Intel Core 7 160UL vs Intel Core i5-14401E Comparison

FAQ

Q: How do the core and thread counts differ between the Intel Core 7 160UL and the Intel Core i5-14401E?

A: The Intel Core 7 160UL has 10 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Core i5-14401E has 6 cores and 12 threads. Both processors support 12 threads, but the Core 7 160UL does so with four additional physical cores.

Q: What are the clock speed differences between the two processors?

A: The Intel Core 7 160UL has a base clock of 1.80 GHz and a boost clock of 5.20 GHz. The Intel Core i5-14401E has a higher base clock of 2.50 GHz but a lower boost clock of 4.70 GHz.

Q: Which processor has the larger L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core i5-14401E has a shared L3 cache of 20 MB, whereas the Intel Core 7 160UL has a shared L3 cache of 12 MB. The L1 and L2 caches are identical at 80 KB per core and 1.25 MB per core, respectively.

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

A: Both processors support DDR4 and DDR5 memory with a dual-channel memory bus. The key memory-related difference is ECC support: the Intel Core i5-14401E supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core 7 160UL does not.

Q: What are the differences in integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core 7 160UL integrates Iris Xe Graphics with 96 execution units. The Intel Core i5-14401E uses UHD Graphics 730, which has fewer execution resources.

Q: How do the two CPUs compare in overall benchmark percentile ranking?

A: The Intel Core 7 160UL sits at the 69th percentile among all CPUs, while the Intel Core i5-14401E sits at the 60th percentile. Despite the lower percentile, the i5-14401E wins all six head-to-head benchmark comparisons.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data splits cleanly along application type. The Intel Core i5-14401E wins every Cinebench test in the head-to-head comparison, covering both single-core and multi-core workloads. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i5-14401E scores 18161 against 9386 for the Core 7 160UL, a difference of 48.3 percent. Single-core performance follows the same pattern: 2564 versus 1325 in Cinebench R23 single-core, again a 48.3 percent gap.

The Intel Core 7 160UL has no benchmark wins in the recorded head-to-head set. However, its broader benchmark suite shows strengths in specific throughput tasks. The PassMark data compression score is 108953, data encryption is 7146, and integer math is 47515. The Core 7 160UL also records 11043 in PassMark multi-thread and 3391 in PassMark single-thread. These scores are not directly compared against the i5-14401E in the database, but they indicate that the Core 7 160UL delivers competitive results in encryption and compression-style workloads for its class, as evidenced by its 69th percentile ranking.

The i5-14401E is the clear winner for rendering, physics simulation, and any workload that leans on raw CPU throughput. The Core 7 160UL, with its 15 W TDP and lower clocks, is positioned for efficiency-oriented tasks. Its 10-core configuration with 12 threads suggests it can handle parallel workloads that do not require maximum per-core speed, and its PassMark multi-thread score of 11043 supports that interpretation.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on Intel's Raptor Lake architecture and use the 10 nm process node, fabricated by Intel. The codenames differ: the Core 7 160UL uses Raptor Lake-PS, while the Core i5-14401E uses Raptor Lake-R. The Core 7 160UL belongs to the Core 7 generation within Raptor Lake-PS, and the i5-14401E is part of the Core 14th Gen series under Raptor Lake Refresh.

The core configurations diverge significantly. The Core 7 160UL has 10 cores and 12 threads, which implies a hybrid arrangement of performance and efficiency cores. The i5-14401E has 6 cores and 12 threads, indicating a conventional all-performance-core layout with hyper-threading. Both processors share the same per-core L1 cache of 80 KB and per-core L2 cache of 1.25 MB, but the shared L3 cache differs: 12 MB on the Core 7 160UL versus 20 MB on the i5-14401E.

PCIe support is another architectural split. The Core 7 160UL offers PCIe Gen 4 with 8 lanes from the CPU, while the i5-14401E offers PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU. This gives the i5-14401E twice the lane count and a newer generation, which matters for discrete GPUs and NVMe storage. The die size is listed only for the i5-14401E at 215 mm²; no die size is recorded for the Core 7 160UL.

Integrated graphics also differ. The Core 7 160UL uses Iris Xe Graphics with 96 execution units, a more capable iGPU. The i5-14401E uses UHD Graphics 730, which is a lighter integrated solution. ECC memory support is present only on the i5-14401E. Both CPUs share the same Intel Socket 1700, dual-channel memory bus, and support for DDR4 and DDR5 memory.

Specification Differences

The two CPUs differ on nearly every headline specification. The Core 7 160UL has 10 cores and 12 threads, while the i5-14401E has 6 cores and 12 threads. Base clock is 1.80 GHz on the Core 7 160UL versus 2.50 GHz on the i5-14401E. Boost clock favors the Core 7 160UL at 5.20 GHz versus 4.70 GHz on the i5-14401E.

TDP is a major differentiator. The Core 7 160UL is rated at 15 W, while the i5-14401E is rated at 65 W. This 50 W gap reflects the efficiency orientation of the Core 7 160UL. The L3 cache is 12 MB on the Core 7 160UL and 20 MB on the i5-14401E. The i5-14401E supports ECC memory; the Core 7 160UL does not.

PCIe capability differs: the Core 7 160UL uses PCIe Gen 4 with 8 lanes, and the i5-14401E uses PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes. Integrated graphics are Iris Xe Graphics 96EU on the Core 7 160UL and UHD Graphics 730 on the i5-14401E. The release dates are close but not identical: the Core 7 160UL was released on 2024-04-07, and the i5-14401E on 2024-06-30. The i5-14401E has a recorded die size of 215 mm², while the Core 7 160UL has no die size listed. Both CPUs are locked (multiplier not unlocked), both are Active in production status, and neither has a recorded launch MSRP in the database.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are one-sided. The Intel Core i5-14401E wins all six recorded comparisons, and the margin is nearly identical across every test. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-14401E scores 1830 against 946 for the Core 7 160UL, a delta of 48.3 percent. Cinebench R15 single-core shows 258 versus 133, also 48.4 percent in favor of the i5-14401E.

Cinebench R20 multi-core follows the same pattern: 7627 versus 3942, a 48.3 percent advantage. Single-core R20 is 1076 versus 556, again 48.3 percent. Cinebench R23 multi-core delivers the largest absolute gap: 18161 versus 9386, a difference of 8775 points, still 48.3 percent. Single-core R23 is 2564 versus 1325, 48.3 percent.

The consistency of the 48.3 percent delta across every Cinebench generation indicates that the performance gap scales uniformly with clock speed and IPC, not with workload-specific factors. The i5-14401E has a 0.70 GHz higher base clock and a 0.50 GHz lower boost clock, but its 6-core, 12-thread configuration with 20 MB of L3 cache evidently provides a substantial per-thread advantage over the 10-core, 12-thread Core 7 160UL.

The Core 7 160UL does have its own benchmark results outside the head-to-head set. PassMark data compression is 108953, data encryption is 7146, extended instructions is 5832, find prime numbers is 50, floating point math is 25670, integer math is 47515, multi-thread is 11043, physics is 819, random string sorting is 11843, and single-thread is 3391. These scores place the Core 7 160UL at the 69th percentile overall, above the i5-14401E's 60th percentile. The average benchmark score for the Core 7 160UL is 14232, and its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 3 7320C at 14277 (0.3 percent higher), the Intel Core i5-10400F at 14185 (0.3 percent lower), the Intel Xeon 6756E at 14163 (0.5 percent lower), and the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U at 14320 (0.6 percent higher). The i5-14401E's average benchmark score is 5253, with nearest rivals including the Intel Xeon E5-2699A v4 at 5259 (0.1 percent higher), the Intel Core i7-11700B at 5241 (0.2 percent lower), the Intel Core i9-10850K at 5240 (0.2 percent lower), and the Intel Core i5-13400T at 5210 (0.8 percent lower).

The Verdict

The data directs each processor to a different role. The Intel Core i5-14401E is the stronger choice for compute-heavy desktop workloads. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 18161 is nearly double the Core 7 160UL's 9386, and its single-core score of 2564 is similarly dominant. The 65 W TDP, PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes, and ECC memory support position it for workstation-style builds where CPU throughput and platform features matter more than power draw.

The Intel Core 7 160UL is the efficiency pick. Its 15 W TDP, 10-core configuration, and Iris Xe Graphics with 96 execution units make it suited for compact or low-power desktop systems. Its 69th percentile ranking versus the i5-14401E's 60th percentile reflects a broader benchmark profile that includes PassMark workloads such as data compression at 108953 and integer math at 47515. The Core 7 160UL also has a higher boost clock at 5.20 GHz, which helps in lightly threaded tasks despite the lower base clock.

Users who need maximum rendering performance, physics simulation, or sustained multi-threaded compute should select the Intel Core i5-14401E. Users who prioritize low power consumption, integrated graphics capability, and a higher overall percentile ranking across a diverse benchmark set should consider the Intel Core 7 160UL. The head-to-head Cinebench results are unambiguous, but the broader PassMark data shows the Core 7 160UL holds its own in specific throughput tasks. The choice depends entirely on whether the workload is render-heavy or efficiency-bound.