Intel Core i5-14401E vs Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a decisive overall victory for the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus, which wins 5 of the 6 recorded head-to-head comparisons. The only test where the Intel Core i5-14401E comes out ahead is in Cinebench R23 single-core, where it scores 2564 against 2439 for the Ultra 7, a 5.1% advantage. This is a narrow but meaningful result, indicating that the i5-14401E retains a slight edge in lightly threaded workloads that depend heavily on a single core's peak performance.

In multi-core performance, the gap is substantial. The Ultra 7 270K Plus delivers 6656 points in Cinebench R15 multicore compared to 1830 for the i5-14401E, a 72.5% difference in favor of the Ultra 7. The pattern continues in Cinebench R20 multicore, where the Ultra 7 scores 24461 against 7627, a 68.8% gap. Cinebench R23 multicore shows the Ultra 7 at 44253 versus 18161 for the i5-14401E, a 59% difference. These results indicate that the Ultra 7's higher core count and newer architecture provide a massive advantage in fully threaded rendering workloads.

Single-core performance in the older Cinebench versions also favors the Ultra 7, though by smaller margins. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the Ultra 7 scores 354 against 258 for the i5-14401E, a 27.1% difference. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the Ultra 7 scores 3453 against 1076, a 68.8% difference. The R20 single-core result is particularly striking, as it shows a much larger relative advantage than either the R15 or R23 tests, suggesting that the Ultra 7's efficiency cores and higher boost clock contribute significantly in this specific workload.

The average benchmark score in the database reflects the overall performance tier of each processor. The i5-14401E has an average score of 5253, placing it in the 60th percentile among all CPUs. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon E5-2699A v4 (average score 5259, 0.1% lower), the Intel Core i7-11700B (5241, 0.2% higher), the Intel Core i9-10850K (5240, 0.2% higher), and the Intel Core i5-13400T (5210, 0.8% higher). These are all very close scores, meaning the i5-14401E sits in a tightly contested mid-range performance band.

The Ultra 7 270K Plus, by contrast, has an average benchmark score of 93785, placing it in the 96th percentile. Its nearest rivals are the Intel Xeon 6520P (93786, essentially tied), the AMD EPYC 4564P (95183, 1.5% higher), the AMD EPYC 9175F (95615, 1.9% higher), and the AMD EPYC 4565P (95764, 2.1% higher). The delta between the Ultra 7 and its closest rival is effectively zero, while the EPYC competitors hold a small but consistent advantage of around 1.5% to 2.1%.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus is the clear winner in multi-threaded and heavily parallel workloads. Its 24 cores and 24 threads, combined with a 5.50 GHz boost clock, deliver Cinebench multicore scores that are between 59% and 72.5% higher than the i5-14401E across all three tested versions. The passmark results for the Ultra 7 further confirm this strength: data compression scores 804322, data encryption scores 59097, extended instructions score 63506, floating point math scores 229491, integer math scores 175986, multithread score is 68574, physics score is 4064, and random string sorting scores 96945. These figures are all recorded for the Ultra 7 only, but they represent the kind of throughput-oriented tasks where its architecture excels.

The Intel Core i5-14401E wins in the single Cinebench R23 single-core test, which is a notable data point. A 5.1% advantage in this specific benchmark suggests that the i5-14401E's Raptor Lake architecture, despite being older and having fewer cores, can still deliver competitive per-thread performance in certain rendering scenarios. However, this is an isolated win. In the other two single-core tests (R15 and R20), the Ultra 7 leads by 27.1% and 68.8% respectively, so the i5-14401E's R23 single-core result appears to be an outlier rather than a consistent strength.

For users running applications that rely on a small number of threads, the data is mixed. The i5-14401E offers one narrow win, but the Ultra 7 dominates in the other single-core tests and in every multi-core test. The i5-14401E also has a lower TDP of 65 watts compared to 125 watts for the Ultra 7, which may be relevant for thermal-constrained systems, but the performance trade-off is severe.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher multi-core performance?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus. In Cinebench R23 multicore, it scores 44253 versus 18161 for the i5-14401E, a 59% difference. In Cinebench R20 multicore, the gap is 68.8% (24461 versus 7627), and in R15 multicore it is 72.5% (6656 versus 1830).

Q: Does the Intel Core i5-14401E win any benchmark?

A: Yes, in Cinebench R23 single-core, the i5-14401E scores 2564 versus 2439 for the Ultra 7 270K Plus, a 5.1% advantage. This is the only head-to-head test where the i5-14401E comes out ahead.

Q: How do the two processors compare in single-core performance overall?

A: The Ultra 7 wins two of the three single-core tests. It leads by 27.1% in Cinebench R15 (354 versus 258) and by 68.8% in Cinebench R20 (3453 versus 1076). The i5-14401E wins Cinebench R23 single-core by 5.1%.

Q: What is the percentile ranking of each processor?

A: The i5-14401E is in the 60th percentile among all CPUs, while the Ultra 7 270K Plus is in the 96th percentile.

Q: What are the nearest rivals for the i5-14401E?

A: The closest competitors are the Intel Xeon E5-2699A v4 (average score 5259, 0.1% lower), the Intel Core i7-11700B (5241, 0.2% higher), the Intel Core i9-10850K (5240, 0.2% higher), and the Intel Core i5-13400T (5210, 0.8% higher).

Q: What are the nearest rivals for the Ultra 7 270K Plus?

A: The Intel Xeon 6520P is essentially tied with an average score of 93786. The AMD EPYC 4564P (95183) is 1.5% higher, the AMD EPYC 9175F (95615) is 1.9% higher, and the AMD EPYC 4565P (95764) is 2.1% higher.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every core specification. The i5-14401E has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Ultra 7 270K Plus has 24 cores and 24 threads. The base clock of the i5-14401E is 2.50 GHz, rising to 4.70 GHz boost, whereas the Ultra 7 starts at 3.70 GHz and boosts to 5.50 GHz. The TDP is 65 watts for the i5-14401E and 125 watts for the Ultra 7.

The socket types are incompatible: the i5-14401E uses Intel Socket 1700, while the Ultra 7 uses Intel Socket 1851. The i5-14401E is not multiplier-unlocked, while the Ultra 7 is. The release dates differ significantly, with the i5-14401E released on 2024-06-30 and the Ultra 7 on 2026-03-10. The Ultra 7 has a launch MSRP of $299, which is listed in the database. The part numbers are Q49JSRNJS for the i5-14401E and SA4V6 for the Ultra 7.

Memory support also differs. The i5-14401E supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the Ultra 7 supports only DDR5. Both use dual-channel memory buses, but the Ultra 7 has a recorded memory bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s, a figure not listed for the i5-14401E. Both processors support ECC memory. PCIe lane counts differ: the i5-14401E provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the Ultra 7 provides Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only).

The integrated graphics are different as well. The i5-14401E uses UHD Graphics 730, while the Ultra 7 uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between the two is substantial. The i5-14401E is based on Raptor Lake, specifically the Raptor Lake-R codename, and belongs to the Core 14th Gen series with a Raptor Lake Refresh generation. It is manufactured on a 10 nm process by Intel, with a die size of 215 mm². The Ultra 7 270K Plus, in contrast, uses the Arrow Lake Refresh codename, belongs to the Core Ultra Series 2 with an Ultra 7 (Arrow Lake) generation, and is manufactured on a 3 nm process by TSMC. The Ultra 7 has a transistor count of 17,800 million and a die size of 243 mm².

Cache structures differ significantly. 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 has 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 36 MB of shared L3 cache. The larger per-core caches and higher total L3 capacity on the Ultra 7 align with its higher core count and more modern design.

The production status for both is listed as Active, but the Ultra 7 is a newer product with a later release date. The i5-14401E uses a 10 nm Intel process, while the Ultra 7 uses a 3 nm TSMC process, indicating a major manufacturing technology shift. The foundry change from Intel to TSMC is a notable architectural distinction. The Ultra 7 also supports more PCIe lanes (20 versus 16) and has a higher TDP, which correlates with its higher clock speeds and core count. The i5-14401E has no recorded transistor count, while the Ultra 7 lists 17,800 million, reflecting the density of the newer process node.