Intel Core i5-14401E vs Intel Core Ultra 7 266V Comparison

FAQ

Q: What is the performance difference between the Intel Core i5-14401E and the Intel Core Ultra 7 266V in Cinebench tests?

A: The Intel Core i5-14401E wins all six head-to-head Cinebench benchmarks, with a consistent 9.8% advantage over the Intel Core Ultra 7 266V in every test, from R15 single-core to R23 multi-core.

Q: How do the core and thread counts compare between these two processors?

A: The Intel Core i5-14401E has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 266V has 8 cores and 8 threads. The i5-14401E uses hyperthreading to double its thread count, whereas the Ultra 7 266V operates with one thread per core.

Q: What are the base and boost clock speeds for each chip?

A: The Intel Core i5-14401E has a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. The Intel Core Ultra 7 266V has a lower base clock of 2.20 GHz but a higher boost clock of 5.00 GHz.

Q: Which processor has a higher thermal design power (TDP)?

A: The Intel Core i5-14401E has a TDP of 65 watts, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 266V has a TDP of 17 watts. This makes the Ultra 7 266V substantially more power-efficient on paper.

Q: What process nodes and foundries are used for these processors?

A: The Intel Core i5-14401E uses a 10 nm process node fabricated by Intel, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 266V uses a 3 nm process node fabricated by TSMC.

Q: How does the cache configuration differ between the two?

A: The Intel Core i5-14401E has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, and 20 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel Core Ultra 7 266V has 192 KB of L1 cache per core, 2.5 MB of L2 cache per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache.

The Verdict

The recorded data presents a clear split between these two processors. The Intel Core i5-14401E is the outright winner in every Cinebench test, taking all six head-to-head benchmarks with a uniform 9.8% margin. Its R23 multi-core score of 18161 versus 16544 for the Ultra 7 266V indicates stronger sustained multi-threaded throughput, a result reinforced by its 12 threads versus 8. For desktop users running CPU-heavy workloads such as rendering or compilation, the i5-14401E is the data-backed choice.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 266V, despite losing all head-to-head Cinebench matchups, holds a 76th percentile ranking among all CPUs compared to the i5-14401E's 60th percentile. Its average benchmark score of 23297, which includes PassMark tests not recorded for the i5-14401E, places it in a different performance class. The Ultra 7 266V also runs at a 17 watt TDP versus 65 watts, uses a 3 nm process node, and features the Arc 140V integrated graphics. For mobile platforms where power draw and heat dissipation matter, the Ultra 7 266V is the sensible option.

The market segments dictate the verdict. The i5-14401E is a desktop part on Intel Socket 1700 with DDR4 and DDR5 support, while the Ultra 7 266V is a mobile part on Intel BGA 2833 with LPDDR5X memory. Users building a desktop system should select the i5-14401E for its multi-core lead. Users seeking a mobile processor with lower power consumption should choose the Ultra 7 266V.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core i5-14401E dominates the direct comparison, winning all six recorded Cinebench tests. The margin is identical across every test at 9.8%, which indicates a consistent performance gap rather than workload-specific variation.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-14401E scores 1830 against 1667 for the Ultra 7 266V. The single-core R15 test shows 258 versus 235. Moving to R20 multi-core, the i5-14401E records 7627 while the Ultra 7 266V scores 6948. The R20 single-core test shows 1076 versus 980.

The largest absolute difference appears in Cinebench R23 multi-core. The i5-14401E scores 18161, which is 1617 points ahead of the Ultra 7 266V's 16544. This gap of roughly 9.8% in a heavily multi-threaded workload aligns with the thread count advantage: the i5-14401E has 12 threads available while the Ultra 7 266V has only 8.

The R23 single-core result tells a similar story. The i5-14401E scores 2564 against 2335 for the Ultra 7 266V. Notably, the Ultra 7 266V has a higher boost clock of 5.00 GHz versus 4.70 GHz for the i5-14401E, yet still trails in single-core performance. This suggests architectural efficiency favors the Raptor Lake design in these workloads.

The win count is decisive: 6 wins for the i5-14401E, 0 for the Ultra 7 266V. The benchmark data does not include PassMark results for the i5-14401E, so the Ultra 7 266V's PassMark scores, such as 187050 in data compression and 56923 in floating point math, cannot be compared directly. These scores contribute to the Ultra 7 266V's higher average benchmark score of 23297, but they do not appear in the head-to-head matrix.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every major specification. The Intel Core i5-14401E is a desktop part with 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 266V is a mobile part with 8 cores and 8 threads. The i5-14401E has a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz; the Ultra 7 266V has a base clock of 2.20 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz.

Thermal design power separates the two dramatically. The i5-14401E carries a 65 watt TDP, while the Ultra 7 266V carries a 17 watt TDP. The socket also differs: Intel Socket 1700 for the i5-14401E versus Intel BGA 2833 for the Ultra 7 266V.

Memory support diverges as well. The i5-14401E supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the Ultra 7 266V supports LPDDR5X with capacity dependent on the motherboard. Both use dual-channel memory buses. The Ultra 7 266V has a recorded memory bandwidth of 136.5 GB/s, while no bandwidth figure exists for the i5-14401E in the database.

ECC memory support is another differentiator. The i5-14401E supports ECC memory; the Ultra 7 266V does not. PCIe lanes also differ: the i5-14401E provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the Ultra 7 266V provides Gen 5 with 4 lanes (CPU only).

Integrated graphics differ in name and capability. The i5-14401E uses UHD Graphics 730, while the Ultra 7 266V uses Arc 140V. The market segment confirms the intended use: Desktop for the i5-14401E, Mobile for the Ultra 7 266V. Both parts are currently in active production, and neither has a multiplier unlocked. The release dates differ by roughly three months, with the i5-14401E appearing on 2024-06-30 and the Ultra 7 266V on 2024-09-23.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide between these processors reflects two distinct Intel design generations. The Intel Core i5-14401E belongs to the Core 14th Gen series, built on Raptor Lake architecture with the Raptor Lake-R codename. The Intel Core Ultra 7 266V belongs to the Core Ultra Series 2, built on Lunar Lake architecture with the same codename.

The process nodes highlight a generational shift. The i5-14401E uses a 10 nm process node fabricated by Intel. The Ultra 7 266V uses a 3 nm process node fabricated by TSMC. The die size is recorded for the i5-14401E at 215 mm², while no die size exists for the Ultra 7 266V in the database.

Cache architecture shows notable differences. The i5-14401E has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, and 20 MB of shared L3 cache. The Ultra 7 266V has 192 KB of L1 cache per core, 2.5 MB of L2 cache per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The per-core cache figures on the Ultra 7 266V are larger, but the shared L3 pool is smaller by 8 MB.

Core organization also differs. The i5-14401E uses 6 cores with 12 threads, indicating simultaneous multithreading. The Ultra 7 266V uses 8 cores with 8 threads, meaning no multithreading per core. The generation labels confirm this: the i5-14401E is listed as Core i5 (Raptor Lake Refresh), while the Ultra 7 266V is listed as Ultra 7 (Lunar Lake).

The integrated graphics represent different GPU architectures. The i5-14401E pairs with UHD Graphics 730, a conventional Intel integrated solution. The Ultra 7 266V pairs with Arc 140V, which belongs to Intel's Arc graphics line. Memory support follows platform conventions: DDR4 and DDR5 for the desktop i5-14401E, LPDDR5X for the mobile Ultra 7 266V.

The benchmark percentiles reflect the broader performance context. The i5-14401E sits at the 60th percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 5253. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon E5-2699A v4 with a 0.1% delta, the Intel Core i7-11700B with a 0.2% delta, and the Intel Core i9-10850K with a 0.2% delta. The Ultra 7 266V sits at the 76th percentile, with an average benchmark score of 23297. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 7 5800H with a 0.1% delta, the Intel Core i9-11900F with a 0.2% delta, and the Intel Core Ultra 9 288V with a 0.3% delta.

The architecture differences explain the performance profile: the i5-14401E leverages higher thread count and larger shared L3 cache for Cinebench throughput, while the Ultra 7 266V uses a newer 3 nm process and higher boost clock to achieve strong single-thread performance despite a lower base clock. The 17 watt TDP on the Ultra 7 266V indicates a design optimized for power efficiency, while the 65 watt TDP on the i5-14401E allows for sustained desktop performance.