Intel Core i5-1334U vs Intel Core i7-9700 Comparison

The Intel Core i7-9700 and Intel Core i5-1334U represent two distinct philosophies from Intel: a desktop-focused, high-power part from the Coffee Lake era versus a mobile-oriented, efficiency-driven chip from the Raptor Lake generation. The benchmark data reveals a complex picture where the older desktop processor fights back against the newer mobile chip, with each securing decisive victories in different workloads. Their average benchmark scores are nearly identical—the i7-9700 sits at 18180, while the i5-1334U trails by a hair at 18154—yet the distribution of wins is anything but even. The i5-1334U edges out a narrow 9-to-8 win count in the head-to-head tests, but the magnitude of those wins varies wildly, from a 0.8% margin in floating-point math to a commanding 53.9% lead in data encryption.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The single most lopsided result in this comparison belongs to the i5-1334U in PassMark’s data encryption test. The mobile chip scores 9377 against the i7-9700’s 4322, a 53.9% advantage that suggests the newer architecture’s cryptographic instruction set is substantially more efficient. Similarly, the i5-1334U dominates in integer math, posting 50374 versus 40138, a 20.3% lead that points to better raw integer throughput per clock. In single-threaded workloads, the i5-1334U is consistently ahead: it wins PassMark single-thread by 17.6% (3345 vs 2756) and Cinebench R15 single-core by a massive 34% (241 vs 159). The Cinebench R23 single-core result narrows that gap to 8.5% (1727 vs 1581), but the pattern is clear—the newer mobile chip has superior per-core performance.

However, the i7-9700 fights back decisively in multi-threaded and memory-sensitive tasks. The largest victory for the desktop part comes in PassMark extended instructions, where it scores 14488 against 8563, a 69.2% blowout that indicates far better SIMD or specialized instruction handling. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i7-9700 wins by 29.6% (11200 vs 8641), a stunning reversal given the i5-1334U’s 10 cores and 12 threads versus the i7-9700’s 8 cores and 8 threads. The i7-9700 also dominates random string sorting by 38.7% (23482 vs 16933) and data compression by 20.5% (181411 vs 150568), suggesting its memory subsystem or cache hierarchy is better suited for these data-heavy operations.

The mid-range Cinebench results are fascinating. In R20 multi-core, the i7-9700 wins by just 1.4% (4704 vs 4638), while in R20 single-core it wins by 1.5% (664 vs 654). These razor-thin margins stand in sharp contrast to the wider gaps seen elsewhere. The PassMark physics test also favors the i7-9700 by 13.6% (820 vs 722), and the find-prime-numbers test shows a 23.1% win (48 vs 39). Meanwhile, the i5-1334U takes PassMark floating-point math by a marginal 0.8% (34474 vs 34187) and PassMark multithread by 1.4% (13410 vs 13223). The overall average benchmark scores—18180 for the i7-9700 and 18154 for the i5-1334U—reflect this near-parity, with both CPUs landing in the 72nd percentile against all processors.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i5-1334U consistently wins in single-threaded tests. It leads by 34% in Cinebench R15 single-core (241 vs 159), by 8.5% in Cinebench R23 single-core (1727 vs 1581), and by 17.6% in PassMark single-thread (3345 vs 2756). The i7-9700 only manages a 1.5% win in Cinebench R20 single-core (664 vs 654).

Q: How do the multi-core scores compare between the two?

A: The results are split. The i7-9700 wins Cinebench R23 multi-core by 29.6% (11200 vs 8641) and Cinebench R20 multi-core by 1.4% (4704 vs 4638), but the i5-1334U takes Cinebench R15 multi-core by 28.1% (1569 vs 1128) and PassMark multithread by 1.4% (13410 vs 13223).

Q: Which CPU is better for encryption-heavy workloads?

A: The i5-1334U is overwhelmingly superior in data encryption, scoring 9377 versus the i7-9700’s 4322, a 53.9% advantage. This suggests the newer Raptor Lake architecture includes significantly faster cryptographic instructions.

Q: What is the performance difference in average benchmark scores?

A: The difference is negligible. The i7-9700 has an average benchmark score of 18180, while the i5-1334U sits at 18154, a gap of just 0.1%. Both are ranked in the 72nd percentile of all CPUs.

Q: Which processor handles data compression and sorting better?

A: The i7-9700 is the clear winner here. It beats the i5-1334U by 20.5% in data compression (181411 vs 150568) and by 38.7% in random string sorting (23482 vs 16933), indicating stronger memory bandwidth or cache performance for these tasks.

Q: Are these processors comparable in their nearest rival groups?

A: Both CPUs sit at the same performance tier. The i7-9700’s nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-1365U and AMD Ryzen 7 5700U, all with average scores around 18177-18189. The i5-1334U’s nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 3 8300G and the same Ryzen 7 5700U, with deltaPct values of -0.1%, placing it essentially at parity with the i7-9700.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear split based on workload type. The Intel Core i5-1334U is the better choice for single-threaded responsiveness and encryption tasks, where its modern architecture delivers leads of 17.6% to 53.9%. Its 10 cores and 12 threads also give it an edge in PassMark multithread and Cinebench R15 multi-core, though those margins are modest. For users prioritizing heavy multi-threaded rendering, the i7-9700 is the stronger pick—its 29.6% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 69.2% advantage in extended instructions are decisive. The i7-9700 also wins in data compression, random string sorting, and physics, making it more suitable for scientific or data-processing tasks. Given the i5-1334U’s active production status and the i7-9700’s end-of-life designation, the mobile chip is the forward-looking choice, but the desktop part remains competitive in specific domains. Neither CPU is universally superior; the winner depends entirely on the workload mix.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every core specification. The i7-9700 has 8 cores and 8 threads, while the i5-1334U offers 10 cores and 12 threads. Base clocks are starkly different: the i7-9700 runs at 3.00 GHz, whereas the i5-1334U lists a base clock of 1300.00 MHz, though boost clocks are close at 4.70 GHz and 4.60 GHz respectively. Thermal design power is a major differentiator—the i7-9700 is rated at 65W, while the i5-1334U consumes just 15W. They use different sockets: the i7-9700 is on Intel Socket 1151, while the i5-1334U uses Intel BGA 1744. Memory support also diverges, with the i7-9700 supporting only DDR4 and the i5-1334U supporting both DDR4 and DDR5. The i7-9700’s memory bandwidth is rated at 42.7 GB/s, while the i5-1334U has no listed bandwidth figure. PCIe capabilities differ as well: the i7-9700 uses Gen 3 with 16 lanes, while the i5-1334U uses Gen 4 with 8 lanes. Integrated graphics are different, with the i7-9700 featuring UHD Graphics 630 and the i5-1334U having Iris Xe Graphics 80EU. Market segments are opposite—desktop for the i7-9700, mobile for the i5-1334U—and production statuses reflect this: the i7-9700 is end-of-life, while the i5-1334U is active.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap is generational. The i7-9700 is built on Coffee Lake, a 14 nm process from Intel’s foundry, with a die size of 180.3 mm². The i5-1334U uses Raptor Lake, specifically Raptor Lake-U, on a 10 nm process, also from Intel, with no die size listed. Cache layouts diverge significantly: the i7-9700 has 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 per core, while the i5-1334U has 80 KB of L1 and 1.25 MB of L2 per core. Both share 12 MB of L3 cache. The i7-9700 is from the Core i7 (Coffee Lake Refresh) generation, released in April 2019, while the i5-1334U is from the Core i5 (Raptor Lake-U) generation, released in January 2023. Neither supports ECC memory, and both have locked multipliers. The i7-9700’s part number is SRG13, while the i5-1334U’s is SRML5. The i5-1334U’s higher per-core L1 and L2 caches, combined with its newer 10 nm process, explain its single-thread advantages, while the i7-9700’s larger die and older process may contribute to its strengths in memory-intensive workloads.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-1334U wins in scenarios that favor single-thread speed and modern instruction sets. This includes everyday desktop responsiveness, light productivity, and any application relying on encryption—where its 53.9% lead in data encryption is unmatched. It also takes integer math (20.3% ahead), floating-point math (0.8% ahead), and PassMark multithread (1.4% ahead), making it suitable for mixed general-purpose computing. Its 17.6% single-thread advantage and 34% Cinebench R15 single-core lead suggest it excels in lightly-threaded tasks like web browsing or office applications, though its lower TDP of 15W points to a mobile design intended for battery efficiency.

The Intel Core i7-9700 wins in heavy multi-threaded and data-processing workloads. Its 29.6% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 69.2% advantage in extended instructions indicate dominance in rendering, simulation, and scientific computing. The 20.5% win in data compression, 38.7% in random string sorting, and 13.6% in physics further reinforce its strength in data manipulation and computational physics. With a 65W TDP and desktop socket, it is designed for sustained performance in a stationary system, making it the choice for users who prioritize raw throughput over portability. The i7-9700 also edges out the i5-1334U in Cinebench R20 multi-core (1.4%) and single-core (1.5%), showing it is not entirely outclassed even in newer workloads. Ultimately, the i5-1334U is the pick for mobile users and encryption-heavy tasks, while the i7-9700 remains the superior option for desktop users running multi-threaded applications.