Intel Core i5-14401E vs Intel Core Ultra 7 356H Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a clear split between the two processors. The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H dominates in the majority of the recorded Cinebench tests, while the Intel Core i5-14401E manages a single, albeit significant, victory.

Starting with multi-core workloads, the Ultra 7 356H delivers substantially higher scores. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Ultra 7 scores 3055 against the i5-14401E's 1830, a difference of 40.1 percent. The gap persists in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the Ultra 7 reaches 12153 versus 7627, a 37.2 percent advantage. The Cinebench R23 multi-core test tells a slightly different story: the Ultra 7 scores 18395 while the i5-14401E scores 18161, a margin of only 1.3 percent. This narrow lead indicates that in the newer R23 workload, the i5-14401E is much closer to the Ultra 7's multi-threaded performance than in the older R15 and R20 tests.

Single-core results show a more complex picture. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the Ultra 7 wins with 303 points against 258, a 14.9 percent lead. The Ultra 7 also takes Cinebench R20 single-core with 1715 against 1076, a 37.3 percent advantage. However, the i5-14401E strikes back decisively in Cinebench R23 single-core, scoring 2564 versus the Ultra 7's 2040. This is a 25.7 percent win for the i5-14401E, making it the only test in the head-to-head set where the desktop part comes out ahead.

The average benchmark score for the Ultra 7 356H sits at 41215, placing it in the 87th percentile of all CPUs in the database. The i5-14401E has an average benchmark score of 5253, which puts it in the 60th percentile. This large difference in average scores reflects the Ultra 7's inclusion of PassMark tests in its benchmark set, which the i5-14401E lacks. The PassMark results for the Ultra 7 include data compression at 336177, data encryption at 26345, extended instructions at 27898, prime number finding at 327, floating point math at 103128, integer math at 83111, multithread at 33978, physics at 2895, random string sorting at 40990, and single thread at 4072.

The nearest rivals in the database provide context for each chip's standing. The i5-14401E sits within 0.8 percent of the Intel Core i5-13400T, within 0.2 percent of the Intel Core i9-10850K, within 0.2 percent of the Intel Core i7-11700B, and within 0.1 percent of the Intel Xeon E5-2699A v4. The Ultra 7 356H, by contrast, is essentially tied with the AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 at 0 percent delta, sits 0.1 percent behind the Intel Core Ultra 7 366H, 0.4 percent behind the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X, and 0.6 percent ahead of the Intel Core Ultra X7 358H. These proximity figures indicate that the Ultra 7 competes in a higher performance tier than the i5-14401E.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from entirely different design lineages. The Intel Core i5-14401E belongs to the Core 14th Gen series, built on Raptor Lake architecture with the Raptor Lake-R codename. It uses a 10 nm process node fabricated by Intel. The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H belongs to the Core Ultra Series 3, built on Panther Lake architecture with the Panther Lake codename, and uses a 3 nm process node, also fabricated by Intel.

Core counts diverge sharply. The i5-14401E has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Ultra 7 356H has 16 cores and 16 threads. This means the Ultra 7 has more than double the physical cores, but the i5-14401E uses hyper-threading to reach 12 threads from 6 cores, while the Ultra 7 does not use hyper-threading, yielding one thread per core. The cache hierarchy also differs. 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 356H has 192 KB of L1 cache per core, 2.5 MB of L2 cache per core, and 18 MB of shared L3 cache. The Ultra 7 has larger per-core caches but slightly less total L3.

Clock speeds show a mixed picture. The i5-14401E has a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. The Ultra 7 356H has a lower base clock of 1.90 GHz but the same boost clock of 4.70 GHz. The thermal design power differs significantly: the i5-14401E is rated at 65 watts, while the Ultra 7 356H is rated at 25 watts. This indicates the Ultra 7 is designed for mobile efficiency despite its higher core count.

Memory support and platform requirements also separate the two. The i5-14401E supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration and includes ECC memory support. It uses Intel Socket 1700 and offers PCIe Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes. The Ultra 7 356H supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X memory in a dual-channel configuration with a recorded memory bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s, but it does not support ECC memory. It uses Intel BGA 2540 and offers PCIe Gen 5 with 12 CPU lanes. The i5-14401E is a desktop part, while the Ultra 7 356H is a mobile part.

Integrated graphics differ as well. The i5-14401E uses UHD Graphics 730, while the Ultra 7 356H uses Intel Xe3 Graphics. The die size for the i5-14401E is recorded as 215 mm², while no die size is recorded for the Ultra 7. The release dates place the i5-14401E in 2024 and the Ultra 7 356H in 2026. Neither processor has a launch MSRP recorded in the database, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

The Verdict

The recorded data presents a straightforward choice. For multi-threaded productivity workloads, the Intel Core Ultra 7 356H is the stronger option. It wins Cinebench R15 multi-core by 40.1 percent, Cinebench R20 multi-core by 37.2 percent, and Cinebench R23 multi-core by 1.3 percent. Its 16 cores and 16 threads, combined with a 3 nm process node, deliver higher throughput in these tests despite the lower 25 watt TDP.

For single-threaded workloads in the Cinebench R23 test, the Intel Core i5-14401E is the better performer, winning by 25.7 percent. Its higher base clock of 2.50 GHz and identical boost clock of 4.70 GHz, along with the Raptor Lake design, give it an edge in this specific workload. The i5-14401E also wins the Cinebench R23 single-core test outright, making it the only test where the desktop part leads.

The percentile data reinforces the Ultra 7's overall standing. The Ultra 7 356H sits in the 87th percentile of all CPUs, while the i5-14401E sits in the 60th percentile. The nearest rivals for each chip confirm this hierarchy: the Ultra 7 trades blows with the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X and other high-end parts, while the i5-14401E aligns with older Core i7 and i9 parts from previous generations.

Users who prioritize multi-core rendering, data compression, encryption, or physics simulations should select the Ultra 7 356H based on its PassMark and Cinebench multi-core results. Users who prioritize the specific Cinebench R23 single-core workload should select the i5-14401E. The i5-14401E also offers ECC memory support and a desktop socket, which may matter for specific build requirements, while the Ultra 7 offers a lower TDP and mobile form factor.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H has 16 cores, while the Intel Core i5-14401E has 6 cores.

Q: Which processor wins in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H wins with a score of 18395 against the Intel Core i5-14401E's 18161, a margin of 1.3 percent.

Q: Which processor wins in Cinebench R23 single-core?

A: The Intel Core i5-14401E wins with a score of 2564 against the Intel Core Ultra 7 356H's 2040, a margin of 25.7 percent.

Q: What memory types does each processor support?

A: The Intel Core i5-14401E supports DDR4 and DDR5. The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X.

Q: Do either of these processors support ECC memory?

A: The Intel Core i5-14401E supports ECC memory. The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H does not.

Q: What is the thermal design power of each processor?

A: The Intel Core i5-14401E has a TDP of 65 watts. The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H has a TDP of 25 watts.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H wins in Cinebench R15 multi-core, Cinebench R15 single-core, Cinebench R20 multi-core, Cinebench R20 single-core, and Cinebench R23 multi-core. Its largest victory comes in Cinebench R15 multi-core with a 40.1 percent lead. The Ultra 7 also carries the entire PassMark benchmark suite in the database, covering data compression, data encryption, extended instructions, prime number finding, floating point math, integer math, multithread, physics, random string sorting, and single thread. These results make it the clear choice for workloads that scale across many cores, such as rendering, compression, and scientific computing.

The Intel Core i5-14401E wins in exactly one head-to-head benchmark: Cinebench R23 single-core, with a 25.7 percent advantage. This single result indicates that the i5-14401E has a strong single-threaded performance profile in the newer Cinebench version, despite losing the older single-core tests. The i5-14401E also provides ECC memory support and a desktop socket, which are practical advantages for systems that require error-correcting memory or use desktop platforms.

The use-case split is clear. Multi-threaded workloads favor the Ultra 7 356H across the board. Single-threaded workloads in Cinebench R23 favor the i5-14401E. The Ultra 7's lower TDP of 25 watts versus 65 watts also makes it the more power-efficient option in the recorded data, suitable for mobile or thermally constrained systems. The i5-14401E's 65 watt TDP and Socket 1700 make it a conventional desktop part.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every recorded specification. The i5-14401E has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Ultra 7 356H has 16 cores and 16 threads. The base clocks differ at 2.50 GHz for the i5-14401E and 1.90 GHz for the Ultra 7, while the boost clocks are identical at 4.70 GHz. The TDP differs at 65 watts for the i5-14401E and 25 watts for the Ultra 7.

The socket and market segment differ: the i5-14401E uses Intel Socket 1700 and targets desktops, while the Ultra 7 uses Intel BGA 2540 and targets mobile systems. The architecture and process node differ: Raptor Lake on 10 nm for the i5-14401E, Panther Lake on 3 nm for the Ultra 7. The die size is recorded as 215 mm² for the i5-14401E, with no die size recorded for the Ultra 7.

Cache configurations differ in size. The i5-14401E has 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and 20 MB shared L3. The Ultra 7 has 192 KB L1 per core, 2.5 MB L2 per core, and 18 MB shared L3. Memory support differs: DDR4 and DDR5 for the i5-14401E, DDR5 and LPDDR5X for the Ultra 7. The Ultra 7 has a recorded memory bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s, while no bandwidth figure is recorded for the i5-14401E. ECC support differs, with the i5-14401E supporting ECC and the Ultra 7 not.

PCIe lanes differ: 16 CPU lanes for the i5-14401E and 12 for the Ultra 7, both on PCIe Gen 5. Integrated graphics differ: UHD Graphics 730 for the i5-14401E and Intel Xe3 Graphics for the Ultra 7. The release dates differ, with the i5-14401E released in 2024 and the Ultra 7 in 2026. Neither processor has a launch MSRP in the database, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.