Intel Core i5-14401E vs Intel Core i5-14500 Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data splits these two Raptor Lake Refresh desktop processors into distinct roles. The Intel Core i5-14500 is the clear multi-threaded workhorse, winning four of the six recorded head-to-head tests and placing in the 86th percentile of all CPUs in the database. The Intel Core i5-14401E, by contrast, posts a 60th percentile ranking but takes a decisive victory in the Cinebench R23 suite, where its single-core and multi-core scores both exceed the i5-14500 by wide margins.

For workloads that scale across cores, the i5-14500 is the appropriate choice. Its 14 cores and 20 threads deliver substantially higher scores in Cinebench R15 and R20 multi-core tests, and it also carries a much higher average benchmark score of 38,531 compared to 5,253 for the i5-14401E, reflecting the broader suite of tests recorded for the i5-14500. The i5-14401E, with 6 cores and 12 threads, should be selected only when the specific Cinebench R23 results matter more than the general-purpose core-count advantage. The data shows no scenario where the i5-14401E wins on overall throughput; its wins are confined to the R23 test generation.

Where Each One Wins

The i5-14500 dominates in older Cinebench versions and in the wider database context. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 2,435 against 1,830 for the i5-14401E, a 24.8% advantage. The gap widens in Cinebench R20 multi-core: 10,985 versus 7,627, a 30.6% margin. Single-core results in those same tests also favor the i5-14500, with 273 versus 258 in R15 (5.5% lead) and 1,550 versus 1,076 in R20 (30.6% lead). These results indicate that for rendering tasks using the R15 or R20 engines, the i5-14500 delivers meaningfully higher throughput.

The i5-14401E claims its territory in Cinebench R23. Its multi-core score of 18,161 beats the i5-14500's 15,012 by 21%. The single-core gap is even larger: 2,564 versus 1,917, a 33.8% advantage. This is an unusual pattern, where the newer R23 test shows the opposite outcome from the older R15 and R20 tests. The recorded data does not explain why this inversion occurs, but it is consistent across both multi-core and single-core runs in that suite. Users whose software relies specifically on the R23 benchmark engine would see better results with the i5-14401E, despite its lower core count.

Architecture Differences

Both processors share the same fundamental design: Raptor Lake architecture on a 10 nm process node, built by Intel, with a die size of 215 mm² and an Intel Socket 1700 interface. Neither has an unlocked multiplier, and both support DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, along with ECC memory. PCIe connectivity is identical, with Gen 5 and 16 lanes from the CPU. The production status for both is listed as active.

The core configuration is where they diverge sharply. The i5-14401E uses 6 cores and 12 threads, while the i5-14500 uses 14 cores and 20 threads. This extra core count is the primary driver of the multi-core performance differences in the older Cinebench tests. Cache also differs: the i5-14401E has 20 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i5-14500 has 24 MB. L1 and L2 cache are the same per core at 80 KB and 1.25 MB respectively. Clock speeds favor the i5-14500, with a base clock of 2.60 GHz and boost clock of 5.00 GHz, compared to 2.50 GHz base and 4.70 GHz boost for the i5-14401E. The integrated graphics differ as well, with the i5-14401E using UHD Graphics 730 and the i5-14500 using UHD Graphics 770. The release dates are not aligned: the i5-14500 launched on 2024-01-07, while the i5-14401E launched on 2024-06-30.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i5-14500 has 14 cores and 20 threads, while the Intel Core i5-14401E has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: Is there a difference in the L3 cache size?

A: Yes. The i5-14500 has 24 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i5-14401E has 20 MB. Both have 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The i5-14500 boosts to 5.00 GHz, compared to 4.70 GHz for the i5-14401E. The base clocks are 2.60 GHz and 2.50 GHz respectively.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?

A: Yes, both support DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, and both support ECC memory.

Q: How do their integrated graphics compare?

A: The i5-14401E includes UHD Graphics 730, while the i5-14500 includes UHD Graphics 770. The database does not provide benchmark scores for these iGPUs.

Q: Which processor has a higher overall benchmark percentile?

A: The i5-14500 sits in the 86th percentile of all CPUs, while the i5-14401E sits in the 60th percentile. The i5-14500 also has a much higher average benchmark score of 38,531 versus 5,253.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result in the recorded data is the Cinebench R23 inversion. In the multi-core test, the i5-14401E scores 18,161, which is 21% higher than the i5-14500's 15,012. In the single-core R23 test, the i5-14401E scores 2,564 against 1,917, a 33.8% lead. These are the only two wins for the i5-14401E, but they are substantial margins, particularly the single-core figure.

The i5-14500 answers with dominant performances in the other four tests. The largest margin is a 30.6% lead in both Cinebench R20 multi-core and single-core. In R20 multi-core, the i5-14500 records 10,985 versus 7,627. In R20 single-core, it records 1,550 versus 1,076. The R15 tests show narrower but still clear wins: 2,435 versus 1,830 in multi-core (24.8% lead) and 273 versus 258 in single-core (5.5% lead). Across all six head-to-head tests, the i5-14500 wins four, the i5-14401E wins two, and the average delta in the i5-14500's favor is large in the R15 and R20 generations.

Looking at the nearest rivals for each processor adds context. The i5-14401E's average score of 5,253 places it within 0.8% of the Intel Core i5-13400T (5,210), 0.2% behind the Intel Core i9-10850K (5,240) and Intel Core i7-11700B (5,241), and 0.1% behind the Intel Xeon E5-2699A v4 (5,259). The i5-14500's average score of 38,531 sits 0.1% behind the Intel Core Ultra 5 235T (38,561), 0.4% ahead of the Intel Xeon w3-2525 (38,392), 0.5% ahead of the Intel Core 9 270H (38,335), and 0.6% ahead of the Intel Core Ultra 9 285H (38,312). These deltas show that the i5-14500 competes with a much higher tier of processors in the database's overall scoring, while the i5-14401E sits near older high-end desktop parts.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specification fields, all drawn from the recorded data. The core and thread counts are the most significant: 6 cores and 12 threads for the i5-14401E versus 14 cores and 20 threads for the i5-14500. Clock speeds also differ, with the i5-14500 having a 0.10 GHz higher base clock and a 0.30 GHz higher boost clock. The L3 cache is 4 MB larger on the i5-14500 (24 MB versus 20 MB). The integrated graphics differ, with UHD Graphics 730 on the i5-14401E and UHD Graphics 770 on the i5-14500. The launch dates differ by roughly six months, with the i5-14500 releasing on 2024-01-07 and the i5-14401E on 2024-06-30. The i5-14500 has a recorded launch MSRP of $232; the i5-14401E has no launch MSRP recorded in the database. The part numbers also differ: Q49JSRNJS for the i5-14401E and SRN3T for the i5-14500. All other listed specifications, including socket, architecture, process node, die size, memory support, PCIe configuration, ECC support, and unlocked multiplier status, are identical between the two.