Intel Core i9-14901E vs Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The data splits these two processors into distinct roles. The Intel Core i9-14901E wins only two of the seventeen head-to-head comparisons, and both are single-threaded Cinebench tests. The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus dominates everywhere else, taking fifteen wins across multi-threaded workloads, encryption, compression, and even single-threaded PassMark tests.

The Core i9-14901E delivers a 60.8% advantage in Cinebench R23 single-core, scoring 3635 against 2261. It also wins Cinebench R15 single-core by 11.6%, posting 366 versus 328. These are narrow or workload-specific victories. The R23 gap is substantial, suggesting the older architecture's high boost clock of 5.60 GHz gives it a genuine edge in lightly threaded rendering tasks. The R15 margin is smaller, and the two chips are closer in that older test.

Everything else belongs to the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus. The largest deltas appear in PassMark extended instructions (61.3% ahead), find prime numbers (61.1% ahead), data encryption (55.9% ahead), and floating point math (50.2% ahead). The Ultra 5 also leads in data compression by 49.2%, random string sorting by 43.4%, and Cinebench R15 multicore by 44.1%. Its multicore Cinebench R20 score of 18442 is 41.4% higher than the i9's 10816, and its R23 multicore score of 30867 beats 25753 by 16.6%.

PassMark single-thread results flip the Cinebench single-core story. The Ultra 5 scores 4757 versus 4354, an 8.5% lead. This divergence matters: the i9 wins single-core rendering but loses single-thread system-level tests. The Ultra 5's 18 cores and 18 threads overwhelm the i9's 8 cores and 16 threads in any throughput-heavy task. The average benchmark score confirms the spread, the i9 sits at 37911 while the Ultra 5 reaches 66855.

The percentile ranks reinforce the hierarchy. The i9-14901E lands at the 86th percentile of all CPUs, while the Ultra 5 250K Plus sits at the 93rd. The i9's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 7 9700X at 37943 (0.1% ahead), the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 at 37904 (0.0% delta), and the Intel Core 5 211E at 37829 (0.2% behind). The Ultra 5's nearest rivals are substantially faster, including the AMD EPYC 4465P at 66925 (0.1% ahead) and the Intel Xeon 6515P at 67006 (0.2% ahead).

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel generations and foundries. The i9-14901E uses Raptor Lake architecture on a 10 nm process fabricated by Intel, with a die size of 257 mm². The Ultra 5 250K Plus uses Arrow Lake Refresh on a 3 nm process from TSMC, with a die size of 243 mm² and 17,800 million transistors. The node shrink explains part of the efficiency and throughput gap, though the i9 runs at a lower 65 W TDP versus the Ultra 5's 125 W.

Core counts differ sharply. The i9-14901E has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Ultra 5 250K Plus has 18 cores and 18 threads. The Ultra 5 has no hyper-threading, so thread count equals core count. Despite fewer threads per core, the 18 physical cores deliver far higher multicore throughput. Cache layouts also diverge. The i9 uses 80 KB L1 per core, 2 MB L2 per core, and 36 MB shared L3. The Ultra 5 uses 192 KB L1 per core, 3 MB L2 per core, and 30 MB shared L3. The Ultra 5 has more per-core cache but less total L3.

Clock speeds favor the i9 in raw frequency. The i9's base clock is 2.80 GHz with a 5.60 GHz boost. The Ultra 5 starts at 4.20 GHz base but boosts to 5.30 GHz. The i9's higher boost clock explains its Cinebench single-core wins, while the Ultra 5's higher base clock and core count drive its multicore results.

Memory support differs as well. The i9 supports both DDR4 and DDR5 in dual-channel mode. The Ultra 5 supports only DDR5, also dual-channel, with a rated memory bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s. Both support ECC memory. PCIe connectivity favors the Ultra 5, which offers Gen 5 with 20 lanes from the CPU, versus the i9's Gen 5 with 16 lanes.

Integrated graphics differ. The i9 uses UHD Graphics 770, while the Ultra 5 uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU. The sockets are incompatible: the i9 uses Intel Socket 1700, the Ultra 5 uses Intel Socket 1851. The i9 has a locked multiplier, the Ultra 5 has an unlocked multiplier. Release dates also separate them, the i9 launched on 2024-06-30 and the Ultra 5 launched on 2026-03-10.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench suite shows the clearest split. In R15 multicore, the Ultra 5 scores 4640 against 2595, a 44.1% advantage. In R20 multicore, the Ultra 5 posts 18442 versus 10816, a 41.4% gap. The R23 multicore test narrows the margin to 16.6%, with the Ultra 5 at 30867 and the i9 at 25753. Single-core results reverse direction. The i9 wins R23 single-core by 60.8% (3635 to 2261) and R15 single-core by 11.6% (366 to 328). The R20 single-core test goes to the Ultra 5, 2603 to 1526, a 41.4% margin.

PassMark tests heavily favor the Ultra 5. Data compression shows 568721 against 288777, a 49.2% lead. Data encryption shows 42144 against 18571, a 55.9% gap. Extended instructions result in 44565 versus 17249, a 61.3% difference. Find prime numbers delivers 486 versus 189, a 61.1% margin. Floating point math scores 162692 against 81089, a 50.2% lead. Integer math is closer, 125091 to 112736, a 9.9% advantage for the Ultra 5. Multithread results show 51596 versus 30298, a 41.3% gap. Physics scores 3494 against 3041, a 13% lead. Random string sorting posts 69090 versus 39138, a 43.4% margin. Single-thread PassMark favors the Ultra 5, 4757 to 4354, an 8.5% gap.

The pattern is consistent. The Ultra 5 wins by large margins in throughput and instruction-heavy workloads, while the i9 wins only in specific single-core rendering tests. The R23 single-core result is the i9's best showing by far, a 60.8% lead that suggests a strong single-core burst capability. The R15 single-core win is smaller and less decisive.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus has an average benchmark score of 66855, while the Intel Core i9-14901E averages 37911.

Q: Why does the Core i9-14901E win some single-core tests?

A: The i9-14901E has a boost clock of 5.60 GHz, higher than the Ultra 5's 5.30 GHz. This contributes to its 60.8% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core and its 11.6% lead in R15 single-core.

Q: How large is the multicore performance gap?

A: The Ultra 5 leads by 44.1% in Cinebench R15 multicore, 41.4% in R20 multicore, and 16.6% in R23 multicore. PassMark multithread shows a 41.3% gap.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core i9-14901E and the Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus list ECC memory support.

Q: Which processor has more PCIe lanes?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus offers Gen 5 with 20 lanes from the CPU, while the Intel Core i9-14901E offers Gen 5 with 16 lanes.

Q: What is the thread count difference?

A: The i9-14901E has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Ultra 5 250K Plus has 18 cores and 18 threads.

The Verdict

The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus is the stronger processor for nearly every measured workload. Its fifteen wins out of seventeen head-to-head comparisons, its 93rd percentile ranking, and its 66855 average benchmark score place it clearly above the i9-14901E. The only areas where the i9 wins are Cinebench R15 and R23 single-core, where its 5.60 GHz boost clock delivers a 11.6% and 60.8% advantage respectively. For users whose primary workload is single-threaded rendering in those specific tests, the i9 has a measurable edge.

The Ultra 5's 18 cores and 18 threads make it the choice for multithreaded work. It leads by 44.1% in R15 multicore, 41.4% in R20 multicore, and 16.6% in R23 multicore. PassMark results confirm the trend, with leads ranging from 8.5% in single-thread to 61.3% in extended instructions. The 3 nm TSMC process, 17,800 million transistors, and 115.2 GB/s memory bandwidth support its higher throughput.

The i9-14901E remains relevant for single-core rendering tasks and for systems constrained to Socket 1700. Its 65 W TDP is lower, and it supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory. The Ultra 5 requires DDR5 and Socket 1851. The i9's locked multiplier and older architecture limit its flexibility, while the Ultra 5's unlocked multiplier and 93rd percentile ranking make it the more capable overall part.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i9-14901E | Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus |

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

| Cores | 8 | 18 |

| Threads | 16 | 18 |

| Base Clock | 2.80 GHz | 4.20 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.60 GHz | 5.30 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 125 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1700 | Intel Socket 1851 |

| Architecture | Raptor Lake | Arrow Lake Refresh |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 3 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Transistors | Not listed | 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) | 30 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR5 |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not listed | 115.2 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 20 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 770 | Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | Yes |

| Launch MSRP | Not listed | $199 |