Intel Core i5-14401E vs Intel Core i9-7900X Comparison

The Intel Core i5-14401E and the Intel Core i9-7900X represent two very different generations of desktop computing. The data shows the newer i5-14401E, a 6-core Raptor Lake part, consistently outperforms the older 10-core Skylake-X i9-7900X across every Cinebench benchmark recorded. While the i9-7900X offers more physical cores and threads, its architectural age and lower per-core efficiency result in a clean sweep for the i5-14401E in all six head-to-head comparisons, making the benchmark results a clear indicator of generational improvement rather than a close contest.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results are remarkably one-sided, with the Intel Core i5-14401E winning all six Cinebench comparisons. The margins are consistent, hovering around 2.7% in every multi-core test. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i5-14401E scores 18,161 against the i9-7900X's 17,680, a 2.7% advantage. This pattern repeats in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the i5-14401E posts 7,627 versus 7,425 for the i9-7900X, again a 2.7% lead. The older Cinebench R15 multi-core test shows the same story: 1,830 for the i5-14401E and 1,782 for the i9-7900X.

The single-core results follow the same trend, with the i5-14401E taking a 2.8% lead in Cinebench R15 (258 vs 251) and a 2.7% lead in both Cinebench R20 (1,076 vs 1,048) and Cinebench R23 (2,564 vs 2,496). The consistency of the deltaPct across all tests suggests a fundamental per-clock and per-core efficiency advantage for the newer architecture, not a workload-specific fluke.

It is important to note that the i9-7900X has additional Geekbench scores in its profile, but no comparable Geekbench data is available for the i5-14401E, so those cannot be directly compared here. In the tests that do overlap, the i5-14401E wins every time. The i9-7900X's higher core count and thread count (10 cores/20 threads vs 6 cores/12 threads) do not translate into a performance win in these Cinebench workloads, which are highly sensitive to memory latency, cache efficiency, and IPC improvements found in the newer Raptor Lake design.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i5-14401E has an average benchmark score of 5,253, while the Intel Core i9-7900X averages 5,120. The i5-14401E's nearest rival is the Intel Xeon E5-2699A v4 with an average score of 5,259 (a -0.1% delta), while the i9-7900X's closest competitor is the AMD EPYC 7262 at 5,109 (a 0.2% delta).

Q: How does the core and thread count compare between the two chips?

A: The i9-7900X offers significantly more parallelism with 10 cores and 20 threads, compared to the i5-14401E's 6 cores and 12 threads. Despite having 66.7% more cores, the i9-7900X still loses in multi-threaded Cinebench tests, indicating the i5-14401E's per-core performance is substantially higher.

Q: What is the difference in power consumption?

A: The i5-14401E has a TDP of 65 watts, while the i9-7900X has a TDP of 140 watts. This means the i5-14401E delivers higher benchmark scores while consuming less than half the thermal design power of the i9-7900X.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Core i5-14401E supports ECC memory, whereas the Intel Core i9-7900X does not. This makes the i5-14401E a more viable option for error-critical workloads that benefit from ECC validation.

Q: Do both processors have integrated graphics?

A: No. The i5-14401E includes Intel UHD Graphics 730, while the i9-7900X has no integrated graphics. A discrete GPU is mandatory for the i9-7900X, whereas the i5-14401E can output display without a dedicated graphics card.

Q: What is the launch MSRP of the i9-7900X?

A: The launch MSRP of the Intel Core i9-7900X was $999. The i5-14401E has no launch MSRP listed in the data.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different architectures and process nodes. The i5-14401E uses the Raptor Lake architecture, specifically the Raptor Lake-R codename, and is fabricated on Intel's 10 nm process. In contrast, the i9-7900X uses the Skylake architecture with the Skylake-X codename, built on the older 14 nm process. This two-generation process gap is a primary driver of the performance differences, as the 10 nm node allows for denser, more power-efficient transistors.

The cache layouts differ significantly. The i5-14401E features 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, and a shared 20 MB of L3 cache. The i9-7900X has 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and a much smaller 14 MB of shared L3 cache. The i5-14401E's larger L3 cache (20 MB vs 14 MB) provides a substantial advantage in workloads that benefit from larger working sets being kept close to the cores.

Another critical architectural difference is the PCIe support. The i5-14401E offers PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i9-7900X provides PCIe Gen 3 with 44 lanes (CPU only). The newer PCIe Gen 5 standard offers significantly higher bandwidth per lane, though the i9-7900X's 44 lanes allow for more expansion devices. Memory support also diverges: the i5-14401E supports both DDR4 and DDR5 in a dual-channel configuration, while the i9-7900X is limited to DDR4 in a quad-channel configuration, yielding a memory bandwidth of 85.3 GB/s.

The i5-14401E has a locked multiplier, while the i9-7900X has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Production status also differs, with the i5-14401E listed as Active and the i9-7900X as End-of-life. The die size for the i5-14401E is 215 mm², while no die size is listed for the i9-7900X.

Specification Differences

The specifications highlight the generational divide clearly. The i5-14401E has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the i9-7900X has 10 cores and 20 threads. Clock speeds favor the i5-14401E in boost but not base: the i5-14401E has a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz, while the i9-7900X has a higher base clock of 3.30 GHz but a lower boost clock of 4.50 GHz. The higher boost clock on the i5-14401E likely contributes to its single-core victories.

TDP is a major differentiator: the i5-14401E is rated at 65 watts, a very efficient figure, while the i9-7900X consumes 140 watts. The socket is also incompatible: the i5-14401E uses Intel Socket 1700, while the i9-7900X uses the older Intel Socket 2066.

Memory support is narrower on the i9-7900X (DDR4 only) versus the i5-14401E (DDR4 and DDR5). The memory bus differs, with the i5-14401E using dual-channel and the i9-7900X using quad-channel, which gives the i9-7900X a memory bandwidth advantage on paper (85.3 GB/s). ECC memory support is exclusive to the i5-14401E. Integrated graphics are present only on the i5-14401E (UHD Graphics 730). The i9-7900X has a launch MSRP of $999, while the i5-14401E has none listed. The i9-7900X is unlocked for overclocking; the i5-14401E is not.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i5-14401E is the superior performer in every benchmark where both chips are compared. It wins all six Cinebench tests, from single-core to multi-core, with margins between 2.7% and 2.8%. It achieves this while drawing only 65 watts of TDP compared to the i9-7900X's 140 watts, and it supports newer memory standards (DDR5) and PCIe Gen 5.

The i9-7900X, despite having 10 cores and 20 threads, cannot overcome the architectural and process-node disadvantage. It was a flagship part at launch with a $999 MSRP, but its Skylake architecture and 14 nm process are outdated. The i5-14401E, a 6-core Raptor Lake part, offers better performance, lower power consumption, ECC support, and modern connectivity.

The i9-7900X's only advantages are its higher base clock (3.30 GHz vs 2.50 GHz), quad-channel memory support, more PCIe lanes (44 vs 16), and an unlocked multiplier. However, these do not translate into benchmark wins in the Cinebench suite. The i9-7900X is End-of-life, while the i5-14401E is Active. For any workload reflected in these benchmarks, the i5-14401E is the clear choice.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-14401E wins in all measured performance categories: every multi-core and single-core Cinebench test. It is the winner for practically any CPU-bound workload, from rendering to general productivity, and it does so with significantly lower power draw. Its support for both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, ECC memory, and integrated graphics makes it a more versatile platform for a wider range of builds, including those that require error correction or don't want a discrete GPU.

The Intel Core i9-7900X, while losing all benchmarks, still has niche advantages based on its specifications. Its quad-channel memory configuration provides a theoretical memory bandwidth of 85.3 GB/s, which could benefit memory-bandwidth-sensitive applications that aren't captured by the Cinebench scores. Its 44 PCIe Gen 3 lanes are far more numerous than the i5-14401E's 16 Gen 5 lanes, making it better suited for systems with many expansion cards, such as multiple GPUs or high-speed storage controllers. The unlocked multiplier also allows for overclocking, which could help it recover some performance gap, though the data does not include any overclocked results. Ultimately, the i9-7900X's wins are confined to platform-level features, not raw benchmark performance.