Intel Core 9 270H vs Intel Core i5-14401E Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a clear split between multi-core and single-core workloads. In the Cinebench R15 and R20 suites, the Intel Core 9 270H dominates. In R15 multi-core, it scores 2464 against 1830 for the Intel Core i5-14401E, a 34.6% advantage. The single-core R15 test shows a similar gap, with the Core 9 270H at 347 versus 258, a 34.5% lead. R20 multi-core repeats the pattern: 10268 against 7627, a 34.6% difference. R20 single-core delivers 1449 versus 1076, a 34.7% margin. These four results are consistent, all landing within a narrow 34.5% to 34.7% range.

The picture flips in the Cinebench R23 suite. The Core i5-14401E wins multi-core with a score of 18161 against 18000 for the Core 9 270H, a slim 0.9% margin. Single-core R23 is not close: the Core i5-14401E scores 2564 against 2040, a 20.4% victory for the desktop part. This is the largest single-test delta in the head-to-head data. The Core 9 270H wins 4 of the 6 recorded comparisons, but the two R23 results belong entirely to the Core i5-14401E.

Interpreting these numbers requires context from the average benchmark scores. The Core 9 270H carries an average benchmark score of 38335, placing it in the 86th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core Ultra 9 285H at 38312 (0.1% behind the 270H), the Intel Xeon w3-2525 at 38392 (0.1% ahead), the Intel Core i5-13600HX at 38261 (0.2% behind), and the AMD Ryzen 7 250 at 38221 (0.3% behind). The Core i5-14401E, by contrast, has an average benchmark score of 5253, which places it in the 60th percentile. Its nearest rivals are the Intel Xeon E5-2699A v4 at 5259 (0.1% ahead), the Intel Core i7-11700B at 5241 (0.2% behind), the Intel Core i9-10850K at 5240 (0.2% behind), and the Intel Core i5-13400T at 5210 (0.8% behind).

The average benchmark score gap between these two parts is enormous. The Core 9 270H averages 38335, which is roughly 7.3 times the Core i5-14401E's 5253. That difference stems largely from the Passmark suite, where the Core 9 270H has extensive results. Its Passmark multi-thread score is 28764, integer math is 97654, floating point math is 70640, extended instructions are 20079, and data compression is 333785. The Core i5-14401E has no Passmark results recorded in the database, so its average relies entirely on the six Cinebench scores. This explains why the average scores diverge so sharply despite the R23 multi-core results being nearly identical.

Where Each One Wins

The Core 9 270H wins decisively in legacy multi-core and single-core tests. Cinebench R15 and R20, both multi-core and single-core variants, favor the mobile part by roughly 34.6%. These are older benchmarks that stress sustained throughput and per-core efficiency under their specific instruction patterns. The data indicates the Core 9 270H's 14 cores and 20 threads deliver substantially more parallel processing capability in these workloads. Its Passmark results reinforce this, with a multi-thread score of 28764 and a physics score of 1966, numbers the Core i5-14401E cannot match because no equivalent Passmark data exists for it.

The Core i5-14401E wins in the two R23 tests. Single-core R23 is its strongest showing, a 20.4% lead over the Core 9 270H. This suggests the desktop part has a higher sustained single-core clock behavior in this specific workload, likely tied to its 4.70 GHz boost clock against the 270H's 5.80 GHz boost. The R23 multi-core result, while a win, is marginal at 0.9%. That near-tie matters: the Core i5-14401E has 6 cores and 12 threads, fewer than half the Core 9 270H's 14 cores and 20 threads, yet it nearly matches the multi-core R23 score. The Core 9 270H's advantage in core count translates to dominance in R15 and R20, but R23 appears to reward the Core i5-14401E's architecture differently.

The use-case split is straightforward. The Core 9 270H suits workloads that resemble R15, R20, and Passmark patterns: heavy parallel computation, data compression, encryption, and physics calculations. The Core i5-14401E suits workloads that resemble R23 patterns, particularly single-threaded tasks where its 20.4% lead provides a clear edge. For mixed workloads, the R23 multi-core result at 0.9% suggests near-parity, so the deciding factor becomes whether the software favors R23-style instructions or older R15/R20-style instructions.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core 9 270H wins 4 of the 6 recorded head-to-head tests. The Intel Core i5-14401E wins the remaining 2.

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

A: The largest gap is in Cinebench R23 single-core, where the Intel Core i5-14401E leads by 20.4% (2564 versus 2040). The smallest gap is in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the Core i5-14401E leads by 0.9% (18161 versus 18000).

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Intel Core 9 270H has an average benchmark score of 38335, placing it in the 86th percentile of all CPUs. The Intel Core i5-14401E has an average benchmark score of 5253, placing it in the 60th percentile.

Q: Are the two processors competitive in multi-core performance?

A: In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Intel Core i5-14401E scores 18161 against the Core 9 270H's 18000, a 0.9% difference. However, in Cinebench R15 and R20 multi-core, the Core 9 270H leads by 34.6% in both tests.

Q: Which processor has the higher single-core score in the newest benchmark?

A: In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Intel Core i5-14401E scores 2564, which is 20.4% higher than the Core 9 270H's 2040. In the older R15 and R20 single-core tests, the Core 9 270H leads by 34.5% and 34.7% respectively.

Q: What do the nearest rival comparisons show for each processor?

A: The Core 9 270H's closest rival is the Intel Xeon w3-2525, which is 0.1% ahead. The Core i5-14401E's closest rival is the Intel Xeon E5-2699A v4, also 0.1% ahead. Both processors sit within a tight cluster of comparable CPUs.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every core specification. The Intel Core 9 270H has 14 cores and 20 threads, while the Intel Core i5-14401E has 6 cores and 12 threads. Base clocks are 2.70 GHz for the Core 9 270H and 2.50 GHz for the Core i5-14401E. Boost clocks diverge significantly: the Core 9 270H boosts to 5.80 GHz, the Core i5-14401E to 4.70 GHz. Thermal design power also differs, with the Core 9 270H rated at 45 W and the Core i5-14401E at 65 W.

Sockets are incompatible. The Core 9 270H uses Intel BGA 1744, a mobile socket, while the Core i5-14401E uses Intel Socket 1700, a desktop socket. This aligns with their market segments: the Core 9 270H is classified as Mobile, the Core i5-14401E as Desktop. The Core i5-14401E belongs to the Core 14th Gen series, while the Core 9 270H has no series designation recorded.

Cache configurations differ. Both have 80 KB of L1 cache per core. The L2 cache is 2 MB per core for the Core 9 270H and 1.25 MB per core for the Core i5-14401E. Shared L3 cache is 24 MB for the Core 9 270H and 20 MB for the Core i5-14401E. The Core i5-14401E has a recorded die size of 215 mm², while the Core 9 270H has no die size listed.

Memory support is identical in type, with both supporting DDR4 and DDR5 in dual-channel configuration. ECC memory support differs: the Core i5-14401E supports ECC, the Core 9 270H does not. PCIe lanes differ as well, with the Core 9 270H providing Gen 5 with 8 lanes (CPU only) and the Core i5-14401E providing Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics differ, with the Core 9 270H using Iris Xe Graphics 96EU and the Core i5-14401E using UHD Graphics 730.

Release dates and pricing differ. The Core 9 270H launched on 2024-12-17 with a launch MSRP of $697. The Core i5-14401E launched on 2024-06-30 with no launch MSRP recorded. Both parts are currently Active in production and have locked multipliers. Part numbers are SRQ6V for the Core 9 270H and Q49JSRNJS for the Core i5-14401E.

Architecture Differences

Both processors share the same Raptor Lake architecture, with the Core 9 270H using the Raptor Lake-H codename and the Core i5-14401E using the Raptor Lake-R codename. Both are built on Intel's 10 nm process node and fabricated by Intel. The generation field records both as Raptor Lake Refresh, with the Core 9 270H listed as "Core 9 (Raptor Lake Refresh)" and the Core i5-14401E as "Core i5 (Raptor Lake Refresh)".

The core count difference is the primary architectural separator. The Core 9 270H uses 14 cores and 20 threads, a configuration typical of Intel's high-end mobile H-series parts. The Core i5-14401E uses 6 cores and 12 threads, a mainstream desktop configuration. This core count difference drives the multi-core benchmark results in R15 and R20, where the Core 9 270H leads by 34.6% in both tests. The R23 multi-core result, however, shows the Core i5-14401E ahead by 0.9%, indicating that architectural efficiency in R23 does not scale linearly with core count.

The process node is identical at 10 nm, but the die size differs. The Core i5-14401E has a die size of 215 mm², while the Core 9 270H has no die size recorded. The L2 cache per core differs, with the Core 9 270H at 2 MB per core versus 1.25 MB per core for the Core i5-14401E. The shared L3 cache also differs, at 24 MB versus 20 MB. These cache differences may explain why the Core 9 270H wins in R15 and R20 despite the Core i5-14401E's higher single-core R23 score.

Integrated graphics differ significantly. The Core 9 270H uses Iris Xe Graphics 96EU, a more capable iGPU, while the Core i5-14401E uses UHD Graphics 730. The Core i5-14401E supports ECC memory, which the Core 9 270H does not, a feature aimed at workstation use. PCIe lane count also differs, with the Core i5-14401E offering 16 Gen 5 lanes versus 8 for the Core 9 270H.

The market segment split is the clearest architectural signal. The Core 9 270H is a mobile part on BGA 1744, designed for laptops and compact systems. The Core i5-14401E is a desktop part on Socket 1700, designed for traditional desktop builds. This explains the TDP difference: 45 W for the mobile part, 65 W for the desktop part. The mobile part's lower TDP pairs with a higher boost clock of 5.80 GHz, while the desktop part runs a lower 4.70 GHz boost.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear division of roles. The Intel Core 9 270H is the stronger multi-core processor in legacy benchmarks, winning Cinebench R15 and R20 multi-core by 34.6% each. Its Passmark results, including a multi-thread score of 28764 and a data compression score of 333785, indicate heavy parallel workloads will favor it. Its 86th percentile ranking and average benchmark score of 38335 place it in a different performance tier than the Core i5-14401E, which sits at the 60th percentile with an average score of 5253.

The Intel Core i5-14401E wins where it matters most in modern single-core tests. Its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2564 is 20.4% ahead of the Core 9 270H's 2040. The R23 multi-core result, at 18161 versus 18000, shows the desktop part can match the mobile part's multi-threaded throughput despite having only 6 cores and 12 threads against 14 cores and 20 threads. This suggests the Core i5-14401E's architecture extracts more per-core performance in R23 workloads.

For builders choosing between these parts, the decision hinges on workload priority. The Core 9 270H serves applications that resemble R15, R20, and Passmark patterns: data compression, encryption, extended instructions, and floating-point math. The Core i5-14401E serves applications that resemble R23 patterns, especially single-threaded tasks where its 20.4% lead provides a decisive advantage. The Core i5-14401E also offers ECC memory support and 16 PCIe Gen 5 lanes, which the Core 9 270H lacks.

The recorded data does not indicate a universal winner. The Core 9 270H wins 4 of 6 head-to-head tests, but the two tests it loses are the most recent Cinebench suite. The R23 multi-core near-tie at 0.9% suggests the gap in modern multi-threaded workloads is minimal. The Core 9 270H's 5.80 GHz boost clock and 24 MB L3 cache give it advantages in older benchmarks, while the Core i5-14401E's 4.70 GHz boost and 20 MB L3 cache produce better R23 results. The choice depends on which benchmark suite best represents the target software.