Intel Core 7 350 vs Intel Core i5-14500 Comparison

The Verdict

The Intel Core i5-14500 is the clear performance leader in this comparison, winning 12 of 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons. Its 14 cores and 20 threads, paired with a 24 MB shared L3 cache, deliver roughly double the multi-threaded throughput of the Intel Core 7 350 in most workloads. The data shows the i5-14500 is the correct choice for desktop users who prioritize heavy multitasking, content creation, or any workload that scales across cores.

The Intel Core 7 350, by contrast, wins 5 comparisons, all in single-threaded or lightly threaded tests. It takes the lead in Cinebench R15 single-core (292 vs 273, 7% ahead), Cinebench R23 single-core (2046 vs 1917, 6.7% ahead), PassMark single-thread (4100 vs 3952, 3.7% ahead), and PassMark find prime numbers (107 vs 106, 0.9% ahead). Its 3 nm process node and Wildcat Lake architecture give it a per-core efficiency advantage, but the i5-14500's sheer core count overwhelms that advantage in any multi-core scenario.

The i5-14500 sits at the 86th percentile of all CPUs in the database with an average benchmark score of 38531, while the Core 7 350 lands at the 71st percentile with an average score of 17779. That is a 20752-point gap, roughly a 117% difference in average aggregate performance. The i5-14500's nearest rivals (Core Ultra 5 235T, Xeon w3-2525, Core 9 270H, Core Ultra 9 285H) all fall within 0.6% of its average score, confirming it is a well-positioned mid-range desktop part. The Core 7 350's nearest rivals (Core 5 221TE, EPYC 9374F, Ryzen 5 3600XT, Core 5 120U) are similarly close, within 0.7%.

This is a comparison of two different market segments. The Core 7 350 is a mobile processor on Intel BGA 1516 with a 15 W TDP and single-channel memory, while the i5-14500 is a desktop processor on Intel Socket 1700 with a 65 W TDP and dual-channel memory. The mobile part is not designed to compete with the desktop part in raw throughput. The i5-14500 is the pick for any desktop build that needs sustained multi-core performance. The Core 7 350 is the pick for a compact, power-efficient mobile system where single-thread responsiveness matters more than core count.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core workloads?

A: The Intel Core i5-14500 wins every multi-core benchmark in the comparison. It scores 2435 vs 1220 in Cinebench R15 multi-core (49.9% ahead), 10985 vs 5373 in Cinebench R20 multi-core (51.1% ahead), and 15012 vs 8030 in Cinebench R23 multi-core (46.5% ahead).

Q: Does the Intel Core 7 350 win any benchmarks?

A: Yes, it wins 5 of 17 comparisons. These are all single-threaded or light-thread tests: Cinebench R15 single-core, Cinebench R23 single-core, PassMark single-thread, PassMark singlethread (duplicate test), and PassMark find prime numbers.

Q: What is the core and thread difference between the two?

A: The Intel Core 7 350 has 6 cores and 6 threads (no hyperthreading). The Intel Core i5-14500 has 14 cores and 20 threads, which explains its dominant multi-core scores.

Q: Which processor has more L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core i5-14500 has 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel Core 7 350 has 6 MB of shared L3 cache, a 4x difference.

Q: Do these processors use the same memory type?

A: No. The Core 7 350 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X with a single-channel memory bus and 59.7 GB/s bandwidth. The i5-14500 supports DDR4 and DDR5 with a dual-channel memory bus.

Q: Are both processors currently in production?

A: Yes, both have a production status of "Active" in the database. The Core 7 350 was released on 2026-04-15, while the i5-14500 was released on 2024-01-07.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core 7 350 uses the Wildcat Lake codename and is built on Intel's 3 nm process node. It is a mobile processor with 6 cores and 6 threads, a 15 W TDP, and integrated Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores. Its L1 cache is 192 KB per core, L2 cache is 2.5 MB per core, and L3 cache is 6 MB shared. It supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X memory on a single-channel bus with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth. The PCIe interface is Gen 4 with 6 CPU lanes. ECC memory is not supported.

The Intel Core i5-14500 uses the Raptor Lake-R codename under the Raptor Lake architecture and is built on Intel's 10 nm process node. It is a desktop processor with 14 cores and 20 threads, a 65 W TDP, and a die size of 215 mm². Its L1 cache is 80 KB per core, L2 cache is 1.25 MB per core, and L3 cache is 24 MB shared. It supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory on a dual-channel bus. ECC memory is supported. The PCIe interface is Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 770.

The socket situation is completely different. The Core 7 350 mounts on Intel BGA 1516, a soldered mobile socket, while the i5-14500 mounts on Intel Socket 1700, a standard desktop LGA socket. This alone determines which systems each processor can be installed in. The Core 7 350 is a low-power mobile part with a 15 W TDP, the i5-14500 is a mainstream desktop part with a 65 W TDP. The process node advantage (3 nm vs 10 nm) explains why the Core 7 350 can achieve competitive single-thread scores with far fewer cores and lower power draw.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every core specification. The Core 7 350 has 6 cores and 6 threads, a base clock of 1.50 GHz, and a boost clock of 4.80 GHz. The i5-14500 has 14 cores and 20 threads, a base clock of 2.60 GHz, and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. The i5-14500 has a higher base clock by 1.10 GHz and a higher boost clock by 0.20 GHz.

Cache layout differs substantially. The Core 7 350 uses 192 KB L1 per core and 2.5 MB L2 per core, while the i5-14500 uses 80 KB L1 per core and 1.25 MB L2 per core. The shared L3 cache is 6 MB on the Core 7 350 versus 24 MB on the i5-14500.

Memory support is not identical. The Core 7 350 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X with single-channel memory and 59.7 GB/s bandwidth. The i5-14500 supports DDR4 and DDR5 with dual-channel memory, and no bandwidth figure is recorded. ECC memory is available on the i5-14500 only.

PCIe generation and lane count differ: the Core 7 350 uses Gen 4 with 6 CPU lanes, the i5-14500 uses Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics differ as well: the Core 7 350 has Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores, the i5-14500 has UHD Graphics 770. The market segment is mobile for the Core 7 350 and desktop for the i5-14500. Both processors are multiplier-locked.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core i5-14500 dominates the multi-core Cinebench tests. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 2435 against 1220, a 49.9% margin. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, it scores 10985 against 5373, a 51.1% margin. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 15012 against 8030, a 46.5% margin. These are all roughly double the Core 7 350's output, consistent with the core count difference.

The single-core Cinebench results flip the script. The Core 7 350 wins Cinebench R15 single-core with 292 vs 273, a 7% margin. It wins Cinebench R23 single-core with 2046 vs 1917, a 6.7% margin. However, the i5-14500 wins Cinebench R20 single-core with 1550 vs 758, a 51.1% margin. That R20 single-core result is an outlier compared to the other single-thread tests and suggests a possible test variance, but the recorded data is consistent across the three R20 runs.

PassMark results follow the same pattern as the Cinebench multi-core tests. The i5-14500 wins data compression with 371294 vs 143123, a 61.5% margin. It wins data encryption with 21457 vs 10933, a 49% margin. It wins extended instructions with 22473 vs 12045, a 46.4% margin. It wins floating point math with 79576 vs 42809, a 46.2% margin. It wins integer math with 108124 vs 33734, a 68.8% margin, the largest delta in the entire comparison. It wins multithread with 30777 vs 15170, a 50.7% margin. It wins physics with 1746 vs 1173, a 32.8% margin. It wins random string sorting with 40980 vs 17238, a 57.9% margin.

The Core 7 350 wins PassMark single-thread with 4100 vs 3952, a 3.7% margin. It also wins PassMark find prime numbers with 107 vs 106, a 0.9% margin, which is a near-tie.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-14500 is the winner in every heavily threaded workload. Its 14 cores and 20 threads give it a massive advantage in rendering, video encoding, data compression, encryption, and any task that can use multiple threads. The PassMark integer math score of 108124 vs 33734 shows a 68.8% lead, the largest margin in the dataset. The data compression score of 371294 vs 143123 indicates a 61.5% lead, making it the better choice for archiving, file transfer, and database work.

The i5-14500 also wins in physics simulation (1746 vs 1173, 32.8% ahead) and floating point math (79576 vs 42809, 46.2% ahead), which are relevant to scientific computing and simulation workloads. Its 86th percentile standing and average benchmark score of 38531 place it in the upper tier of the database, with nearest rivals within 0.6%.

The Intel Core 7 350 wins in single-thread responsiveness. Its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2046 beats the i5-14500's 1917 by 6.7%, and its PassMark single-thread score of 4100 beats 3952 by 3.7%. For everyday desktop use, light productivity, web browsing, and applications that rely on a single fast core, the Core 7 350 delivers comparable or better responsiveness while drawing only 15 W compared to the i5-14500's 65 W TDP.

The Core 7 350 also wins the find prime numbers test (107 vs 106, 0.9% ahead), which is a narrow victory but indicates that its per-core integer performance is competitive. Its 3 nm process node and Wildcat Lake architecture allow it to achieve these results with just 6 cores and no hyperthreading.

The use case split is clean. The i5-14500 is for desktop systems where multi-core throughput is the priority, such as video editing, 3D rendering, compilation, or heavy multitasking. The Core 7 350 is for mobile systems where power efficiency, compact size, and single-thread responsiveness matter more. The i5-14500's dual-channel memory and 24 MB L3 cache further support bandwidth-hungry workloads, while the Core 7 350's single-channel memory bus is a limiting factor for any multi-threaded memory-intensive task. The i5-14500 supports ECC memory, making it suitable for entry-level workstation builds, a feature the Core 7 350 lacks entirely.