Intel Core i5-14401E vs Intel Core i9-10900X Comparison

The Intel Core i9-10900X and Intel Core i5-14401E are two desktop processors from different generations, and the recorded data shows a clear performance leader in Cinebench while the i5 counters with platform features the i9 does not offer. The i9-10900X wins every head-to-head benchmark in the database, but the i5-14401E brings ECC memory, integrated graphics, a lower TDP, and newer memory and PCIe standards. This analysis breaks down the architecture, benchmark results, and use cases based strictly on the measured data.

The Verdict

The Intel Core i9-10900X is the faster processor in every recorded Cinebench test. It leads the i5-14401E by 4.4% in Cinebench R15 multi-core, R20 multi-core, R20 single-core, R23 multi-core, and R23 single-core, and by 4.3% in Cinebench R15 single-core. Its average benchmark score of 5555 also tops the i5's 5253, and it sits at the 61st percentile of all CPUs compared to the i5's 60th. For anyone prioritizing raw compute throughput, the i9-10900X is the clear choice.

The i5-14401E, however, is not without merit. It supports ECC memory, includes UHD Graphics 730, has a 65W TDP versus the i9's 165W, and runs on a newer 10nm process with DDR4 and DDR5 memory support. It also offers PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes, while the i9 uses PCIe Gen 3. If those platform capabilities matter more than a 4.4% Cinebench lead, the i5-14401E is the better fit. The data does not show a scenario where the i5 wins a benchmark, but its feature set addresses needs the i9 cannot.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel generations and microarchitectures. The i9-10900X uses Cascade Lake, built on a 14nm process, while the i5-14401E uses Raptor Lake, built on a 10nm process. The i9 has 10 cores and 20 threads, while the i5 has 6 cores and 12 threads. Base clocks differ: the i9 runs at 3.70 GHz, the i5 at 2.50 GHz, but both boost to 4.70 GHz. The i9 has an unlocked multiplier; the i5 is locked.

Cache layouts also differ. The i9 provides 64 KB of L1 and 1 MB of L2 per core, with 19.25 MB of shared L3. The i5 provides 80 KB of L1 and 1.25 MB of L2 per core, with 20 MB of shared L3. The i5's die size is listed at 215 mm²; the i9's is not recorded.

Memory support is a major split. The i9 uses DDR4 with a quad-channel memory bus, while the i5 supports both DDR4 and DDR5 with a dual-channel bus. The i9 does not support ECC memory; the i5 does. The i9 has no integrated graphics, while the i5 includes UHD Graphics 730. PCIe generations also differ: the i9 is Gen 3, the i5 is Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only). Sockets are incompatible: the i9 uses Intel Socket 2066, the i5 uses Intel Socket 1700. The i9 was released in 2019, the i5 in 2024.

Where Each One Wins

The i9-10900X wins all six Cinebench tests in the head-to-head comparison. Its largest margins are 4.4% in multi-core and single-core tests, with the single-core R15 margin at 4.3%. This makes it the better choice for any workload that relies on sustained multi-threaded or single-threaded CPU performance, as measured by Cinebench. The i9 also has a higher average benchmark score (5555 vs 5253) and a higher percentile rank (61 vs 60).

The i5-14401E wins on platform features rather than benchmark scores. It supports ECC memory, which the i9 does not. It includes integrated graphics, allowing a system to run without a discrete GPU. Its 65W TDP is significantly lower than the i9's 165W, which can simplify cooling and power delivery. It also supports DDR5 memory and PCIe Gen 5, both of which are absent from the i9. For users who need ECC, an iGPU, or the latest memory and I/O standards, the i5-14401E is the appropriate pick, even though it trails in every recorded Cinebench test.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Core i9-10900X scores 18957, while the Intel Core i5-14401E scores 18161, giving the i9 a 4.4% lead.

Q: Does the i5-14401E support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the i5-14401E supports ECC memory. The i9-10900X does not.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The i9-10900X has a TDP of 165W, while the i5-14401E has a TDP of 65W.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The i5-14401E includes UHD Graphics 730. The i9-10900X has no integrated graphics.

Q: What memory types are supported?

A: The i9-10900X supports DDR4 with a quad-channel bus. The i5-14401E supports both DDR4 and DDR5 with a dual-channel bus.

Q: How do their core counts compare?

A: The i9-10900X has 10 cores and 20 threads. The i5-14401E has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data covers six Cinebench tests, and the i9-10900X wins all of them. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i9 scores 1910 against the i5's 1830, a 4.4% advantage. In R15 single-core, the i9 scores 269 versus 258, a 4.3% lead. Moving to Cinebench R20, the i9 posts 7961 in multi-core and 1123 in single-core, while the i5 posts 7627 and 1076, respectively, with the i9 ahead by 4.4% in both. Cinebench R23 shows the same pattern: the i9 scores 18957 multi-core and 2676 single-core, against the i5's 18161 and 2564, again a 4.4% margin in each.

The i9 also has Geekbench scores in the database: 10104 multi-core and 1438 single-core. The i5 does not have recorded Geekbench results, so no comparison is possible there. The i9's average benchmark score of 5555 places it at the 61st percentile, with nearest rivals including the Intel Celeron G6900 (5561, -0.1%), Intel Core i9-11900KB (5587, -0.6%), Intel Atom x7433RE (5601, -0.8%), and Intel Core i7-12700T (5606, -0.9%). The i5's average of 5253 places it at the 60th percentile, with nearest rivals including the Intel Xeon E5-2699A v4 (5259, -0.1%), Intel Core i7-11700B (5241, 0.2%), Intel Core i9-10850K (5240, 0.2%), and Intel Core i5-13400T (5210, 0.8%). These figures show both processors sit in a similar performance band, but the i9 holds a consistent edge in every Cinebench test recorded.