Intel Core i5-14400 vs Intel Core i9-14901E Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has the higher core count?

A: The Intel Core i5-14400 has 10 cores, while the Intel Core i9-14901E has 8 cores. Both processors support 16 threads.

Q: How does the i9-14901E compare to the i5-14400 in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The i9-14901E scores 25753, which is 17.2% higher than the i5-14400's 21315 in the same test.

Q: Are there any benchmark categories where the i5-14400 beats the i9-14901E?

A: Yes, the i5-14400 wins in PassMark data compression (314995 vs 288777, a 9.1% advantage) and PassMark extended instructions (19816 vs 17249, a 14.9% advantage).

Q: What is the difference in boost clock speeds?

A: The i9-14901E boosts to 5.60 GHz, while the i5-14400 boosts to 4.70 GHz.

Q: Do both CPUs support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the i5-14400 and i9-14901E support ECC memory and use dual-channel DDR4 or DDR5.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each processor?

A: The i5-14400 has an average benchmark score of 32115, and the i9-14901E has an average score of 37911.

Architecture Differences

Both processors belong to the Core 14th Gen series, use Raptor Lake architecture with the Raptor Lake-R codename, and are built on Intel's 10 nm process at Intel foundries. They share the same Intel Socket 1700 and support DDR4 and DDR5 memory over a dual-channel bus. Both have Gen 5 PCIe with 16 CPU lanes and support ECC memory.

The i5-14400 uses a 10-core, 16-thread configuration. Its die size is 215 mm². The L1 cache is 80 KB per core, L2 cache is 1.25 MB per core, and L3 cache is 20 MB shared. It includes Intel UHD Graphics 730.

The i9-14901E uses 8 cores and 16 threads. Its die size is 257 mm². The L1 cache is also 80 KB per core, but L2 cache increases to 2 MB per core, and L3 cache is 36 MB shared. It integrates Intel UHD Graphics 770. The larger L3 cache and higher per-core L2 cache give the i9-14901E a substantial cache advantage despite having fewer cores.

The i9-14901E has a higher base clock of 2.80 GHz versus 2.50 GHz on the i5-14400, and a higher boost clock of 5.60 GHz versus 4.70 GHz. Both CPUs have a 65 W TDP, are not multiplier unlocked, and target the desktop market segment. The i5-14400 was released in January 2024, while the i9-14901E released in June 2024. Both are listed as Active in production.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a decisive overall win for the i9-14901E, which takes 15 of 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons. The magnitude of the wins varies significantly by workload type.

In Cinebench tests, the i9-14901E consistently leads by exactly 17.2% across all six tests. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i9 scores 2595 against 2148. In R15 single-core, it scores 366 against 303. The R20 results show 10816 versus 8952 multi-core, and 1526 versus 1263 single-core. In R23, the i9 scores 25753 multi-core and 3635 single-core, against 21315 and 3009 for the i5. This uniform 17.2% gap across rendering workloads indicates a consistent architectural advantage in both threaded and single-threaded rendering tasks.

The PassMark suite shows a broader spread. The largest i9 win is in prime number finding, where it scores 189 versus 80, a 57.7% advantage. Physics also shows a huge gap: 3041 versus 1396, a 54.1% lead for the i9. Integer math favors the i9 by 27.2% (112736 vs 82017), floating point math by 24.1% (81089 vs 61549), and random string sorting by 17.4% (39138 vs 32346). Data encryption shows a 9.9% i9 advantage (18571 vs 16731). PassMark multi-thread favors the i9 at 30298 versus 25080, a 17.2% lead, and single-thread shows 4354 versus 3741, a 14.1% advantage.

The i5-14400 claims two wins. In data compression, it scores 314995 against 288777, a 9.1% edge. In extended instructions, it scores 19816 versus 17249, a 14.9% lead. These wins indicate that the i5's higher core count (10 vs 8) helps in certain vectorized and compression workloads that scale with core availability rather than raw clock speed or cache size.

The overall average benchmark scores confirm the i9's superiority: 37911 for the i9-14901E versus 32115 for the i5-14400. The i9 also ranks in the 86th percentile of all CPUs, compared to the 82nd percentile for the i5.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-14400 | Intel Core i9-14901E |

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

| Cores | 10 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 2.50 GHz | 2.80 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.70 GHz | 5.60 GHz |

| Die Size | 215 mm² | 257 mm² |

| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core) | 2 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 20 MB (shared) | 36 MB (shared) |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 730 | UHD Graphics 770 |

| Release Date | 2024-01-07 | 2024-06-30 |

| Launch MSRP | $221 | Not available |

| Part Number | SRN3QSRN46 | Q49ESRNJH |

Both processors share identical socket, memory support, memory bus, ECC support, PCIe configuration, TDP, process node, foundry, architecture, codename, generation series, market segment, production status, L1 cache, and multiplier status. The i5-14400 has a launch MSRP of $221, while no launch MSRP is recorded for the i9-14901E.

Where Each One Wins

The i9-14901E is the clear choice for compute-heavy workloads. Rendering tasks in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 show a consistent 17.2% advantage in both multi-core and single-core tests. Prime number finding, physics simulation, integer math, floating point math, and random string sorting all show substantial i9 leads ranging from 17.4% to 57.7%. Data encryption also favors the i9 by 9.9%. Users running scientific simulations, physics engines, or heavy number-crunching applications will see measurable gains with the i9.

The i5-14400 wins in data compression by 9.1% and extended instructions by 14.9%. These results suggest the i5's additional two cores provide an edge in parallel compression algorithms and workloads that leverage extended x86 instruction sets effectively. For file archiving, data packaging, or applications with heavy SIMD instruction usage, the i5-14400 delivers better recorded performance.

The i9-14901E also leads in single-threaded performance across all measured tests. Its 14.1% PassMark single-thread advantage and 17.2% Cinebench single-core advantage indicate faster per-thread execution, which benefits responsiveness in lightly threaded applications and improves overall system feel.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous. The Intel Core i9-14901E outperforms the Intel Core i5-14400 in 15 of 17 recorded tests, with an average benchmark score of 37911 versus 32115. The i9's higher boost clock of 5.60 GHz, larger 36 MB L3 cache, and 2 MB per-core L2 cache more than compensate for its lower core count of 8 versus 10.

The i9-14901E is the superior processor for rendering, physics, mathematics, encryption, and single-threaded applications. Its consistent 17.2% lead across all Cinebench tests and massive advantages in prime number finding (57.7%) and physics (54.1%) make it the stronger choice for professional workloads and demanding compute tasks.

The i5-14400 retains specific advantages in data compression and extended instructions, where its 10-core configuration provides a measurable benefit. Users whose primary workloads involve compression or extended instruction sets may find the i5's wins relevant. However, these two wins are narrow in scope compared to the i9's dominance across the broader benchmark suite.

For users selecting between these two processors, the data directs toward the i9-14901E for almost all compute-intensive scenarios. The i5-14400 remains a viable option only for workloads specifically aligned with its compression and extended instruction strengths. The i9's higher percentile ranking (86th vs 82nd) and higher average benchmark score confirm its position as the more capable processor in this comparison.