Intel Core i5-14401E vs Intel Core i5-14450HX Comparison

Intel Core i5-14401E and Intel Core i5-14450HX are both 14th Generation Intel parts built on the Raptor Lake architecture, but they target different segments: the 14401E is a desktop processor on Intel Socket 1700, while the 14450HX is a mobile processor on Intel BGA 1964. The benchmark data shows a clear overall winner in the 14450HX, which takes all six recorded head-to-head Cinebench tests, but the magnitude of those wins and the underlying architectural differences define which processor fits specific workloads.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core i5-14450HX wins every single benchmark in the head-to-head comparison, a clean sweep of six tests. The largest margin appears in the multi-core tests, where the 14450HX consistently delivers roughly a 9.7% advantage. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the 14450HX scores 20108 against the 14401E's 18161, a difference of 1947 points. The same pattern holds in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the 14450HX posts 8445 versus 7627, and in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where it scores 2026 against 1830. The delta is virtually identical across all three multi-core tests, indicating a consistent scaling advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk.

Single-core performance tells a similar story, though the margins are slightly tighter. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the 14450HX scores 2838 versus the 14401E's 2564, a 9.7% lead. Cinebench R20 single-core shows 1191 against 1076, and Cinebench R15 single-core shows 285 against 258. The single-core deltas range from 9.5% to 9.7%, meaning the 14450HX's advantage in lightly threaded tasks is nearly as large as its multi-core lead. This suggests the 14450HX does not just have more cores, it also has a higher boost clock, recorded at 4.80 GHz versus 4.70 GHz on the 14401E.

The average benchmark score in the database further separates the two. The 14450HX records an average score of 32040 across all its benchmark entries, while the 14401E averages 5253. This large gap is partly due to the 14450HX having additional PassMark tests in its record, but even the shared Cinebench results show a consistent 9.7% edge. The 14450HX also sits at the 82nd percentile of all CPUs in the database, while the 14401E sits at the 60th percentile, a 22-point spread that places them in clearly different performance tiers.

Where Each One Wins

Given the 14450HX wins all six recorded head-to-head tests, the performance split is straightforward: the 14450HX is the faster processor in every measured category. Multi-core workloads favor the 14450HX by roughly 9.7% across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, making it the better choice for rendering, compilation, and other heavily threaded tasks. The 14450HX has 10 cores and 16 threads, compared to the 14401E's 6 cores and 12 threads, which explains the consistent multi-core margin. The extra 4 cores provide parallel throughput that the 14401E cannot match, even though both share a 20 MB L3 cache.

Single-core workloads also favor the 14450HX, with a 9.5% to 9.7% lead in Cinebench single-core tests. This edge comes from the 14450HX's higher boost clock of 4.80 GHz versus 4.70 GHz, though the 14401E has a slightly higher base clock at 2.50 GHz versus 2.40 GHz. For daily tasks like web browsing, office applications, and light coding, the 14450HX will feel snappier, but the difference is not dramatic enough to call the 14401E sluggish. The 14401E remains a capable desktop processor, but it loses every head-to-head comparison.

The 14401E has no benchmark wins in this comparison. Its only advantages are structural: it fits a desktop socket, uses a smaller die at 215 mm² versus 257 mm², and has a higher TDP of 65 watts versus 55 watts. These are not performance wins, they are platform and efficiency characteristics. The 14450HX's PassMark results, which are not recorded for the 14401E, show strong integer math at 78330, floating point at 58037, and multithreaded performance at 23680, but these cannot be directly compared since the 14401E lacks matching tests in the database.

Architecture Differences

Both processors use Intel's Raptor Lake architecture on a 10 nm process node, manufactured by Intel. The codenames differ: the 14401E is Raptor Lake-R, while the 14450HX is Raptor Lake-HX. The generation field confirms this, listing the 14401E as Core i5 (Raptor Lake Refresh) and the 14450HX as Core i5 (Raptor Lake-HX Refresh). Despite the shared architecture, the physical designs diverge significantly.

The core counts are the most obvious difference. The 14401E has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the 14450HX has 10 cores and 16 threads. This means the 14450HX has 4 additional physical cores and 4 additional threads, a 66.7% increase in core count and a 33.3% increase in thread count. The L2 cache also scales with cores: the 14401E has 1.25 MB per core, while the 14450HX has 2 MB per core, giving the 14450HX a larger total L2 footprint despite the shared 20 MB L3 cache. L1 cache is identical at 80 KB per core.

The sockets are incompatible. The 14401E uses Intel Socket 1700, a desktop platform, while the 14450HX uses Intel BGA 1964, a mobile platform. This alone dictates the usage scenario: the 14401E goes into a desktop motherboard, the 14450HX is soldered into a laptop or mobile workstation. The market segment field confirms this, listing the 14401E as Desktop and the 14450HX as Mobile.

Clock speeds differ slightly. The 14401E has a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. The 14450HX has a base clock of 2.40 GHz and a boost clock of 4.80 GHz. The 14450HX gives up 100 MHz of base clock but gains 100 MHz of boost clock. The 14450HX also has an unlocked multiplier, while the 14401E does not, meaning the mobile part can be overclocked if the platform allows it.

Integrated graphics differ as well. The 14401E includes UHD Graphics 730, while the 14450HX includes UHD Graphics 710. Both support DDR4 and DDR5 memory in dual-channel mode, and both support ECC memory. Both use PCIe Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes. The die size differs: the 14401E measures 215 mm², the 14450HX measures 257 mm², reflecting the larger core count. The 14450HX has a lower TDP at 55 watts versus 65 watts, which is notable given its higher performance, likely due to mobile power management.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core i5-14450HX has 10 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core i5-14401E has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: What is the performance difference in multi-core workloads?

A: The 14450HX leads by 9.7% in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests, scoring 2026, 8445, and 20108 respectively, versus the 14401E's 1830, 7627, and 18161.

Q: Are these processors compatible with the same motherboards?

A: No. The 14401E uses Intel Socket 1700 for desktops, while the 14450HX uses Intel BGA 1964 for mobile devices.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The 14450HX has a boost clock of 4.80 GHz, while the 14401E has a boost clock of 4.70 GHz.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the 14401E and the 14450HX support ECC memory.

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

A: The 14450HX has an average benchmark score of 32040, while the 14401E has an average benchmark score of 5253.

The Verdict

The Intel Core i5-14450HX is the faster processor in every measured benchmark. It wins all six Cinebench tests, with a consistent 9.7% lead in multi-core and single-core workloads. Its 10 cores, 16 threads, higher boost clock, and larger L2 cache per core make it the superior choice for any performance-sensitive application, from rendering to heavy multitasking. The database places it at the 82nd percentile of all CPUs, versus the 60th percentile for the 14401E, confirming a substantial gap in overall capability.

The Intel Core i5-14401E is not a weak processor, but it loses cleanly to the 14450HX. Its 6 cores and 12 threads are sufficient for mainstream desktop tasks, and its lower die size and higher base clock offer some platform-level benefits. However, in head-to-head performance, it has zero wins. The 14450HX also has a lower TDP at 55 watts versus 65 watts, meaning it delivers more performance while consuming less power on paper.

The choice depends entirely on the platform. For a desktop system with a Socket 1700 motherboard, the 14401E is the only option of the two. For a mobile laptop or workstation with BGA 1964, the 14450HX is the only option. There is no scenario where both fit the same hardware. Given that the 14450HX wins every benchmark and carries a higher performance percentile, any user with a choice between the two should select the 14450HX, provided the mobile socket is acceptable. The 14401E remains a viable desktop part, but it cannot match the 14450HX in measured performance.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-14401E | Intel Core i5-14450HX |

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

| Cores | 6 | 10 |

| Threads | 12 | 16 |

| Base Clock | 2.50 GHz | 2.40 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.70 GHz | 4.80 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 55 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1700 | Intel BGA 1964 |

| Codename | Raptor Lake-R | Raptor Lake-HX |

| Die Size | 215 mm² | 257 mm² |

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

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

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 730 | UHD Graphics 710 |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | Yes |

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