Intel Core i9-14901E vs Intel Core Ultra 7 155UL Comparison

Intel Core i9-14901E and Intel Core Ultra 7 155UL represent two distinct design philosophies within Intel's desktop lineup. The i9-14901E is a high-performance Raptor Lake Refresh part, built for raw throughput, while the Ultra 7 155UL is a Meteor Lake-PS processor focused on efficiency and architectural novelty. The recorded data shows a clear performance hierarchy, but the Ultra 7 155UL brings structural differences that matter for specific use cases.

Where Each One Wins

The performance split is straightforward based on the benchmark data. The Intel Core i9-14901E wins every recorded workload test, as the database contains no benchmark scores for the Ultra 7 155UL. The i9-14901E reaches the 86th percentile among all CPUs, while the Ultra 7 155UL sits at the 50th percentile. The i9-14901E is the clear choice for compute-heavy tasks: its Cinebench R23 multicore score of 25753 and PassMark multithread score of 30298 indicate strong parallel processing capability. The Ultra 7 155UL, with no recorded benchmarks, cannot be positioned as a performance winner in any measured category.

The Ultra 7 155UL wins on power efficiency and platform features. Its 15 W TDP is dramatically lower than the i9-14901E's 65 W TDP, making it suited for thermally constrained desktop designs. It also integrates Arc Xe-LPG 64EU graphics, a more capable iGPU than the UHD Graphics 770 in the i9-14901E, suggesting an advantage for entry-level graphics workloads or media playback without a discrete GPU. The i9-14901E, with its 5.60 GHz boost clock and 36 MB of shared L3 cache, dominates CPU-bound scenarios but requires more power and cooling.

Architecture Differences

The two processors derive from different architectural generations. The i9-14901E uses Raptor Lake, specifically the Raptor Lake-R refresh, built on Intel's 10 nm process. The Ultra 7 155UL uses Meteor Lake, the Meteor Lake-PS variant, on a 7 nm process. The process node difference is significant: 10 nm versus 7 nm, with the smaller node theoretically enabling better transistor density and power efficiency for the Ultra 7.

Core topology differs substantially. The i9-14901E has 8 cores and 16 threads, a traditional symmetric design with simultaneous multithreading. The Ultra 7 155UL has 12 cores but only 14 threads, indicating a hybrid architecture with performance and efficiency cores, where not all cores contribute to thread count equally. The i9-14901E's per-core L1 cache is 80 KB, while the Ultra 7 155UL has 112 KB per core. Both share 2 MB per core L2 cache, but L3 cache diverges sharply: 36 MB shared on the i9-14901E versus 12 MB shared on the Ultra 7 155UL.

Memory support also differs. The i9-14901E supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the Ultra 7 155UL supports DDR5 only, with the specific capacity depending on the motherboard. The i9-14901E supports ECC memory, a feature absent on the Ultra 7 155UL. PCIe connectivity is another split: the i9-14901E offers Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes, while the Ultra 7 155UL offers Gen 4 with 8 CPU lanes. The i9-14901E uses Intel Socket 1700, the Ultra 7 155UL uses Intel Socket 1851.

The integrated graphics differ in architecture. The i9-14901E includes UHD Graphics 770, while the Ultra 7 155UL features Arc Xe-LPG 64EU. The Ultra 7's graphics solution is newer and likely more capable, though no benchmark data confirms this.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database lists no head-to-head benchmark results between the i9-14901E and the Ultra 7 155UL. The i9-14901E has 17 recorded benchmark scores across Cinebench and PassMark suites; the Ultra 7 155UL has zero. This absence of comparative data means all performance analysis relies on the i9-14901E's absolute scores and its position relative to other CPUs in the database.

The i9-14901E's Cinebench R23 multicore score of 25753 places it in a strong position for multithreaded workloads. Its single-core R23 score of 3635 shows high per-thread performance, likely benefiting from the 5.60 GHz boost clock. PassMark integer math reaches 112736, floating point math reaches 81089, and data compression hits 288777. Find prime numbers scores 189, a relatively low figure that may reflect the specific instruction mix used by that test. Random string sorting scores 39138, and extended instructions score 17249. Data encryption scores 18571, and single-thread performance is 4354 in both PassMark single-thread and singlethread tests.

The i9-14901E's nearest rivals in the database help contextualize these scores. The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 has an average benchmark score of 37904, essentially tied with the i9-14901E's 37911, a delta of 0%. The AMD Ryzen 7 9700X scores 37943, 0.1% higher. The Intel Core 5 211E scores 37829, 0.2% lower. The AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P132 scores 37804, 0.3% lower. These tight deltas indicate the i9-14901E sits in a highly competitive performance band, within a fraction of a percent of several modern processors.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every specification field. Core count: 8 versus 12, favoring the Ultra 7 155UL in raw core count but not thread count, where the i9-14901E leads 16 to 14. Base clock: 2.80 GHz versus 1.70 GHz. Boost clock: 5.60 GHz versus 4.80 GHz. TDP: 65 W versus 15 W.

Process node: 10 nm versus 7 nm. Die size: 257 mm² for the i9-14901E, no recorded value for the Ultra 7 155UL. L1 cache: 80 KB per core versus 112 KB per core. L2 cache: identical at 2 MB per core. L3 cache: 36 MB shared versus 12 MB shared.

Memory support: DDR4 and DDR5 versus DDR5 only. Memory bandwidth: no recorded value for the i9-14901E, 89.6 GB/s for the Ultra 7 155UL. ECC memory: supported on the i9-14901E, not on the Ultra 7 155UL. PCIe: Gen 5 with 16 lanes versus Gen 4 with 8 lanes.

Integrated graphics: UHD Graphics 770 versus Arc Xe-LPG 64EU. Socket: Intel 1700 versus Intel 1851. Release date: 2024-06-30 versus 2024-04-07. The Ultra 7 155UL has a launch MSRP of $426; the i9-14901E has no recorded launch MSRP.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 155UL has 12 cores, while the Intel Core i9-14901E has 8 cores. However, the i9-14901E has 16 threads versus 14 threads on the Ultra 7 155UL.

Q: What is the performance difference in Cinebench R23?

A: The i9-14901E scores 25753 in Cinebench R23 multicore and 3635 in single-core. The Ultra 7 155UL has no recorded Cinebench R23 scores in the database.

Q: How does the i9-14901E compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The i9-14901E has an average benchmark score of 37911. The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 is 0% different at 37904, the AMD Ryzen 7 9700X is 0.1% higher at 37943, the Intel Core 5 211E is 0.2% lower at 37829, and the AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P132 is 0.3% lower at 37804.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The i9-14901E supports ECC memory, while the Ultra 7 155UL does not.

Q: What are the TDP ratings?

A: The i9-14901E has a TDP of 65 W, while the Ultra 7 155UL has a TDP of 15 W.

Q: Which processor has the newer integrated graphics?

A: The Ultra 7 155UL uses Arc Xe-LPG 64EU, while the i9-14901E uses UHD Graphics 770. The Ultra 7's Arc graphics architecture is a newer design.

Q: What memory types do they support?

A: The i9-14901E supports DDR4 and DDR5. The Ultra 7 155UL supports DDR5 only, with the exact type depending on the motherboard.

Q: What is the launch MSRP of the Ultra 7 155UL?

A: The launch MSRP is $426. The i9-14901E has no recorded launch MSRP.

The Verdict

The data indicates a clear performance leader: the Intel Core i9-14901E. Every recorded benchmark belongs to this processor, and its 86th percentile ranking versus the Ultra 7 155UL's 50th percentile confirms a substantial gap. Users needing multithreaded throughput, high boost clocks, or ECC memory support should select the i9-14901E. Its 25753 Cinebench R23 multicore score and 30298 PassMark multithread score show strong capability for rendering, compilation, and scientific workloads. The 36 MB L3 cache and Gen 5 PCIe support further reinforce its position as a high-end desktop part.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 155UL appeals to a different priority: efficiency. Its 15 W TDP is a fraction of the i9-14901E's 65 W, making it suitable for low-power or passively cooled systems. The 12-core, 14-thread configuration and 7 nm process suggest architectural modernity, and the Arc Xe-LPG 64EU integrated graphics likely outperform the UHD Graphics 770, though no benchmark confirms this. The 89.6 GB/s memory bandwidth is a recorded advantage, and the smaller 12 MB L3 cache reflects its efficiency focus.

The absence of benchmark data for the Ultra 7 155UL prevents direct numerical comparison. The i9-14901E's nearest rivals, all within 0.3% of its average score, show it competes at a high level against recent AMD and Intel parts. The Ultra 7 155UL, with no rivals listed and no scores, cannot be positioned in the same performance class. The choice comes down to workload: the i9-14901E for maximum performance, the Ultra 7 155UL for minimal power draw and a newer graphics core.