwidth for expansion cards and storage.

The Core Ultra 5 135HL offers a different value proposition with its 14 cores and 18 threads in a lower-power envelope. The 50th percentile ranking indicates mid-pack performance, but the 7 nm process and 45 W TDP suggest it is designed for systems where power consumption matters more than peak performance. The ECC memory support on the i9-14901E makes it suitable for stability-critical applications, while the lack of ECC on the Core Ultra 5 points toward consumer-oriented use.

For PC builders, the decision hinges on whether the priority is maximum compute performance or a balanced, lower-power part with a modern iGPU. The i9-14901E delivers top-tier scores in every recorded benchmark, while the Core Ultra 5 135HL relies on its architectural advantages in efficiency and newer platform features.