Intel Core i5-14401E vs Intel Core i7-14700HX Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data records a decisive overall victory for the Intel Core i7-14700HX, which takes 5 of the 6 head-to-head comparisons. The most dramatic gap appears in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where the i7-14700HX scores 3812 against the i5-14401E's 1830, a 52% advantage. This margin is consistent with the core count disparity between the two parts, and it establishes the i7 as the clear choice for heavily threaded workloads.

The Cinebench R20 multi-core test shows a similar pattern. The i7-14700HX posts 13059 versus 7627 for the i5-14401E, a 41.6% lead. That same 41.6% delta appears in Cinebench R20 single-core, where the i7 reaches 1843 while the i5 manages 1076. The i7's single-core dominance in this test is notable because the i5 actually holds a higher base clock, but the i7's superior boost frequency and larger cache appear to compensate.

Cinebench R23 multi-core narrows the gap somewhat. The i7-14700HX scores 24595, and the i5-14401E scores 18161, which puts the i7 ahead by 26.2%. This is still a substantial margin, though the fact that the gap shrinks from 52% in R15 to 26.2% in R23 suggests the i5 scales relatively better in the newer renderer.

The one benchmark where the i5-14401E wins outright is Cinebench R23 single-core. The i5 posts 2564, while the i7-14700HX records 2103, giving the i5 a 21.9% lead. This is the only head-to-head test where the i5 comes out ahead, and it indicates that the i5's higher base clock of 2.50 GHz, compared to 2.10 GHz for the i7, helps in lightly threaded single-core tasks that do not benefit from boost headroom.

The i7-14700HX also demonstrates strength in the Cinebench R15 single-core test, scoring 296 versus 258 for the i5, a 12.8% margin. The i7's advantage here is smaller than in the multi-core tests, but it still confirms that the i7 is not merely a multi-threaded specialist; it also handles single-threaded work well, except in the R23 variant where the i5 pulls ahead.

Looking at the broader benchmark averages, the i7-14700HX sits at an average benchmark score of 45953, which places it in the 89th percentile among all CPUs. The i5-14401E has an average score of 5253, putting it in the 60th percentile. The nearest rivals for the i7 include the AMD EPYC 7303 at 45960 (0% delta), the AMD EPYC 4364P at 45970 (0% delta), the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 at 46030 (0.2% behind), and the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 at 46062 (0.2% behind). These results show the i7-14700HX trading blows with server-class EPYC parts and newer mobile chips, landing within a fraction of a percent of each.

The i5-14401E's nearest rivals are a generation older or lower-tier. The Intel Xeon E5-2699A v4 scores 5259, just 0.1% ahead of the i5. The Intel Core i7-11700B scores 5241, 0.2% behind. The Intel Core i9-10850K scores 5240, also 0.2% behind. The Intel Core i5-13400T scores 5210, 0.8% behind. This places the i5 in a competitive band with older high-end desktop parts, but it does not approach the performance tier occupied by the i7.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins the Cinebench R23 multi-core test?

A: The Intel Core i7-14700HX wins with a score of 24595, while the Intel Core i5-14401E scores 18161, a 26.2% difference.

Q: Is there any benchmark where the Intel Core i5-14401E beats the Intel Core i7-14700HX?

A: Yes, in Cinebench R23 single-core, the i5-14401E scores 2564 versus 2103 for the i7-14700HX, giving the i5 a 21.9% lead.

Q: How do the two processors compare in the Cinebench R20 single-core test?

A: The Intel Core i7-14700HX scores 1843, and the Intel Core i5-14401E scores 1076, a 41.6% advantage for the i7.

Q: What is the percentile ranking for each processor?

A: The Intel Core i7-14700HX ranks in the 89th percentile among all CPUs, while the Intel Core i5-14401E ranks in the 60th percentile.

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-14700HX has 20 cores and 28 threads, while the Intel Core i5-14401E has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core i5-14401E and the Intel Core i7-14700HX support ECC memory.

Architecture Differences

Both processors come from Intel's Core 14th Gen series and share the Raptor Lake architecture, but they diverge significantly in implementation. The i5-14401E uses the Raptor Lake-R codename and is built for the desktop market segment, while the i7-14700HX uses the Raptor Lake-HX codename and targets the mobile segment. Both use the same 10 nm process node and are manufactured by Intel, but the die sizes differ: the i5 measures 215 mm², while the i7 is larger at 257 mm².

The core configurations are the most striking difference. The i5-14401E has 6 cores and 12 threads. The i7-14700HX has 20 cores and 28 threads, a substantial increase that explains most of the multi-core performance gap. The i5 has a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. The i7 has a lower base clock of 2.10 GHz but a higher boost clock of 5.50 GHz, which helps it win in several single-core tests despite the lower base frequency.

Cache hierarchies also differ. Both allocate 80 KB of L1 cache per core, but the L2 cache per core is 1.25 MB on the i5 and 2 MB on the i7. The shared L3 cache is 20 MB on the i5 versus 33 MB on the i7. The larger L3 on the i7 likely contributes to its stronger performance in cache-sensitive workloads.

The integrated graphics differ as well. The i5-14401E uses UHD Graphics 730, while the i7-14700HX uses UHD Graphics 770. Both support DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, and both use PCIe Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes. The i5 is a locked part, meaning its multiplier is not unlocked, while the i7 has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. The sockets are different: the i5 uses Intel Socket 1700, and the i7 uses Intel BGA 1964, which reflects the desktop versus mobile split.

The release dates differ by roughly six months. The i7-14700HX was released on 2024-01-07, while the i5-14401E was released on 2024-06-30. Both are listed as Active in production status.

The Verdict

The benchmark data clearly favors the Intel Core i7-14700HX for multi-threaded workloads. Its 20 cores and 28 threads deliver a 52% advantage in Cinebench R15 multi-core and a 26.2% advantage in Cinebench R23 multi-core, making it the stronger option for rendering, compilation, and other parallel tasks. The i7 also holds a 41.6% lead in Cinebench R20 single-core, which is surprising given the i5's higher base clock, and it ranks in the 89th percentile overall.

The Intel Core i5-14401E is the better choice for a specific scenario: Cinebench R23 single-core workloads, where it beats the i7 by 21.9%. Its lower core count and 12 threads place it in the 60th percentile, and its nearest rivals are older desktop parts like the Intel Core i9-10850K and Intel Core i7-11700B, which it edges out by 0.2%. The i5 is also a desktop part with a smaller die, which may matter for systems with physical space constraints.

For users who need maximum multi-core throughput, the data points to the i7-14700HX. For users who prioritize single-core performance in the R23 renderer specifically, the i5-14401E shows a measurable advantage. The i7's unlocked multiplier and higher boost clock give it additional flexibility, while the i5's locked multiplier keeps it fixed at its stock frequencies.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across several specification fields. The i5-14401E has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the i7-14700HX has 20 cores and 28 threads. The base clock is 2.50 GHz on the i5 and 2.10 GHz on the i7, but the boost clock is 4.70 GHz on the i5 and 5.50 GHz on the i7. The TDP is 65 for the i5 and 55 for the i7.

The sockets are distinct: the i5 uses Intel Socket 1700, and the i7 uses Intel BGA 1964. The codenames differ, with the i5 listed as Raptor Lake-R and the i7 as Raptor Lake-HX. The die sizes are 215 mm² for the i5 and 257 mm² for the i7. The L2 cache per core is 1.25 MB on the i5 and 2 MB on the i7, while the L3 cache is 20 MB shared on the i5 and 33 MB shared on the i7.

The integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 730 on the i5 and UHD Graphics 770 on the i7. The market segment is Desktop for the i5 and Mobile for the i7. The multiplier is locked on the i5 and unlocked on the i7. The release dates are 2024-06-30 for the i5 and 2024-01-07 for the i7. The part numbers are Q49JSRNJS for the i5 and SRMXG for the i7. Both processors share the same process node, foundry, memory support, memory bus, ECC support, PCIe configuration, L1 cache per core, and production status.