Intel Core i5-14500T vs Intel Core i9-11950H Comparison

The Intel Core i9-11950H and Intel Core i5-14500T are both 35W parts, but they target entirely different segments: a mobile Tiger Lake-H flagship versus a desktop Raptor Lake Refresh chip. The benchmark data reveals a fascinating split, with the older i9 dominating in some synthetic workloads while the newer i5 wins the majority of head-to-head tests, 12 wins to 5. This creates a nuanced picture where raw core counts and architectural generations clash with specific test methodologies.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking divergence appears in the Cinebench suite. In Cinebench R23, the Intel Core i9-11950H posts a decisive victory in both multi-core and single-core tests. Its multi-core score of 17,279 is 46.6% higher than the i5-14500T's 11,790, while its single-core result of 2,439 beats the i5's 1,838 by 32.7%. This is a massive swing, suggesting the i9's 5.00 GHz boost clock and Tiger Lake architecture are exceptionally well-tuned for this specific rendering workload.

However, the narrative flips completely in Cinebench R15 and R20. The i5-14500T wins R15 multi-core with 2,022 versus 1,741 (a 13.9% difference) and R20 multi-core with 8,177 versus 7,257 (an 11.3% gap). In single-core tests, the i5 also leads R15 with 252 versus 245 (2.8%) and R20 with 1,154 versus 1,024 (11.3%). The inconsistency between Cinebench versions is striking: the i9 wins the newest R23 by a wide margin, yet loses in the older R15 and R20 iterations.

The PassMark suite tells another story, with the i5-14500T winning 8 of 11 tests. The largest i5 victory comes in floating-point math, where it scores 58,869 against the i9's 44,137, a 25% advantage. It also leads in physics (1,288 vs 1,013, a 21.4% gap), data encryption (15,410 vs 12,658, a 17.9% gap), and single-thread performance (3,736 vs 3,141, a 15.9% gap). The i9 manages wins in extended instructions (16,361 vs 16,043, a 2% edge), find prime numbers (93 vs 81, a 14.8% edge), and random string sorting (29,375 vs 28,462, a 3.2% edge).

Where Each One Wins

The i9-11950H's strengths are concentrated in specific computational patterns. Its Cinebench R23 dominance indicates strong performance in sustained multi-threaded rendering that leverages all 16 threads. The find prime numbers result (14.8% ahead) suggests efficient integer-heavy loop execution, while the extended instructions win, though narrow, points to better handling of specialized instruction sets. Random string sorting also favors the i9, hinting at strong memory access patterns for small data operations.

The i5-14500T excels in broader throughput scenarios. Its floating-point math lead of 25% shows superior vector processing capability, and the physics score advantage of 21.4% indicates strong overall compute for simulation-style tasks. Data compression (6.2% ahead) and encryption (17.9% ahead) both favor the i5, making it better suited for file handling and security workloads. The single-thread PassMark score being 15.9% higher is particularly telling, as it suggests the i5 has better per-core efficiency in many real-world tasks despite the i9's higher boost clock.

The data implies a workload-dependent split: the i9 is a specialist for certain rendering and integer tasks, while the i5 is a generalist with broad superiority across PassMark's diverse test suite. The i5 also wins passmark_multithread (22,910 vs 20,900, an 8.8% gap) and integer math (80,922 vs 74,649, a 7.8% gap), making it the more versatile choice for mixed workloads.

Architecture Differences

The two CPUs come from different eras of Intel's design philosophy. The i9-11950H uses the Tiger Lake architecture on a 10 nm process with a die size of 190 mm², while the i5-14500T uses Raptor Lake Refresh on the same 10 nm node but with a larger 215 mm² die. Both have identical L1 cache at 80 KB per core, L2 at 1.25 MB per core, and L3 at 24 MB shared, yet the core configurations differ dramatically.

The i9 offers 8 cores and 16 threads, all presumably performance-oriented, with a base clock of 2.10 GHz and boost of 5.00 GHz. The i5 provides 14 cores and 20 threads, likely a hybrid design, with a lower base of 1.70 GHz and boost of 4.80 GHz. This explains the i9's single-core wins in Cinebench R23: its higher boost clock and uniform core design can push a single thread harder. The i5's advantage in other tests likely stems from having more total cores to spread work across.

Memory support diverges significantly. The i9 is limited to DDR4 with dual-channel support and a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, while the i5 supports both DDR4 and DDR5, also dual-channel, though no bandwidth figure is listed. The i5 also supports ECC memory (true), whereas the i9 does not (false). PCIe capabilities differ too: the i9 offers Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only), while the i5 provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics improve with the i5's UHD Graphics 770 versus the i9's UHD Graphics 750.

The socket and market segment highlight their different natures: the i9 uses Intel BGA 1787 for mobile, while the i5 uses Intel Socket 1700 for desktop. Production status also differs, with the i9 marked end-of-life and the i5 active. Release dates are far apart, with the i9 launching in 2021-05-10 and the i5 in 2024-01-07. The i9's launch MSRP was $556, while the i5's was $232, though both are locked (multiplierUnlocked: false).

FAQ

Q: Why does the i9-11950H win Cinebench R23 but lose R15 and R20?

A: The data shows a 46.6% lead for the i9 in R23 multi-core (17,279 vs 11,790), yet it trails by 13.9% in R15 (1,741 vs 2,022) and 11.3% in R20 (7,257 vs 8,177). This suggests the newer R23 test benefits from the i9's 5.00 GHz boost clock and Tiger Lake architecture, while older versions favor the i5's 14-core hybrid design.

Q: Which CPU has better single-thread performance?

A: It depends on the benchmark. The i9 wins Cinebench R23 single-core by 32.7% (2,439 vs 1,838), but the i5 wins PassMark single-thread by 15.9% (3,736 vs 3,141) and Cinebench R20 single-core by 11.3% (1,154 vs 1,024). The i9's higher boost clock helps in R23, while the i5's newer architecture wins elsewhere.

Q: Are the cache sizes identical between the two?

A: Yes, both have 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and 24 MB shared L3. Despite this, the i5 has 14 cores versus the i9's 8, meaning the same L3 is shared across more cores, which could affect per-core cache availability.

Q: Can the i5-14500T use faster memory?

A: Yes, the i5 supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the i9 only supports DDR4. Both use dual-channel memory, but the i5's DDR5 support could enable higher bandwidth, though no specific bandwidth figure is provided for the i5.

Q: Which CPU is better for data encryption tasks?

A: The i5-14500T wins decisively, scoring 15,410 in PassMark data encryption versus the i9's 12,658, a 17.9% advantage. This suggests the i5's newer architecture handles cryptographic workloads more efficiently.

Q: Do both CPUs have the same process node?

A: Yes, both use Intel's 10 nm process and are manufactured by Intel. However, the i9's die size is 190 mm² while the i5's is 215 mm², reflecting their different core counts and architectures.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i9-11950H | Intel Core i5-14500T |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 8 | 14 |

| Threads | 16 | 20 |

| Base Clock | 2.10 GHz | 1.70 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.00 GHz | 4.80 GHz |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1787 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Architecture | Tiger Lake | Raptor Lake |

| Codename | Tiger Lake-H | Raptor Lake-R |

| Generation | Core i9 (Tiger Lake-H) | Core i5 (Raptor Lake Refresh) |

| Die Size | 190 mm² | 215 mm² |

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 51.2 GB/s | Not specified |

| ECC Memory | false | true |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 20 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 750 | UHD Graphics 770 |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Production Status | End-of-life | Active |

| Release Date | 2021-05-10 | 2024-01-07 |

| Launch MSRP | $556 | $232 |

| Part Number | SRKT6 | SRN3P |

The Verdict

The data presents a clear choice based on workload. The Intel Core i9-11950H is the pick for users prioritizing Cinebench R23 performance, where it leads by 46.6% in multi-core and 32.7% in single-core, as well as for specialized tasks like prime number calculation and random string sorting. Its 5.00 GHz boost clock and 16 threads make it a strong contender for specific rendering and integer-heavy applications, despite being end-of-life and limited to DDR4.

The Intel Core i5-14500T is the better all-rounder, winning 12 of 17 head-to-head tests. Its 14 cores and 20 threads provide a solid foundation for floating-point math (25% ahead), physics (21.4% ahead), and encryption (17.9% ahead). It also supports DDR5 and ECC memory, offers PCIe Gen 5, and has a newer integrated GPU. For general computing, file compression, and mixed workloads, the i5's broad superiority makes it the more versatile option, especially given its active production status and lower launch MSRP of $232 versus the i9's $556.

Ultimately, the i9-11950H appeals to those with specific Cinebench R23-centric needs or legacy mobile platforms, while the i5-14500T serves desktop users seeking a capable, modern processor with wider memory and PCIe options. The benchmark results do not crown a single winner; they reveal two distinct tools for different jobs.