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

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data splits cleanly between these two processors, and the outcome is one-sided. The Intel Core i5-14500HX wins every recorded benchmark in the comparison set. Across six Cinebench tests, covering both single-core and multi-core workloads, the i5-14500HX takes all six wins. The Intel Core i5-14401E records zero wins in the head-to-head comparison.

This is not a narrow victory. The margin is consistent and substantial. In every Cinebench test, the i5-14500HX leads by roughly 25 percent. The smallest delta is 25 percent in single-core R15, and the largest is 25.1 percent across multi-core R15, R20, and R23, plus single-core R20 and R23. For a desktop part facing a mobile part, the direction of the result is notable, the mobile processor is the faster one in this matchup.

The use-case split is therefore straightforward. The i5-14500HX is the choice for any workload that appears in the recorded benchmarks. That includes rendering tasks such as Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, both single-threaded and multi-threaded. The i5-14401E does not hold an advantage in any measured category. There is no scenario in the data where the desktop chip wins, whether the workload is lightly threaded or heavily threaded.

The percentile rankings reinforce this. The i5-14500HX sits at the 84th percentile among all CPUs in the database, while the i5-14401E sits at the 60th percentile. The average benchmark score tells the same story: the i5-14500HX averages 35094, while the i5-14401E averages 5253. That gap reflects the different benchmark suites recorded for each chip, but the head-to-head Cinebench results are the controlled comparison, and they favor the i5-14500HX in every run.

Architecture Differences

Both processors come from Intel's Core 14th Gen family and share the Raptor Lake architecture. The i5-14401E uses the Raptor Lake-R variant, while the i5-14500HX uses the Raptor Lake-HX variant. Both are built on Intel's 10 nm process node at Intel's own foundry. The die sizes differ, the i5-14401E measures 215 mm², while the i5-14500HX measures 257 mm².

The core and thread counts diverge sharply. The i5-14401E has 6 cores and 12 threads. The i5-14500HX has 14 cores and 20 threads. This difference explains much of the multi-core performance gap. The i5-14500HX has more than twice the cores and nearly double the threads.

Cache configurations also differ. Both chips have 80 KB of L1 cache per core. The L2 cache is larger on the i5-14500HX at 2 MB per core, compared to 1.25 MB per core on the i5-14401E. The shared L3 cache is 24 MB on the i5-14500HX versus 20 MB on the i5-14401E.

Clock speeds favor the i5-14500HX as well. The base clock is 2.60 GHz on the i5-14500HX versus 2.50 GHz on the i5-14401E. The boost clock is 4.90 GHz versus 4.70 GHz. The TDP rating is lower on the i5-14500HX at 55 watts, while the i5-14401E is rated at 65 watts, despite the i5-14500HX being the faster part in benchmarks.

The sockets are different. The i5-14401E uses Intel Socket 1700, a desktop socket. The i5-14500HX uses Intel BGA 1964, a mobile socket. The market segment confirms this: the i5-14401E is a Desktop part, while the i5-14500HX is a Mobile part.

Memory support is identical in type, both support DDR4 and DDR5 with dual-channel buses. Both support ECC memory. Both have PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The integrated graphics differ, the i5-14401E has UHD Graphics 730, while the i5-14500HX has UHD Graphics 770.

The multiplier unlock status differs. The i5-14401E has a locked multiplier. The i5-14500HX has an unlocked multiplier. The release dates also differ, the i5-14500HX was released in early 2024, while the i5-14401E was released later in mid-2024.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench results show a consistent pattern. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-14500HX scores 2442 against 1830 for the i5-14401E, a 25.1 percent advantage. In R15 single-core, the i5-14500HX scores 344 against 258, a 25 percent lead.

Cinebench R20 follows the same trajectory. Multi-core: the i5-14500HX scores 10178, the i5-14401E scores 7627, a 25.1 percent gap. Single-core: the i5-14500HX scores 1436, the i5-14401E scores 1076, again a 25.1 percent difference.

Cinebench R23, the most demanding of the three Cinebench versions in the data, shows the largest absolute gaps. Multi-core: the i5-14500HX scores 24234, the i5-14401E scores 18161, a 25.1 percent lead. Single-core: the i5-14500HX scores 3421, the i5-14401E scores 2564, a 25.1 percent advantage.

The single-core margins are nearly identical to the multi-core margins, around 25 percent in every case. This indicates that the i5-14500HX does not merely win through raw core count, its per-core performance is also stronger, driven by higher base and boost clocks and larger L2 cache per core.

The i5-14500HX also has additional benchmark data in the database beyond Cinebench. It records Geekbench scores of 10171 multi-core and 2129 single-core. It has PassMark results across multiple workloads: data compression at 333851, data encryption at 19502, extended instructions at 20019, prime number finding at 130, floating point math at 69442, integer math at 95584, multithreaded at 28508, physics at 1911, random string sorting at 36219, and single-thread at 3629. The i5-14401E has no corresponding Geekbench or PassMark entries in the recorded data, so no direct comparison is possible for those tests.

The nearest rivals in the database provide context. The i5-14500HX averages 35094, which places it within 0.3 percent of the Intel Core i9-12900HX, 0.3 percent of the Intel Core i7-13800H, and 0.4 percent of the Intel Core 7 253PTE. It is 0.5 percent below the Intel Core i7-12700K. The i5-14401E averages 5253, which is 0.1 percent below the Intel Xeon E5-2699A v4, 0.2 percent above the Intel Core i7-11700B, 0.2 percent above the Intel Core i9-10850K, and 0.8 percent above the Intel Core i5-13400T.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

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

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i5-14500HX has a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. The Intel Core i5-14401E has a boost clock of 4.70 GHz.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The Intel Core i5-14401E is rated at 65 watts TDP. The Intel Core i5-14500HX is rated at 55 watts TDP.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core i5-14401E and the Intel Core i5-14500HX support ECC memory. Both also support DDR4 and DDR5 with dual-channel memory buses.

Q: Are the integrated graphics different?

A: Yes. The Intel Core i5-14401E uses UHD Graphics 730. The Intel Core i5-14500HX uses UHD Graphics 770.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core i5-14500HX has 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel Core i5-14401E has 20 MB of shared L3 cache.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear winner. The Intel Core i5-14500HX outperforms the Intel Core i5-14401E in every recorded benchmark. Across all six Cinebench tests, the i5-14500HX leads by approximately 25 percent. The multi-core advantage is expected given the 14-core versus 6-core configuration, but the single-core advantage of 25 percent shows that the i5-14500HX also has superior per-core performance, driven by higher clocks and larger L2 cache.

The i5-14500HX also ranks higher in the overall database, at the 84th percentile versus the 60th percentile for the i5-14401E. Its average benchmark score of 35094 is substantially higher than the 5253 average of the i5-14401E, though those averages incorporate different test suites.

The i5-14401E does have some characteristics that may suit specific systems. It uses the desktop Socket 1700, which is common in desktop motherboards. It is a desktop part with a 65 watt TDP. It has a locked multiplier. It has UHD Graphics 730. But in terms of raw performance, the recorded benchmarks give it no wins.

The i5-14500HX is a mobile part with a lower TDP of 55 watts, yet it delivers higher performance in every measured category. It has an unlocked multiplier, UHD Graphics 770, and a larger die at 257 mm². It uses Intel BGA 1964, which is a mobile socket. Its release date is earlier, and it is the faster chip.

For any workload represented in the benchmark data, the i5-14500HX is the superior processor. The i5-14401E does not win a single test. The verdict is unambiguous, the Intel Core i5-14500HX is the faster processor in this comparison.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-14401E | Intel Core i5-14500HX |

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

| Cores | 6 | 14 |

| Threads | 12 | 20 |

| Base Clock | 2.50 GHz | 2.60 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.70 GHz | 4.90 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 55 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1700 | Intel BGA 1964 |

| Architecture | Raptor Lake-R | Raptor Lake-HX |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 10 nm |

| Die Size | 215 mm² | 257 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 80 KB (per core) | 80 KB (per core) |

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

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

| Memory Support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Dual-channel |

| ECC Memory | Yes | Yes |

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

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

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Production Status | Active | Active |

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

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | Yes |

| Part Number | Q49JSRNJS | SRMXJ |