Intel Core i9-14901E vs Intel Core Ultra 5 225T Comparison

Intel Core i9-14901E and Intel Core Ultra 5 225T represent two distinct approaches to desktop processing within Intel's lineup, and the benchmark data shows a clear split in their strengths. The i9-14901E dominates in 14 of the 17 recorded head-to-head tests, while the Ultra 5 225T claims wins in 3 specific workloads. The average benchmark scores confirm the separation, with the i9-14901E posting 37911 against the Ultra 5 225T's 30468, a difference that places them in different performance strata despite both carrying a 65 W TDP.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i9-14901E is the unequivocal winner for multi-threaded and single-threaded throughput in traditional CPU workloads. Its 16 threads, enabled by Hyper-Threading on 8 cores, give it a decisive edge in every Cinebench iteration. The data shows a consistent 17.2% lead across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multicore tests, and a matching 17.2% to 17.3% lead in single-core tests. This processor is built for sustained computational density, and the PassMark results reinforce that positioning. In integer math, the i9-14901E scores 112736 versus 59543, a 89.3% advantage that indicates substantially higher throughput for general arithmetic operations. Physics simulation shows a 48.1% lead, and random string sorting delivers a 36% advantage. The i9-14901E also wins PassMark multithread by 19.5% and data compression by 23.4%, making it the stronger choice for rendering, compilation, and data-heavy tasks.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T wins in fewer tests, but those wins are in specific vector and floating-point domains. Its PassMark extended instructions score of 20083 beats the i9-14901E's 17249 by 14.1%, indicating better execution of advanced SIMD instruction sets. The Ultra 5 225T also takes PassMark find prime numbers with a 284 score versus 189, a 33.5% margin, which points to efficient handling of modular arithmetic and integer-heavy algorithmic loops. Floating-point math goes to the Ultra 5 225T by a slim 2% margin, 82751 to 81089. These wins suggest the Arrow Lake architecture carries advantages in specific execution units, but the overall workload profile favors the i9-14901E.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different manufacturing and design generations. The i9-14901E uses Raptor Lake architecture on Intel's 10 nm process with a 257 mm² die size. It packs 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 2.80 GHz and a boost clock of 5.60 GHz. The cache hierarchy uses 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 36 MB of shared L3 cache. This is a monolithic design from Intel's own foundry, supporting both DDR4 and DDR5 memory over a dual-channel bus. It carries UHD Graphics 770 integrated graphics and supports ECC memory, which is notable for workstation reliability.

The Ultra 5 225T uses Arrow Lake architecture fabricated by TSMC on a 3 nm process, with a die size of 243 mm² and 17,800 million transistors. It has 10 cores but only 10 threads, meaning no Hyper-Threading. The base clock is 2.50 GHz and boost reaches 4.90 GHz, both lower than the i9-14901E. Cache configuration differs significantly: 192 KB L1 per core, 3 MB L2 per core, and 20 MB shared L3, which is nearly half the L3 of the i9-14901E. Memory support is limited to DDR5, with a rated bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s. It uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 16EU for integrated graphics, does not support ECC memory, and provides 20 PCIe Gen 5 lanes from the CPU versus 16 on the i9-14901E. The socket changes from Intel Socket 1700 to Intel Socket 1851.

The core count difference is central. The i9-14901E has fewer physical cores (8 versus 10) but doubles the thread count via SMT. In the recorded benchmarks, that thread advantage consistently overcomes the Ultra 5 225T's two additional physical cores. The Ultra 5 225T compensates with a smaller process node, which likely contributes to its wins in extended instructions and prime number finding, but it cannot match the i9-14901E's raw clock speed and thread-level parallelism.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most decisive win for the i9-14901E comes in PassMark integer math, where it scores 112736 against 59543. That 89.3% delta is the largest margin in the entire dataset and indicates a fundamental throughput advantage in basic arithmetic operations. PassMark physics shows a 48.1% lead (3041 versus 2053), and random string sorting delivers a 36% advantage (39138 versus 28774). These are substantial gaps that point to the i9-14901E being far better suited for simulation and sorting workloads.

Cinebench results are uniformly in favor of the i9-14901E. In Cinebench R23 multicore, it scores 25753 versus 21971, a 17.2% lead. Single-core R23 shows 3635 versus 3101, also 17.2%. The same pattern holds in R20 and R15, with the multicore scores of 10816 versus 9227 and 2595 versus 2214 respectively, and single-core scores of 1526 versus 1302 and 366 versus 312. The consistency of the 17.2% margin across all three Cinebench versions suggests a stable architectural advantage rather than a workload-specific artifact.

The Ultra 5 225T's wins are narrower in absolute terms. Its PassMark extended instructions score of 20083 beats the i9-14901E's 17249 by 14.1%. In PassMark find prime numbers, it scores 284 versus 189, a 33.5% margin that is its largest win. Floating-point math shows a modest 2% lead, 82751 versus 81089. PassMark data encryption is nearly tied, with the i9-14901E winning by just 1.5% (18571 versus 18289), and PassMark single-thread is essentially a dead heat at 4354 versus 4348, a 0.1% difference.

The wins distribution is 14 for the i9-14901E and 3 for the Ultra 5 225T. That record, combined with the average benchmark scores (37911 versus 30468), places the i9-14901E in the 86th percentile of all CPUs versus the Ultra 5 225T's 82nd percentile. The nearest rivals for the i9-14901E include the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 at 37904 (0% delta) and the AMD Ryzen 7 9700X at 37943 (-0.1% delta), showing it sits in a competitive band. The Ultra 5 225T's nearest rivals are the Intel Core i9-11980HK at 30422 (0.2% delta) and the AMD Ryzen 5 7640HS at 30390 (0.3% delta), indicating it aligns more closely with mobile-class performance levels.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T has 10 cores and 10 threads, while the Intel Core i9-14901E has 8 cores and 16 threads. The i9-14901E uses Hyper-Threading to double its thread count, giving it more concurrent threads despite fewer physical cores.

Q: Why does the i9-14901E win most benchmarks despite having fewer cores?

A: The i9-14901E has a higher boost clock of 5.60 GHz versus 4.90 GHz, a larger 36 MB L3 cache versus 20 MB, and 16 threads versus 10. In the recorded data, it wins 14 of 17 tests, with the largest margin being 89.3% in PassMark integer math.

Q: In what specific workloads does the Ultra 5 225T outperform the i9-14901E?

A: The Ultra 5 225T wins PassMark extended instructions (20083 versus 17249, 14.1% lead), PassMark find prime numbers (284 versus 189, 33.5% lead), and PassMark floating-point math (82751 versus 81089, 2% lead). These are the only 3 tests it wins out of 17 recorded.

Q: What are the memory support differences?

A: The i9-14901E supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory over a dual-channel bus with ECC support. The Ultra 5 225T supports only DDR5, also dual-channel, with a rated bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s, and does not support ECC memory.

Q: How do their integrated graphics compare?

A: The i9-14901E uses UHD Graphics 770, while the Ultra 5 225T uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 16EU. The benchmark data does not include graphics tests, so no direct performance comparison is available from the recorded measurements.

Q: What is the difference in PCIe lane support?

A: The Ultra 5 225T provides 20 PCIe Gen 5 lanes from the CPU, while the i9-14901E provides 16 PCIe Gen 5 lanes. Both support PCIe Gen 5, but the Ultra 5 225T offers more lanes for expansion.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i9-14901E | Intel Core Ultra 5 225T |

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

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

| Cores | 8 | 10 |

| Threads | 16 | 10 |

| Base Clock | 2.80 GHz | 2.50 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.60 GHz | 4.90 GHz |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1700 | 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 (CPU only) | Gen 5, 20 Lanes (CPU only) |

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

| Release Date | 2024-06-30 | 2024-12-31 |

The Verdict

The data directs a clear choice based on workload. The Intel Core i9-14901E is the processor for tasks that demand high thread counts, large shared cache, and maximum clock speed. Its 16 threads and 5.60 GHz boost clock deliver wins in every Cinebench test and in the majority of PassMark workloads, with particularly strong showings in integer math (89.3% lead), physics (48.1% lead), and random string sorting (36% lead). The 86th percentile ranking and average score of 37911 place it in a performance class that rivals the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 and Ryzen 7 9700X.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T is a different kind of processor. Its 10 cores without Hyper-Threading, lower 4.90 GHz boost, and smaller 20 MB L3 cache put it at a disadvantage in most measured tasks. However, its wins in extended instructions (14.1% lead), prime number finding (33.5% lead), and floating-point math (2% lead) indicate specialized strengths in certain SIMD and mathematical workloads. The 82nd percentile ranking and average score of 30468 place it closer to mobile processors like the Intel Core i9-11980HK and AMD Ryzen 5 7640HS.

For general-purpose computing, rendering, compilation, and data processing, the i9-14901E is the stronger performer based on the recorded benchmarks. For workloads that rely heavily on extended instructions or prime number calculations, the Ultra 5 225T offers specific advantages, but those wins are isolated and do not offset the i9-14901E's broader dominance across 14 of 17 tests. The i9-14901E also supports ECC memory and DDR4 compatibility, which may matter for certain stability-sensitive environments. The Ultra 5 225T counters with more PCIe lanes (20 versus 16) and a newer 3 nm process, but the benchmark data does not show those features translating into overall performance superiority.