Intel Core i5-14400 vs Intel Core i7-12800H Comparison

The Intel Core i7-12800H and Intel Core i5-14400 are separated by only 6 points in average benchmark score (32121 vs 32115), placing both in the 82nd percentile of all CPUs. Despite this near-identical overall standing, the head-to-head data reveals a starkly split performance profile: the mobile i7-12800H wins four tests, while the desktop i5-14400 claims thirteen. The average scores are effectively tied, yet the distribution of wins indicates they excel in entirely different workloads.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most decisive victory in the entire comparison belongs to the i5-14400 in Cinebench R23 single-core, where it scores 3009 against the i7-12800H’s 1828. That is a 39.2% advantage, the largest deltaPct recorded in any test. The i5’s lead in R23 multi-core is also substantial: 21315 versus 15283, a 28.3% gap. These two results alone demonstrate that the newer desktop architecture holds a commanding lead in sustained all-core rendering workloads.

The i7-12800H counters with its strongest win in PassMark find prime numbers, scoring 102 against 80, a 27.5% advantage. It also leads in PassMark physics (1682 vs 1396, +20.5%) and integer math (86488 vs 82017, +5.5%). The fourth and final win for the mobile chip is narrower: Cinebench R15 multi-core at 2222 vs 2148, a 3.4% margin.

The remaining benchmarks trend consistently toward the i5-14400, though with varying margins. PassMark data compression shows a 13.3% lead for the i5 (314995 vs 273247), and extended instructions favor it by 17.2% (19816 vs 16408). Single-threaded PassMark scores put the i5 ahead by 8% (3741 vs 3440). The i5 also wins Cinebench R20 multi-core (8952 vs 8463, +5.5%) and single-core (1263 vs 1194, +5.5%). Smaller margins appear in PassMark multithread (25080 vs 24346, +2.9%), random string sorting (32346 vs 30453, +5.9%), floating point math (61549 vs 60961, +1%), and data encryption (16731 vs 16234, +3%).

Notably, the Cinebench R23 multi-core result is the single largest differentiator by absolute score difference (6032 points), while the R23 single-core test is the largest by percentage. The i7-12800H’s wins are concentrated in older Cinebench R15 and specific PassMark integer-heavy tasks, suggesting its hybrid core layout performs well in certain legacy workloads.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent different Intel generations and market segments. The i7-12800H is a mobile part from the 12th Gen Core series, built on Alder Lake architecture (codename Alder Lake-H) with a 10 nm process node. The i5-14400 is a desktop chip from the 14th Gen Core series, using Raptor Lake architecture (codename Raptor Lake-R) on the same 10 nm process node. Both are manufactured by Intel, and both have a die size around 215-217 mm².

Core counts differ significantly: the i7-12800H has 14 cores and 20 threads, while the i5-14400 has 10 cores and 16 threads. The mobile chip offers four additional cores and four extra threads, yet the desktop chip still wins most multi-threaded benchmarks. The i7-12800H has a base clock of 2.40 GHz and boosts to 4.80 GHz, whereas the i5-14400 starts at 2.50 GHz and boosts to 4.70 GHz. The i5 has a higher base clock by 0.10 GHz, but the i7 has a higher boost clock by 0.10 GHz.

Cache configuration also differs. Both share the same L1 (80 KB per core) and L2 (1.25 MB per core) caches, but the i7-12800H has 24 MB of shared L3 cache versus 20 MB for the i5-14400. This 4 MB L3 advantage for the mobile part does not translate into benchmark superiority. The TDP ratings reflect their intended environments: the i7-12800H is rated at 45 W, while the i5-14400 is rated at 65 W.

Socket and platform details separate them further. The i7-12800H uses Intel BGA 1744, which is soldered for mobile use, while the i5-14400 uses Intel Socket 1700 for desktop builds. PCIe support differs: the i7-12800H provides Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only), whereas the i5-14400 offers Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics are also different: the i7-12800H pairs with Iris Xe 96EU, while the i5-14400 uses UHD Graphics 730. ECC memory support is exclusive to the i5-14400 (true), with the i7-12800H lacking this feature (false). Both support DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration.

The market segment is the most fundamental split: the i7-12800H is a mobile processor, while the i5-14400 is a desktop processor. Both are listed as Active in production status. The i5-14400 has a release date of 2024-01-07 and a launch MSRP of $221, which is stated here once for reference. The i7-12800H has no release date or MSRP listed in the data.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The i7-12800H scores 32121, and the i5-14400 scores 32115. The difference is only 6 points, with the i7-12800H ahead by a negligible margin (deltaPct of 0).

Q: Why does the i5-14400 win Cinebench R23 multi-core despite having fewer cores?

A: The i5-14400 scores 21315 versus 15283 for the i7-12800H, a 28.3% advantage. Despite having 10 cores versus 14, the i5-14400’s higher base clock (2.50 GHz vs 2.40 GHz) and its newer Raptor Lake architecture appear to deliver superior sustained multi-core performance in this workload.

Q: In which benchmark does the i7-12800H have its largest percentage win?

A: The i7-12800H’s biggest win is in PassMark find prime numbers, where it scores 102 against 80, a 27.5% advantage. It also shows strong wins in PassMark physics (20.5%) and integer math (5.5%).

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The i5-14400 has ECC memory support set to true, while the i7-12800H has it set to false.

Q: What are the socket requirements for each processor?

A: The i7-12800H uses Intel BGA 1744 (a mobile socket), while the i5-14400 uses Intel Socket 1700 (a desktop socket). They are not interchangeable.

Q: Which processor has a higher single-threaded PassMark score?

A: The i5-14400 scores 3741 in both PassMark single_thread and singlethread tests, while the i7-12800H scores 3440 in both. This gives the i5-14400 an 8% lead in single-threaded performance.

Specification Differences

| Field | Intel Core i7-12800H | Intel Core i5-14400 |

|-------|----------------------|----------------------|

| Cores | 14 | 10 |

| Threads | 20 | 16 |

| Base Clock | 2.40 GHz | 2.50 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.80 GHz | 4.70 GHz |

| TDP | 45 W | 65 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1744 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Architecture | Alder Lake | Raptor Lake |

| Codename | Alder Lake-H | Raptor Lake-R |

| Generation | Core i7 (Alder Lake-H) | Core i5 (Raptor Lake Refresh) |

| Die Size | 217 mm² | 215 mm² |

| L3 Cache | 24 MB (shared) | 20 MB (shared) |

| ECC Memory | false | true |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 20 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Iris Xe 96EU | UHD Graphics 730 |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Release Date | null | 2024-01-07 |

| Launch MSRP | null | $221 |

| Part Number | SRLD2 | SRN3QSRN46 |

Where Each One Wins

The i5-14400 is the clear winner for single-threaded and most multi-threaded productivity tasks. Its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 3009 versus 1828 is a 39.2% advantage, making it the superior choice for applications that rely heavily on single-core performance, such as many legacy games or lightly-threaded software. The i5 also dominates in Cinebench R23 multi-core (21315 vs 15283, +28.3%) and R20 multi-core (8952 vs 8463, +5.5%), indicating stronger sustained all-core rendering capability. For data compression workloads, the i5 leads with 314995 versus 273247 (+13.3%). It also wins in extended instructions, encryption, floating-point math, random string sorting, and multithreaded PassMark tests. The i5-14400’s desktop platform (Socket 1700) and 65 W TDP make it suitable for stationary builds where power limits are less restrictive.

The i7-12800H wins in specific integer-heavy and legacy workloads. Its PassMark find prime numbers score of 102 versus 80 (+27.5%) is its standout result, suggesting strength in prime-number calculation and related integer operations. The PassMark physics test also favors the i7 (1682 vs 1396, +20.5%), indicating better performance in physics simulation tasks. Its integer math score of 86488 versus 82017 (+5.5%) reinforces this pattern. The i7 also edges out the i5 in Cinebench R15 multi-core (2222 vs 2148, +3.4%). The mobile chip’s 45 W TDP and BGA 1744 socket position it for laptops, and its 14-core/20-thread configuration provides additional parallelism for workloads that scale across many threads. The 4 MB larger L3 cache (24 MB vs 20 MB) may contribute to its wins in cache-sensitive integer tasks. Overall, the i7-12800H is preferable for mobile users needing strong integer performance, while the i5-14400 is the choice for desktop users prioritizing single-core speed and modern multi-core rendering.