Intel Core i9-14901KE vs Intel Core Ultra 7 256V Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark database contains a complete performance profile for the Intel Core Ultra 7 256V, while the Intel Core i9-14901KE has no recorded benchmark scores in the current data set. This asymmetry means the head-to-head comparison relies entirely on the Ultra 7 256V's measured results and the architectural specifications of both processors.

The Core Ultra 7 256V delivers a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 10399 and a single-core score of 1877.5. In Cinebench R20, it records 6958 multicore and 982 single-core. The Geekbench results show 8643 multicore and 1990 single-core. Passmark tests place the multithread score at 19530, with a single-thread score of 4029. The data compression workload reaches 184985, while data encryption hits 13998. Floating point math scores 58576, integer math scores 43358, and extended instructions score 15643. The find prime numbers test returns 192, physics scores 1595, and random string sorting scores 22481.

The i9-14901KE has zero recorded benchmark entries. With no scores in the database, the data cannot quantify any performance advantage for the desktop part. The wins column shows 0 for both processors in the head-to-head category, reflecting the absence of direct comparison data. The database percentile ranking places the Core Ultra 7 256V at the 75th percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 21112. The i9-14901KE sits at the 50th percentile with an average score of 0, indicating that its performance tier cannot be established from recorded measurements.

The nearest rivals for the Core Ultra 7 256V provide context for its mid-range positioning. The AMD Ryzen 5 7530U scores 21133, which is 0.1 percent higher. The AMD Ryzen 5 5600G scores 21088, 0.1 percent lower. The Intel Core i3-1220P scores 21066, 0.2 percent lower. The Intel Core Ultra 7 155U scores 21174, 0.3 percent higher. These deltas are minimal, placing the 256V in a tightly clustered performance band where no rival separates itself by even a single percentage point.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent fundamentally different design philosophies within Intel's lineup. The i9-14901KE belongs to the Core 14th Gen series, uses the Raptor Lake architecture with the Raptor Lake-R codename, and is built on Intel's 10 nm process node with a 257 mm² die size. The Ultra 7 256V belongs to the Core Ultra Series 2, uses the Lunar Lake architecture with the same codename, and is fabricated by TSMC on a 3 nm process node.

Core counts match at 8 cores each, but threading diverges sharply. The i9-14901KE supports 16 threads through Hyper-Threading, while the Ultra 7 256V supports only 8 threads. This gives the desktop part twice the thread count for parallel workloads. Base clocks differ substantially: the i9-14901KE runs at 3.80 GHz base and boosts to 5.80 GHz, while the Ultra 7 256V runs at 2.20 GHz base and boosts to 4.80 GHz. The desktop part holds a 1.6 GHz base advantage and a 1.0 GHz boost advantage.

Cache layouts follow different strategies. The i9-14901KE allocates 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 36 MB of shared L3. The Ultra 7 256V allocates 192 KB of L1 per core, 2.5 MB of L2 per core, and only 12 MB of shared L3. The Lunar Lake part has more per-core L1 and L2, but the Raptor Lake part has three times the total L3 capacity.

Thermal design power separates the two dramatically. The i9-14901KE carries a 125 W TDP, while the Ultra 7 256V carries a 17 W TDP. The mobile part consumes less than one-seventh the power budget of the desktop part. Socket and market segment reinforce this divide: the i9-14901KE uses Intel Socket 1700 for desktop systems, while the Ultra 7 256V uses Intel BGA 2833 for mobile platforms.

Memory support differs as well. The i9-14901KE supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory with dual-channel configuration and ECC memory enabled. The Ultra 7 256V lists memory support as dependent on motherboard configuration, also dual-channel, but with ECC disabled. PCIe lanes show a major gap: the i9-14901KE provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the Ultra 7 256V provides Gen 5 with only 4 lanes.

Integrated graphics take separate paths. The i9-14901KE uses UHD Graphics 770, while the Ultra 7 256V uses Arc 140V. The desktop part has an unlocked multiplier, enabling overclocking, while the mobile part has a locked multiplier. Release dates place the i9-14901KE at June 30, 2024, and the Ultra 7 256V at September 23, 2024. Both processors remain in active production.

The Verdict

The recorded data presents a clear but asymmetric picture. The Core Ultra 7 256V has a full benchmark profile and sits at the 75th percentile among all CPUs, with an average score of 21112. Its nearest rivals, all within 0.3 percent, confirm that it occupies a competitive mid-range position. The Cinebench R23 multicore score of 10399 and Geekbench single-core score of 1990 indicate balanced throughput for both threaded and lightly threaded workloads.

The Core i9-14901KE has no benchmark data in the database. Its 50th percentile ranking and zero average score reflect the absence of measurements, not a measured performance level. The architectural specifications suggest high single-thread potential: a 5.80 GHz boost clock, 16 threads, and 36 MB of L3 cache. But the database cannot confirm any of this through direct scores.

For users selecting between these two, the data supports only one definitive statement: the Ultra 7 256V has verified performance numbers, while the i9-14901KE does not. The desktop part targets a different use case with its 125 W TDP, desktop socket, and ECC support. The mobile part targets efficiency with its 17 W TDP, BGA socket, and locked multiplier. The 8-thread versus 16-thread split indicates the desktop part should handle heavily parallel workloads better, but the recorded benchmarks for the mobile part show respectable multicore results despite the lower thread count and clock speeds.

The verdict from the database is conditional. If the priority is known, measured performance from the existing benchmark suite, the Ultra 7 256V is the only option with data. If the priority is maximum thread count, cache capacity, and clock speed in a desktop platform, the i9-14901KE has the architectural advantages on paper, but no recorded proof of how those translate into scores.

FAQ

Q: What is the average benchmark score difference between the two processors?

A: The Core Ultra 7 256V has an average benchmark score of 21112, while the Core i9-14901KE has an average benchmark score of 0 due to the absence of recorded benchmark entries in the database.

Q: How does the Core Ultra 7 256V compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7530U is 0.1 percent higher, the AMD Ryzen 5 5600G is 0.1 percent lower, the Intel Core i3-1220P is 0.2 percent lower, and the Intel Core Ultra 7 155U is 0.3 percent higher.

Q: What are the thread counts for each processor?

A: The Core i9-14901KE has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Core Ultra 7 256V has 8 cores and 8 threads.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Core i9-14901KE boosts to 5.80 GHz, compared to the Core Ultra 7 256V's boost of 4.80 GHz.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The Core i9-14901KE has a 125 W TDP, while the Core Ultra 7 256V has a 17 W TDP.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Core i9-14901KE supports ECC memory, while the Core Ultra 7 256V does not.

Where Each One Wins

The Core Ultra 7 256V wins in every category where recorded benchmark data exists. Its Cinebench R23 multicore score of 10399, single-core score of 1877.5, Geekbench multicore score of 8643, and single-core score of 1990 provide concrete reference points. The Passmark suite shows strengths in data compression at 184985, floating point math at 58576, and multithread performance at 19530. The 75th percentile ranking among all CPUs confirms that it outperforms a majority of the database's tracked processors.

The Core i9-14901KE wins in architectural specification categories. It has more threads at 16 versus 8, higher base and boost clocks at 3.80 GHz and 5.80 GHz versus 2.20 GHz and 4.80 GHz, and more L3 cache at 36 MB versus 12 MB. It supports ECC memory, offers 16 PCIe Gen 5 lanes versus 4, has an unlocked multiplier, and uses a desktop socket with replaceable installation. None of these advantages appear in benchmark scores because none are recorded.

Use-case separation follows the data. For mobile computing, the Ultra 7 256V delivers verified performance with a 17 W TDP, making it suitable for systems where power efficiency and compact BGA integration matter. For desktop workloads requiring high sustained clock speeds and heavy multithreading, the i9-14901KE has the specifications that should favor it, but the database lacks the measurements to confirm.

The nearest rival data reinforces the Ultra 7 256V's position. Its average score of 21112 sits between the Ryzen 5 5600G at 21088 and the Ryzen 5 7530U at 21133, with the Core i3-1220P at 21066 and the Core Ultra 7 155U at 21174. The 0.3 percent maximum delta across all four rivals indicates that the 256V delivers performance statistically indistinguishable from its immediate competition in the database's aggregate scoring.

The i9-14901KE has no nearest rivals listed, no benchmark entries, and no average score. Its percentile rank of 50 places it at the median, but this is a default position for unmeasured parts rather than a meaningful assessment. The database treats it as an active desktop processor with known specifications and unknown measured output.