Intel Core i9-14901E vs Intel Core Ultra 5 245K Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher overall average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 245K holds the higher average benchmark score at 54053, placing it in the 91st percentile of all CPUs. The Intel Core i9-14901E averages 37911, which lands in the 86th percentile.

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

A: The Intel Core i9-14901E scores 25753 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 245K scores 25066. That gives the i9-14901E a 2.7% advantage in this specific test.

Q: Which processor wins in single-threaded Cinebench R20?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 245K wins Cinebench R20 single-core with a score of 2169, which is 29.6% ahead of the Intel Core i9-14901E's 1526.

Q: What is the difference in core and thread counts?

A: The Intel Core i9-14901E has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Intel Core Ultra 5 245K has 14 cores and 14 threads, meaning it has more physical cores but no hyper-threading.

Q: Which processor supports DDR4 memory?

A: The Intel Core i9-14901E supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory. The Intel Core Ultra 5 245K supports DDR5 only.

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

A: The Intel Core i9-14901E uses a 10 nm process built by Intel, with a die size of 257 mm². The Intel Core Ultra 5 245K uses a 3 nm process built by TSMC, with a die size of 243 mm² and 17,800 million transistors.

The Verdict

The recorded data splits these two processors into distinct roles. The Intel Core Ultra 5 245K wins 13 of the 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, including every PassMark workload except integer math and one Cinebench multi-core test. Its average score of 54053 versus 37911 confirms a substantial overall lead. The Ultra 5 245K also sits at the 91st percentile, five points higher than the i9-14901E's 86th.

The Intel Core i9-14901E, however, is not without its own territory. It wins Cinebench R15 single-core by 13.7%, Cinebench R23 single-core by 70.5%, Cinebench R23 multi-core by 2.7%, and PassMark integer math by 14.4%. Its 5.60 GHz boost clock is the highest of the pair, and its 36 MB of shared L3 cache is larger than the Ultra 5 245K's 24 MB. For workloads that rely on raw single-core frequency and large shared cache, the older architecture still delivers.

The data indicates the Ultra 5 245K is the broader performer. Its wins in data compression, encryption, extended instructions, prime number finding, floating-point math, and multithreaded PassMark suggest a more balanced and modern design. The i9-14901E is the narrower specialist, excelling in legacy single-threaded Cinebench tests and integer math. The choice depends on whether the workload matches the i9's specific strengths or the Ultra 5's overall dominance.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The biggest single win for the Intel Core Ultra 5 245K comes in PassMark extended instructions, where it scores 37617 against the i9-14901E's 17249, a 54.1% margin. The same pattern appears in PassMark find prime numbers, with the Ultra 5 scoring 414 versus 189, a 54.3% gap. These are not close contests. The Ultra 5 also dominates data encryption, scoring 33286 against 18571 for a 44.2% lead, and data compression, scoring 458817 versus 288777 for a 37.1% lead. Floating-point math shows a 37.9% advantage for the Ultra 5, with scores of 130678 and 81089 respectively.

The multi-core Cinebench tests favor the Ultra 5 as well. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 3850 against 2595, a 32.6% lead. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the margin is 29.6%, with scores of 15368 and 10816. The PassMark multithread test repeats the 29.6% gap, showing 43047 versus 30298. Random string sorting follows at 29% ahead, 55098 versus 39138. The single-thread PassMark tests show a smaller but still clear advantage for the Ultra 5, 4714 versus 4354 for a 7.6% lead.

The Intel Core i9-14901E takes its most dramatic win in Cinebench R23 single-core, scoring 3635 against 2132 for a 70.5% margin. That is the largest win for either processor in the entire comparison. The i9 also wins Cinebench R15 single-core, 366 versus 322 for 13.7%, and PassMark integer math, 112736 versus 98524 for 14.4%. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core win is narrow, 25753 versus 25066 for just 2.7%. The only other close contest is PassMark physics, where the Ultra 5 wins 3081 versus 3041, a 1.3% edge.

The pattern is clear. The Ultra 5 245K wins the majority of tests, often by large margins in encryption, compression, and instruction-heavy workloads. The i9-14901E wins by a huge margin in one single-core test and by moderate margins in another single-core test and integer math, but its multi-core wins are limited to a single Cinebench variant.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every fundamental specification. The Intel Core i9-14901E has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 245K has 14 cores and 14 threads. Base clocks differ significantly: the i9-14901E runs at 2.80 GHz, while the Ultra 5 starts at 4.20 GHz. Boost clocks reverse the order: the i9-14901E boosts to 5.60 GHz, while the Ultra 5 boosts to 5.20 GHz.

Thermal design power differs by nearly double. The i9-14901E is rated at 65 W TDP, while the Ultra 5 245K is rated at 125 W TDP. Their sockets are incompatible: the i9-14901E uses Intel Socket 1700, and the Ultra 5 uses Intel Socket 1851. The i9-14901E is multiplier locked, while the Ultra 5 has an unlocked multiplier.

Memory support differs as well. The i9-14901E supports DDR4 and DDR5 in dual-channel configuration. The Ultra 5 supports DDR5 only, also dual-channel, but with a recorded memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s. Both support ECC memory. PCIe lanes differ: the i9-14901E provides Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes, while the Ultra 5 provides Gen 5 with 20 CPU lanes.

Integrated graphics are different. The i9-14901E uses UHD Graphics 770. The Ultra 5 uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU. The i9-14901E has a launch date of 2024-06-30, while the Ultra 5 launched later on 2024-10-23 with a launch MSRP of $319.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core i9-14901E belongs to the Core 14th Gen series under the Raptor Lake architecture, specifically the Raptor Lake-R codename. It is built on a 10 nm process at Intel's own foundry, with a die size of 257 mm². Its cache layout includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 36 MB of shared L3. The generation label is Core i9 (Raptor Lake Refresh).

The Intel Core Ultra 5 245K belongs to the Core Ultra Series 2 under the Arrow Lake architecture, with the Arrow Lake-S codename. It is built on a 3 nm process at TSMC, with a die size of 243 mm² and 17,800 million transistors. Its cache layout includes 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3. The generation label is Ultra 5 (Arrow Lake).

The node difference is striking. The 10 nm process of the i9-14901E predates the 3 nm process of the Ultra 5 by two full generations of fabrication technology. The smaller node allows for more transistors in a slightly smaller die, 243 mm² versus 257 mm², while the Ultra 5 still fits 14 cores. The i9-14901E compensates with a larger shared L3 cache, 36 MB versus 24 MB, and a higher boost clock of 5.60 GHz versus 5.20 GHz.

The cache per core also differs. The Ultra 5 has more than double the L1 per core, 192 KB versus 80 KB, and 3 MB of L2 per core versus 2 MB. This indicates a fundamentally different core design between Raptor Lake and Arrow Lake. The i9-14901E relies on hyper-threading to reach 16 threads from 8 cores, while the Ultra 5 uses 14 physical cores with no hyper-threading, so it has 14 threads total.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 5 245K is the clear winner in encryption and compression workloads. PassMark data encryption shows a 44.2% lead, and data compression shows a 37.1% lead. Extended instruction workloads favor the Ultra 5 by 54.1%, and prime number finding favors it by 54.3%. Floating-point math, multithreaded PassMark, random string sorting, and both Cinebench R15 and R20 multi-core tests all go to the Ultra 5. Its single-thread PassMark score is also higher, 4714 versus 4354. This processor is the better choice for modern multi-threaded applications, data processing, and any workload that uses the full instruction set.

The Intel Core i9-14901E wins specifically in Cinebench R23 single-core by 70.5%, Cinebench R15 single-core by 13.7%, and PassMark integer math by 14.4%. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core win is small at 2.7%. The i9-14901E also holds a 36 MB shared L3 cache, 12 MB larger than the Ultra 5's 24 MB, and a higher boost clock of 5.60 GHz. These wins suggest the i9-14901E is optimized for workloads that respond to high single-core frequency and large shared cache, particularly legacy Cinebench variants and integer-heavy computation.

The data does not show a single winner for all scenarios. The Ultra 5 245K wins the overall benchmark average by 42.6%, but the i9-14901E retains specific advantages that matter for frequency-sensitive tasks. The Cinebench R23 single-core result, with the i9-14901E scoring 70.5% higher, is the most pronounced single-core gap in the comparison. The Ultra 5's average score of 54053, boosted by wins in 13 of 17 tests, makes it the more versatile processor in the database's measurements.