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

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a decisive sweep across every benchmark in the comparison set. The Intel Core i7-14700F wins all 17 head-to-head tests, with no wins recorded for the Intel Core i5-14490F. The largest single gap appears in PassMark integer math, where the i7-14700F scores 155808 against 87844 for the i5-14490F, a delta of -43.6%. This is the widest margin in the entire benchmark set, indicating the i7's advantage grows most in workloads that are heavily dependent on integer throughput.

Cinebench results follow a consistent pattern. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the i7-14700F scores 35122 while the i5-14490F scores 23000, a 34.5% deficit for the smaller chip. The same 34.5% delta appears across every Cinebench iteration, from R15 multicore (3540 vs 2318) through R20 multicore (14751 vs 9660), and also in all single-core Cinebench tests. The uniformity of this margin suggests the clock and core advantage of the i7-14700F scales almost linearly across Cinebench's rendering workloads.

Single-thread performance tells a separate story. In PassMark single-thread, the i7-14700F leads 4257 to 3873, a much smaller 9% gap. This is the narrowest margin recorded in the entire comparison. The i7-14700F boosts to 5.40 GHz against a 5.00 GHz boost on the i5-14490F, and the data shows that higher frequency translates into a meaningful but modest single-core edge. The i5-14490F is not far behind in tasks that depend on one thread, but it still trails in every recorded test.

PassMark physics shows the closest multicore result. The i7-14700F scores 2455, the i5-14490F scores 2093, a 14.7% difference. Physics simulations often respond to raw core counts and memory latency, and the i7's 20 cores versus 10 cores explains the advantage, though the delta is smaller than in other multithreaded workloads like integer math or data encryption.

Data compression and encryption show substantial gaps as well. The i7-14700F reaches 505885 in data compression against 340026 for the i5-14490F, a 32.8% lead. In data encryption, the i7-14700F scores 30144 versus 18225, a 39.5% lead, one of the larger margins in the set. Extended instructions favor the i7-14700F by 23.9% (28564 vs 21731), and random string sorting favors it by 36.3% (55918 vs 35608). Floating-point math shows a 37.8% gap (107005 vs 66558), while prime number finding shows a 30.7% gap (176 vs 122). Multithreaded PassMark scores 41317 for the i7-14700F and 28662 for the i5-14490F, a 30.6% difference.

The average benchmark score places the i7-14700F at 53620, with a 91st percentile ranking across all CPUs. The i5-14490F averages 38149, ranking in the 86th percentile. The i7-14700F's nearest rivals in the database include the Intel Xeon 6505P at 53701 (-0.2%), the Intel Xeon Phi 7290 at 53469 (+0.3%), the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X at 53288 (+0.6%), and the AMD EPYC 7313P at 53206 (+0.8%). The i5-14490F sits near the Intel Core Ultra 5 245T at 38194 (-0.1%), the Intel Core i5-13600KF at 38103 (+0.1%), the AMD Ryzen 7 250 at 38221 (-0.2%), and the Intel Core i5-13600HX at 38261 (-0.3%). These rival deltas are all within a fraction of a percent, meaning each chip is tightly grouped with its closest competition.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins the most benchmarks in the comparison set?

A: The Intel Core i7-14700F wins all 17 recorded head-to-head benchmarks. The Intel Core i5-14490F records 0 wins.

Q: How large is the single-thread performance gap?

A: In PassMark single-thread, the i7-14700F scores 4257 against 3873 for the i5-14490F, a 9% difference. This is the smallest margin of any test in the set.

Q: Where does the i7-14700F show its largest advantage?

A: PassMark integer math shows the biggest gap at 43.6%, with the i7-14700F scoring 155808 versus 87844 for the i5-14490F.

Q: Do the Cinebench deltas stay consistent across versions?

A: Yes. Every Cinebench test, from R15 through R23, and in both multicore and single-core variants, shows exactly a 34.5% delta in favor of the i7-14700F.

Q: What is the percentile ranking difference between the two?

A: The i7-14700F ranks in the 91st percentile of all CPUs, while the i5-14490F ranks in the 86th percentile.

Q: Does the i5-14490F close the gap in any workload category?

A: The closest result for the i5-14490F is PassMark physics, where it trails by 14.7% (2093 vs 2455), and PassMark single-thread, where it trails by 9%. It still loses both tests.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on the Raptor Lake architecture with the Raptor Lake-R codename and a 10 nm process node from Intel. They share the same Intel Socket 1700 platform, dual-channel memory bus, and support for both DDR4 and DDR5 memory. Neither has integrated graphics, and both use Gen 5 PCIe with 16 CPU lanes.

The core configurations diverge sharply. The i5-14490F has 10 cores and 16 threads, while the i7-14700F has 20 cores and 28 threads. That doubling of core count and near doubling of threads is the primary architectural differentiator. The i7-14700F also has a larger die at 257 mm² compared to 215 mm² for the i5-14490F, reflecting the additional silicon for the extra cores.

Cache hierarchies differ in the L2 and L3 layers. Both use 80 KB of L1 cache per core. The i5-14490F carries 1.25 MB of L2 per core, while the i7-14700F carries 2 MB per core. Shared L3 cache totals 24 MB on the i5-14490F and 33 MB on the i7-14700F. The larger L3 on the i7-14700F provides more room for shared data across its higher core count.

Clock speeds also differ. The i5-14490F has a 2.50 GHz base clock and a 5.00 GHz boost clock. The i7-14700F has a lower 2.10 GHz base clock but a higher 5.40 GHz boost clock. The lower base clock on the i7-14700F likely reflects power management across more cores, while the higher boost clock gives it a single-thread advantage. Both parts have a 65 W TDP.

ECC memory support is present on the i7-14700F but absent on the i5-14490F. The i7-14700F also launched about a week later in the database records, with a release date of 2024-01-07 compared to 2023-12-31 for the i5-14490F. Both are locked multipliers, so neither supports unlocked overclocking. The part numbers are SRN35 for the i5-14490F and SRN3Z for the i7-14700F. The i7-14700F has a launch MSRP of $359.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous. The i7-14700F outperforms the i5-14490F in every single recorded test, across rendering, math, compression, encryption, and single-thread workloads. The i5-14490F never closes the gap to a statistical tie; its best showing is a 9% deficit in single-threaded PassMark, and its worst is a 43.6% deficit in integer math.

The i7-14700F's 91st percentile ranking versus the i5-14490F's 86th percentile places them in different performance tiers overall. The average benchmark score difference, 53620 versus 38149, represents a roughly 40% higher average score for the i7-14700F. The Cinebench results are especially telling: a consistent 34.5% lead across every version and core count test indicates the i7-14700F delivers a uniform rendering advantage rather than one that appears only in specific scenarios.

The i5-14490F remains competitive in single-thread tasks, where the 9% gap is modest. It also posts respectable absolute scores, ranking above 85% of all CPUs. But the i7-14700F is the stronger processor in every measured dimension, and the database shows no workload category where the i5-14490F takes a win. For workloads that benefit from more cores, more cache, or higher boost clocks, the i7-14700F is the clear choice based on the recorded measurements.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in core count: 10 cores and 16 threads for the i5-14490F versus 20 cores and 28 threads for the i7-14700F. Base clocks differ at 2.50 GHz versus 2.10 GHz, and boost clocks differ at 5.00 GHz versus 5.40 GHz. Die size differs at 215 mm² versus 257 mm². L2 cache per core differs at 1.25 MB versus 2 MB. Shared L3 cache differs at 24 MB versus 33 MB. ECC memory support is absent on the i5-14490F and present on the i7-14700F. Release dates differ, with the i5-14490F recorded as 2023-12-31 and the i7-14700F as 2024-01-07. The i7-14700F has a launch MSRP of $359, while no launch MSRP is recorded for the i5-14490F. Part numbers differ: SRN35 for the i5-14490F and SRN3Z for the i7-14700F.

Shared specifications include the Raptor Lake architecture, Raptor Lake-R codename, 10 nm process node, Intel foundry, 65 W TDP, Intel Socket 1700, DDR4 and DDR5 memory support, dual-channel memory bus, Gen 5 PCIe with 16 CPU lanes, no integrated graphics, Desktop market segment, Active production status, and locked multipliers.

Where Each One Wins

The i7-14700F wins in every benchmark category recorded in the database. Multithreaded workloads see the largest advantages: integer math at 43.6%, data encryption at 39.5%, floating-point math at 37.8%, random string sorting at 36.3%, and all Cinebench multicore tests at 34.5%. These are workloads that scale with core count, thread count, and cache capacity, all of which favor the i7-14700F.

The i7-14700F also wins in single-threaded tests, though by smaller margins. PassMark single-thread shows a 9% lead, and Cinebench single-core tests show a 34.5% lead. The higher 5.40 GHz boost clock gives the i7-14700F an edge in lightly threaded tasks, but the i5-14490F is comparatively closer in this category than in any other.

The i5-14490F has no recorded wins, but its closest performances come in PassMark physics (14.7% behind) and PassMark single-thread (9% behind). For workloads that are primarily single-threaded and not cache-sensitive, the i5-14490F is the more competitive option of the two, though it still loses. Its lower core count and smaller L3 cache make it less suited to heavily parallel tasks, which is where the i7-14700F pulls ahead most decisively. The data supports a simple split: the i7-14700F for any workload where the extra cores, threads, or cache can be used, and the i5-14490F only as a fallback when the absolute best score is not required and the workload is dominated by light single-thread activity.