Intel Core i7-14700 vs Intel Core i9-13980HX Comparison

The Verdict

The Intel Core i9-13980HX is the clear performance winner in every recorded benchmark comparison. The database shows 17 wins for the mobile Core i9 and zero for the desktop Core i7-14700. If raw performance is the only metric, the i9-13980HX is the pick. That said, the Core i7-14700 is a desktop part, and the i9-13980HX is a mobile part, so the choice depends heavily on your platform requirements.

For a desktop builder who wants a modern Socket 1700 processor, the i7-14700 is the natural fit. It delivers strong multi-threaded scores and sits at the 91st percentile of all CPUs. For someone building or buying a high-end laptop, the i9-13980HX is the only option here, and it performs even better in every single test. The i7 wins only in the sense that it fits a desktop motherboard. If you need a chip for a mobile workstation or a performance laptop, the i9-13980HX is the obvious choice. If you are building a desktop and do not want the complexity of a mobile BGA platform, the i7-14700 is the right call, though you are giving up measurable performance.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on the same Raptor Lake architecture and use the same 10 nm process node from Intel. The die size is identical at 257 mm². Both are produced by Intel, and both use the same integrated graphics solution, the UHD Graphics 770. The per-core cache configuration is identical: 80 KB of L1 per core and 2 MB of L2 per core.

The split comes in core count and L3 cache. The i7-14700 has 20 cores and 28 threads, while the i9-13980HX has 24 cores and 32 threads. The i7 has 33 MB of shared L3, while the i9 has 36 MB. The i9 also has a slightly higher base clock at 2.20 GHz versus 2.10 GHz, and a higher boost clock at 5.60 GHz versus 5.40 GHz.

The platform differences are significant. The i7-14700 uses the Intel Socket 1700, which is a desktop socket, and the i9-13980HX uses Intel BGA 1964, which is a soldered mobile package. The i9 is marked as a Mobile segment product, while the i7 is a Desktop segment product. The i9 is also multiplier unlocked, meaning it is overclockable, while the i7 is not. The i9 supports 20 PCIe Gen 5 lanes from the CPU, versus 16 on the i7. Both support DDR4 and DDR5 memory in dual-channel mode, and both support ECC memory.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The data is one-sided. The i9-13980HX wins every single benchmark in the head-to-head comparison, and most wins are substantial. In the Cinebench R23 multi-core test, the i9 scores 30273 against the i7's 28398, a delta of -6.2% for the i7. That is a meaningful lead for a mobile chip versus a desktop chip. In the single-core variant of R23, the i9 takes it by a smaller margin: 2110 versus 2080, a delta of only -1.4%. That shows the i9 has a slight frequency advantage but not a large architectural edge.

The Cinebench R20 results show a bigger gap. In multi-core, the i9 scores 16187 versus 14388 for the i7, a delta of -11.1%. Single-core R20 shows the same -11.1% delta, with the i9 at 2285 and the i7 at 2031. That is surprising; a single-core delta that large suggests the i9's boost behavior is more aggressive. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i9 scores 4717 versus 4061, a -13.9% delta. Single-core R15 is tighter: 304.5 versus 299, a -1.8% delta.

The Passmark suite reinforces the pattern. Multi-threaded performance shows the i9 at 46409 versus 40318, a -13.1% delta. Single-thread is nearly tied: 4252 versus 4236, only -0.4% delta. That suggests the i9 does not have a great single-thread advantage, but its extra cores and threads drive the multi-core wins.

In integer math, the i9 is ahead by 166455 versus 154535, a -7.2% delta. Floating point math shows 118645 versus 106716, a -10.1% delta. Data compression is a big win for the i9: 588306 versus 498198, a -15.3% delta. Data encryption is another big gap: 35332 versus 29601, -16.2%. Extended instructions score 33868 versus 28388, also -16.2%. Random string sorting is the largest relative gap at -17.8%, with 66125 versus 54340. Find prime numbers is 191 versus 164, -14.1%. Physics is 2575 versus 2226, -13.6%.

The only benchmark where the two are effectively equal is single-threaded PassMark, where the i9 wins by 0.4%. That is within noise, but still a win. The i7 has no benchmark where it comes out ahead.

Specification Differences

| Field | Intel Core i7-14700 | Intel Core i9-13980HX |

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

| Cores | 20 | 24 |

| Threads | 28 | 32 |

| Base Clock | 2.10 GHz | 2.20 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.40 GHz | 5.60 GHz |

| L3 Cache | 33 MB (shared) | 36 MB (shared) |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1700 | Intel BGA 1964 |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

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

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | Yes |

| Launch MSRP | $384 | $668 |

| Release Date | 2024-01-07 | 2023-01-03 |

The i9 has more cores, more threads, higher clocks, more L3, more PCIe lanes, and an unlocked multiplier. The i7 has a lower MSRP, but that is only a launch point. The i7 is a desktop part, the i9 is a mobile part. Both have the same power draw? No, that is not in the pack. The pack only lists TDP: the i7 has 65 and the i9 has 55. Both have the same L1 and L2 per-core cache, same process node, same foundry, same integrated graphics, same memory support.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster in multi-core workloads?

A: The i9-13980HX wins all multi-core tests. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 30273 versus 28398 for the i7-14700, a -6.2% delta. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, it is 16143 versus 14388, a -11.2% delta.

Q: Is the i7-14700 better for single-threaded tasks?

A: No. The i9-13980HX also wins every single-threaded test, though by smaller margins. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 2110 versus 2080, a -1.4% delta. In passmark_single_thread, it is 4252 versus 4236, only -0.4% delta.

Q: Can I overclock the i7-14700?

A: No. The multiplier is not unlocked for the i7-14700. The i9-13980HX has an unlocked multiplier, so it can be overclocked.

Q: Do they support the same memory?

A: Yes. Both support DDR4 and DDR5 in dual-channel memory, and both support ECC memory.

Q: Which one has more cores?

A: The i9-13980HX has 24 cores and 32 threads. The i7-14700 has 20 cores and 28 threads.

Q: Is the i7-14700 a mobile processor?

A: No. The i7-14700 is a desktop part using Socket 1700. The i9-13980HX is a mobile part using BGA 1964.

Where Each One Wins

The i9-13980HX wins every single benchmark in the head-to-head data. If there is a workload, the i9 is better at it. The largest margins are in data compression ( -15.3% ), data encryption ( -16.2% ), extended instructions ( -16.2% ), and random string sorting ( -17.8% ). These are all multi-threaded, core-heavy workloads. The i9's extra 4 cores and 4 threads, plus its 3 MB of extra L3 cache, give it a clear edge in rendering, encoding, and scientific computing. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i9 is 6.2% ahead, which is meaningful for a long video render or a large batch job.

The smallest margins are in single-threaded tests. The i9 wins Cinebench R23 single-core by only 1.4% and passmark_single_thread by 0.4%. For everyday applications that rely heavily on one or two threads, like web browsing or basic office work, the difference is negligible. Both processors will feel similar in those tasks.

The i7-14700 has no benchmark wins. That means no use case where it is faster. But it is not a dead chip. The i7-14700 sits at the 91st percentile of all CPUs, and its average benchmark score is 52301. That is slightly higher than the i9-13980HX's average of 50398, which is why the i9-13980HX sits at the 90th percentile. The i7's average score is higher because it has a higher single-thread score in the GeekBench dataset? No, that is not accurate. The average is a composite. The i7-14700's average is 1.9% higher than the i9-13980HX's average. That is a strange result, but it comes from the full benchmark set, not the head-to-head. The i7-14700 has a higher average because it has a higher score in Geekbench? The Geekbench scores are not in the head-to-head. The i7-14700 has a Geekbench multi-score of 17087 and single of 2409. That data is not in the pack for the i9-13980HX. So we can only say the i7-14700 has a higher average score in the database.

In practice, the i7-14700 wins in the sense that it fits in a desktop motherboard and uses a standard socket. The i9-13980HX is a mobile BGA chip, limited to laptops. If you are building a desktop, the i9 is not a drop-in option. If you are buying a laptop, the i7 is not an option. The i7-14700 is the only desktop part here, and it still performs within 6% in multi-core, enough for most desktop tasks. The i9-13980HX is the performance leader, but only for mobile users.

For a desktop user who values the ability to swap CPUs and use a standard platform, the i7-14700 is the correct choice. For a laptop user who demands the highest possible performance in a mobile form factor, the i9-13980HX is the only answer. The data is clear. The i9-13980HX is the faster processor in all 17 benchmark comparisons, but that only matters if the platform fits.