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

Where Each One Wins

The recorded benchmark data presents a decisive split: the Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus wins every single head-to-head comparison in the database, 17 out of 17 tests. The Intel Core i9-14901E records zero wins. This is not a close contest with trade-offs across workloads; it is a clean sweep for the Arrow Lake Refresh part.

The most dramatic gaps appear in data compression and extended instruction workloads. The Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus scores 553155 in PassMark data compression against 288777 for the i9-14901E, a delta of 47.8%. In extended instructions, the Ultra 5 reaches 42880 versus 17249, a 59.8% advantage. These are the kinds of workloads that scale with core count and modern instruction throughput, and the data confirms the 18-core part dominates there.

The closest margins are in integer math and physics. PassMark integer math shows 123030 for the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus versus 112736 for the i9-14901E, a modest 8.4% gap. Physics shows 3183 against 3041, just 4.5% apart. Single-thread PassMark scores are also relatively close at 4698 versus 4354, a 7.3% difference. This indicates that in light, latency-sensitive or lightly threaded tasks, the older Raptor Lake part is less far behind, though it still loses.

Cinebench results across all three versions (R15, R20, R23) show consistent 39.7% deltas in favor of the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus, for both multi-core and single-core tests. The multi-thread PassMark score shows a 39.6% gap. Random string sorting shows 41.8%. Floating point math shows 49.3%. Data encryption shows 55%. Prime number finding shows 58.2%. The pattern is uniform: the newer processor leads by a wide margin in every measured category, with the smallest gaps in integer math, physics, and single-thread workloads.

The Verdict

The Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus is the clear choice for any workload represented in this database. It holds the 93rd percentile among all CPUs, while the i9-14901E sits at the 86th percentile. Its average benchmark score is 66159 against 37911 for the i9-14901E. The nearest rivals for the Ultra 5 are the Intel Core 9 273PQE (0.1% ahead), the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D (0.4% ahead), the Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus (1% behind), and the AMD EPYC 4465P (1.1% behind). The i9-14901E, by contrast, sits near the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 (0% delta), the AMD Ryzen 7 9700X (0.1% behind), the Intel Core 5 211E (0.2% ahead), and the AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P132 (0.3% ahead).

For a user prioritizing multi-threaded throughput, compression, encryption, or math-heavy tasks, the data points entirely to the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus. The 39.7% lead across every Cinebench generation is substantial. The 47.8% compression advantage and 55% encryption advantage reinforce that conclusion. Even in the narrowest fields, integer math and physics, the Ultra 5 still wins.

The i9-14901E does have one notable attribute: its 65 TDP versus 125 TDP for the Ultra 5. That suggests a lower power envelope, though the database does not include measured power consumption or thermal figures. The i9-14901E also includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 770), while the Ultra 5 has no integrated graphics. For systems that require an iGPU without a discrete card, the i9-14901E is the only one of the two that can display output. But on raw performance, every recorded benchmark favors the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench suite provides the cleanest comparison. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus scores 42718 against 25753, a 39.7% lead. Single-core R23 shows 6030 versus 3635, also 39.7%. The same delta repeats in R20 (17941 versus 10816, and 2532 versus 1526) and R15 (4305 versus 2595, and 607 versus 366). The consistency of that 39.7% figure across all six Cinebench tests suggests a uniform per-thread and per-core advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk.

PassMark data compression shows the largest absolute gap: 553155 versus 288777. That is nearly double the i9-14901E output. Encryption shows 41292 versus 18571, a 55% difference. Extended instructions shows 42880 versus 17249, a 59.8% difference, the largest percentage gap in the entire dataset. Prime number finding shows 452 versus 189, a 58.2% gap. Floating point math shows 159824 versus 81089, a 49.3% gap.

The smaller gaps are informative. Integer math at 8.4% and physics at 4.5% show that the i9-14901E is not entirely outclassed in scalar integer work. Single-thread PassMark at 7.3% (4698 versus 4354) indicates the older chip's high 5.60 GHz boost clock helps keep single-core performance respectable. Yet even there, the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus, with a 5.30 GHz boost clock, still manages to lead by a noticeable margin.

Multi-thread PassMark shows 50146 versus 30298, a 39.6% gap. Random string sorting shows 67209 versus 39138, a 41.8% gap. Every one of the 17 head-to-head tests records a win for the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus. There are no ties and no reversals.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

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

Q: How large is the performance gap in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus scores 42718, while the i9-14901E scores 25753. That is a 39.7% lead for the Ultra 5.

Q: Does the i9-14901E win any benchmark in the database?

A: No. The head-to-head data records 17 tests, and the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus wins all 17. The i9-14901E has zero wins.

Q: Which processor supports DDR4 memory?

A: The Intel Core i9-14901E supports DDR4 and DDR5. The Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus supports DDR5 only.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The i9-14901E has a 65 TDP. The Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus has a 125 TDP.

Q: Do both processors include integrated graphics?

A: No. The i9-14901E includes UHD Graphics 770. The Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus has no integrated graphics (listed as N/A).

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel generations and foundries. The i9-14901E is part of the Core 14th Gen series, built on Raptor Lake architecture with the Raptor Lake-R codename. It uses a 10 nm process node fabricated by Intel. The Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus belongs to the Core Ultra Series 2, uses the Arrow Lake Refresh codename, and is built on a 3 nm process node fabricated by TSMC. The transistor count for the Ultra 5 is listed as 17,800 million; the i9-14901E has no recorded transistor count.

The core configuration differs substantially. The i9-14901E has 8 cores and 16 threads, indicating simultaneous multithreading. The Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus has 18 cores and 18 threads, meaning no hyperthreading. Despite the lower thread count relative to cores, the Ultra 5 wins all multi-threaded tests by wide margins.

Cache hierarchies differ in size and organization. The i9-14901E has 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 36 MB of shared L3. The Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus has 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 30 MB of shared L3. The Ultra 5 has more L1 and L2 per core but less total L3.

Clock speeds are close but favor the i9-14901E on boost. The i9-14901E has a 2.80 GHz base clock and a 5.60 GHz boost clock. The Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus has a 4.20 GHz base clock and a 5.30 GHz boost clock. The higher base clock on the Ultra 5 likely contributes to its consistent wins in lightly threaded tests, despite the lower boost ceiling.

Memory support diverges. The i9-14901E supports DDR4 and DDR5 over a dual-channel bus. The Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus supports DDR5 only, also dual-channel, with a recorded memory bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s. The i9-14901E has no recorded memory bandwidth figure. Both support ECC memory.

PCIe lane counts differ. The i9-14901E provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus provides Gen 5 with 20 lanes from the CPU. Sockets differ as well: the i9-14901E uses Intel Socket 1700, while the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus uses Intel Socket 1851. The i9-14901E has a locked multiplier, while the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus has an unlocked multiplier, allowing overclocking.

The i9-14901E includes UHD Graphics 770 integrated graphics. The Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus has no integrated graphics. The i9-14901E launched in the database with a release date of 2024-06-30, while the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus has a release date of 2026-03-10. The Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus has a launch MSRP of $184; the i9-14901E has no recorded launch MSRP.

Both processors are listed as Active in production status and target the desktop market segment. The i9-14901E has a die size of 257 mm², while the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus has a die size of 243 mm². The combination of a smaller die, newer 3 nm process, higher core count, and larger per-core caches on the Ultra 5 explains the consistent benchmark dominance recorded in the database.