Intel Core i5-14401E vs Intel Core i9-10850K Comparison

The Intel Core i5-14401E and Intel Core i9-10850K occupy the same performance tier in the aggregate database, with average benchmark scores of 5253 and 5240, respectively. Despite belonging to different generations—Raptor Lake Refresh versus Comet Lake—the data shows a remarkably tight competition. The i9-10850K edges out the i5-14401E across every single head-to-head benchmark in the Cinebench suite, though the margins are consistently narrow at roughly 2.3 percent. The i5-14401E counters with architectural modernity, a smaller process node, and support for newer memory standards, while the i9-10850K brings double the core count and a higher boost clock. For workloads that scale with thread count, the older i9 still holds a slight advantage, but the i5 closes the gap through generational efficiency gains.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i9-10850K wins in every measured benchmark category, taking all six head-to-head tests in the Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 suites. Its victories in both multicore and single-core tests are consistent, with deltas ranging from -2.3 percent to -2.4 percent relative to the i5-14401E. The largest single advantage appears in Cinebench R20 single-core, where the i9 scores 1102 against the i5's 1076, a 2.4 percent gap. In every other test, the margin is a uniform 2.3 percent, suggesting that the i9's advantage is systemic rather than workload-specific.

The Intel Core i5-14401E, despite losing all head-to-head matchups, wins on platform-level attributes. It supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, whereas the i9-10850K is limited to DDR4. The i5 also features PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU, compared to the i9's PCIe Gen 3. These differences do not appear in benchmark scores but matter for system longevity and peripheral bandwidth. The i5 remains in active production, while the i9 is end-of-life, making the i5 the more viable option for new system builds.

For users prioritizing raw compute performance in the Cinebench workloads, the i9-10850K is the clear winner. For those building a new system today, the i5-14401E offers a modern socket, newer PCIe standard, and broader memory compatibility, even if it trails slightly in benchmark output. The i9's 10 cores and 20 threads versus the i5's 6 cores and 12 threads do not translate into a proportional performance lead, which speaks to the i5's superior per-core efficiency.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent different design philosophies separated by four years of development. The i5-14401E uses the Raptor Lake architecture on a 10 nm process node, fabricated by Intel with a die size of 215 mm². The i9-10850K uses the older Comet Lake architecture on a 14 nm process node, also fabricated by Intel, with a die size of 206 mm². The process node difference is significant: the 10 nm node allows the i5 to pack more transistors per area, though the i9's larger physical core count still fits within a slightly smaller die.

Core configurations differ sharply. The i5-14401E has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the i9-10850K has 10 cores and 20 threads. This 40 percent core advantage for the i9 does not produce a corresponding benchmark lead, indicating that the i5's newer architecture delivers substantially higher instructions per clock. Cache layouts also diverge: the i5 uses 80 KB of L1 and 1.25 MB of L2 per core, with 20 MB of shared L3. The i9 uses 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, also with 20 MB of shared L3. The i5's larger per-core L2 cache is a notable architectural upgrade.

Memory support is a key differentiator. The i5-14401E supports both DDR4 and DDR5 in a dual-channel configuration, and it includes ECC memory support. The i9-10850K supports only DDR4, also dual-channel, with a rated memory bandwidth of 46.9 GB/s and no ECC. The i5's integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 730, while the i9 uses UHD Graphics 630. The i5 is multiplier-locked, whereas the i9 has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. The i9's base clock of 3.60 GHz and boost clock of 5.20 GHz are both higher than the i5's 2.50 GHz base and 4.70 GHz boost, yet the i5 still nearly matches the i9 in performance.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench R15 multicore test shows the i9-10850K scoring 1873 against the i5-14401E's 1830, a delta of -2.3 percent. The single-core R15 test follows the same pattern: the i9 scores 264 versus the i5's 258, again -2.3 percent. These results indicate that the i9's advantage is not dependent on thread scaling, as it wins equally in single-threaded and multi-threaded workloads.

In Cinebench R20, the multicore scores are 7808 for the i9 and 7627 for the i5, maintaining the -2.3 percent delta. The single-core scores show the largest gap in the entire comparison: the i9 reaches 1102 while the i5 manages 1076, a -2.4 percent delta. This single-core margin of 26 points is the widest difference observed across all tests, suggesting that the i9's higher boost clock of 5.20 GHz provides a measurable advantage in lightly threaded scenarios.

Cinebench R23 multicore results are 18592 for the i9 and 18161 for the i5, again a -2.3 percent gap. The R23 single-core test shows 2624 for the i9 versus 2564 for the i5, reverting to the standard -2.3 percent margin. Across all six benchmarks, the i9-10850K wins by a margin that never exceeds 2.4 percent and never falls below 2.3 percent. This consistency is remarkable given the architectural differences, and it positions the i9 as marginally faster in every Cinebench workload while the i5 remains within striking distance.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i9-10850K has 10 cores and 20 threads, while the Intel Core i5-14401E has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: Does the newer i5-14401E outperform the i9-10850K in any benchmark?

A: No. In all six head-to-head Cinebench tests (R15, R20, R23, both multicore and single-core), the i9-10850K wins with a delta of -2.3 percent or -2.4 percent relative to the i5.

Q: What are the memory support differences between the two CPUs?

A: The i5-14401E supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in dual-channel mode, with ECC support. The i9-10850K supports only DDR4, also dual-channel, with no ECC and a rated bandwidth of 46.9 GB/s.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The i9-10850K has a boost clock of 5.20 GHz, compared to the i5-14401E's boost clock of 4.70 GHz.

Q: Are both processors still in production?

A: No. The i5-14401E is listed as active in production, while the i9-10850K is marked as end-of-life.

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

A: The i5-14401E has an average benchmark score of 5253, while the i9-10850K scores 5240, a difference of 0.2 percent in favor of the i5.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-14401E | Intel Core i9-10850K |

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

| Cores | 6 | 10 |

| Threads | 12 | 20 |

| Base Clock | 2.50 GHz | 3.60 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.70 GHz | 5.20 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 125 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1700 | Intel Socket 1200 |

| Architecture | Raptor Lake | Comet Lake |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 14 nm |

| Die Size | 215 mm² | 206 mm² |

| L1 Cache (per core) | 80 KB | 64 KB |

| L2 Cache (per core) | 1.25 MB | 256 KB |

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

| Memory Support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR4 |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not specified | 46.9 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 730 | UHD Graphics 630 |

| Production Status | Active | End-of-life |

| Release Date | 2024-06-30 | 2020-07-26 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | Yes |

| Part Number | Q49JSRNJS | SRK51 |