Intel Core 5 315 vs Intel Core i7-14700HX Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark comparison between the Intel Core 5 315 and the Intel Core i7-14700HX is heavily one-sided. The i7-14700HX wins 15 of the 17 recorded head-to-head tests, with the Core 5 315 taking only two wins. Those two wins, however, are notable for single-thread performance in the PassMark suite.

In the PassMark single-thread test, the Core 5 315 scores 4021 against the i7-14700HX's 3947, a margin of 1.9%. This is a narrow but consistent advantage, as the same delta appears in both passmark_single_thread and passmark_singlethread entries. The i7-14700HX does hold the edge in Cinebench single-core tests, but the margin shrinks as the workload becomes more modern. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the i7-14700HX leads by 37.8%, scoring 296 to 184. In R20 single-core, the gap is 58.3% (1843 vs 769). By R23 single-core, the i7-14700HX still leads but by a much smaller 12.9%, scoring 2103 to the Core 5 315's 1832. This suggests the Core 5 315's single-thread architecture closes the gap under sustained or more complex single-thread loads, even though it loses the raw clock-speed battle.

Multi-core performance tells a different story entirely. The i7-14700HX dominates every multi-threaded test by wide margins. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i7-14700HX scores 24595 versus 12981 for the Core 5 315, a 47.2% advantage. The gap widens in R20 multi-core, where the i7-14700HX scores 13059 against 5452, a 58.3% lead. In R15 multi-core, the i7-14700HX scores 3812 versus 1308, a 65.7% lead. The largest single delta is in PassMark integer math, where the i7-14700HX scores 131296 versus 31690, a 75.9% advantage. Floating-point math follows at 54.8% behind (93836 vs 42441). Data compression shows a 66.7% gap (438539 vs 146143), and random string sorting shows a 63.8% gap (48544 vs 17551). Data encryption trails by 57.4% (26092 vs 11119). The i7-14700HX also leads in PassMark physics by 48.4% (2252 vs 1163), extended instructions by 48.9% (25718 vs 13143), and find prime numbers by 32.1% (165 vs 112). The PassMark multithread score shows a 58.2% gap (36566 vs 15272).

The average benchmark score reflects this overall split. The i7-14700HX posts an average of 45953, while the Core 5 315 averages 18188. The i7-14700HX sits in the 89th percentile of all CPUs in the database, while the Core 5 315 sits in the 72nd percentile. The i7-14700HX's nearest rivals in the database are the AMD EPYC 7303 (45960, 0% delta), AMD EPYC 4364P (45970, 0% delta), AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 (46030, -0.2% delta), and Intel Core Ultra 5 235 (46062, -0.2% delta). The Core 5 315's nearest rivals are the AMD EPYC 9274F (18189, 0% delta), Intel Core i7-9700 (18180, 0% delta), Intel Core i7-1365U (18177, 0.1% delta), and AMD Ryzen 7 5700U (18176, 0.1% delta). These clusters place the two processors in completely different performance tiers.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel design lineages. The Core 5 315 uses the Wildcat Lake codename and is built on a 3 nm process node. The i7-14700HX uses the Raptor Lake-HX codename with a Raptor Lake architecture and is built on a 10 nm process node. The i7-14700HX also carries a larger die size of 257 mm², while the Core 5 315 has no recorded die size.

Core and thread counts diverge sharply. The Core 5 315 has 6 cores and 6 threads, meaning no hyper-threading. The i7-14700HX has 20 cores and 28 threads, indicating a hybrid configuration that includes both performance and efficiency cores. This explains the massive multi-threaded deltas: the i7-14700HX has 14 more cores and 22 more threads.

Cache hierarchies also differ. The Core 5 315 has 192 KB of L1 cache, 2.5 MB of L2 cache, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The i7-14700HX specifies L1 as 80 KB per core, L2 as 2 MB per core, and L3 as 33 MB shared. The i7-14700HX's larger shared L3 is consistent with its role as a high-core-count mobile part. The Core 5 315's smaller caches align with its lower power envelope and fewer cores.

Memory support separates the two as well. The Core 5 315 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X with a single-channel memory bus and a recorded memory bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s. The i7-14700HX supports DDR4 and DDR5 with a dual-channel memory bus and no recorded bandwidth figure. The i7-14700HX also supports ECC memory, while the Core 5 315 does not.

PCIe connectivity differs. The Core 5 315 provides PCIe Gen 4 with 6 lanes (CPU only). The i7-14700HX provides PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The i7-14700HX's newer PCIe generation and higher lane count give it substantially more headroom for discrete GPUs and NVMe storage.

Integrated graphics also differ. The Core 5 315 uses Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores. The i7-14700HX uses UHD Graphics 770. No benchmark scores are recorded for either iGPU in this dataset, so the comparison is limited to feature presence.

The base and boost clocks favor the i7-14700HX. It runs at a base clock of 2.10 GHz and boosts to 5.50 GHz. The Core 5 315 runs at 1.50 GHz base and boosts to 4.40 GHz. The i7-14700HX also has a higher TDP of 55, while the Core 5 315 has a TDP of 15. This TDP difference explains why the i7-14700HX can sustain much higher multi-core throughput despite its older process node.

The multiplier on the i7-14700HX is unlocked, while the Core 5 315 is locked. This means the i7-14700HX allows user-controlled overclocking, subject to the platform's capabilities. The i7-14700HX also uses a different socket (Intel BGA 1964) compared to the Core 5 315 (Intel BGA 1516), so they are not interchangeable in a chassis.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in single-thread performance?

A: The PassMark single-thread test shows the Core 5 315 ahead with a score of 4021 versus 3947 for the i7-14700HX, a 1.9% lead. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the i7-14700HX leads with 2103 versus 1832, a 12.9% advantage. The winner depends on the benchmark.

Q: How large is the multi-core performance gap?

A: The i7-14700HX leads by 47.2% in Cinebench R23 multi-core (24595 vs 12981). The gap reaches 58.3% in R20 multi-core (13059 vs 5452) and 65.7% in R15 multi-core (3812 vs 1308). The largest delta is in PassMark integer math at 75.9% (131296 vs 31690).

Q: What are the core and thread counts?

A: The Core 5 315 has 6 cores and 6 threads. The i7-14700HX has 20 cores and 28 threads. The i7-14700HX therefore has 14 additional cores and 22 additional threads.

Q: Do the two processors support the same memory types?

A: No. The Core 5 315 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X with a single-channel bus and 59.7 GB/s bandwidth. The i7-14700HX supports DDR4 and DDR5 with a dual-channel bus. The i7-14700HX also supports ECC memory; the Core 5 315 does not.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The i7-14700HX boosts to 5.50 GHz, while the Core 5 315 boosts to 4.40 GHz. The i7-14700HX also has a higher base clock at 2.10 GHz versus 1.50 GHz.

Q: What are the process nodes and sockets?

A: The Core 5 315 is built on a 3 nm process and uses Intel BGA 1516. The i7-14700HX is built on a 10 nm process and uses Intel BGA 1964. The i7-14700HX has a die size of 257 mm²; no die size is recorded for the Core 5 315.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every specification category. The Core 5 315 has 6 cores and 6 threads; the i7-14700HX has 20 cores and 28 threads. Base clocks are 1.50 GHz versus 2.10 GHz, and boost clocks are 4.40 GHz versus 5.50 GHz. TDP is 15 for the Core 5 315 and 55 for the i7-14700HX.

Sockets differ: Intel BGA 1516 for the Core 5 315, Intel BGA 1964 for the i7-14700HX. The process nodes are 3 nm versus 10 nm. The i7-14700HX has a recorded die size of 257 mm²; the Core 5 315 has none. Cache configurations differ: 192 KB L1, 2.5 MB L2, 6 MB shared L3 for the Core 5 315; 80 KB per core L1, 2 MB per core L2, 33 MB shared L3 for the i7-14700HX.

Memory support diverges: DDR5/LPDDR5X with single-channel bus and 59.7 GB/s bandwidth for the Core 5 315; DDR4/DDR5 with dual-channel bus and no bandwidth figure for the i7-14700HX. ECC memory is false for the Core 5 315 and true for the i7-14700HX. PCIe is Gen 4 with 6 lanes for the Core 5 315 versus Gen 5 with 16 lanes for the i7-14700HX.

Integrated graphics differ: Intel Xe3 Graphics (2 Xe) versus UHD Graphics 770. The multiplier is locked on the Core 5 315 and unlocked on the i7-14700HX. Part numbers are SAEFC and SRMXG. The Core 5 315 has a launch MSRP of $340; the i7-14700HX has no recorded launch MSRP. Release dates are 2026-04-15 for the Core 5 315 and 2024-01-07 for the i7-14700HX. Both are Active production status and both target the Mobile market segment.

The Verdict

The recorded data places these processors in different performance classes. The Intel Core i7-14700HX is the clear choice for multi-threaded workloads. Its 20 cores and 28 threads deliver at least a 32% advantage in every multi-threaded benchmark, with the largest margin reaching 75.9% in PassMark integer math. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 24595 versus 12981 represents a 47.2% lead, and its average benchmark score of 45953 places it in the 89th percentile of all CPUs. The i7-14700HX also offers dual-channel memory, ECC support, PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes, and an unlocked multiplier for overclocking.

The Intel Core 5 315 wins only in PassMark single-thread tests, by 1.9%. Its 3 nm process node and Xe3 graphics represent a newer design, but the benchmark data shows it cannot match the i7-14700HX in sustained throughput. Its single-channel memory bus and 6 PCIe Gen 4 lanes limit platform bandwidth. Its 6-core, 6-thread configuration caps multi-threaded output at a level roughly half that of the i7-14700HX in most tests.

For users prioritizing raw multi-core compute, the i7-14700HX is the only defensible choice based on the measurements. For users who primarily run lightly threaded applications and value the newer 3 nm process and lower 15 TDP, the Core 5 315 offers a modest single-thread edge in PassMark and a much smaller power envelope. The i7-14700HX's 55 TDP and older 10 nm node indicate higher power draw, but the performance deltas in the database are substantial enough that the i7-14700HX remains the dominant part overall.