Intel Core i5-14450HX vs Intel Core i9-14901E Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a decisive performance advantage for the Intel Core i9-14901E across every single recorded test. Out of 17 head-to-head comparisons, the i9-14901E wins all 17, with the i5-14450HX trailing by margins ranging from 0.2% to 51.5%.

The smallest gap appears in the PassMark extended instructions test, where the i9-14901E scores 17249 against 17207 for the i5-14450HX, a delta of only 0.2%. This near-parity suggests that the instruction set extensions available to both processors deliver essentially identical throughput, which is consistent with both parts sharing the same Raptor Lake architecture and 10 nm process node.

Moving to multi-core workloads, the i9-14901E leads by roughly 21.9% across the Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multicore tests. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the i9-14901E records 25753 points versus 20108 for the i5-14450HX. The PassMark multithread test shows a similar margin at 21.8%, with scores of 30298 and 23680 respectively. The consistent 22% delta across these varied multi-threaded workloads indicates that the i9-14901E's advantage scales uniformly under thread-heavy loads.

Single-core performance tells the same story. The i9-14901E posts 3635 points in Cinebench R23 single-core, beating the i5-14450HX's 2838 by 21.9%. The PassMark single-thread test shows the i9-14901E at 4354 compared to 3643, a 16.3% advantage. These results align with the i9's higher boost clock of 5.60 GHz versus 4.80 GHz for the i5.

The largest deltas appear in specific PassMark subtests. The physics test shows the i9-14901E at 3041 versus 1475 for the i5, a 51.5% gap, the widest margin in the entire dataset. Prime number finding follows closely: the i9-14901E scores 189 against 98, a 48.1% difference. Floating point math shows a 28.4% gap (81089 versus 58037), and integer math trails at 30.5% (112736 versus 78330). These substantial differences in math-heavy and physics-simulation workloads suggest the i9-14901E's higher per-core throughput and larger shared cache provide outsized benefits in these specific compute patterns.

Data compression and encryption show moderate advantages for the i9-14901E. The compression test records 288777 versus 278538, a 3.5% gain, while encryption scores 18571 against 15574, a 16.1% edge. Random string sorting completes the picture with a 24.5% difference (39138 versus 29565).

The i5-14450HX does not win any benchmark in this comparison. Its aggregate average benchmark score is 32040, placing it in the 82nd percentile of all CPUs. The i9-14901E averages 37911, landing in the 86th percentile. The nearest rivals for the i5 include the Intel Core i7-13705H (32076, 0.1% ahead) and the Intel Core i5-14400 (32115, 0.2% ahead), while the i9-14901E sits near the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 (37904, exactly 0% delta) and the AMD Ryzen 7 9700X (37943, 0.1% behind).

Architecture Differences

Both processors share the Raptor Lake architecture and are fabricated by Intel on a 10 nm process node with a die size of 257 mm². The fundamental difference lies in core configuration: the i5-14450HX carries 10 cores and 16 threads, while the i9-14901E uses 8 cores and 16 threads. Despite having two fewer physical cores, the i9-14901E still outperforms the i5 across all recorded workloads, which points to substantial architectural tuning differences beyond raw core count.

The cache hierarchy differs significantly. Both chips use 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 2 MB of L2 cache per core, but the shared L3 cache is much larger on the i9-14901E: 36 MB shared versus 20 MB shared on the i5-14450HX. This 16 MB difference in last-level cache likely contributes to the i9's superior performance in cache-sensitive workloads like the PassMark physics and prime number tests, where the deltas exceed 48%.

Clock speeds favor the i9-14901E in both base and boost operation. The i9 runs at a 2.80 GHz base clock and boosts to 5.60 GHz, while the i5 operates at 2.40 GHz base and 4.80 GHz boost. The 0.80 GHz boost advantage for the i9 directly explains its single-core margins, which hover around 16% to 22% in both Cinebench and PassMark tests.

The two processors target different market segments. The i5-14450HX is a mobile part using the Intel BGA 1964 socket, while the i9-14901E is a desktop processor on Intel Socket 1700. This distinction affects platform choices: the i5 is designed for laptops and compact systems, whereas the i9 targets desktop builds with socketed motherboards.

Integrated graphics differ as well. The i5-14450HX includes UHD Graphics 710, while the i9-14901E steps up to UHD Graphics 770. Both support DDR4 and DDR5 memory through a dual-channel interface, and both accept ECC memory. PCIe connectivity is identical: Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU.

The multiplier status diverges. The i5-14450HX has an unlocked multiplier, allowing overclocking in suitable mobile platforms, while the i9-14901E's multiplier is locked, preventing manual clock adjustment. This is notable because the i9-14901E already delivers significantly higher performance at stock settings, so the lack of overclocking headroom does not diminish its standing in the recorded benchmarks.

Release timing also separates the pair. The i5-14450HX was released on 2024-01-07, while the i9-14901E followed on 2024-06-30. Both parts remain in active production. The part numbers differ: SRMXK for the i5 and Q49ESRNJH for the i9.

The Verdict

The recorded data indicates that the Intel Core i9-14901E is the superior processor in every benchmark category. Its wins span single-core, multi-core, encryption, compression, physics simulation, and math workloads, with margins ranging from marginal (0.2% in extended instructions) to dominant (51.5% in physics). The average benchmark score of 37911 versus 32040 confirms a 18.4% overall advantage.

The i5-14450HX offers more physical cores (10 versus 8), but the i9-14901E compensates with a higher boost clock (5.60 GHz versus 4.80 GHz), a larger L3 cache (36 MB versus 20 MB), and a higher base clock (2.80 GHz versus 2.40 GHz). The benchmark results show that these architectural advantages outweigh the core count deficit.

The i5-14450HX remains a capable mobile processor, as its 82nd percentile ranking and nearest-rival comparisons to desktop parts like the Intel Core i9-11900 (32226, 0.6% ahead) demonstrate. However, in a direct head-to-head against the i9-14901E, the data leaves no ambiguity: the i9 wins all 17 recorded tests.

For workloads that stress physics calculations, prime number generation, or floating-point math, the i9-14901E's advantages are especially pronounced, with deltas exceeding 28%. For mixed workloads involving data compression or extended instructions, the i9's edge narrows but remains consistent. The i5-14450HX does not claim a single victory in any tested discipline.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core i5-14450HX has 10 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core i9-14901E has 8 cores and 16 threads. Both processors support the same thread count despite the core difference.

Q: How do their clock speeds compare?

A: The i9-14901E runs at a 2.80 GHz base clock and boosts to 5.60 GHz. The i5-14450HX runs at 2.40 GHz base and boosts to 4.80 GHz. The i9 has a 0.80 GHz higher boost clock and a 0.40 GHz higher base clock.

Q: What is the cache difference between the two?

A: Both use 80 KB L1 per core and 2 MB L2 per core. The shared L3 cache is 36 MB on the i9-14901E versus 20 MB on the i5-14450HX, a difference of 16 MB.

Q: Which processor performs better in the Cinebench R23 multicore test?

A: The i9-14901E scores 25753 points, which is 21.9% higher than the i5-14450HX's 20108 points. This is the largest Cinebench multicore margin recorded in the head-to-head data.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the i5-14450HX and i9-14901E support ECC memory. Both also support DDR4 and DDR5 through a dual-channel memory bus.

Q: What is the market segment for each processor?

A: The i5-14450HX is a mobile processor using the Intel BGA 1964 socket, while the i9-14901E is a desktop processor on Intel Socket 1700. Both are currently in active production.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i9-14901E wins every recorded benchmark, but the magnitude of its victories varies by workload type, which clarifies where each chip has relative strengths.

In physics simulation and prime number finding, the i9-14901E dominates with deltas of 51.5% and 48.1% respectively. These workloads benefit heavily from the i9's larger 36 MB L3 cache and higher boost clock, as they require repeated access to working sets that fit more readily in the larger cache.

In integer and floating-point math, the i9-14901E maintains strong leads of 30.5% and 28.4%. These compute-heavy tasks respond to the i9's higher per-core throughput, which comes from its superior clock speeds rather than raw core count.

In data compression and extended instructions, the i9's advantage shrinks to 3.5% and 0.2%. These workloads appear less sensitive to cache size and clock speed, and the i5-14450HX's additional two cores help it stay competitive in compression, though it still loses.

In single-threaded tasks, the i9-14901E leads by 16.3% to 22.1% depending on the test. The PassMark single-thread score of 4354 versus 3643 reflects the i9's boost clock advantage, while the Cinebench R23 single-core gap of 21.9% aligns with the same clock differential.

The i5-14450HX's best relative showing is in data compression, where the 3.5% gap is the closest any test comes to a tie. Its extended instructions score trails by only 0.2%, making that the single most competitive benchmark in the entire comparison. However, the i5 never achieves a win in any category.

Specification Differences

The two processors diverge in several key specification fields. The i5-14450HX uses 10 cores and 16 threads, while the i9-14901E uses 8 cores and 16 threads. Clock speeds differ: the i5 runs at 2.40 GHz base and 4.80 GHz boost, while the i9 runs at 2.80 GHz base and 5.60 GHz boost. The TDP rating is 55 watts for the i5 and 65 watts for the i9.

The socket types are distinct: the i5-14450HX uses Intel BGA 1964, designed for mobile platforms, while the i9-14901E uses Intel Socket 1700 for desktop systems. The i5's market segment is Mobile, while the i9's is Desktop.

Cache configuration differs in L3 capacity: 20 MB shared on the i5 versus 36 MB shared on the i9. L1 and L2 caches are identical at 80 KB per core and 2 MB per core respectively.

Integrated graphics differ: the i5-14450HX includes UHD Graphics 710, while the i9-14901E includes UHD Graphics 770. Memory support is the same for both: DDR4 and DDR5 with a dual-channel bus, and both support ECC memory.

PCIe connectivity is identical: Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The process node, foundry, and die size are also the same: 10 nm, Intel, and 257 mm² respectively.

The multiplier is unlocked on the i5-14450HX but locked on the i9-14901E. Release dates differ: the i5 launched on 2024-01-07, while the i9 launched on 2024-06-30. Both are currently in active production and share the Raptor Lake architecture and Core 14th Gen series designation.