Intel Core i5-14600 vs Intel Core i7-14701E Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i5-14600 has 14 cores and 20 threads, while the Intel Core i7-14701E has 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: How large is the L3 cache on each chip?

A: The Core i5-14600 has 24 MB of shared L3 cache, whereas the Core i7-14701E has 33 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: What are the maximum boost clocks?

A: The Core i5-14600 boosts up to 5.20 GHz, while the Core i7-14701E reaches 5.40 GHz.

Q: Which processor scores higher in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Core i5-14600 delivers 30464 points versus 22195 for the Core i7-14701E, a 37.3% advantage.

Q: Does the Core i7-14701E win any benchmark?

A: Yes, it wins in passmark_find_prime_numbers (176 vs 155), passmark_physics (2399 vs 2330), and passmark_single_thread (4305 vs 4167).

Q: What is the average benchmark score difference?

A: The Core i5-14600 averages 44889, while the Core i7-14701E averages 33206. The i5 sits at the 89th percentile of all CPUs, the i7 at the 83rd.

Architecture Differences

Both processors belong to Intel’s Core 14th Gen family, share the Raptor Lake architecture, and use the Raptor Lake-R codename. They are built on Intel’s 10 nm process node with a 257 mm² die size. Both use the Intel Socket 1700 and feature dual-channel memory support for DDR4 and DDR5, with ECC memory enabled. Integrated graphics are identical: UHD Graphics 770.

The structural divergence lies in core configuration and cache. The Core i5-14600 packs 14 cores and 20 threads, indicating a mix of performance and efficiency cores. The Core i7-14701E has only 8 cores and 16 threads, a notably leaner layout. L1 and L2 cache are the same per core: 80 KB and 2 MB respectively. However, the shared L3 cache differs substantially: the i5 has 24 MB, while the i7 has 33 MB. That gives the i7 a 9 MB L3 advantage despite having fewer cores.

Both chips use PCIe Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes, and neither has an unlocked multiplier. The i5-14600 launched on 2024-01-07 with a launch MSRP of $255; the i7-14701E followed on 2024-06-30 with no listed MSRP. Part numbers differ: SRN44 for the i5, Q49FSRNJK for the i7. Production status for both is Active.

The core count difference drives most architectural behavior. More cores and threads on the i5 typically translate to broader parallel throughput, while the i7’s larger L3 cache and higher boost clock can favor latency-sensitive workloads. The base clocks are close, 2.70 GHz for the i5 versus 2.60 GHz for the i7, but the i7’s boost advantage of 0.20 GHz is small yet measurable in single-thread tests.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark record shows a dominant pattern: the Core i5-14600 wins 13 of 17 head-to-head comparisons. The margins are often large. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5 scores 3070 against 2237 for the i7, a 37.2% lead. Single-core R15 shows 433 versus 315, a 37.5% edge. Cinebench R20 repeats the pattern: multi-core 12794 vs 9321 (37.3% ahead), single-core 1806 vs 1315 (37.3% ahead). Cinebench R23 multi-core yields 30464 vs 22195 (37.3% ahead), and single-core 4300 vs 3133 (37.2% ahead).

PassMark tests amplify the gap in several areas. Data compression favors the i5 heavily: 434620 vs 282939, a 53.6% advantage. Data encryption shows the largest delta: 25082 vs 14862, a 68.8% lead for the i5. Extended instructions run 38.6% ahead at 25674 vs 18528. Floating point math also lands at 38.6% ahead (85759 vs 61873). Integer math gives the i5 a 44% edge (117078 vs 81325). Random string sorting shows a 64.8% advantage (48043 vs 29158). The multithread benchmark is consistent with the Cinebench results: 35848 vs 26112, a 37.3% lead.

The Core i7-14701E claims four wins, all in PassMark sub-tests. Prime number finding scores 176 vs 155, an 11.9% advantage for the i7. Physics runs 2399 vs 2330, a 2.9% edge. Single-thread and singlethread benchmarks both show 4305 vs 4167, a 3.2% lead for the i7. These wins are narrow compared to the i5’s margins, which range from 37.2% to 68.8%. The i7’s victories cluster around single-core performance and specific integer workloads, likely benefiting from the higher 5.40 GHz boost clock and larger L3 cache.

The average benchmark score reinforces the picture: 44889 for the i5 versus 33206 for the i7. That places the i5 at the 89th percentile of all CPUs, while the i7 sits at the 83rd. The i5’s nearest rivals include the Core i9-12900KS (45094, 0.5% lower) and AMD EPYC 4344P (45122, 0.5% lower); the i7’s closest competitor is the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 6950H at 33201, within 0%. The i5’s 35% average score advantage over the i7 is consistent with its wider core and thread count.

Specification Differences

The two chips differ in several recorded specifications. Core count: 14 on the i5 versus 8 on the i7. Threads: 20 versus 16. Base clock: 2.70 GHz versus 2.60 GHz. Boost clock: 5.20 GHz versus 5.40 GHz. L3 cache: 24 MB shared versus 33 MB shared. Release date: 2024-01-07 versus 2024-06-30. Launch MSRP: $255 for the i5, none listed for the i7. Part number: SRN44 versus Q49FSRNJK.

Identical specifications include TDP (65 W both), socket (Intel Socket 1700), process node (10 nm), die size (257 mm²), L1 cache (80 KB per core), L2 cache (2 MB per core), memory support (DDR4, DDR5), memory bus (dual-channel), ECC support (true), PCIe (Gen 5, 16 lanes CPU only), integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 770), market segment (Desktop), production status (Active), foundry (Intel), architecture (Raptor Lake), and codename (Raptor Lake-R). Both have locked multipliers.

The boost clock difference is notable: the i7 runs 0.20 GHz higher despite having fewer cores. The L3 cache difference of 9 MB favors the i7, which may explain its single-thread wins. The i5 compensates with 6 additional cores and 4 additional threads, which explains its multi-core dominance. The i5’s earlier release and listed MSRP contrast with the i7’s later arrival and absent pricing data.

Where Each One Wins

The Core i5-14600 is the clear winner in heavily threaded workloads. Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests all show 37% or greater leads. PassMark multithread confirms the same margin at 37.3%. Data compression and encryption workloads favor the i5 by 53.6% and 68.8% respectively, making it the stronger choice for archive handling, database operations, or any task that saturates multiple cores. Integer math (44% ahead), floating point math (38.6% ahead), extended instructions (38.6% ahead), and random string sorting (64.8% ahead) all indicate that general-purpose compute, scientific calculations, and data processing run faster on the i5.

The Core i7-14701E wins in a narrower set of scenarios. Its single-thread PassMark score of 4305 beats the i5’s 4167 by 3.2%, and it leads in physics (2399 vs 2330, 2.9%) and prime number finding (176 vs 155, 11.9%). These results suggest the i7 holds an edge in lightly threaded tasks where the higher 5.40 GHz boost clock and larger 33 MB L3 cache come into play. Applications that rely on a single fast core, such as certain simulation steps or legacy single-threaded code, could see marginal gains on the i7.

However, the i7’s wins are small in magnitude. The i5’s largest deficit is 11.9% in prime number finding, while its own margins reach nearly 69% in data encryption. For most users, the i5’s 13 benchmark victories and 35% higher average score make it the stronger overall processor. The i7’s appeal rests on its single-thread performance and larger cache, but the recorded data shows those advantages do not offset the i5’s multicore superiority. The percentile ranking, 89th versus 83rd, aligns with this conclusion.

The use-case split is therefore straightforward: multi-threaded productivity, content creation, and data-heavy tasks belong to the i5-14600. Single-threaded legacy applications or niche integer workloads may prefer the i7-14701E, but the margins are slim and the benchmark coverage is limited to PassMark sub-tests. The i5’s consistency across Cinebench and PassMark, combined with its 13 wins, makes it the recommended choice based on measured performance alone.