Intel Core i5-14401E vs Intel Core i5-14600 Comparison

FAQ

Q: How do the two processors compare in overall benchmark position?

A: The Intel Core i5-14401E sits at the 60th percentile among all CPUs, while the Intel Core i5-14600 reaches the 89th percentile. The i5-14600’s average benchmark score of 44,889 is substantially higher than the i5-14401E’s average of 5,253.

Q: What do the nearest rival comparisons show for each chip?

A: For the i5-14401E, the nearest rivals are the Intel Xeon E5-2699A v4 (0.1% higher average score), Intel Core i7-11700B (0.2% higher), Intel Core i9-10850K (0.2% higher), and Intel Core i5-13400T (0.8% higher). For the i5-14600, rivals include the Intel Core i9-12900KS (0.5% higher), AMD EPYC 4344P (0.5% higher), AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D (0.7% lower), and Intel Core Ultra X9 388H (1% lower).

Q: Which chip wins in Cinebench multicore tests?

A: The i5-14600 wins all six head-to-head Cinebench comparisons. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the i5-14600 scores 30,464 versus 18,161 for the i5-14401E, a delta of 40.4% in favor of the i5-14600.

Q: Are the single-core results similarly one-sided?

A: Yes. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the i5-14600 scores 4,300 against 2,564 for the i5-14401E, also a 40.4% advantage. The same delta percentage appears across every Cinebench iteration, from R15 through R23.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?

A: Both support DDR4 and DDR5 memory with dual-channel buses. Both also support ECC memory, which is notable for workstation use.

Q: What are the integrated graphics differences?

A: The i5-14401E includes UHD Graphics 730, while the i5-14600 includes UHD Graphics 770. The i5-14600’s integrated solution is the higher-tier option.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear split in intended use. The Intel Core i5-14600 is the stronger processor in every recorded benchmark, with a 40.4% advantage across all Cinebench tests (R15, R20, R23, both single-core and multicore). It also holds a much higher average benchmark score (44,889 versus 5,253) and a higher percentile rank (89th versus 60th). For users who need maximum throughput in rendering, compilation, or any multithreaded workload, the i5-14600 is the only choice based on these numbers.

The Intel Core i5-14401E, by contrast, sits in a lower performance tier. Its nearest rivals include the Core i7-11700B and Core i9-10850K, which are older or lower-positioned parts. The i5-14401E’s 60th percentile placement puts it near the middle of the CPU distribution. It would suit systems where the workload is modest and the lower core count is acceptable, but the benchmark data gives no scenario where it outperforms the i5-14600.

The i5-14600 also has a launch MSRP of $255. The i5-14401E has no recorded launch MSRP in the database. Beyond pricing considerations, the performance gap is decisive: six wins for the i5-14600, zero for the i5-14401E in head-to-head tests. The verdict is straightforward: the i5-14600 is the superior part for any compute-heavy task, while the i5-14401E is a lower-tier alternative that does not match it in any measured metric.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are uniform across all six recorded Cinebench tests. The i5-14600 wins every comparison with a delta of 40.4% in each case. This consistency suggests a structural advantage rather than a workload-specific one.

In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i5-14600 scores 3,070 versus 1,830 for the i5-14401E. The single-core R15 test shows 433 against 258. Moving to R20, the multicore scores are 12,794 versus 7,627, and single-core is 1,806 versus 1,076. In R23, the multicore gap widens in absolute terms: 30,464 versus 18,161, while single-core is 4,300 versus 2,564.

The 40.4% delta is identical across all six tests, which is unusual. This indicates that the performance difference scales evenly with the workload type, whether it is single-threaded or heavily parallel. For comparison, the i5-14600’s nearest rival, the Core i9-12900KS, scores 0.5% higher on average, while the i5-14401E’s nearest rival, the Xeon E5-2699A v4, scores only 0.1% higher. The gap between the two processors in this comparison is far larger than the gap between each processor and its own nearest rivals.

The i5-14600 also has additional benchmark data beyond Cinebench. Its Geekbench multicore score is 14,680 and single-core is 2,424. PassMark results include multithread at 35,848, single-thread at 4,167, integer math at 117,078, floating point math at 85,759, and data compression at 434,620. The i5-14401E has no recorded Geekbench or PassMark scores in the database, so these cannot be compared directly.

Specification Differences

The two processors share the same socket (Intel Socket 1700), architecture (Raptor Lake), codename (Raptor Lake-R), generation (Core i5, Raptor Lake Refresh), process node (10 nm), foundry (Intel), memory support (DDR4 and DDR5), memory bus (dual-channel), PCIe configuration (Gen 5, 16 lanes CPU only), and ECC memory support (both true).

The core counts differ substantially. The i5-14401E has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the i5-14600 has 14 cores and 20 threads. This is the most consequential specification gap. Base clocks are 2.50 GHz for the i5-14401E and 2.70 GHz for the i5-14600. Boost clocks are 4.70 GHz versus 5.20 GHz. Both have a TDP of 65.

Cache configurations differ in L2 and L3. The i5-14401E has 1.25 MB L2 per core and 20 MB shared L3. The i5-14600 has 2 MB L2 per core and 24 MB shared L3. Both have 80 KB L1 per core.

Die sizes differ: 215 mm² for the i5-14401E, 257 mm² for the i5-14600. The integrated graphics differ as noted: UHD Graphics 730 versus UHD Graphics 770. The i5-14401E has no recorded launch MSRP, while the i5-14600 has a launch MSRP of $255. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

Release dates differ. The i5-14401E was released on 2024-06-30, while the i5-14600 was released on 2024-01-07. Both are marked as Active in production status.

Architecture Differences

Both processors use the Raptor Lake architecture on Intel’s 10 nm process, built by Intel. The codename is Raptor Lake-R for both, and they belong to the same Core 14th Gen series. The fundamental architecture is identical, so the performance differences come from configuration, not microarchitectural changes.

The core layout differs. The i5-14401E is a 6-core, 12-thread part, which implies a conventional arrangement without performance or efficiency core differentiation in the recorded data. The i5-14600 is a 14-core, 20-thread part, indicating a hybrid configuration that combines a larger number of cores with additional threads per core on some portion. The database does not break down the hybrid split, but the thread count (20) relative to cores (14) suggests a mix of performance and efficiency cores.

The L2 cache per core is larger on the i5-14600 (2 MB versus 1.25 MB), and the shared L3 is also larger (24 MB versus 20 MB). These cache differences contribute to the consistent 40.4% benchmark delta. The i5-14600 also has a larger die (257 mm² versus 215 mm²), which is consistent with additional cores and cache.

The integrated graphics are part of the architecture package: UHD Graphics 770 on the i5-14600 versus UHD Graphics 730 on the i5-14401E. Both support DDR4 and DDR5 memory, and both support ECC memory, which is typical for this architecture generation. The PCIe implementation is identical at Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU.

The process node, foundry, and socket are the same, so there is no manufacturing advantage for either part. The 10 nm node is used for both. The architecture differences are entirely in core count, cache capacity, and clock speeds, with the i5-14600 holding the advantage in every one of those dimensions.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-14600 wins in every benchmark category recorded in the head-to-head data. There are six head-to-head tests, and the i5-14600 wins all six. The i5-14401E records zero wins. The 40.4% delta is uniform across single-core and multicore workloads, so there is no workload class where the i5-14401E closes the gap.

For Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, the i5-14600 delivers higher scores in both single-core and multicore runs. This covers rendering and general CPU compute. The i5-14600 also has additional scores in Geekbench and PassMark that are not present for the i5-14401E, meaning the i5-14600 can be evaluated across a broader set of workloads including integer math, floating point math, data compression, encryption, and physics simulation. The i5-14401E has no recorded scores in those tests.

The i5-14401E’s position is defined by its nearest rivals rather than by direct wins. It sits close to the Core i7-11700B and Core i9-10850K, with deltas under 0.2%. That places it in the same performance class as those older parts. For users constrained to a 6-core, 12-thread configuration, the i5-14401E is a functional choice, but it does not match the i5-14600 in any measured test.

The i5-14600, by contrast, competes with the Core i9-12900KS and AMD EPYC 4344P, both within 0.5% of its average score. It also slightly exceeds the Ryzen 5 7500X3D and Core Ultra X9 388H. The i5-14600’s 89th percentile placement places it in the upper tier of desktop CPUs, whereas the i5-14401E’s 60th percentile is mid-range.

In practical terms, the i5-14600 is the part for multithreaded workloads such as video encoding, 3D rendering, and software compilation, where its 14 cores and 20 threads provide a substantial advantage. The i5-14401E would be limited to lighter tasks, but even in single-core tests the i5-14600 leads by the same 40.4% margin. There is no use case in the recorded data where the i5-14401E outperforms the i5-14600.