Intel Core i9-14901KE vs Intel Core Ultra 5 236V Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core i9-14901KE and Intel Core Ultra 5 236V occupy different corners of the performance spectrum, and the recorded data reflects that split clearly. For the Core Ultra 5 236V, the database contains a full set of Cinebench and PassMark results, while the Core i9-14901KE currently has no benchmark scores recorded. This absence is itself a finding: the i9-14901KE's percentile standing among all CPUs is 50, whereas the Ultra 5 236V sits at the 75th percentile. That 25-point gap in percentile placement indicates that the mobile chip, despite its lower power envelope, outperforms a majority of the database's tracked processors, while the desktop part lands exactly at the median.

Looking at the Ultra 5 236V's actual scores, its Cinebench R23 multicore result is 15,628 points, with a single-core score of 2,206. In Cinebench R20, the multicore result drops to 6,563 and single-core to 926. The R15 run shows 1,575 multicore and 222 single-core. These numbers place the Ultra 5 236V in a competitive position against its nearest rivals. The closest competitor, the Intel Core Ultra 5 238V, scores 21,981 on average, a delta of -0.1% against the 236V's 21,952 average benchmark score. The Intel Core i7-11700F is nearly identical at 21,988, also -0.2% relative. The AMD Ryzen 5 3600X matches at 21,992, again -0.2%. Only the AMD EPYC 9534 trails slightly with 21,900, a +0.2% delta from the 236V's perspective, meaning the 236V is 0.2% ahead of that server chip.

Within the PassMark suite, the Ultra 5 236V shows particular strengths in data compression, scoring 176,554, and data encryption at 13,049. Floating point math reaches 52,774, while integer math scores 38,765. Extended instructions produce 15,451, and random string sorting hits 21,628. The multithread score is 18,375, with physics at 1,503. Prime number finding is notably low at 171, a result that suggests the architecture prioritizes other workloads. Single-thread performance in PassMark is 3,893, which aligns with the Cinebench single-core results in showing a capable per-thread design.

The i9-14901KE, lacking recorded benchmarks, cannot be directly compared through scores. However, its specification sheet indicates a fundamentally different design target. The database shows no wins for either part in head-to-head testing, as that field is empty. The interpretation is straightforward: the Ultra 5 236V has measurable performance data, while the i9-14901KE's performance profile remains unquantified in this database. The percentile difference, however, suggests that users selecting the Ultra 5 236V are choosing a processor that the data confirms as above-average, whereas the i9-14901KE's median percentile offers no such confirmation.

Architecture Differences

The two processors diverge at nearly every architectural level. The Intel Core i9-14901KE uses the Raptor Lake architecture, specifically the Raptor Lake-R codename, and belongs to the Core 14th Gen series. It is built on a 10 nm process node at Intel's own foundry. The die size is 257 mm². In contrast, the Intel Core Ultra 5 236V uses the Lunar Lake architecture, part of Core Ultra Series 2, and is manufactured on a 3 nm process by TSMC. The database does not list a die size for the Lunar Lake part. The process node difference, from 10 nm to 3 nm, represents a substantial generational shift in transistor density and power efficiency, though the database does not quantify the performance-per-watt impact directly.

Core and thread counts differ meaningfully. The i9-14901KE has 8 cores and 16 threads, indicating Hyper-Threading support. The Ultra 5 236V also has 8 cores but only 8 threads, meaning no Hyper-Threading. Both are 8-core designs, but the thread count advantage belongs to the desktop part. Clock speeds reinforce this split. The i9-14901KE has a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 5.80 GHz. The Ultra 5 236V runs at a 2.10 GHz base and 4.70 GHz boost. The i9-14901KE's boost clock is 1.10 GHz higher, and its base clock is 1.70 GHz higher. These clock differences directly affect single-threaded responsiveness, though the Ultra 5 236V's newer process node may partially compensate through higher instructions per clock, a metric not recorded in the database.

Cache hierarchies are also distinct. The i9-14901KE has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 36 MB of shared L3 cache. The Ultra 5 236V has 192 KB of L1 per core, 2.5 MB of L2 per core, and only 8 MB of shared L3. The L1 and L2 allocations favor the Ultra 5 236V, while the L3 cache massively favors the i9-14901KE, which has 4.5 times the L3 capacity. The memory support differs as well. The i9-14901KE supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the database lists the Ultra 5 236V's memory support as dependent on the motherboard, with no specific types recorded. Both use dual-channel memory buses. ECC memory is supported on the i9-14901KE but not on the Ultra 5 236V.

PCIe connectivity shows another gap. The i9-14901KE provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the Ultra 5 236V offers Gen 5 with only 4 lanes. This difference matters for systems with multiple high-bandwidth devices. Integrated graphics also differ: the i9-14901KE uses UHD Graphics 770, while the Ultra 5 236V uses Arc 130V. The database does not include graphics benchmark scores for either, so no performance comparison is possible. The i9-14901KE has an unlocked multiplier, making it overclockable, while the Ultra 5 236V is locked. The i9-14901KE's TDP is 125 watts, compared to 17 watts for the Ultra 5 236V, a 108-watt gap that reflects the desktop versus mobile design philosophy. The socket types confirm this: the i9-14901KE uses Intel Socket 1700, while the Ultra 5 236V uses Intel BGA 2833, a soldered mobile package.

Where Each One Wins

The i9-14901KE wins on raw specification sheets. Its 5.80 GHz boost clock is the highest recorded in this comparison, and its 16 threads double the Ultra 5 236V's thread count. The 36 MB of L3 cache is 4.5 times larger than the Ultra 5 236V's 8 MB, which benefits workloads that repeatedly access large datasets. The 16 PCIe Gen 5 lanes provide bandwidth for multiple GPUs or NVMe drives, and the DDR5 memory support, paired with an unlocked multiplier, makes it a candidate for overclocked desktop builds. The 125-watt TDP indicates a power budget that allows sustained high-frequency operation, though the database does not record actual power consumption.

The Ultra 5 236V wins on demonstrated performance data. Its 75th percentile standing among all CPUs is backed by a complete set of Cinebench and PassMark scores. The 3 nm TSMC process node, compared to the i9-14901KE's 10 nm Intel node, suggests better transistor efficiency. The larger L1 cache per core, 192 KB versus 80 KB, and larger L2 cache per core, 2.5 MB versus 2 MB, may reduce memory latency for frequently accessed data. The 17-watt TDP makes it suitable for thin-and-light mobile systems, where thermal and battery constraints dominate. The Arc 130V integrated graphics, while unbenchmarked here, represents a newer GPU architecture than the UHD Graphics 770.

The benchmark data specifically shows the Ultra 5 236V's strengths. Its PassMark data compression score of 176,554 is its highest single result, indicating strong performance in file compression and decompression tasks. The Cinebench R23 multicore score of 15,628 shows solid multi-threaded capability for a 17-watt part. The single-core Cinebench R23 score of 2,206 places it competitively against older desktop processors like the i7-11700F and Ryzen 5 3600X, both of which it slightly trails by 0.2% in average score but effectively matches. The Ultra 5 236V also edges out the EPYC 9534 by 0.2%, a server processor with far higher core counts, which indicates that the 236V's per-core efficiency is exceptional.

For use-case segmentation, the i9-14901KE suits desktop workloads that demand high sustained clocks, large cache, and extensive PCIe connectivity. The Ultra 5 236V suits mobile workloads where power efficiency, modern process technology, and a complete performance profile matter. The absence of benchmark data for the i9-14901KE means the database cannot confirm its real-world performance, while the Ultra 5 236V has verified scores across both Cinebench and PassMark suites.

FAQ

Q: How do the core counts compare between the Intel Core i9-14901KE and Intel Core Ultra 5 236V?

A: Both processors have 8 cores, but the i9-14901KE supports 16 threads while the Ultra 5 236V supports only 8 threads, indicating the desktop part uses Hyper-Threading and the mobile part does not.

Q: What is the benchmark percentile difference between the two processors?

A: The i9-14901KE is at the 50th percentile among all CPUs, while the Ultra 5 236V is at the 75th percentile, a 25-point difference favoring the mobile chip.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock, and by how much?

A: The i9-14901KE has a boost clock of 5.80 GHz, which is 1.10 GHz higher than the Ultra 5 236V's 4.70 GHz boost clock.

Q: How does the L3 cache compare?

A: The i9-14901KE has 36 MB of shared L3 cache, which is 4.5 times larger than the Ultra 5 236V's 8 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: What are the TDP ratings for each processor?

A: The i9-14901KE has a TDP of 125 watts, while the Ultra 5 236V has a TDP of 17 watts, a 108-watt difference.

Q: Does the Ultra 5 236V outperform any of its nearest rivals in the database?

A: The Ultra 5 236V's average benchmark score of 21,952 is 0.2% ahead of the AMD EPYC 9534, which scores 21,900, while it trails the Core Ultra 5 238V, Core i7-11700F, and Ryzen 5 3600X by 0.1% to 0.2%.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear split. The Intel Core Ultra 5 236V has verified performance across multiple benchmark suites, a 75th percentile standing, and an average benchmark score of 21,952 that places it within 0.2% of several established desktop processors. Its nearest rivals, the Core Ultra 5 238V, Core i7-11700F, and Ryzen 5 3600X, all cluster within a 40-point range, meaning the 236V delivers performance statistically indistinguishable from those parts. For users who prioritize measured results and mobile efficiency, the Ultra 5 236V is the only choice with recorded performance data.

The Intel Core i9-14901KE, by contrast, has no benchmark scores in the database. Its 50th percentile placement is purely speculative without measured results. The specifications suggest a high-performance desktop part: 16 threads, 5.80 GHz boost, 36 MB L3 cache, and 16 PCIe Gen 5 lanes. But the database cannot confirm how these specifications translate into actual performance. Users selecting the i9-14901KE are relying on specification sheet assumptions rather than verified data. The 125-watt TDP and desktop socket indicate a system builder's component, not a mobile or pre-configured solution.

For workloads like data compression, where the Ultra 5 236V scores 176,554 in PassMark, or multi-threaded rendering, where it hits 15,628 in Cinebench R23, the mobile chip has demonstrable capability. The i9-14901KE's higher clock speeds and larger cache could theoretically outperform the Ultra 5 236V in those tasks, but the database contains no evidence to support that claim. The verdict is straightforward: the Ultra 5 236V is the only processor in this comparison with a performance profile backed by recorded scores. The i9-14901KE remains an unverified specification sheet entry, and its median percentile offers no reason to prefer it based on the available data.