Intel Core i5-14401E vs Intel Core i7-11700B Comparison

The Intel Core i5-14401E and Intel Core i7-11700B deliver nearly identical benchmark results, with the i5-14401E taking a narrow lead in every Cinebench test. The average benchmark scores are separated by just 12 points (5253 vs 5241), placing both processors at the 60th percentile among all CPUs. Despite the i7-11700B offering more cores and threads, the i5-14401E’s newer architecture and higher boost clock efficiency yield a consistent, albeit small, performance edge across all measured workloads.

Where Each One Wins

The data shows a clean sweep for the Intel Core i5-14401E across all six Cinebench head-to-head benchmarks. In multi-core tests, the i5-14401E wins by 0.2% in Cinebench R15 (1830 vs 1826), R20 (7627 vs 7609), and R23 (18161 vs 18119). Single-core results follow the same pattern: the i5-14401E leads by 0.4% in R15 (258 vs 257) and by 0.2% in both R20 (1076 vs 1074) and R23 (2564 vs 2558).

There is no test where the i7-11700B comes out ahead. However, the margins are so thin that they fall within normal run-to-run variation. The i7-11700B’s advantage in core count (8 vs 6) and thread count (16 vs 12) does not translate into a multi-core victory; the i5-14401E compensates through architectural efficiency and a higher boost clock relative to its base. For users who prioritize raw thread throughput, the i7-11700B’s additional cores are a theoretical asset, but the benchmark results indicate that this advantage does not materialize in Cinebench workloads.

The practical takeaway is that neither chip dominates in a meaningful way. The i5-14401E wins all six contests, but the largest margin is a mere 0.4%. This suggests that for most applications, the two processors should feel functionally identical, with the i5-14401E holding a slight edge in both single-threaded and multi-threaded scenarios.

Architecture Differences

The i5-14401E is built on Raptor Lake (Raptor Lake-R) with a 10 nm process, while the i7-11700B uses Tiger Lake (Tiger Lake-H), also on a 10 nm node. Both are fabricated by Intel, but the architectural generations differ significantly. The i5-14401E features 6 cores and 12 threads, whereas the i7-11700B offers 8 cores and 16 threads. This is a fundamental divergence: the i7-11700B has 33% more cores, yet loses all benchmark comparisons.

Cache configurations also differ. The i5-14401E has 20 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i7-11700B has 24 MB. Both share the same L1 (80 KB per core) and L2 (1.25 MB per core) designs. The i7-11700B’s larger L3 cache does not help it overcome the i5-14401E’s performance lead in the tested workloads.

Die size and socket are distinct: the i5-14401E measures 215 mm² on Intel Socket 1700, while the i7-11700B is 190 mm² on Intel BGA 1787. The i5-14401E is classified as a desktop part and remains in active production, whereas the i7-11700B is a mobile processor that is end-of-life. Memory support diverges as well: the i5-14401E supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the i7-11700B is limited to DDR4. The i7-11700B has a specified memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, a figure not listed for the i5-14401E. The i5-14401E supports ECC memory, while the i7-11700B does not.

PCIe capabilities differ: the i5-14401E offers Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i7-11700B provides Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics also vary, with the i5-14401E using UHD Graphics 730 and the i7-11700B featuring UHD Graphics (Xe-LP). Base and boost clocks are close but not identical: the i5-14401E runs at 2.50 GHz base and 4.70 GHz boost, while the i7-11700B runs at 3.20 GHz base and 4.80 GHz boost. The i7-11700B has higher clocks in both metrics, yet still trails in every benchmark.

The Verdict

From the data, the Intel Core i5-14401E is the better performer in every measured category. It wins all six Cinebench tests, with margins ranging from 0.2% to 0.4%. Its average benchmark score of 5253 is slightly higher than the i7-11700B’s 5241, and it sits at the same 60th percentile. The i5-14401E also offers modern platform advantages: DDR5 memory support, ECC memory capability, and PCIe Gen 5 connectivity. It remains in active production, while the i7-11700B is end-of-life.

The i7-11700B’s sole advantages are more cores (8 vs 6) and threads (16 vs 12), a larger L3 cache (24 MB vs 20 MB), and higher base and boost clocks. None of these translate into benchmark wins. The i7-11700B also has a higher memory bandwidth specification (51.2 GB/s) and more PCIe lanes (20 vs 16), but these do not affect the Cinebench results.

For a new build, the i5-14401E is the clear choice based on performance and platform longevity. For an existing system on Intel BGA 1787, the i7-11700B remains a capable option, but the data shows it is not faster than the i5-14401E. Users who need ECC memory or DDR5 support should select the i5-14401E. Users who require more PCIe lanes for expansion may prefer the i7-11700B, but they will sacrifice performance in all benchmarked workloads.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has a higher multi-core score in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core i5-14401E scores 18161, while the Intel Core i7-11700B scores 18119. The i5-14401E leads by 0.2%.

Q: Does the i7-11700B’s 8-core setup beat the i5-14401E’s 6-core setup?

A: No. Despite having 8 cores and 16 threads versus 6 cores and 12 threads, the i7-11700B loses all six Cinebench comparisons to the i5-14401E.

Q: Which processor supports DDR5 memory?

A: Only the Intel Core i5-14401E supports DDR5. The Intel Core i7-11700B is limited to DDR4 memory.

Q: What is the average benchmark score difference between the two?

A: The i5-14401E has an average benchmark score of 5253, while the i7-11700B has 5241. The difference is 12 points, with the i5-14401E ahead.

Q: Are both processors still in production?

A: No. The Intel Core i5-14401E is listed as active, while the Intel Core i7-11700B is end-of-life.

Q: Which CPU has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i7-11700B has a boost clock of 4.80 GHz, which is higher than the i5-14401E’s 4.70 GHz. However, the i5-14401E still wins all single-core benchmarks.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The i5-14401E wins every head-to-head benchmark, but the margins are consistently narrow. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-14401E scores 1830 versus 1826 for the i7-11700B, a 0.2% lead. The single-core R15 result shows a slightly larger gap: 258 vs 257, a 0.4% difference. This is the largest margin in any test.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the multi-core scores are 7627 for the i5-14401E and 7609 for the i7-11700B, again a 0.2% lead. The single-core R20 scores are 1076 vs 1074, also a 0.2% difference. Cinebench R23 follows the identical pattern: multi-core scores of 18161 vs 18119 (0.2% lead) and single-core scores of 2564 vs 2558 (0.2% lead).

The consistency of the 0.2% margin across five of six tests suggests a systematic, if tiny, performance advantage for the i5-14401E. The one outlier, R15 single-core at 0.4%, may indicate that the i5-14401E’s architecture handles low-thread workloads slightly better. The i7-11700B’s higher boost clock (4.80 GHz vs 4.70 GHz) does not overcome this, highlighting that raw clock speed is not the sole determinant of single-thread performance.

In the nearestRivals comparison, the i5-14401E’s average score of 5253 places it just above the Intel Xeon E5-2699A v4 (5259, -0.1% delta) and the i7-11700B (5241, +0.2% delta). The i7-11700B, in turn, is nearly tied with the Intel Core i9-10850K (5240, 0% delta). This clustering shows that both chips sit in a performance band where other Intel parts like the i9-10850K and i5-13400T are also close, with the i5-13400T trailing at 5210.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specifications. The i5-14401E has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the i7-11700B has 8 cores and 16 threads. Base clocks are 2.50 GHz for the i5-14401E and 3.20 GHz for the i7-11700B. Boost clocks are 4.70 GHz vs 4.80 GHz, favoring the i7-11700B.

Socket compatibility is completely different: Intel Socket 1700 for the i5-14401E, and Intel BGA 1787 for the i7-11700B. The i5-14401E uses a 215 mm² die, while the i7-11700B uses a 190 mm² die. L3 cache is 20 MB shared on the i5-14401E and 24 MB shared on the i7-11700B. L1 and L2 caches are identical at 80 KB and 1.25 MB per core, respectively.

Memory support is a major divider: the i5-14401E supports DDR4 and DDR5, while the i7-11700B supports only DDR4. The i7-11700B has a specified memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s; no such figure is listed for the i5-14401E. ECC memory is supported on the i5-14401E but not on the i7-11700B.

PCIe connectivity differs: the i5-14401E provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i7-11700B provides Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 730 on the i5-14401E and UHD Graphics (Xe-LP) on the i7-11700B. Market segments also differ: the i5-14401E is a desktop part, while the i7-11700B is a mobile part. Production status is active for the i5-14401E and end-of-life for the i7-11700B. Release dates are June 2024 for the i5-14401E and May 2021 for the i7-11700B. Neither processor has a listed launch MSRP, and both have locked multipliers.