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

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded benchmark data shows a decisive overall advantage for the Intel Core 7 251TE, which wins 14 of the 17 head-to-head comparisons. The Core i5-14500HX takes only three wins, two of which are the same single-thread PassMark test reported under different names.

The Cinebench suite is uniformly favorable to the Core 7 251TE. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the 251TE scores 2572 against 2442 for the i5-14500HX, a 5.3% lead. The single-core R15 result repeats the pattern: 362 versus 344, again a 5.2% margin. Moving to Cinebench R20, the multicore scores are 10717 versus 10178 (5.3%), and the single-core result is 1512 versus 1436 (5.3%). Cinebench R23 tells the same story, with the 251TE posting 25518 multicore and 3602 single-core, while the i5-14500HX records 24234 and 3421 respectively, both margins at 5.3%.

The PassMark suite reveals where each processor has its strengths. The Core 7 251TE dominates integer math with a score of 125739 against 95584, a 31.5% advantage, the largest gap in the entire comparison. Floating-point math also heavily favors the 251TE, which scores 85607 versus 69442, a 23.3% lead. Data encryption shows a 13.7% edge for the 251TE (22176 versus 19502), and random string sorting favors the 251TE by 9.5% (39643 versus 36219). Prime number finding, an integer-heavy workload, gives the 251TE a 7.7% win (140 versus 130). The multithread PassMark result shows 30022 for the 251TE against 28508, a 5.3% margin, and physics testing yields a narrow 1.4% win for the 251TE (1938 versus 1911). Data compression is nearly identical, with the 251TE ahead by just 0.2% (334399 versus 333851).

The i5-14500HX claims its wins in extended instructions and single-thread PassMark testing. Extended instructions go to the i5-14500HX by a substantial 15.2% margin, scoring 20019 versus 16974. In single-thread PassMark, the i5-14500HX scores 3629 against 3568, a 1.7% edge, recorded identically in both the passmark_single_thread and passmark_singlethread entries.

The average benchmark score places the Core 7 251TE at 41650, well above the i5-14500HX's 35094. The 251TE sits at the 88th percentile among all CPUs, while the i5-14500HX ranks at the 84th percentile.

Architecture Differences

The two processors diverge significantly in their core configurations. The Intel Core 7 251TE, built on Bartlett Lake, provides 24 cores and 32 threads. The Intel Core i5-14500HX, from the Raptor Lake-HX refresh, provides 14 cores and 20 threads. This 10-core and 12-thread deficit explains much of the 251TE's multicore dominance.

Clock speeds also differ. The 251TE has a base clock of 1.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. The i5-14500HX starts higher at 2.60 GHz base but boosts lower at 4.90 GHz. The 251TE's higher boost clock contributes to its single-core wins in Cinebench, though the i5-14500HX counters with a slightly higher PassMark single-thread score.

Cache hierarchies are configured differently. Both use 80 KB of L1 cache per core. The L2 cache is 1.25 MB per core on the 251TE and 2 MB per core on the i5-14500HX. The shared L3 cache favors the 251TE at 36 MB, versus 24 MB on the i5-14500HX. The i5-14500HX uses a 257 mm² die, while the 251TE is smaller at 215 mm².

Both processors are built on Intel's 10 nm process and manufactured by Intel. Both support DDR4 and DDR5 memory through a dual-channel bus, and both support ECC memory. The 251TE has a listed memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, while no bandwidth figure is recorded for the i5-14500HX. PCIe connectivity is identical on paper: Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes. Both include UHD Graphics 770 as integrated graphics.

Market positioning and physical attributes differ. The 251TE is a desktop part on Intel Socket 1700, launched with a launch MSRP of $384. The i5-14500HX is a mobile processor on Intel BGA 1964, with no launch MSRP recorded. The i5-14500HX has an unlocked multiplier, while the 251TE is locked. The 251TE carries a 45 W TDP, while the i5-14500HX is rated at 55 W. The 251TE's release date is 2025-01-12, roughly a year after the i5-14500HX's 2024-01-07.

Where Each One Wins

The Core 7 251TE is the clear choice for multi-threaded workloads. Its 24 cores and 32 threads produce consistent 5.3% margins across every Cinebench version, and the PassMark multithread test confirms the same spread. Integer-heavy tasks are its strongest territory, with the 31.5% integer math win and the 7.7% prime number advantage. Floating-point math, encryption, and data compression also favor the 251TE, making it the better option for rendering, scientific computation, and archival or compression tasks.

The i5-14500HX wins in exactly one meaningful category: extended instructions. The 15.2% margin there suggests its instruction set extensions handle specialized vector or cryptographic workloads more efficiently. Its single-thread PassMark score (3629) edges out the 251TE (3568) by 1.7%, but this does not carry over to Cinebench single-core tests, where the 251TE wins all three versions by 5.2% to 5.3%. The i5-14500HX also has a 2 MB per-core L2 cache and a higher base clock, which may benefit latency-sensitive code that fits in L2.

The percentile data positions these processors differently in the broader market. The 251TE's 88th percentile and average score of 41650 place it alongside the Intel Core Ultra 7 265H (41621, 0.1% slower) and the Intel Core i7-14650HX (41576, 0.2% slower), while it edges past the i7-12850HX (41779, 0.3% faster) and i7-14700T (41914, 0.6% faster). The i5-14500HX, at 35094 average and 84th percentile, competes with the i9-12900HX (35003, 0.3% slower) and i7-13800H (34988, 0.3% slower), while trailing the Core 7 253PTE (34962, 0.4% faster) and i7-12700K (35287, 0.5% faster).

The Verdict

The benchmark data clearly favors the Intel Core 7 251TE for the majority of workloads. It wins 14 of 17 direct comparisons, with margins ranging from 0.2% in data compression to 31.5% in integer math. Every Cinebench test, across three versions and both single and multi-core configurations, goes to the 251TE by a consistent 5.2% to 5.3%. Its larger core count, higher boost clock, and larger L3 cache make it the stronger processor for rendering, compilation, scientific workloads, and any task that scales across threads.

The i5-14500HX is not without a niche. Its 15.2% extended instructions win and 1.7% single-thread PassMark advantage indicate that workloads relying on advanced instruction set extensions, or code that responds to its 2 MB per-core L2 cache, may see better performance. Its unlocked multiplier also allows frequency adjustment, a feature the 251TE lacks.

Desktop users should favor the 251TE for its socket compatibility, 36 MB L3 cache, and multicore throughput. Mobile users requiring the i5-14500HX's BGA package and lower cost profile will find it competitive in single-threaded and instruction-specific tasks, but the data shows it trailing in most aggregate measures. The 251TE's 88th percentile overall ranking versus the i5-14500HX's 84th percentile confirms the gap in average performance.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more head-to-head benchmark comparisons?

A: The Intel Core 7 251TE wins 14 of 17 recorded benchmarks. The Intel Core i5-14500HX wins 3, with two of those being the same PassMark single-thread test reported under two names.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two CPUs?

A: The largest gap is in PassMark integer math, where the Core 7 251TE scores 125739 against 95584 for the i5-14500HX, a 31.5% advantage. The second largest is floating-point math at 23.3% (85607 versus 69442).

Q: Does the i5-14500HX win any single-core tests?

A: Yes, the i5-14500HX wins the PassMark single-thread test with a score of 3629 versus 3568, a 1.7% margin. However, the Core 7 251TE wins all three Cinebench single-core tests (R15, R20, R23) by 5.2% to 5.3%.

Q: How do the core counts compare?

A: The Core 7 251TE has 24 cores and 32 threads. The i5-14500HX has 14 cores and 20 threads. The 251TE also has a higher boost clock of 5.40 GHz versus 4.90 GHz, while the i5-14500HX has a higher base clock of 2.60 GHz versus 1.40 GHz.

Q: What are the overall percentile rankings?

A: The Core 7 251TE ranks at the 88th percentile among all CPUs with an average benchmark score of 41650. The i5-14500HX ranks at the 84th percentile with an average score of 35094.

Q: Which CPU has more L3 cache?

A: The Core 7 251TE has 36 MB of shared L3 cache. The i5-14500HX has 24 MB. The i5-14500HX has more L2 cache per core at 2 MB versus 1.25 MB, and both use 80 KB of L1 per core.