Intel Core i7-14700 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX Comparison

The Intel Core i7-14700 and Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX occupy different corners of the performance landscape, yet their average benchmark scores land within 0.4% of each other (52301 vs 52073). The desktop i7-14700 relies on a 20-core, 28-thread Raptor Lake design, while the mobile Ultra 5 235HX counters with a 14-core, 14-thread Arrow Lake architecture on a 3 nm process. Despite the Core Ultra 5 winning 13 of 17 head-to-head tests, the workloads where the i7-14700 wins are decisive, creating a genuine split based on application type.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i7-14700 edges out the Core Ultra 5 235HX with an average benchmark score of 52301, compared to 52073 for the Ultra 5 — a difference of just 0.4%.

Q: How do the two compare in Cinebench R23 multi-core performance?

A: The Core Ultra 5 235HX scores 34731 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, beating the i7-14700’s 28398 by 18.2%. This is one of the largest multi-core gaps in the head-to-head results.

Q: What is the biggest single-core advantage in the data?

A: The Core Ultra 5 235HX dominates single-core workloads in Cinebench R23, scoring 4903 against the i7-14700’s 2080 — a 57.6% advantage, the largest delta of any benchmark in the comparison.

Q: Where does the i7-14700 show its strength?

A: The i7-14700 wins big in integer math, scoring 154535 in PassMark integer math versus 97177 for the Ultra 5, a 59% advantage. It also leads in data compression (498198 vs 426417, +16.8%) and random string sorting (54340 vs 50929, +6.7%).

Q: Do both processors have the same percentile ranking?

A: Yes, both the i7-14700 and the Core Ultra 5 235HX sit at the 91st percentile when compared against all CPUs in the database.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Core i7-14700 supports ECC memory, while the Core Ultra 5 235HX does not. The i7-14700 also supports DDR4 and DDR5, whereas the Ultra 5 supports DDR5 only.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent distinct Intel design generations. The Core i7-14700 uses the Raptor Lake architecture, specifically the Raptor Lake-R refresh, built on a 10 nm process at Intel’s own foundry. The Core Ultra 5 235HX moves to the Arrow Lake architecture (Arrow Lake-HX), fabricated by TSMC on a 3 nm node. This process difference is reflected in the transistor counts: the Ultra 5 packs 17,800 million transistors into a 243 mm² die, while the i7-14700’s die size is 257 mm² with no transistor figure listed.

Core configuration differs sharply. The i7-14700 offers 20 cores and 28 threads, leveraging Hyper-Threading to boost parallel throughput. The Ultra 5 235HX has 14 cores and 14 threads — no simultaneous multithreading. Base and boost clocks also favor the older chip in raw frequency: the i7-14700 runs at 2.10 GHz base and 5.40 GHz boost, while the Ultra 5 starts higher at 2.90 GHz but peaks lower at 5.10 GHz.

Cache hierarchies are structured differently. The i7-14700 provides 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 33 MB of shared L3 cache. The Ultra 5 235HX offers larger per-core caches — 192 KB L1 and 3 MB L2 — but a smaller 24 MB shared L3. Memory support also diverges: the i7-14700 accepts both DDR4 and DDR5 across a dual-channel bus, while the Ultra 5 is DDR5-only, with a listed memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s. PCIe lanes differ as well, with the i7-14700 providing Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes and the Ultra 5 offering Gen 5 with 20 CPU lanes.

Integrated graphics separate the two further. The i7-14700 uses UHD Graphics 770, while the Ultra 5 235HX features Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 48 execution units. The Ultra 5 also has an unlocked multiplier, whereas the i7-14700 is locked. Market positioning is clear: the i7-14700 is a desktop part on Intel Socket 1700, while the Ultra 5 235HX is a mobile processor on Intel BGA 2114.

Where Each One Wins

The Core Ultra 5 235HX is the clear winner in single-threaded and lightly-threaded workloads. It leads in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 single-core tests, with the R23 gap reaching 57.6%. PassMark single-thread performance also favors the Ultra 5 (4683 vs 4236, +9.5%). This makes it the better choice for applications that rely on high per-core performance, such as older games or lightly-threaded productivity software.

The Ultra 5 also dominates in several math-heavy and encryption tasks. It wins PassMark floating point math (129819 vs 106716, +17.8%), extended instructions (34808 vs 28388, +18.4%), find prime numbers (361 vs 164, +54.6%), and data encryption (32697 vs 29601, +9.5%). Physics simulation also goes to the Ultra 5 (2550 vs 2226, +12.7%). These results suggest strong performance in scientific computing, cryptography, and simulation workloads.

The i7-14700, by contrast, wins in integer-heavy and data-manipulation tasks. Its 59% lead in integer math (154535 vs 97177) is the largest margin in either direction. It also handles data compression more efficiently (498198 vs 426417, +16.8%) and random string sorting better (54340 vs 50929, +6.7%). These wins point to database operations, file archiving, and general integer-intensive business logic where the i7-14700’s higher thread count pays off.

The multi-core picture is mixed. The Ultra 5 wins Cinebench R20 multi-core (14587 vs 14388, +1.4%) and R23 multi-core (34731 vs 28398, +18.2%), but loses Cinebench R15 multi-core (3500 vs 4061, -16%). PassMark multi-thread is nearly identical (40849 vs 40318, +1.3% for the Ultra 5). This inconsistency suggests the Ultra 5’s newer architecture scales better in some multi-threaded tests, while the i7-14700’s extra threads win in others.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i7-14700 | Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX |

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

| Cores | 20 | 14 |

| Threads | 28 | 14 |

| Base Clock | 2.10 GHz | 2.90 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.40 GHz | 5.10 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 55 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1700 | Intel BGA 2114 |

| Architecture | Raptor Lake | Arrow Lake |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 3 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Die Size | 257 mm² | 243 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 80 KB (per core) | 192 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 2 MB (per core) | 3 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 33 MB (shared) | 24 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR5 |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not listed | 102.4 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

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

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 770 | Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 48EU |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | Yes |

| Release Date | 2024-01-07 | 2025-01-12 |

| Launch MSRP | $384 | Not listed |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result is Cinebench R23 single-core, where the Core Ultra 5 235HX scores 4903 against the i7-14700’s 2080, a 57.6% advantage. This is the largest delta in the entire comparison and highlights the architectural leap of Arrow Lake for per-thread performance. The R15 single-core test shows a similar trend at 494 vs 299 (-39.5%), and R20 single-core is closer but still favors the Ultra 5 (2059 vs 2031, +1.4%).

In multi-core Cinebench, the Ultra 5 wins R23 decisively (34731 vs 28398, +18.2%) and R20 narrowly (14587 vs 14388, +1.4%). However, the i7-14700 takes R15 multi-core (4061 vs 3500, +16%), showing that the older chip’s 28 threads can still outperform in certain legacy multi-threaded tests. PassMark multi-thread is nearly even, with the Ultra 5 ahead by just 1.3% (40849 vs 40318).

The i7-14700’s biggest win is PassMark integer math, where it scores 154535 versus 97177 for the Ultra 5 — a 59% advantage that dwarfs any other margin in the comparison. Data compression also goes to the i7-14700 (498198 vs 426417, +16.8%), as does random string sorting (54340 vs 50929, +6.7%). These wins indicate that the i7-14700 excels when handling large datasets of whole numbers or text.

The Ultra 5 counters in floating point math (129819 vs 106716, +17.8%), extended instructions (34808 vs 28388, +18.4%), and find prime numbers (361 vs 164, +54.6%). Data encryption also favors the Ultra 5 (32697 vs 29601, +9.5%), and physics simulation goes its way too (2550 vs 2226, +12.7%). The overall scoreboard reads 13 wins for the Ultra 5 and 4 wins for the i7-14700.

The Verdict

Choose the Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX for workloads where single-thread speed and modern instruction efficiency dominate. Its 57.6% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core and 54.6% advantage in prime number finding make it the stronger pick for lightly-threaded applications, simulation, and floating-point-heavy tasks. The data also shows it leads in encryption, extended instructions, and physics, covering a broad swath of scientific and content-creation scenarios. Despite having fewer cores and threads, it wins the majority of head-to-head benchmarks, including two of three Cinebench multi-core tests.

Choose the Intel Core i7-14700 for integer-heavy and data-transformation workloads. Its 59% win in integer math is the single largest margin in the comparison, and it also leads in data compression and random string sorting. The 28-thread configuration gives it an edge in Cinebench R15 multi-core, and its support for DDR4 memory and ECC makes it more flexible for certain server-adjacent or legacy environments. The i7-14700 also carries a launch MSRP of $384, though the Ultra 5 has no listed price.

The average benchmark scores are nearly identical — 52301 for the i7-14700 and 52073 for the Ultra 5 — and both sit at the 91st percentile. The deciding factor is workload type, not overall capability. The Ultra 5 suits modern, single-thread-optimized and floating-point applications, while the i7-14700 remains the choice for integer-heavy data processing. Neither chip is a universal winner; the data simply splits them by task.