Intel Core 3 201TE vs Intel Core i9-14901KE Comparison

The Verdict

The recorded data positions these two Intel Socket 1700 desktop processors at opposite ends of the same architectural family. The Intel Core 3 201TE is a 4-core, 8-thread Bartlett Lake part with a 45 W TDP, a 2.90 GHz base clock, and a 4.60 GHz boost clock. The Intel Core i9-14901KE is an 8-core, 16-thread Raptor Lake-R part with a 125 W TDP, a 3.80 GHz base clock, and a 5.80 GHz boost clock. The database shows the Core i9-14901KE doubling the core and thread counts, boosting 1.20 GHz higher, and carrying triple the L3 cache (36 MB shared versus 12 MB shared). The Core 3 201TE counters with a substantially lower 45 W TDP, a smaller 163 mm² die, and a launch MSRP of $134 (the i9-14901KE has no launch MSRP recorded). Both chips sit at the 50th percentile against all CPUs in the database, and neither has recorded benchmark scores or nearest rival entries, so the comparison rests on specifications and architectural characteristics rather than measured performance data.

Architecture Differences

The two processors belong to different architectural generations despite sharing the Intel Socket 1700 platform. The Core 3 201TE uses the Bartlett Lake codename with a generation label of "Core 3 (Bartlett Lake)", while the Core i9-14901KE uses the Raptor Lake architecture with the codename "Raptor Lake-R" and a generation label of "Core i9 (Raptor Lake Refresh)". Both are fabricated on a 10 nm process at Intel's foundry, but the die sizes diverge sharply: the Core 3 201TE measures 163 mm², while the Core i9-14901KE measures 257 mm², a difference of 94 mm² that reflects the larger core complex and cache array on the i9 part.

Cache organization differs in both per-core and shared levels. Both processors allocate 80 KB of L1 cache per core. The L2 cache per core is 1.25 MB on the Core 3 201TE versus 2 MB per core on the Core i9-14901KE. The shared L3 cache totals 12 MB on the Core 3 201TE and 36 MB on the Core i9-14901KE, a 24 MB gap that directly scales with the additional cores and the larger physical die. The i9 part also carries a higher-tier integrated GPU: UHD Graphics 770 versus UHD Graphics 730 on the Core 3 201TE. The Core i9-14901KE has an unlocked multiplier, while the Core 3 201TE does not. The Core i9-14901KE belongs to the Core 14th Gen series, whereas the Core 3 201TE has no series designation recorded.

Memory support is identical in type: both support DDR4 and DDR5 with a dual-channel memory bus. The Core 3 201TE records a memory bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s, while the Core i9-14901KE has no memory bandwidth figure recorded. Both support ECC memory and both expose PCIe Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes. The release dates place the Core i9-14901KE first at 2024-06-30, with the Core 3 201TE following on 2025-01-12. Both parts are listed as Active in production status.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database contains no recorded head-to-head benchmark results for this pairing, and neither processor has individual benchmark scores or nearest rival entries. The comparison must therefore rely on the specification deltas that define their expected performance envelopes. The most decisive gap is the core and thread count: the Core i9-14901KE provides 8 cores and 16 threads against 4 cores and 8 threads on the Core 3 201TE, a 100% increase in both metrics. Multi-threaded workloads that scale across cores would see the i9 part with twice the parallel execution resources.

Clock speed favors the Core i9-14901KE on both ends. The base clock sits at 3.80 GHz versus 2.90 GHz, a 0.90 GHz advantage, and the boost clock reaches 5.80 GHz versus 4.60 GHz, a 1.20 GHz advantage. Single-threaded performance, which depends heavily on boost frequency, would favor the i9 part by the full 1.20 GHz delta when both are running at maximum turbo. The L3 cache difference of 24 MB (36 MB versus 12 MB) further amplifies the i9 part's advantage in workloads with large working sets that benefit from on-die caching.

The Core 3 201TE holds the efficiency advantage. Its 45 W TDP compares to 125 W for the Core i9-14901KE, a difference of 80 W. The Core 3 201TE also uses a smaller die (163 mm² versus 257 mm²), which correlates with lower power density and manufacturing cost. The 45 W TDP places the Core 3 201TE in a class appropriate for compact systems with modest cooling, while the 125 W TDP of the i9 part implies a more robust thermal solution. Neither processor has measured benchmark data in the database, so the practical magnitude of these differences in application performance cannot be quantified from the recorded information.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i9-14901KE has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Intel Core 3 201TE has 4 cores and 8 threads, exactly half of each.

Q: What is the boost clock difference between the two?

A: The Core i9-14901KE boosts to 5.80 GHz, while the Core 3 201TE boosts to 4.60 GHz. The i9 part holds a 1.20 GHz advantage at maximum turbo frequency.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?

A: Yes, both support DDR4 and DDR5 with a dual-channel memory bus. The Core 3 201TE records a memory bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s, while the Core i9-14901KE has no bandwidth figure recorded. Both also support ECC memory.

Q: How do the TDP ratings compare?

A: The Core 3 201TE has a 45 W TDP, while the Core i9-14901KE has a 125 W TDP. The Core 3 201TE draws 80 W less under its rated thermal design power.

Q: Are both processors on the same socket and process node?

A: Both use Intel Socket 1700 and both are fabricated on a 10 nm process at Intel's foundry. The Core 3 201TE uses a 163 mm² die, and the Core i9-14901KE uses a 257 mm² die.

Q: Which processor has an unlocked multiplier?

A: The Intel Core i9-14901KE has an unlocked multiplier. The Intel Core 3 201TE does not have an unlocked multiplier.

Q: What integrated graphics do the two processors include?

A: The Core 3 201TE includes UHD Graphics 730. The Core i9-14901KE includes UHD Graphics 770, a higher-tier integrated GPU.

Where Each One Wins

The Core i9-14901KE wins on raw compute resources. Its 8 cores and 16 threads double the parallel execution capacity of the Core 3 201TE. Its 5.80 GHz boost clock provides a 1.20 GHz frequency advantage for single-threaded and lightly threaded workloads. The 36 MB shared L3 cache triples the 12 MB available on the Core 3 201TE, benefiting workloads with large working sets. The larger 257 mm² die accommodates the additional cores and cache. The unlocked multiplier enables overclocking, which the Core 3 201TE cannot offer. The UHD Graphics 770 integrated GPU sits above the UHD Graphics 730 in the integrated graphics hierarchy.

The Core 3 201TE wins on efficiency and platform simplicity. Its 45 W TDP is 80 W lower than the Core i9-14901KE's 125 W TDP, making it suitable for thermally constrained systems. The smaller 163 mm² die indicates a less complex silicon design. Its launch MSRP of $134 provides a recorded pricing anchor, whereas the Core i9-14901KE has no launch MSRP in the database. Both processors share the same socket, memory type support, ECC support, and PCIe Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes, so platform-level compatibility does not separate them beyond the power and cooling requirements implied by their TDP ratings.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core 3 201TE | Intel Core i9-14901KE |

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

| Cores | 4 | 8 |

| Threads | 8 | 16 |

| Base clock | 2.90 GHz | 3.80 GHz |

| Boost clock | 4.60 GHz | 5.80 GHz |

| TDP | 45 W | 125 W |

| Codename | Bartlett Lake | Raptor Lake-R |

| Generation | Core 3 (Bartlett Lake) | Core i9 (Raptor Lake Refresh) |

| Die size | 163 mm² | 257 mm² |

| L2 cache | 1.25 MB (per core) | 2 MB (per core) |

| L3 cache | 12 MB (shared) | 36 MB (shared) |

| Memory bandwidth | 76.8 GB/s | Not recorded |

| Integrated graphics | UHD Graphics 730 | UHD Graphics 770 |

| Multiplier unlocked | No | Yes |

| Release date | 2025-01-12 | 2024-06-30 |

| Launch MSRP | $134 | Not recorded |