Intel Core i7-14701TE vs Intel Core Ultra 5 225 Comparison

The Intel Core i7-14701TE and the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 represent two distinct approaches to desktop processing. The i7-14701TE is a 45-watt Raptor Lake part with 16 threads, while the Core Ultra 5 225 is a 65-watt Arrow Lake chip with 10 threads. The benchmark data shows a clear generational shift, with the Core Ultra 5 225 winning 14 of the 17 head-to-head tests, while the i7-14701TE secures only 3 wins. The overall average benchmark scores confirm this, with the Core Ultra 5 225 at 36938 and the i7-14701TE at 26013.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-14701TE takes its victories in a narrow but specific set of workloads. Its wins come in Cinebench R20 multicore (7154 vs 6317, a 13.2% lead), Cinebench R20 singlecore (1010 vs 891, a 13.4% lead), and PassMark integer math (65792 vs 65345, a slim 0.7% lead). These results indicate that the i7-14701TE retains an edge in certain legacy rendering tasks and basic integer arithmetic operations, likely due to its higher boost clock of 5.20 GHz and its 16 threads, which allow it to handle some multithreaded scenarios effectively.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 dominates almost everywhere else. It wins the more modern Cinebench R23 tests by a significant 34.2% margin in both multicore (25891 vs 17035) and singlecore (3655 vs 2405). Its PassMark wins are even more pronounced, particularly in extended instructions (27162 vs 14354, a 47.2% lead), data encryption (22285 vs 11699, a 47.5% lead), and floating point math (92038 vs 50219, a 45.4% lead). The data shows the Core Ultra 5 225 is the clear choice for modern productivity, encryption-heavy tasks, and any workload that benefits from its newer architecture and higher single-thread performance.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different silicon. The i7-14701TE uses the Raptor Lake architecture, specifically Raptor Lake-R, on a 10 nm process node manufactured by Intel. It features 8 cores and 16 threads, a base clock of 2.10 GHz, and a boost clock of 5.20 GHz. Its cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and a shared 33 MB L3 cache. The die size is 257 mm², and it supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, with ECC memory support enabled.

The Core Ultra 5 225 uses the Arrow Lake architecture, specifically Arrow Lake-S, on a 3 nm process node manufactured by TSMC. It has 10 cores but only 10 threads, meaning it lacks the Hyper-Threading technology found in the i7-14701TE. Its clocks are different, with a base of 3.30 GHz and a boost of 4.90 GHz. The cache is larger per core, with 192 KB of L1 and 3 MB of L2, but the shared L3 is smaller at 20 MB. The Core Ultra 5 225 has a transistor count of 17,800 million and a die size of 243 mm². It only supports DDR5 memory, with a higher memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s, and does not support ECC memory. The Core Ultra 5 225 also offers more PCIe lanes (20 vs 16, both Gen 5) and uses a different socket, Intel Socket 1851, compared to the i7-14701TE's Intel Socket 1700. Its integrated graphics are Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 16EU, while the i7-14701TE uses UHD Graphics 770.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most significant single-core advantage for the Core Ultra 5 225 comes in Cinebench R23 singlecore, where it scores 3655 against 2405 for the i7-14701TE, a 34.2% difference. This is a massive gap and highlights the newer architecture's superior instructions per clock. The PassMark single-thread test confirms this trend, with the Core Ultra 5 225 scoring 4412 versus 2637, a 40.2% lead.

In multithreaded workloads, the results are mixed. The Core Ultra 5 225 wins Cinebench R23 multicore with 25891 versus 17035, another 34.2% margin. However, the i7-14701TE wins Cinebench R20 multicore with 7154 versus 6317, a 13.2% lead. This suggests that the R20 test is more sensitive to the i7-14701TE's higher boost clock and thread count, while R23 is better optimized for the Core Ultra 5 225's architecture.

The PassMark suite shows the Core Ultra 5 225's dominance in specialized tasks. Data encryption shows a 47.5% lead (22285 vs 11699), extended instructions a 47.2% lead (27162 vs 14354), and floating point math a 45.4% lead (92038 vs 50219). The i7-14701TE's only PassMark win is integer math, where it scores 65792 against 65345, a marginal 0.7% advantage. The Core Ultra 5 225 also wins data compression by 27.2% (302811 vs 220520), random string sorting by 37.8% (36590 vs 22760), and prime number finding by 60.1% (358 vs 143), its largest single margin in the entire comparison.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-14701TE has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 has 10 cores and 10 threads. The i7-14701TE has more threads, but the Core Ultra 5 225 has more physical cores.

Q: What is the process node difference?

A: The i7-14701TE is built on Intel's 10 nm process, while the Core Ultra 5 225 is built on TSMC's 3 nm process. The Core Ultra 5 225 is fabricated by TSMC, not Intel.

Q: How does the boost clock compare?

A: The i7-14701TE has a higher boost clock at 5.20 GHz, while the Core Ultra 5 225 boosts to 4.90 GHz. Despite the lower clock, the Core Ultra 5 225 wins most single-core benchmarks.

Q: Which processor has more L3 cache?

A: The i7-14701TE has 33 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Core Ultra 5 225 has 20 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core Ultra 5 225 has larger L1 and L2 caches per core.

Q: What memory types do they support?

A: The i7-14701TE supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the Core Ultra 5 225 supports only DDR5. The Core Ultra 5 225 has a higher memory bandwidth at 102.4 GB/s.

Q: Which processor has a higher overall benchmark score?

A: The Core Ultra 5 225 has an average benchmark score of 36938, which places it in the 85th percentile of all CPUs. The i7-14701TE has an average score of 26013, placing it in the 78th percentile.

The Verdict

The data points to the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 as the stronger processor for the majority of workloads. Its wins in Cinebench R23, PassMark single-thread, encryption, and floating point math are decisive, often by margins of 34% or more. Its average benchmark score is 42% higher than the i7-14701TE, and it sits in the 85th percentile compared to the 78th percentile for the i7-14701TE. The Core Ultra 5 225 is the better choice for any user prioritizing modern single-thread performance, encryption, or heavy computational tasks.

The Intel Core i7-14701TE, however, is not without its merits. Its wins in Cinebench R20 and integer math show it can still compete in specific legacy workloads. Its 16 threads and 33 MB of L3 cache, combined with a higher boost clock of 5.20 GHz, make it a viable option for older software that does not scale with the newer architecture. It also supports DDR4 memory and ECC memory, which may be relevant for certain system configurations. Its lower TDP of 45 watts, compared to 65 watts for the Core Ultra 5 225, indicates it is more power-efficient for basic tasks.

Specification Differences

The following specifications differ between the two processors:

• Cores: 8 (i7-14701TE) vs 10 (Core Ultra 5 225)
• Threads: 16 (i7-14701TE) vs 10 (Core Ultra 5 225)
• Base Clock: 2.10 GHz (i7-14701TE) vs 3.30 GHz (Core Ultra 5 225)
• Boost Clock: 5.20 GHz (i7-14701TE) vs 4.90 GHz (Core Ultra 5 225)
• TDP: 45 W (i7-14701TE) vs 65 W (Core Ultra 5 225)
• Socket: Intel Socket 1700 (i7-14701TE) vs Intel Socket 1851 (Core Ultra 5 225)
• Architecture: Raptor Lake (i7-14701TE) vs Arrow Lake (Core Ultra 5 225)
• Process Node: 10 nm (i7-14701TE) vs 3 nm (Core Ultra 5 225)
• Foundry: Intel (i7-14701TE) vs TSMC (Core Ultra 5 225)
• Transistors: Not specified (i7-14701TE) vs 17,800 million (Core Ultra 5 225)
• Die Size: 257 mm² (i7-14701TE) vs 243 mm² (Core Ultra 5 225)
• L1 Cache: 80 KB per core (i7-14701TE) vs 192 KB per core (Core Ultra 5 225)
• L2 Cache: 2 MB per core (i7-14701TE) vs 3 MB per core (Core Ultra 5 225)
• L3 Cache: 33 MB shared (i7-14701TE) vs 20 MB shared (Core Ultra 5 225)
• Memory Support: DDR4, DDR5 (i7-14701TE) vs DDR5 (Core Ultra 5 225)
• Memory Bandwidth: Not specified (i7-14701TE) vs 102.4 GB/s (Core Ultra 5 225)
• ECC Memory: Yes (i7-14701TE) vs No (Core Ultra 5 225)
• PCIe Lanes: 16 (i7-14701TE) vs 20 (Core Ultra 5 225)
• Integrated Graphics: UHD Graphics 770 (i7-14701TE) vs Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 16EU (Core Ultra 5 225)
• Release Date: 2024-06-30 (i7-14701TE) vs 2025-01-06 (Core Ultra 5 225)
• Launch MSRP: Not specified (i7-14701TE) vs $246 (Core Ultra 5 225)