Intel Core i5-14600 vs Intel Core i9-14901E Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core i5-14600 dominates the Intel Core i9-14901E across nearly every benchmark category, securing 13 wins against 4 for the i9. The most decisive victories come in data compression and extended instructions, where the i5-14600 posts scores of 434620 and 25674 respectively, compared to 288777 and 17249 for the i9-14901E. These translate to deltas of 50.5% and 48.8%, indicating substantial advantages in workloads that rely on large data movement and complex instruction processing.

The Cinebench suite shows a consistent pattern of 18.3% superiority for the i5-14600 across all six tests. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the i5-14600 scores 30464 against 25753, while in singlecore it reaches 4300 versus 3635. The same 18.3% delta appears in Cinebench R15 and R20 for both single and multicore runs, suggesting the i5-14600's architectural advantages scale uniformly across render workloads of varying intensity.

The i5-14600 also wins in multithread performance with a Passmark score of 35848 against 30298, a difference of 18.3%. Random string sorting shows a 22.8% advantage (48043 versus 39138), while data encryption delivers a 35.1% lead (25082 versus 18571). Floating point math and integer math are closer contests, with the i5-14600 ahead by 5.8% (85759 versus 81089) and 3.9% (117078 versus 112736) respectively.

The i9-14901E claims four victories, led by physics performance. Its Passmark physics score of 3041 outperforms the i5-14600's 2330 by 23.4%, indicating superior handling of physics simulations. Prime number finding shows an 18% advantage for the i9-14901E (189 versus 155), while single-thread performance edges ahead by 4.3% with 4354 against 4167. These wins highlight the i9-14901E's strength in latency-sensitive, low-thread-count operations.

The benchmark data positions the i5-14600 at the 89th percentile among all CPUs, while the i9-14901E sits at the 86th percentile. The i5-14600's average benchmark score of 44889 compares favorably to the i9-14901E's 37911, a gap of nearly 7000 points. Among its nearest rivals, the i5-14600 sits within 0.5% of the Intel Core i9-12900KS and AMD EPYC 4344P, while slightly ahead of the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D by 0.7% and the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H by 1%. The i9-14901E's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 with a 0% delta, the AMD Ryzen 7 9700X at -0.1%, and the Intel Core 5 211E at 0.2%.

Architecture Differences

Both processors share the Raptor Lake architecture with the Raptor Lake-R codename, manufactured on Intel's 10 nm process node with a die size of 257 mm². They use the same Intel Socket 1700 and support DDR4 and DDR5 memory in dual-channel configuration. Both include ECC memory support, PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU, and integrated UHD Graphics 770.

The core configurations differ significantly. The i5-14600 packs 14 cores and 20 threads, while the i9-14901E uses 8 cores and 16 threads. This core count disparity drives much of the multicore benchmark gap, as the i5-14600 has 75% more physical cores available for parallel workloads.

Clock speeds favor the i9-14901E. It operates at a 2.80 GHz base clock and boosts to 5.60 GHz, compared to the i5-14600's 2.70 GHz base and 5.20 GHz boost. The i9-14901E's higher boost clock explains its single-thread wins in Passmark, where it reaches 4354 versus 4167 for the i5-14600.

Cache hierarchies also differ. Both processors allocate 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 2 MB of L2 cache per core. The L3 cache is the differentiator: the i5-14600 has 24 MB shared, while the i9-14901E has 36 MB shared. The i9-14901E's larger L3 cache provides more capacity for frequently accessed data, which contributes to its physics and prime number advantages.

The i5-14600 released on January 7, 2024, with a launch MSRP of $255. The i9-14901E followed on June 30, 2024, with no launch MSRP recorded. Both processors carry locked multipliers, preventing user overclocking. The i5-14600 uses part number SRN44, while the i9-14901E uses Q49ESRNJH. Both remain in active production for the desktop market segment.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i5-14600 has 14 cores and 20 threads. The Intel Core i9-14901E has 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: How do their boost clocks compare?

A: The i9-14901E boosts to 5.60 GHz, while the i5-14600 boosts to 5.20 GHz. The i9-14901E also has a slightly higher base clock at 2.80 GHz versus 2.70 GHz.

Q: Which processor wins in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The i5-14600 scores 30464 in Cinebench R23 multicore, beating the i9-14901E's 25753 by 18.3%.

Q: What is the L3 cache difference?

A: The i9-14901E has 36 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i5-14600 has 24 MB. Both have 80 KB L1 per core and 2 MB L2 per core.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the i5-14600 and i9-14901E support ECC memory. They also both support DDR4 and DDR5 memory.

Q: Which processor has a higher Passmark single-thread score?

A: The i9-14901E scores 4354 in Passmark single-thread, ahead of the i5-14600's 4167 by 4.3%.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several core specifications. The i5-14600 uses 14 cores and 20 threads, while the i9-14901E uses 8 cores and 16 threads. Base clocks are 2.70 GHz for the i5-14600 and 2.80 GHz for the i9-14901E. Boost clocks reach 5.20 GHz on the i5-14600 and 5.60 GHz on the i9-14901E.

L3 cache sizes differ, with the i5-14600 offering 24 MB shared and the i9-14901E offering 36 MB shared. Release dates are distinct: the i5-14600 launched on January 7, 2024, while the i9-14901E launched on June 30, 2024. The launch MSRP for the i5-14600 is $255, while the i9-14901E has no recorded launch MSRP. Part numbers also differ, with the i5-14600 using SRN44 and the i9-14901E using Q49ESRNJH.

Identical specifications include the 10 nm process node, 257 mm² die size, 65 TDP, Intel Socket 1700, Raptor Lake architecture, UHD Graphics 770, DDR4/DDR5 memory support, dual-channel memory bus, ECC memory support, PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes, and locked multipliers.

The Verdict

The benchmark data clearly favors the Intel Core i5-14600 for users who prioritize overall throughput. Its 13 benchmark wins against 4 for the i9-14901E, combined with an average benchmark score of 44889 versus 37911, establishes it as the stronger all-around processor. The i5-14600's multicore advantages in Cinebench and Passmark multithread tests confirm that its higher core count delivers tangible benefits across rendering and parallel workloads.

The i9-14901E serves a narrower role. Its wins in Passmark physics, prime number finding, and single-thread tests indicate strengths in specific workloads that benefit from higher clock speeds and larger cache capacity. The 5.60 GHz boost clock and 36 MB L3 cache give it an edge in latency-sensitive operations, but these advantages do not translate into broader performance leadership.

The i5-14600's 89th percentile ranking versus the i9-14901E's 86th percentile reinforces its overall superiority. Its proximity to the Intel Core i9-12900KS and AMD EPYC 4344P, both within 0.5%, shows that the i5-14600 competes effectively with higher-tier processors despite its mainstream positioning.

Where Each One Wins

The i5-14600 dominates in multicore rendering, data compression, encryption, extended instructions, multithread workloads, random string sorting, floating point math, and integer math. Its 18.3% lead across all Cinebench tests positions it as the choice for 3D rendering, video encoding, and content creation tasks. The 50.5% advantage in data compression and 48.8% lead in extended instructions make it particularly suited for archive management, database operations, and scientific computing.

The i9-14901E wins in physics simulation, prime number finding, and single-thread performance. Its 23.4% physics advantage and 18% prime number lead suggest it handles finite element analysis, computational mathematics, and physics-based simulations more efficiently. The 4.3% single-thread edge, combined with the 5.60 GHz boost clock, benefits lightly threaded applications such as legacy software, certain emulators, and interactive workloads where per-core performance matters more than core count.

Both processors share the same 65 TDP, socket, and memory support, so platform compatibility is identical. Users selecting between them should weigh the i5-14600's broad multicore dominance against the i9-14901E's specialized single-thread and physics strengths. For mixed workloads spanning rendering, compression, and general productivity, the data supports the i5-14600. For focused physics or prime number computation tasks, the i9-14901E's wins in those specific benchmarks make it the targeted choice.