Intel Core 7 251TE vs Intel Core i5-14500 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data shows a split decision, with the Intel Core 7 251TE winning 9 of 17 tests and the Intel Core i5-14500 winning 8. The margins, however, tell a more nuanced story than the raw win count.

The most dramatic difference appears in the Cinebench R23 suite. The Core 7 251TE scores 25,518 in multi-core versus 15,012 for the i5-14500, a 70% lead. Single-core R23 shows an even larger gap: 3,602 versus 1,917, a 87.9% advantage. These are the largest deltas in the entire comparison, and they suggest the Core 7 251TE has a substantial performance headroom in rendering workloads that scale with both thread count and clock speed.

The Cinebench R15 results follow a similar pattern but with smaller margins. The Core 7 251TE wins multi-core at 2,572 versus 2,435, a 5.6% edge, and single-core at 362 versus 273, a 32.6% advantage. The R20 results flip the script: the i5-14500 takes multi-core at 10,985 versus 10,717, a 2.4% lead, and single-core at 1,550 versus 1,512, a 2.5% edge. This inconsistency across Cinebench versions is curious, as the R23 data would imply the Core 7 251TE should dominate all versions. The R20 results suggest the i5-14500 handles certain workload distributions better, possibly due to its higher base clock.

In PassMark tests, the i5-14500 wins data compression (371,294 versus 334,399, a 9.9% lead), extended instructions (22,473 versus 16,974, a 24.5% advantage), multithread (30,777 versus 30,022, a 2.5% edge), random string sorting (40,980 versus 39,643, a 3.3% lead), and both single-thread tests (3,952 versus 3,568, a 9.7% margin). The Core 7 251TE counters with data encryption (22,176 versus 21,457, a 3.4% gain), find prime numbers (140 versus 106, a 32.1% lead), floating point math (85,607 versus 79,576, a 7.6% edge), integer math (125,739 versus 108,124, a 16.3% advantage), and physics (1,938 versus 1,746, an 11% lead).

The single-thread PassMark results are notable because the i5-14500 leads there, yet the Core 7 251TE leads in Cinebench R23 single-core by a massive margin. This divergence between benchmark suites indicates the two processors have different strengths in different instruction-level workloads.

The Verdict

The recorded data points to a clear division of labor. The Core 7 251TE is the stronger choice for heavily multi-threaded, compute-intensive tasks. Its 70% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 16.3% lead in integer math indicate it can handle complex simulations, rendering, and numerical workloads with substantially more throughput. The 32.1% advantage in find prime numbers and 11% lead in physics reinforce this pattern.

The i5-14500, meanwhile, shows superiority in tasks that reward higher single-thread throughput and specific instruction handling. Its 9.7% lead in PassMark single-thread, 24.5% advantage in extended instructions, and 9.9% lead in data compression point toward workloads like scripting, compression utilities, and certain database operations. The 2.5% lead in multithread and 3.3% edge in random string sorting suggest it remains competitive in general productivity tasks despite the Core 7 251TE's core count advantage.

The overall average benchmark scores support this split: the Core 7 251TE averages 41,650 against the i5-14500's 38,531, a difference of roughly 8.1%. The Core 7 251TE sits at the 88th percentile of all CPUs, while the i5-14500 sits at the 86th. The nearest rival data confirms the Core 7 251TE operates in a slightly higher performance tier, with rivals like the Intel Core Ultra 7 265H (0.1% delta), Intel Core i7-14650HX (0.2%), and Intel Core i7-14700T (-0.6%) surrounding its score. The i5-14500's rivals include the Intel Core Ultra 5 235T (-0.1%), Intel Xeon w3-2525 (0.4%), Intel Core 9 270H (0.5%), and Intel Core Ultra 9 285H (0.6%).

Architecture Differences

Both processors share the Intel Socket 1700, the 10 nm process node, and the 215 mm² die size from Intel's foundry. They also both support DDR4 and DDR5 memory in dual-channel configuration, feature Gen 5 PCIe with 16 CPU lanes, integrate UHD Graphics 770, and support ECC memory. Neither has an unlocked multiplier.

The core configuration differs substantially. The Core 7 251TE packs 24 cores and 32 threads, while the i5-14500 has 14 cores and 20 threads. The Core 7 251TE is built on the Bartlett Lake codename, while the i5-14500 uses Raptor Lake-R with the Raptor Lake architecture. This generation difference is significant: Bartlett Lake is a newer design that evidently allows for far more cores in the same socket and process node.

Cache allocation also differs. Both have 80 KB of L1 per core and 1.25 MB of L2 per core, but the shared L3 cache is 36 MB on the Core 7 251TE versus 24 MB on the i5-14500. That 12 MB difference in shared cache could contribute to the Core 7 251TE's performance in multi-threaded workloads that benefit from larger pooled data.

Clock speeds tell a different story. The i5-14500 has a base clock of 2.60 GHz versus 1.40 GHz for the Core 7 251TE, and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz versus 5.40 GHz. The higher base clock on the i5-14500 likely explains its wins in PassMark single-thread and other latency-sensitive tests, while the Core 7 251TE's higher boost clock helps in burst workloads.

Thermal design power also differs: the Core 7 251TE is rated at 45 W TDP, while the i5-14500 is rated at 65 W. This is counterintuitive given the Core 7 251TE has 10 more cores, but the lower base clock likely enables the power efficiency. The memory bandwidth figures only appear for the Core 7 251TE at 89.6 GB/s; the i5-14500 entry has no recorded value.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core 7 251TE has 24 cores and 32 threads, while the Intel Core i5-14500 has 14 cores and 20 threads.

Q: What is the biggest performance gap between the two?

A: The Cinebench R23 single-core test shows the largest delta, with the Core 7 251TE scoring 3,602 versus 1,917 for the i5-14500, a difference of 87.9%. The multi-core R23 result is close behind at a 70% lead for the Core 7 251TE.

Q: Does the i5-14500 win any benchmarks?

A: Yes, the i5-14500 wins 8 of 17 head-to-head tests, including Cinebench R20 multi-core and single-core, PassMark data compression, extended instructions, multithread, random string sorting, and both PassMark single-thread tests.

Q: How do their clock speeds compare?

A: The Core 7 251TE has a base clock of 1.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. The i5-14500 has a higher base clock of 2.60 GHz but a lower boost clock of 5.00 GHz.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The Core 7 251TE has 36 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i5-14500 has 24 MB. Both have identical L1 (80 KB per core) and L2 (1.25 MB per core) allocations.

Q: What are their overall performance percentiles?

A: The Core 7 251TE sits at the 88th percentile of all CPUs with an average benchmark score of 41,650. The i5-14500 is at the 86th percentile with an average score of 38,531.

Where Each One Wins

The Core 7 251TE dominates in raw compute throughput. Cinebench R23 multi-core (25,518 versus 15,012) and single-core (3,602 versus 1,917) are its strongest wins, along with integer math (125,739 versus 108,124), floating point math (85,607 versus 79,576), find prime numbers (140 versus 106), physics (1,938 versus 1,746), and data encryption (22,176 versus 21,457). These results make it the better fit for rendering, scientific computing, and any workload that can utilize its 24 cores and 32 threads effectively.

The i5-14500 excels in tasks that favor its higher base clock and specific instruction set handling. It wins data compression (371,294 versus 334,399), extended instructions (22,473 versus 16,974), multithread (30,777 versus 30,022), random string sorting (40,980 versus 39,643), and single-thread PassMark (3,952 versus 3,568). Its Cinebench R20 wins (10,985 multi-core and 1,550 single-core) indicate it can hold its own in shorter-duration rendering tasks. The i5-14500 also carries a lower launch MSRP of $232, while the Core 7 251TE has a launch MSRP of $384.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ on several recorded specifications. The Core 7 251TE uses the Bartlett Lake codename from the Core 7 generation, while the i5-14500 uses Raptor Lake-R from the Core 14th Gen series with the Raptor Lake architecture. Core counts differ at 24 versus 14, and thread counts at 32 versus 20. Base clocks are 1.40 GHz versus 2.60 GHz, boost clocks are 5.40 GHz versus 5.00 GHz, and TDP ratings are 45 W versus 65 W. The L3 cache is 36 MB versus 24 MB. Release dates differ: the Core 7 251TE launched on 2025-01-12, while the i5-14500 launched on 2024-01-07. Part numbers are SRQAXQ5ZG for the Core 7 251TE and SRN3T for the i5-14500. Both share the same socket, process node, die size, memory support, PCIe configuration, integrated graphics, market segment, and production status.