Intel Core i5-14490F vs Intel Core i7-14700 Comparison

Intel Core i5-14490F and Intel Core i7-14700 are both Raptor Lake Refresh parts on the Intel Socket 1700 platform, but they occupy different positions in the 14th Gen desktop stack. The i5-14490F uses a 10-core, 16-thread configuration with a 5.00 GHz boost clock, while the i7-14700 doubles the core count to 20 cores and 28 threads with a 5.40 GHz boost. The database shows the i7-14700 wins 15 of 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, yet the i5-14490F takes two single-core tests by substantial margins, including a 56.1% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core. These results indicate a split between heavily threaded workloads and specific single-threaded tasks.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

The Intel Core i7-14700 has 20 cores and 28 threads, while the Intel Core i5-14490F has 10 cores and 16 threads.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two in the recorded benchmarks?

The largest gap is in Cinebench R23 single-core, where the i5-14490F scores 3247 against 2080 for the i7-14700, a 56.1% advantage for the i5.

Q: How much faster is the i7-14700 in multi-threaded workloads?

The i7-14700 leads by 42.9% in Cinebench R15 multi-core (4061 vs 2318), by 32.9% in Cinebench R20 multi-core (14388 vs 9660), and by 19% in Cinebench R23 multi-core (28398 vs 23000).

Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?

Yes, both support DDR4 and DDR5 memory with a dual-channel memory bus.

Q: Does the i5-14490F have integrated graphics?

No, the i5-14490F has no integrated graphics (listed as N/A), while the i7-14700 includes UHD Graphics 770.

Q: What is the difference in their average benchmark scores?

The i7-14700 has an average benchmark score of 52301, compared to 38149 for the i5-14490F, placing them at the 91st and 86th percentiles of all CPUs, respectively.

Architecture Differences

Both processors share the Raptor Lake architecture and Raptor Lake-R codename, built on Intel's 10 nm process node, but the physical and functional layouts diverge significantly. The i5-14490F uses a 215 mm² die, while the i7-14700 has a larger 257 mm² die, reflecting the additional cores and cache. The core count difference is the primary architectural split: the i5-14490F provides 10 cores and 16 threads, whereas the i7-14700 provides 20 cores and 28 threads. This doubling of cores directly explains why the i7-14700 dominates multi-threaded benchmarks.

Cache organization also differs. The L1 cache is identical at 80 KB per core for both, but the L2 cache per core is 1.25 MB on the i5-14490F versus 2 MB on the i7-14700. The L3 cache is 24 MB shared on the i5-14490F, while the i7-14700 carries 33 MB shared. The larger per-core L2 and total L3 on the i7-14700 support its higher thread count and larger working sets.

Clock speeds show a tradeoff. The i5-14490F has a higher base clock at 2.50 GHz compared to 2.10 GHz on the i7-14700, but the i7-14700 boosts higher at 5.40 GHz versus 5.00 GHz. Both processors have a 65 W TDP, so the i7-14700 achieves its higher core count and boost clock within the same power envelope. The i7-14700 also includes UHD Graphics 770, while the i5-14490F has no integrated graphics. Both use Gen 5 PCIe with 16 lanes from the CPU, and both support DDR4 and DDR5 memory in dual-channel mode. ECC memory support is present on the i7-14700 but not on the i5-14490F. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, and both are listed as Active production status.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data shows a clear pattern: the i7-14700 wins every multi-core and throughput-oriented test, while the i5-14490F wins two single-core Cinebench tests. The most striking result is Cinebench R23 single-core, where the i5-14490F scores 3247 against 2080 for the i7-14700, a 56.1% delta. This is the only test with a margin above 50% in either direction. Cinebench R15 single-core also goes to the i5-14490F, with 327 versus 299, a 9.4% lead.

The i7-14700's multi-core wins are consistent and large. Cinebench R15 multi-core shows 4061 versus 2318, a 42.9% gap. Cinebench R20 multi-core shows 14388 versus 9660, a 32.9% gap. Cinebench R23 multi-core shows 28398 versus 23000, a 19% gap. The PassMark suite reinforces this, with the i7-14700 leading in integer math by 43.2% (154535 vs 87844), in floating point math by 37.6% (106716 vs 66558), and in data compression by 31.7% (498198 vs 340026). Data encryption shows a 38.4% gap (29601 vs 18225), and random string sorting shows a 34.5% gap (54340 vs 35608).

The smallest multi-core margin is PassMark physics, where the i7-14700 scores 2226 versus 2093, a 6% advantage. The i7-14700 also wins the single-thread PassMark tests, scoring 4236 versus 3873, an 8.6% lead. This is notable because it contrasts with the Cinebench single-core results, where the i5-14490F wins by a large margin. The i7-14700 also leads in PassMark extended instructions by 23.5% (28388 vs 21731) and in PassMark find prime numbers by 25.6% (164 vs 122). The i7-14700's overall average benchmark score is 52301, which is 37.1% above the i5-14490F's 38149.

The Verdict

The data presents two distinct profiles. The i7-14700 is the superior processor for multi-threaded workloads, holding a 42.9% lead in Cinebench R15 multi-core, a 32.9% lead in Cinebench R20 multi-core, and a 19% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core. It also wins all PassMark throughput tests by margins ranging from 6% in physics to 43.2% in integer math. The i7-14700's 28 threads, 33 MB L3 cache, and 5.40 GHz boost clock make it the stronger choice for rendering, compilation, and data-heavy tasks. Its 91st percentile ranking among all CPUs, compared to the i5-14490F's 86th percentile, confirms its higher overall standing.

The i5-14490F is not without merit. Its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 3247 beats the i7-14700 by 56.1%, and its Cinebench R15 single-core score of 327 beats 299 by 9.4%. This suggests the i5-14490F has a higher single-core performance ceiling in certain tests, despite the i7-14700's higher boost clock. However, the i7-14700 wins the PassMark single-thread tests by 8.6%, so the i5-14490F's single-core advantage is not universal across all benchmarks.

For users prioritizing multi-core throughput, the i7-14700 is the clear choice based on the recorded data. For users who need the best possible score in Cinebench R23 single-core, the i5-14490F delivers that specific result. The i7-14700 also adds integrated graphics and ECC memory support, which the i5-14490F lacks. The i7-14700's launch MSRP is $384, while the i5-14490F has no recorded launch MSRP.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specifications. The i5-14490F has 10 cores and 16 threads, while the i7-14700 has 20 cores and 28 threads. Base clocks are 2.50 GHz for the i5-14490F and 2.10 GHz for the i7-14700. Boost clocks are 5.00 GHz for the i5-14490F and 5.40 GHz for the i7-14700. The die size is 215 mm² for the i5-14490F and 257 mm² for the i7-14700. L2 cache is 1.25 MB per core on the i5-14490F and 2 MB per core on the i7-14700. L3 cache is 24 MB shared on the i5-14490F and 33 MB shared on the i7-14700. ECC memory support is false on the i5-14490F and true on the i7-14700. Integrated graphics are N/A on the i5-14490F and UHD Graphics 770 on the i7-14700. The i5-14490F has part number SRN35, and the i7-14700 has part number SRN40. The i5-14490F was released on 2023-12-31, and the i7-14700 was released on 2024-01-07.

Where Each One Wins

The i7-14700 wins in every multi-threaded benchmark category in the database. It leads in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests, with deltas of 42.9%, 32.9%, and 19%, respectively. It also wins all PassMark multi-thread tests: multithread by 28.9% (40318 vs 28662), integer math by 43.2%, floating point math by 37.6%, data compression by 31.7%, data encryption by 38.4%, extended instructions by 23.5%, find prime numbers by 25.6%, random string sorting by 34.5%, and physics by 6%. Even in single-thread PassMark tests, the i7-14700 wins by 8.6% (4236 vs 3873). The i7-14700's wins cover rendering, encryption, compression, math operations, and general throughput.

The i5-14490F wins in two specific single-core Cinebench tests. Cinebench R23 single-core shows a 56.1% advantage (3247 vs 2080), and Cinebench R15 single-core shows a 9.4% advantage (327 vs 299). These are the only tests where the i5-14490F outperforms the i7-14700. The i5-14490F also has a higher base clock (2.50 GHz vs 2.10 GHz), which may contribute to its single-core performance in these tests, though the i7-14700 has a higher boost clock (5.40 GHz vs 5.00 GHz). The i5-14490F's wins are narrow in count but large in magnitude, particularly the 56.1% Cinebench R23 single-core margin, which is the largest delta recorded in the head-to-head data.