Intel Core i9-14901TE vs Intel Core Ultra 5 235T Comparison

The Intel Core i9-14901TE and the Intel Core Ultra 5 235T represent two very different design philosophies within Intel’s desktop lineup. The i9-14901TE is a Raptor Lake Refresh part, built on a mature architecture with high boost clocks and a traditional core layout. The Core Ultra 5 235T is a newer Arrow Lake design, manufactured on a more advanced process node with a higher core count but lower maximum boost frequency. The recorded data shows that these two processors target different performance profiles, and the benchmark results for the Ultra 5 235T provide a clear picture of how that newer design performs in both single-threaded and multi-threaded workloads.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide between these two processors is substantial. The Intel Core i9-14901TE 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 235T uses the Arrow Lake architecture, with the Arrow Lake-S codename, and belongs to the Core Ultra Series 2. It is manufactured by TSMC on a 3 nm process node, and the die size is 243 mm². The transistor count for the Ultra 5 235T is recorded as 17,800 million, while the i9-14901TE has no transistor count listed in the database.

The core configurations differ significantly. The i9-14901TE has 8 cores and 16 threads, meaning it relies on simultaneous multithreading to reach 16 threads from 8 physical cores. The Ultra 5 235T has 14 cores and 14 threads, so it has more physical cores but no multithreading capability. This is a fundamental difference in how each processor handles parallel workloads. The i9-14901TE uses fewer, wider cores with hyper-threading, while the Ultra 5 235T uses a greater number of cores without that feature.

Cache hierarchies also diverge. The i9-14901TE has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 cache per core, and 36 MB of shared L3 cache. The Ultra 5 235T has 192 KB of L1 cache per core, 3 MB of L2 cache per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The i9-14901TE provides a larger L3 pool overall, while the Ultra 5 235T offers more L1 and L2 cache per core. That per-core cache advantage can benefit workloads with high locality of reference.

The integrated graphics are different as well. The i9-14901TE uses UHD Graphics 770, while the Ultra 5 235T uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 24EU. Both are integrated solutions, but they come from different graphics architectures. The memory support also differs: the i9-14901TE supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the Ultra 5 235T supports only DDR5. Additionally, the i9-14901TE supports ECC memory, whereas the Ultra 5 235T does not.

The memory bus is dual-channel for both, but the Ultra 5 235T has a recorded memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s, while the i9-14901TE has no such figure in the database. PCIe connectivity also differs: the i9-14901TE provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU, and the Ultra 5 235T provides Gen 5 with 20 lanes from the CPU. The sockets are incompatible: the i9-14901TE uses Intel Socket 1700, and the Ultra 5 235T uses Intel Socket 1851.

Specification Differences

The specification table shows clear differences across most measurable fields. The i9-14901TE has a base clock of 2.30 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz. The Ultra 5 235T has a base clock of 2.20 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. The i9-14901TE holds the advantage in both base and boost frequencies, with a 0.10 GHz higher base and a 0.50 GHz higher boost.

Thermal design power differs as well. The i9-14901TE has a TDP of 45 watts, while the Ultra 5 235T has a TDP of 65 watts. That means the newer Arrow Lake part is rated for a higher power envelope despite its smaller process node. The i9-14901TE is the more power-efficient part on paper, at least in terms of rated TDP.

The core and thread counts, as noted, are 8 cores and 16 threads for the i9-14901TE versus 14 cores and 14 threads for the Ultra 5 235T. The process node is 10 nm for the i9-14901TE and 3 nm for the Ultra 5 235T. The foundry is Intel for the former and TSMC for the latter. The die size is 257 mm² for the i9-14901TE and 243 mm² for the Ultra 5 235T.

Release dates place the i9-14901TE at 2024-06-30 and the Ultra 5 235T at 2025-01-06. Both processors are currently listed as Active in production status. Neither has an unlocked multiplier. The i9-14901TE has a part number of Q49CSRNJJ, and the Ultra 5 235T has a part number of SRQES. The Ultra 5 235T has a launch MSRP of $247, which is the only pricing information available in the database.

The market segment for both is Desktop. The i9-14901TE supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the Ultra 5 235T supports only DDR5. ECC memory is supported by the i9-14901TE but not by the Ultra 5 235T. The i9-14901TE has 16 PCIe Gen 5 lanes from the CPU, and the Ultra 5 235T has 20 PCIe Gen 5 lanes from the CPU.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i9-14901TE has a boost clock of 5.50 GHz, which is 0.50 GHz higher than the 5.00 GHz boost clock of the Intel Core Ultra 5 235T.

Q: How do the core counts compare?

A: The Core Ultra 5 235T has 14 cores and 14 threads, while the Core i9-14901TE has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Ultra 5 235T has more physical cores, but the i9-14901TE has more threads due to simultaneous multithreading.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Core i9-14901TE supports ECC memory. The Intel Core Ultra 5 235T does not support ECC memory.

Q: What is the process node for each processor?

A: The Intel Core i9-14901TE is built on a 10 nm process node at Intel, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 235T is built on a 3 nm process node at TSMC.

Q: What memory types does each processor support?

A: The Intel Core i9-14901TE supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory. The Intel Core Ultra 5 235T supports only DDR5 memory.

Q: What is the TDP rating for each processor?

A: The Intel Core i9-14901TE has a TDP of 45 watts, and the Intel Core Ultra 5 235T has a TDP of 65 watts.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database contains benchmark results only for the Intel Core Ultra 5 235T. The Intel Core i9-14901TE has no recorded benchmark scores in the database, so a direct head-to-head comparison must rely on the Ultra 5 235T’s absolute scores and its position relative to other CPUs in the database. The Ultra 5 235T has an average benchmark score of 38,561 and a percentile rank of 86 among all CPUs. That places it well above the median, with the i9-14901TE sitting at the 50th percentile with an average benchmark score of 0 in the recorded data.

For the Ultra 5 235T, Cinebench results show a strong multi-threaded showing. In Cinebench R15, the multicore score is 2,644 and the singlecore score is 373. In Cinebench R20, the multicore score is 11,017 and the singlecore score is 1,555. In Cinebench R23, the multicore score is 26,232 and the singlecore score is 3,703. These scores indicate a processor that scales well with its 14 physical cores, and the singlecore scores are respectable given the 5.00 GHz boost clock.

PassMark results for the Ultra 5 235T further detail its capabilities. The multithread score is 30,918, and the singlethread score is 4,339. The integer math score is 84,244, and the floating point math score is 106,546. Data compression scores 295,100, while data encryption scores 23,457. Extended instructions score 23,212, find prime numbers scores 318, physics scores 2,157, and random string sorting scores 35,377.

The nearest rivals for the Ultra 5 235T provide context for its average benchmark score. The Intel Core i5-14500 has an average score of 38,531, which is 0.1 percent behind the Ultra 5 235T. The Intel Xeon w3-2525 scores 38,392, which is 0.4 percent behind. The Intel Core 9 270H scores 38,335, which is 0.6 percent behind. The Intel Core Ultra 9 285H scores 38,312, which is 0.7 percent behind. These deltas are small, indicating that the Ultra 5 235T sits at the top of a tight cluster of similarly performing processors.

Because the i9-14901TE has no benchmark scores in the database, the head-to-head comparison is limited to architectural and specification differences. The i9-14901TE’s higher boost clock of 5.50 GHz versus 5.00 GHz suggests an advantage in lightly threaded workloads that depend on raw frequency. However, the Ultra 5 235T’s 14 cores versus 8 cores gives it a structural advantage in heavily parallel workloads, assuming the software can use more than 8 threads effectively. The i9-14901TE’s 16 threads versus the Ultra 5 235T’s 14 threads is a smaller difference than the core count suggests, but the i9-14901TE still has 2 more threads available.

The cache configuration also favors different workload types. The i9-14901TE has 36 MB of shared L3 cache, which is 12 MB more than the Ultra 5 235T’s 24 MB. That larger L3 pool can help with datasets that exceed the smaller cache. The Ultra 5 235T counters with larger per-core L1 and L2 caches, which can reduce latency for single-threaded access patterns.

The memory bandwidth figure for the Ultra 5 235T is 102.4 GB/s, while the i9-14901TE has no recorded memory bandwidth. Both use dual-channel memory buses, but the Ultra 5 235T is limited to DDR5, which typically provides higher bandwidth than DDR4. The i9-14901TE’s support for DDR4 as well as DDR5 gives it more flexibility in platform choices, but the Ultra 5 235T’s DDR5-only support aligns with its newer platform.

The PCIe lane count favors the Ultra 5 235T, which has 20 Gen 5 lanes from the CPU versus 16 Gen 5 lanes for the i9-14901TE. That extra headroom can matter for configurations with multiple high-bandwidth devices.

The Verdict

The data indicates that the Intel Core Ultra 5 235T is the stronger overall performer among these two processors, based on its average benchmark score of 38,561 and its 86th percentile ranking. The Intel Core i9-14901TE, with no recorded benchmarks and a 50th percentile ranking, cannot demonstrate a performance advantage in the database. The Ultra 5 235T also has the benefit of a more modern architecture, a 3 nm process node, and a higher core count.

The i9-14901TE does hold advantages in specific areas. Its 5.50 GHz boost clock is 0.50 GHz higher than the Ultra 5 235T’s 5.00 GHz, which can be decisive for single-threaded tasks that are sensitive to clock speed. Its 45 watt TDP is lower than the 65 watt TDP of the Ultra 5 235T, which may appeal to systems with strict power budgets. It also supports ECC memory and both DDR4 and DDR5, making it the more flexible choice for memory configurations and for reliability-focused workloads.

The Ultra 5 235T counters with 14 cores versus 8, a larger L1 and L2 cache per core, a higher memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s, and more PCIe lanes at 20 versus 16. Its benchmark scores across Cinebench and PassMark demonstrate solid multi-threaded performance, and its nearest rivals are all within 0.7 percent of its average score, which places it in a competitive performance tier.

For users who prioritize raw frequency, lower power draw, ECC support, or DDR4 compatibility, the i9-14901TE is the better fit. For users who prioritize core count, modern process technology, higher memory bandwidth, and demonstrated benchmark results, the Ultra 5 235T is the stronger choice. The recorded data favors the Ultra 5 235T in overall performance, but the i9-14901TE retains a clear role for specific use cases.