Intel Core i5-14400 vs Intel Core i5-14450HX Comparison

The Intel Core i5-14400 and Intel Core i5-14450HX are both ten-core, sixteen-thread Raptor Lake parts, but they target different platforms: the former is a desktop chip on Socket 1700, the latter a mobile chip on BGA 1964. Benchmark data shows the desktop part edges ahead in nearly every test, while the mobile chip counters with wins in two specialized workloads.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i5-14450HX boosts to 4.80 GHz, while the Intel Core i5-14400 tops out at 4.70 GHz. Despite the 100 MHz advantage for the mobile chip, the desktop part wins all single-threaded benchmark comparisons.

Q: How do the two chips compare in multi-threaded rendering?

A: In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Intel Core i5-14400 scores 21315 versus 20108 for the 14450HX, a 6% lead for the desktop part. The same 6% gap appears across Cinebench R15 and R20 multi-core tests.

Q: Are these processors unlocked for overclocking?

A: The Intel Core i5-14450HX has an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel Core i5-14400 does not. This makes the mobile chip the only one of the pair with user-accessible overclocking options.

Q: Do both chips support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core i5-14400 and the Intel Core i5-14450HX support ECC memory. They also both support DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration.

Q: What is the largest benchmark margin between the two?

A: The biggest gap is in PassMark extended instructions, where the Intel Core i5-14400 scores 19816 against 17207 for the 14450HX, a 15.2% difference. The only wins for the mobile chip are smaller: 18.4% in prime numbers and 5.4% in physics.

Q: How close are the overall average benchmark scores?

A: The Intel Core i5-14400 averages 32115, while the Intel Core i5-14450HX averages 32040 — a difference of just 0.2%. Both sit at the 82nd percentile among all CPUs.

Architecture Differences

Both chips share the Raptor Lake architecture and a 10 nm process node from Intel, but the implementations diverge in die size and cache layout. The Intel Core i5-14400 uses a die of 215 mm², while the Intel Core i5-14450HX is physically larger at 257 mm². L1 cache is identical at 80 KB per core for both, and L3 cache is also the same at 20 MB shared. The difference lies in L2: the 14400 has 1.25 MB per core, while the 14450HX doubles that to 2 MB per core.

The integrated graphics differ as well. The desktop 14400 pairs with UHD Graphics 730, whereas the mobile 14450HX uses UHD Graphics 710. Both support the same PCIe Gen 5 specification with 16 CPU lanes, and both support DDR4 and DDR5 memory in dual-channel mode, with ECC support enabled on both.

Platform-level differences are significant. The 14400 is a desktop part on Intel Socket 1700 with a 65 W TDP, while the 14450HX is a mobile part on Intel BGA 1964 with a 55 W TDP. The desktop chip has a locked multiplier; the mobile chip has an unlocked multiplier. The 14400 also has a listed launch MSRP of $221, while the 14450HX has no launch MSRP listed.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core i5-14400 dominates the benchmark suite, winning 15 of 17 comparisons. The Cinebench results are remarkably consistent: across R15, R20, and R23, the desktop chip leads by 6% in both multi-core and single-core tests. For example, Cinebench R15 multi-core shows 2148 for the 14400 versus 2026 for the 14450HX, and the single-core test shows 303 versus 285 — a 6.3% margin.

PassMark results follow a similar pattern. The 14400 wins data compression by 13.1% (314995 versus 278538) and extended instructions by 15.2% (19816 versus 17207). Encryption shows a 7.4% lead for the desktop chip (16731 versus 15574). Random string sorting swings 9.4% in favor of the 14400 (32346 versus 29565). Floating point math favors the 14400 at 6.1% (61549 versus 58037), and integer math shows a narrower 4.7% gap (82017 versus 78330).

The multithreaded PassMark score gives the 14400 a 5.9% win (25080 versus 23680), and single-thread performance shows a 2.7% edge (3741 versus 3643). The two single-thread scores are identical in value and delta, confirming consistency in the data.

The Intel Core i5-14450HX claims two wins. In PassMark find prime numbers, it scores 98 against 80 for the 14400 — an 18.4% advantage. In PassMark physics, the mobile chip scores 1475 versus 1396, a 5.4% margin. These are the only tests where the mobile part outperforms the desktop part, and both are niche workloads rather than general-purpose metrics.

Specification Differences

The two chips share many specifications: both have 10 cores, 16 threads, 80 KB L1 per core, 20 MB shared L3, dual-channel memory support for DDR4 and DDR5, ECC support, and PCIe Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes. Both use the Raptor Lake architecture on a 10 nm Intel process and were released on the same date.

The differences are clear in the remaining fields. The 14400 has a base clock of 2.50 GHz, while the 14450HX runs at 2.40 GHz. Conversely, the 14450HX boosts to 4.80 GHz, which is 100 MHz higher than the 14400's 4.70 GHz. TDP differs: 65 W for the desktop chip versus 55 W for the mobile chip. The socket changes from Intel Socket 1700 to Intel BGA 1964.

Cache and silicon differ: the 14400 has 1.25 MB L2 per core and a 215 mm² die, while the 14450HX has 2 MB L2 per core and a 257 mm² die. Integrated graphics go from UHD Graphics 730 on the 14400 to UHD Graphics 710 on the 14450HX. The market segment is Desktop for the 14400 and Mobile for the 14450HX. The multiplier is locked on the 14400 and unlocked on the 14450HX. Only the 14400 has a launch MSRP of $221.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-14400 is the clear choice for general-purpose desktop workloads. Its 6% lead across all Cinebench versions — both single and multi-core — makes it the better pick for rendering, content creation, and any application built on multi-threaded performance. The 15.2% margin in extended instructions suggests a strong advantage for workloads that leverage advanced CPU instruction sets, such as encryption and scientific computing. The 13.1% win in data compression and 9.4% in random string sorting further solidify its position for productivity tasks. With 15 of 17 benchmark wins, the desktop chip is the default recommendation for anyone building a fixed system where power draw and socket type are not constraints.

The Intel Core i5-14450HX has a narrower set of advantages. Its 18.4% win in prime number calculations points to strength in integer-heavy, single-threaded algorithms that rely on fast divide-and-modulo operations. The 5.4% margin in physics simulation suggests a slight edge for game physics or particle-based computation. The mobile chip also carries the unlocked multiplier and a higher boost clock, which matters for users who prioritize overclocking headroom, though the desktop part wins all single-threaded benchmarks anyway. The 14450HX's 2 MB L2 per core versus 1.25 MB on the 14400 hints at better cache locality for certain data-dense workloads, but the benchmark data does not translate that into an overall performance win.

The average scores tell the real story: 32115 for the 14400 versus 32040 for the 14450HX, a 0.2% gap that falls within the noise of the nearest rivals, which include the Intel Core i7-12800H and Intel Core i7-13705H. Both chips sit at the 82nd percentile, so neither is a performance outlier. The 14400 wins on consistency and breadth; the 14450HX wins on two specific tests and offers platform flexibility for mobile builds. For desktop users, the 14400 is the safer and faster pick. For mobile users who need those two specific workload wins, the 14450HX delivers them without sacrificing much else.