Intel Core i9-14901TE vs Intel Core Ultra 5 225T Comparison

FAQ

Q: How do the core counts differ between the Intel Core i9-14901TE and the Intel Core Ultra 5 225T?

A: The Core i9-14901TE has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Core Ultra 5 225T has 10 cores and 10 threads. The i9 uses Hyper-Threading to reach 16 threads, whereas the Ultra 5 runs with one thread per core.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i9-14901TE boosts to 5.50 GHz, which is 0.60 GHz higher than the Core Ultra 5 225T's 4.90 GHz boost. The Ultra 5 does start with a slightly higher base clock of 2.50 GHz versus 2.30 GHz.

Q: What process nodes are used by these two CPUs?

A: The Core i9-14901TE uses Intel's 10 nm process, while the Core Ultra 5 225T is built on TSMC's 3 nm process. The Ultra 5 also integrates 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die, compared to the i9's 257 mm² die.

Q: Do both processors support DDR5 memory?

A: Yes, both support DDR5, but the Core i9-14901TE also supports DDR4. The Core Ultra 5 225T is DDR5-only and has a recorded memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s.

Q: Which CPU places higher in the overall database percentile ranking?

A: The Core Ultra 5 225T ranks at the 82nd percentile among all CPUs, while the Core i9-14901TE sits at the 50th percentile. The Ultra 5 also carries an average benchmark score of 30,468, whereas the i9 has no recorded benchmark scores in the database.

Q: Do these processors use the same socket?

A: No. The Core i9-14901TE uses Intel Socket 1700, while the Core Ultra 5 225T uses Intel Socket 1851. They are not socket-compatible.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent distinct Intel architectures. The Core i9-14901TE uses the Raptor Lake design, specifically the Raptor Lake-R refresh, built on a 10 nm process at Intel's own foundry. The Core Ultra 5 225T uses the Arrow Lake architecture, codenamed Arrow Lake-S, fabricated by TSMC on a 3 nm node. This process difference explains the transistor count gap: the Ultra 5 integrates 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die, while the i9's die is slightly larger at 257 mm².

Cache hierarchies differ substantially. The Core i9-14901TE provides 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 36 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core Ultra 5 225T offers 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, but only 20 MB of shared L3. The i9's larger L3 pool favors workloads that repeatedly access a broad working set, while the Ultra 5 leans on larger per-core L1 and L2 allocations.

Memory support splits the pair. The i9-14901TE supports both DDR4 and DDR5 across a dual-channel bus, with ECC memory enabled. The Ultra 5 225T supports only DDR5, also dual-channel, with a rated memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s, and it lacks ECC support. The i9's DDR4 compatibility gives it a path for older platforms, while the Ultra 5's DDR5-only design pairs with its newer Socket 1851 platform.

PCIe lane counts also differ. The i9-14901TE provides Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes, while the Ultra 5 225T provides Gen 5 with 20 CPU lanes. The integrated graphics differ as well: the i9 carries UHD Graphics 770, and the Ultra 5 carries Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 16 execution units. Both processors have locked multipliers, and both are listed as active production parts. The i9 released on June 30, 2024, while the Ultra 5 released on December 31, 2024.

Where Each One Wins

The Core Ultra 5 225T is the stronger performer across the recorded benchmark suite. Its database percentile of 82 versus the i9's 50 indicates a clear overall performance advantage. The Ultra 5's average benchmark score of 30,468, with no competing scores recorded for the i9-14901TE, reinforces that positioning. In the nearest rival comparison, the Ultra 5 sits within a tight band of mobile and desktop processors: it edges the Intel Core i9-11980HK by 0.2%, the AMD Ryzen 5 7640HS by 0.3%, and the AMD Ryzen 7 7736U by 0.3%, while trailing the Intel Core i5-13600H by 0.3%.

The Core i9-14901TE's advantages are structural rather than measured. Its 16 threads, enabled by Hyper-Threading, give it a scheduling advantage in heavily threaded software that can use more than 10 threads. Its 36 MB of L3 cache is 16 MB larger than the Ultra 5's 20 MB, which can benefit database-style lookups, virtualized workloads, and other cache-sensitive tasks. The i9 also supports DDR4 and ECC memory, which matters for stability-focused deployments that do not require the newest memory standard. Its 5.50 GHz boost clock is the highest boost frequency between the two, which can translate to fast single-threaded response in lightly loaded scenarios.

The Core Ultra 5 225T wins on process efficiency and platform connectivity. The 3 nm TSMC node, smaller die, and newer architecture deliver higher benchmark scores despite a lower boost clock. Its 20 PCIe Gen 5 lanes exceed the i9's 16, which supports more attached Gen 5 devices. The Ultra 5's 10 physical cores, while lacking Hyper-Threading, still outpace the i9 in the recorded multi-thread tests, such as a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 21,971.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i9-14901TE | Intel Core Ultra 5 225T |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 8 | 10 |

| Threads | 16 | 10 |

| Base Clock | 2.30 GHz | 2.50 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.50 GHz | 4.90 GHz |

| TDP | 45 W | 65 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1700 | Intel Socket 1851 |

| Architecture | Raptor Lake | Arrow Lake |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 3 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Transistors | Not listed | 17,800 million |

| Die Size | 257 mm² | 243 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 80 KB (per core) | 192 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 2 MB (per core) | 3 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 36 MB (shared) | 20 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR5 |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not listed | 102.4 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 20 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 770 | Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 16EU |

| Release Date | 2024-06-30 | 2024-12-31 |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Core Ultra 5 225T has a full suite of recorded benchmark scores, while the Core i9-14901TE has none in the database. That asymmetry defines the comparison: every measured result favors the Ultra 5 by default, but the i9's absence of scores leaves its true standing unquantified.

The Ultra 5's strongest multi-threaded results come from Cinebench. It scores 21,971 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 3,101 in single-core. In Cinebench R20, it records 9,227 multi-core and 1,302 single-core. In Cinebench R15, the scores are 2,214 multi-core and 312 single-core. These numbers place the Ultra 5 well above the 50th percentile mark that the i9 occupies, indicating a large performance gulf in rendering workloads that scale across cores.

PassMark results for the Ultra 5 reinforce its multi-thread strength. The multithread score is 25,358, while integer math reaches 59,543 and floating-point math reaches 82,751. Data compression scores 233,998, and data encryption scores 18,289. Extended instructions total 20,083, and random string sorting hits 28,774. The physics test records 2,053, while the find prime numbers test scores 284. Single-thread PassMark performance is 4,348, which is competitive with the i9's higher boost clock in principle, though no direct i9 measurement exists for comparison.

The nearest rival data provides context for the Ultra 5's standing. Its average score of 30,468 places it 0.2% above the Intel Core i9-11980HK (30,422), 0.3% above the AMD Ryzen 5 7640HS (30,390), and 0.3% above the AMD Ryzen 7 7736U (30,364). It trails the Intel Core i5-13600H (30,548) by 0.3%. These tiny margins show that the Ultra 5 sits in a dense performance cluster, where small benchmark variations can reorder the ranking.

For the Core i9-14901TE, the only quantitative anchors are its specifications. The 5.50 GHz boost clock is the highest of the two, and the 16 threads provide parallel execution capacity that the Ultra 5 cannot match in thread count. The 36 MB L3 cache is 80% larger than the Ultra 5's 20 MB. However, without recorded benchmark scores, the database cannot confirm how those specifications translate into application performance. The i9's 50th percentile ranking, based on its spec profile and the absence of measured results, stands far below the Ultra 5's 82nd percentile. The data indicates that the Core Ultra 5 225T is the higher-performing processor in every measured category, while the Core i9-14901TE remains a specification-only entry with no empirical benchmark footprint.