Intel Core i9-14901KE vs Intel Core Ultra 5 225 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The comparison data for these two processors is asymmetrical. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 has a full set of recorded benchmark scores, while the Intel Core i9-14901KE has no benchmark entries in the database at all. This means the head-to-head analysis is based entirely on the measured performance of the Core Ultra 5 225 and its position relative to other CPUs, rather than a direct score-by-score duel between the two.

The Core Ultra 5 225 delivers a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 25891 and a single-core score of 3655. In the older R20 test, it scores 6317 multi-core and 891 single-core. The R15 results show 2609 multi-core and 368 single-core. These scores place the processor in the 85th percentile of all CPUs in the database, which indicates it sits comfortably above the median performer.

PassMark results further characterize the Core Ultra 5 225. The multi-thread score is 30459, while the single-thread score is 4412. The processor handles data compression at 302811, data encryption at 22285, and extended instructions at 27162. Integer math scores 65345, floating point math scores 92038, and physics scores 2342. Random string sorting reaches 36590, and prime number finding scores 358. The average benchmark score for the Core Ultra 5 225 is 36938.

Because the Core i9-14901KE has no recorded benchmarks, the database treats its average benchmark score as 0 and places it in the 50th percentile. The comparative picture is therefore one of measured performance versus an unmeasured processor. All performance conclusions in this page derive from the Core Ultra 5 225 dataset and its nearest rivals.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations. The Intel Core i9-14901KE belongs to the Core 14th Gen series, uses the Raptor Lake architecture with the Raptor Lake-R codename, and is built on a 10 nm process node at Intel's foundry. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 belongs to the Core Ultra Series 2, uses the Arrow Lake architecture with the Arrow Lake-S codename, and is built on a 3 nm process node at TSMC. The process node difference is substantial, with the Arrow Lake part using a significantly smaller feature size.

The Core i9-14901KE has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Core Ultra 5 225 has 10 cores and 10 threads. The i9 supports simultaneous multithreading, giving it double the thread count relative to its core count. The Ultra 5 does not, so its thread count equals its core count. The i9 has a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 5.80 GHz, while the Ultra 5 has a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. The i9 runs at higher clock speeds in both metrics.

Cache configurations differ significantly. The Core i9-14901KE has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 cache per core, and 36 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core Ultra 5 225 has 192 KB of L1 cache per core, 3 MB of L2 cache per core, and 20 MB of shared L3 cache. The Ultra 5 has larger per-core caches but a smaller shared L3 pool. The i9 also has a larger die size at 257 mm² compared to the Ultra 5's 243 mm². The Ultra 5 has 17,800 million transistors, while the i9's transistor count is not recorded.

Memory support differs as well. The Core i9-14901KE supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration. The Core Ultra 5 225 supports only DDR5, also dual-channel, with a recorded memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s. The i9 supports ECC memory, while the Ultra 5 does not. PCIe connectivity also varies: the i9 provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the Ultra 5 provides Gen 5 with 20 lanes from the CPU.

Integrated graphics differ. The Core i9-14901KE uses UHD Graphics 770, while the Core Ultra 5 225 uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 16EU. The i9 has an unlocked multiplier, allowing overclocking, while the Ultra 5's multiplier is locked. The sockets are incompatible: the i9 uses Intel Socket 1700, and the Ultra 5 uses Intel Socket 1851. The i9 was released on 2024-06-30, while the Ultra 5 was released on 2025-01-06.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 has 10 cores and 10 threads. The Intel Core i9-14901KE has 8 cores and 16 threads. The i9 has fewer cores but more threads due to simultaneous multithreading.

Q: What are the clock speed differences between the two processors?

A: The Core i9-14901KE has a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 5.80 GHz. The Core Ultra 5 225 has a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. The i9 runs faster in both base and boost operation.

Q: How do the cache sizes compare?

A: The Core i9-14901KE has 80 KB L1 per core, 2 MB L2 per core, and 36 MB shared L3. The Core Ultra 5 225 has 192 KB L1 per core, 3 MB L2 per core, and 20 MB shared L3. The Ultra 5 has larger per-core caches, while the i9 has a larger shared L3 cache.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The Core i9-14901KE supports ECC memory. The Core Ultra 5 225 does not support ECC memory.

Q: Which processor has a higher recorded benchmark percentile?

A: The Core Ultra 5 225 sits in the 85th percentile of all CPUs in the database. The Core i9-14901KE sits in the 50th percentile, though it has no recorded benchmark scores.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth of the Core Ultra 5 225?

A: The Core Ultra 5 225 has a recorded memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s with dual-channel DDR5 support. The Core i9-14901KE's memory bandwidth is not recorded in the database.

Specification Differences

The following fields differ between the two processors:

• Series: Core 14th Gen versus Core Ultra Series 2
• Cores: 8 versus 10
• Threads: 16 versus 10
• Base Clock: 3.80 GHz versus 3.30 GHz
• Boost Clock: 5.80 GHz versus 4.90 GHz
• TDP: 125 W versus 65 W
• Socket: Intel Socket 1700 versus Intel Socket 1851
• Architecture: Raptor Lake versus Arrow Lake
• Codename: Raptor Lake-R versus Arrow Lake-S
• Generation: Core i9 (Raptor Lake Refresh) versus Ultra 5 (Arrow Lake)
• Process Node: 10 nm versus 3 nm
• Foundry: Intel versus TSMC
• Transistors: Not recorded versus 17,800 million
• Die Size: 257 mm² versus 243 mm²
• L1 Cache: 80 KB per core versus 192 KB per core
• L2 Cache: 2 MB per core versus 3 MB per core
• L3 Cache: 36 MB shared versus 20 MB shared
• Memory Support: DDR4, DDR5 versus DDR5
• Memory Bandwidth: Not recorded versus 102.4 GB/s
• ECC Memory: True versus false
• PCIe Lanes: 16 versus 20
• Integrated Graphics: UHD Graphics 770 versus Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 16EU
• Release Date: 2024-06-30 versus 2025-01-06
• Multiplier Unlocked: True versus false
• Launch MSRP: Not recorded versus $246

The Verdict

The recorded data supports a clear functional split. The Core Ultra 5 225 has measured performance that places it in the 85th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 36938. Its nearest rivals in the database are the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F with an average score of 36945 and a delta of 0 percent, the AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D with 37018 and a delta of negative 0.2 percent, the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 with 37093 and a delta of negative 0.4 percent, and the Intel Core i9-12900T with 37112 and a delta of negative 0.5 percent. The Core Ultra 5 225 is effectively even with these rivals, trailing the closest one by less than 1 percent.

The Core i9-14901KE has no benchmark scores in the database, so its measured performance cannot be compared directly. The data shows a processor with higher clock speeds, more threads, a larger shared L3 cache, and ECC support, but no recorded test results. The Core Ultra 5 225 delivers verified multi-core and single-core scores across multiple Cinebench and PassMark tests.

For workloads where measured results matter, the Core Ultra 5 225 is the only option with data. For workloads where thread count, clock speed, and cache capacity are the deciding factors, the Core i9-14901KE offers higher numbers in those specifications. The choice depends on whether the user prioritizes recorded benchmark performance or raw specification strength.

Where Each One Wins

The Core Ultra 5 225 wins in areas supported by recorded measurements. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 25891 and single-core score of 3655 demonstrate balanced performance. PassMark multi-thread at 30459 and single-thread at 4412 reinforce this balance. The processor's 85th percentile rank and average benchmark score of 36938 place it in the upper range of the database. Its nearest rivals all fall within a 0.5 percent delta, confirming that the Ultra 5 competes at the level of established mid-range desktop processors. The lower TDP of 65 W also indicates a more power-efficient design, though the database records no efficiency measurements to quantify this directly.

The Core i9-14901KE wins in specification-driven comparisons. Its boost clock of 5.80 GHz exceeds the Ultra 5's 4.90 GHz. Its 16 threads exceed the Ultra 5's 10 threads. Its 36 MB shared L3 cache exceeds the Ultra 5's 20 MB. Its ECC memory support is absent on the Ultra 5. The unlocked multiplier provides overclocking headroom that the locked Ultra 5 does not offer. The i9 supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the Ultra 5 supports only DDR5. Its 16 PCIe Gen 5 lanes are fewer than the Ultra 5's 20 lanes, but the i9's socket and platform are different.

The data does not record any benchmark results for the Core i9-14901KE. The database shows its percentile as 50 and its average benchmark score as 0, which reflects the absence of measurements rather than actual performance. The Core Ultra 5 225 has a full benchmark profile and a percentile of 85. Any direct performance comparison between the two is therefore limited to the specification sheet, while the performance narrative belongs entirely to the Core Ultra 5 225.