PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Core i5-14500

2024

Why buy it

✅+15.1% higher Geekbench multi-core.
✅+20% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 20 MB).
✅Costs $1 less on MSRP ($239 MSRP vs $240 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core Ultra 5 225 across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Core Ultra 5 225

2025

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +6.5% higher average FPS across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅20% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (13,028 vs 15,000).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (20 MB vs 24 MB).
❌
0.4% HIGHER MSRP
$240 MSRPvs$239 MSRP

Core i5-14500

2024

Core Ultra 5 225

2025

Why buy it

✅+15.1% higher Geekbench multi-core.
✅+20% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 20 MB).
✅Costs $1 less on MSRP ($239 MSRP vs $240 MSRP).

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +6.5% higher average FPS across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅20% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core Ultra 5 225 across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (13,028 vs 15,000).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (20 MB vs 24 MB).
❌
0.4% HIGHER MSRP
$240 MSRPvs$239 MSRP

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-14500 better than Core Ultra 5 225?

It depends on what matters more to you. For gaming, Core Ultra 5 225 is ahead with a 6.5% average FPS lead across 3 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-14500 pulls ahead with 15.1% better Geekbench multi-core. Core i5-14500 also has the bigger cache pool with 20% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 20 MB).

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-14500 is the better fit. You are getting 15.1% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 14 cores and 20 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 20% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 20 MB).

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core i5-14500 is the smarter buy today. Core i5-14500 is $1 cheaper on MSRP at $239 MSRP versus $240 MSRP, and it gives you 15.1% better Geekbench multi-core. The trade-off is that Core Ultra 5 225 is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 6.5% average FPS lead across 3 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 0.6% better value on MSRP (130.6 vs 129.7 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper. That said, if you already own a compatible LGA1851 + DDR5 setup, Core Ultra 5 225 can still make sense as a platform-matched option because it avoids a motherboard and RAM swap.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core Ultra 5 225 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2025 vs 2024). That should give you a better long-term upgrade path for motherboard, RAM, and future CPU swaps.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.

Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.

Core i5-14500 Benchmark Check

Core Ultra 5 225 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-14500	Core Ultra 5 225
1080p
low	262 FPS	256 FPS
medium	253 FPS	244 FPS
high	209 FPS	208 FPS
ultra	178 FPS	176 FPS
1440p
low	226 FPS	219 FPS
medium	194 FPS	187 FPS
high	156 FPS	154 FPS
ultra	137 FPS	133 FPS
4K
low	157 FPS	150 FPS
medium	134 FPS	127 FPS
high	104 FPS	99 FPS
ultra	91 FPS	86 FPS

Open Core i5-14500 Open Core Ultra 5 225

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-14500	Core Ultra 5 225
1080p
low	612 FPS	603 FPS
medium	520 FPS	512 FPS
high	441 FPS	421 FPS
ultra	400 FPS	378 FPS
1440p
low	525 FPS	501 FPS
medium	465 FPS	441 FPS
high	396 FPS	372 FPS
ultra	340 FPS	319 FPS
4K
low	306 FPS	301 FPS
medium	275 FPS	266 FPS
high	261 FPS	248 FPS
ultra	229 FPS	218 FPS

Open Core i5-14500 Open Core Ultra 5 225

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-14500	Core Ultra 5 225
1080p
low	769 FPS	778 FPS
medium	610 FPS	680 FPS
high	540 FPS	609 FPS
ultra	458 FPS	522 FPS
1440p
low	685 FPS	725 FPS
medium	549 FPS	588 FPS
high	480 FPS	515 FPS
ultra	412 FPS	439 FPS
4K
low	494 FPS	504 FPS
medium	413 FPS	422 FPS
high	370 FPS	377 FPS
ultra	312 FPS	318 FPS

Open Core i5-14500 Open Core Ultra 5 225

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-14500	Core Ultra 5 225
1080p
low	780 FPS	778 FPS
medium	778 FPS	778 FPS
high	671 FPS	777 FPS
ultra	598 FPS	699 FPS
1440p
low	739 FPS	778 FPS
medium	655 FPS	716 FPS
high	565 FPS	623 FPS
ultra	494 FPS	547 FPS
4K
low	519 FPS	560 FPS
medium	471 FPS	510 FPS
high	418 FPS	457 FPS
ultra	364 FPS	402 FPS

Open Core i5-14500 Open Core Ultra 5 225

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-14500 and Core Ultra 5 225

Core i5-14500

The Core i5-14500 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 8 January 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Raptor Lake-R (2023−2025) architecture. It features 14 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 24 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 31,205 points. Launch price was $232.

Core Ultra 5 225

The Core Ultra 5 225 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 7 January 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025) architecture. It features 10 cores and 10 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 GHz. L3 cache: 20 MB (total). L2 cache: 3 MB (per core). Built on 3 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1851. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-6400. Passmark benchmark score: 31,137 points. Launch price was $246.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-14500 packs 14 cores / 20 threads, while the Core Ultra 5 225 offers 10 cores / 10 threads — the Core i5-14500 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5 GHz on the Core i5-14500 versus 4.9 GHz on the Core Ultra 5 225 — a 2% clock advantage for the Core i5-14500 (base: 2.6 GHz vs 3.3 GHz). The Core i5-14500 uses the Raptor Lake-R (2023−2025) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core Ultra 5 225 uses Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025) (3 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-14500 scores 31,205 against the Core Ultra 5 225's 31,137 — a 0.2% lead for the Core i5-14500. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,700 vs 2,653, a 1.8% lead for the Core i5-14500 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 15,000 vs 13,028 (14.1% advantage for the Core i5-14500). L3 cache: 24 MB (total) on the Core i5-14500 vs 20 MB (total) on the Core Ultra 5 225.

Feature	Core i5-14500	Core Ultra 5 225
Cores / Threads	14 / 20+40%	10 / 10
Boost Clock	5 GHz+2%	4.9 GHz
Base Clock	2.6 GHz	3.3 GHz+27%
L3 Cache	24 MB (total)+20%	20 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	3 MB (per core)+140%
Process	Intel 7 nm	3 nm-57%
Architecture	Raptor Lake-R (2023−2025)	Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025)
PassMark	31,205	31,137
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	17,020
Geekbench 6 Single	2,700+2%	2,653
Geekbench 6 Multi	15,000+15%	13,028

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-14500 uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Core Ultra 5 225 uses LGA1851 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR5-4800 memory speed. The Core Ultra 5 225 supports up to 256 GB of RAM compared to 192 GB — 28.6% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i5-14500) vs 24 (Core Ultra 5 225) — the Core Ultra 5 225 offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: B760,Z790 (Core i5-14500) and Z890,B860,H810 (Core Ultra 5 225).

Feature	Core i5-14500	Core Ultra 5 225
Socket	LGA1700	LGA1851
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800	DDR5-6400
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB	256 GB+33%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	No
PCIe Lanes	20	24+20%

🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-14500) vs VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core Ultra 5 225). Both include integrated graphics — Intel UHD Graphics 770 (Core i5-14500) and Intel Arc Graphics (2 Xe-cores) (Core Ultra 5 225) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-14500 targets Mainstream Desktop, Core Ultra 5 225 targets Mainstream Desktop / Efficiency. Direct competitor: Core Ultra 5 225 rivals Ryzen 5 8600G.

Feature	Core i5-14500	Core Ultra 5 225
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	Intel UHD Graphics 770	Intel Arc Graphics (2 Xe-cores)
Unlocked	No	No
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	VT-x, VT-d, EPT
Target Use	Mainstream Desktop	Mainstream Desktop / Efficiency

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-14500 launched at $239 MSRP, while the Core Ultra 5 225 debuted at $240. On MSRP ($239 vs $240), the Core i5-14500 is $1 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-14500 delivers 130.6 pts/$ vs 129.7 pts/$ for the Core Ultra 5 225 — making the Core i5-14500 the 0.6% better value option.