Intel Core 3 201E vs Intel Core i5-14400 Comparison

Intel Core 3 201E and Intel Core i5-14400 are both desktop processors built for the Intel Socket 1700 platform, yet they deliver vastly different performance profiles. The benchmark data shows a clear hierarchy, with the Core i5-14400 winning every single recorded head-to-head test. The Core 3 201E is a 4-core, 8-thread Bartlett Lake part, while the Core i5-14400 is a 10-core, 16-thread Raptor Lake Refresh processor. The following analysis breaks down the scale of those differences, the architectural reasons behind them, and where each chip remains a viable option based on the recorded measurements.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Core i5-14400 dominates the multi-core workloads with a remarkably consistent margin. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Core i5-14400 scores 21315 against the Core 3 201E's 12613, a 40.8% advantage. The same 40.8% gap appears in Cinebench R15 multi-core (2148 vs 1271) and Cinebench R20 multi-core (8952 vs 5297). The data shows a pattern: the Core i5-14400 holds a steady 40.8% lead across all three Cinebench multi-core iterations, indicating a uniform scaling advantage in rendering workloads.

Single-core performance tells a similar story, though the percentages are slightly more varied. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Core i5-14400 posts 3009 versus 1780, a 40.8% lead. Cinebench R20 single-core shows a 40.9% gap (1263 vs 747), and Cinebench R15 single-core also lands at 40.9% (303 vs 179). The consistency across these tests suggests the Core i5-14400's higher boost clock and architectural efficiency translate directly into per-thread gains.

The PassMark suite reveals where the gap widens even further. Data compression shows the Core i5-14400 at 314995 versus 164160, a 47.9% lead, the largest margin in the entire comparison. Data encryption follows closely at 46.6% (16731 vs 8931). Integer math also shows a wide 46.5% gap (82017 vs 43894), while floating-point math trails at 46% (61549 vs 33260). Extended instructions land at 44.3% (19816 vs 11035), and random string sorting shows a 45% difference (32346 vs 17783).

The smallest advantages for the Core i5-14400 appear in single-threaded PassMark tests and physics. PassMark single-thread scores 3741 against 3482, a 6.9% lead. PassMark physics shows a narrower 18.3% gap (1396 vs 1141), and find prime numbers is closer still at 28.7% (80 vs 57). These single-thread results indicate that while the Core 3 201E trails in raw throughput, its per-core performance is comparatively respectable against the larger chip.

The average benchmark score difference is substantial. The Core i5-14400 averages 32115 across all recorded benchmarks, while the Core 3 201E averages 19056. The Core i5-14400 sits at the 82nd percentile of all CPUs in the database, compared to the 73rd percentile for the Core 3 201E. The Core i5-14400's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-12800H (delta 0%) and Intel Core i9-11900 (delta -0.3%), while the Core 3 201E competes with the AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS (delta 0%) and Intel Core i5-12400F (delta 0.1%).

Architecture Differences

The two processors share a manufacturing process but diverge significantly in core configuration. Both use a 10 nm Intel process node, but the Core 3 201E comes from the Bartlett Lake codename, while the Core i5-14400 uses Raptor Lake-R from the Raptor Lake Refresh generation. The Core 3 201E belongs to the Core 3 (Bartlett Lake) generation, whereas the Core i5-14400 is part of the Core 14th Gen series.

Core counts create the primary performance divide. The Core 3 201E packs 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Core i5-14400 doubles the cores to 10 and offers 16 threads. That extra headroom explains the consistent multi-core margins across the Cinebench suite. Cache allocation follows the same pattern: the Core 3 201E has 12 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Core i5-14400 carries 20 MB of shared L3. Both parts use 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 1.25 MB of L2 per core.

Clock speeds favor the Core 3 201E in base frequency but the Core i5-14400 in boost. The Core 3 201E runs a 3.60 GHz base clock with a 4.80 GHz boost, while the Core i5-14400 starts lower at 2.50 GHz base but boosts to 4.70 GHz. Despite the Core 3 201E's higher boost ceiling, the Core i5-14400 still wins every single-thread benchmark, suggesting the Raptor Lake architecture extracts more instructions per clock.

Die size and power draw also differ. The Core 3 201E has a 163 mm² die with a 60 W TDP, while the Core i5-14400 uses a 215 mm² die with a 65 W TDP. Memory bandwidth is rated at 76.8 GB/s for the Core 3 201E, with no bandwidth figure recorded for the Core i5-14400 in the database. Both support DDR4 and DDR5 memory through a dual-channel bus, and both accept ECC memory.

The integrated graphics are identical: UHD Graphics 730 on both processors. PCIe support matches as well, with Gen 5 and 16 lanes available on the CPU for both parts. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking is not an option on either chip. The release dates differ, with the Core i5-14400 arriving on 2024-01-07 and the Core 3 201E following on 2025-01-12.

Where Each One Wins

The Core i5-14400 wins every recorded benchmark, so the analysis shifts to the magnitude of each victory and what it means for specific use cases. The widest margins appear in data compression (47.9%), data encryption (46.6%), and integer math (46.5%). These workloads benefit directly from the additional cores and threads, making the Core i5-14400 the clear choice for database operations, file archiving, and computational tasks that rely on parallel integer processing.

Rendering and 3D workloads show the Core i5-14400 with a steady 40.8% advantage across the Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests. This consistency indicates that the clock speed of the Core 3 201E cannot compensate for the core deficit in sustained multi-threaded rendering. The Core 3 201E's 4-core configuration caps its ceiling in these scenarios, while the Core i5-14400's 10 cores scale more effectively.

The single-thread PassMark results show the smallest gap at 6.9%, which means the Core 3 201E remains competitive in lightly threaded tasks. The Core 3 201E's 4.80 GHz boost clock helps it stay within striking distance in single-thread workloads, despite the overall performance deficit. Physics simulation shows a moderate 18.3% gap, and prime number finding shows 28.7%, placing these workloads in the middle of the performance spectrum.

For users running mixed workloads, the Core i5-14400's 20 MB of L3 cache versus the Core 3 201E's 12 MB provides additional headroom in cache-sensitive applications. The Core 3 201E still holds a 73rd percentile ranking among all CPUs, placing it above the median despite trailing this particular rival. The data indicates the Core 3 201E can handle everyday desktop tasks and moderate productivity, but the Core i5-14400 delivers roughly 40% more throughput in most multi-threaded scenarios and nearly 48% more in data compression.

FAQ

Q: How much faster is the Intel Core i5-14400 in multi-core rendering?

A: The Core i5-14400 leads by 40.8% in all three Cinebench multi-core tests. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 21315 versus 12613 for the Core 3 201E.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Core 3 201E has a 4.80 GHz boost clock, which is higher than the Core i5-14400's 4.70 GHz. Despite this, the Core i5-14400 wins every single-thread benchmark.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?

A: Yes, both support DDR4 and DDR5 through a dual-channel memory bus. Both also support ECC memory. The Core 3 201E has a recorded memory bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s.

Q: What is the core and thread difference between the two?

A: The Core 3 201E has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Core i5-14400 has 10 cores and 16 threads. The Core i5-14400 also has 20 MB of shared L3 cache versus 12 MB on the Core 3 201E.

Q: Which processor performs better in data compression?

A: The Core i5-14400 scores 314995 in PassMark data compression, a 47.9% lead over the Core 3 201E's 164160. This is the largest performance gap recorded between the two processors.

Q: Are the integrated graphics the same on both processors?

A: Yes, both use UHD Graphics 730. They also share the same Intel Socket 1700 and support Gen 5 PCIe with 16 lanes.

Specification Differences

The following fields differ between the Intel Core 3 201E and the Intel Core i5-14400 according to the database:

• Series: Core 3 201E has none, Core i5-14400 is Core 14th Gen
• Cores: 4 versus 10
• Threads: 8 versus 16
• Base Clock: 3.60 GHz versus 2.50 GHz
• Boost Clock: 4.80 GHz versus 4.70 GHz
• TDP: 60 W versus 65 W
• Architecture: None versus Raptor Lake
• Codename: Bartlett Lake versus Raptor Lake-R
• Generation: Core 3 (Bartlett Lake) versus Core i5 (Raptor Lake Refresh)
• Die Size: 163 mm² versus 215 mm²
• L3 Cache: 12 MB (shared) versus 20 MB (shared)
• Memory Bandwidth: 76.8 GB/s versus not recorded
• Release Date: 2025-01-12 versus 2024-01-07
• Launch MSRP: $134 versus $221
• Part Number: SRVTR versus SRN3QSRN46
• Avg Benchmark Score: 19056 versus 32115
• Percentile Vs All CPUs: 73 versus 82