Intel Core i7-14700 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 338H Comparison

Intel Core i7-14700 and Intel Core Ultra 5 338H represent two very different design philosophies from Intel. The i7-14700 is a desktop Raptor Lake Refresh part with 20 cores, while the Ultra 5 338H is a mobile Panther Lake processor with 12 cores. The database records 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons. The i7-14700 wins 14 of them, while the Ultra 5 338H wins 3. The average benchmark score for the i7-14700 is 52301, which places it at the 91st percentile of all CPUs. The Ultra 5 338H averages 33989, landing at the 84th percentile.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-14700 dominates in heavily threaded workloads. Cinebench R23 multicore shows a score of 28398 versus 16331, a delta of 73.9% in favor of the desktop part. PassMark integer math delivers the largest margin, with the i7-14700 scoring 154535 against 64934, a 138% advantage. Data compression also heavily favors the i7-14700, 498198 versus 276539, which is an 80.2% delta. These results confirm that the i7-14700 is the processor for rendering, compilation, and other tasks that scale with core count and thread count.

The Ultra 5 338H wins in three specific tests. PassMark find prime numbers shows 304 for the Ultra 5 338H versus 164 for the i7-14700, a delta of -46.1% meaning the mobile chip is 46.1% ahead. PassMark physics also goes to the Ultra 5 338H, scoring 2697 versus 2226, a 17.5% lead. The third win is Cinebench R15 singlecore, where the Ultra 5 338H scores 305 versus 299, a slim 2% margin. These wins indicate the Ultra 5 338H has a stronger per-core performance in specific integer and physics simulations, despite having fewer total cores.

Architecture Differences

The i7-14700 uses the Raptor Lake architecture, specifically Raptor Lake-R, built on a 10 nm process node. It has 20 cores and 28 threads. Its cache hierarchy includes 80 KB L1 per core, 2 MB L2 per core, and 33 MB shared L3. The Ultra 5 338H uses the Panther Lake architecture, built on a 3 nm process node. It has 12 cores and 12 threads, meaning no hyper-threading. Its cache configuration is different, with 192 KB L1 per core, 2.5 MB L2 per core, and 18 MB shared L3.

The i7-14700 has a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz, with a 65 W TDP. The Ultra 5 338H has a base clock of 1.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz, with a 25 W TDP. The socket types are entirely different: the i7-14700 uses Intel Socket 1700, while the Ultra 5 338H uses Intel BGA 2540. The i7-14700 supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory with a dual-channel bus, while the Ultra 5 338H supports LPDDR5X with a dual-channel bus and a recorded memory bandwidth of 136.5 GB/s. The i7-14700 also supports ECC memory, while the Ultra 5 338H does not.

PCIe configurations differ as well. The i7-14700 provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the Ultra 5 338H provides Gen 5 with 4 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 770 on the i7-14700 and Arc B370 on the Ultra 5 338H. The i7-14700 has a launch MSRP of $384, while the Ultra 5 338H has no recorded launch MSRP. The i7-14700 was released on 2024-01-07, and the Ultra 5 338H on 2026-01-04.

The Verdict

The data clearly shows the i7-14700 is the stronger processor for multi-threaded workloads. Its 73.9% lead in Cinebench R23 multicore and 138% lead in PassMark integer math are substantial. The i7-14700 also wins in single-threaded tests, though by smaller margins. In Cinebench R23 singlecore, it scores 2080 versus 2044, a 1.8% delta. PassMark single thread shows 4236 versus 4180, a 1.3% delta. The i7-14700 is the choice for desktop users who need maximum throughput.

The Ultra 5 338H is a mobile processor with a much lower TDP of 25 W compared to 65 W for the i7-14700. It wins in PassMark find prime numbers by 46.1% and PassMark physics by 17.5%. These wins suggest the Panther Lake architecture has strengths in specific computational patterns. However, the overall average benchmark score of 33989 for the Ultra 5 338H is significantly lower than the 52301 of the i7-14700. The Ultra 5 338H is for mobile systems where power efficiency is a priority, and its 3 nm process node supports that design goal.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i7-14700 has an average benchmark score of 52301, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H has an average of 33989.

Q: How do the two processors compare in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The i7-14700 scores 28398, and the Ultra 5 338H scores 16331, giving the i7-14700 a 73.9% advantage.

Q: In which benchmark does the Ultra 5 338H have its largest win?

A: The Ultra 5 338H wins PassMark find prime numbers with a score of 304 versus 164, a 46.1% lead.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The i7-14700 has 20 cores and 28 threads. The Ultra 5 338H has 12 cores and 12 threads.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No, the i7-14700 supports ECC memory, while the Ultra 5 338H does not.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The i7-14700 has a TDP of 65 W, and the Ultra 5 338H has a TDP of 25 W.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest margin in the head-to-head comparison is PassMark integer math. The i7-14700 scores 154535, and the Ultra 5 338H scores 64934, a delta of 138%. This test shows the desktop chip's advantage in arithmetic operations that are not necessarily floating point. Data compression also shows a massive gap, with the i7-14700 at 498198 and the Ultra 5 338H at 276539, a 80.2% delta. Cinebench R23 multicore is another major win, with the i7-14700 ahead by 73.9%.

Cinebench R15 multicore shows a 62.2% delta, with the i7-14700 at 4061 and the Ultra 5 338H at 2504. Random string sorting goes to the i7-14700 by 59.4%, scoring 54340 versus 34082. Multithreaded PassMark shows 40318 versus 28717, a 40.4% delta. Cinebench R20 multicore and singlecore both show a 40.9% delta, with the i7-14700 scoring 14388 and 2031 respectively, against 10213 and 1441 for the Ultra 5 338H. Data encryption is another i7-14700 win, 29601 versus 21367, a 38.5% delta.

Floating point math goes to the i7-14700, 106716 versus 84067, a 26.9% delta. Extended instructions also favor the i7-14700, 28388 versus 23906, an 18.7% delta. The smaller wins come in the single-threaded tests. Cinebench R23 singlecore has the i7-14700 at 2080 and the Ultra 5 338H at 2044, a 1.8% delta. PassMark single thread and singlethread both show 4236 versus 4180, a 1.3% delta.

The Ultra 5 338H wins are distinct. PassMark find prime numbers is its best result, 304 versus 164, a 46.1% delta. PassMark physics shows 2697 versus 2226, a 17.5% delta. Cinebench R15 singlecore is the narrowest win, 305 versus 299, a 2% delta. These three wins indicate the Ultra 5 338H has a unique performance profile that excels in prime number calculations and physics simulations, likely tied to its newer Panther Lake architecture and different cache layout.

Specification Differences

The process node is a major differentiator. The i7-14700 uses 10 nm, while the Ultra 5 338H uses 3 nm. The i7-14700 has a die size of 257 mm², while no die size is recorded for the Ultra 5 338H. Core counts differ significantly: 20 for the i7-14700 versus 12 for the Ultra 5 338H. Thread counts are 28 versus 12, confirming the Ultra 5 338H lacks simultaneous multithreading.

Clock speeds differ. The i7-14700 has a 2.10 GHz base and 5.40 GHz boost. The Ultra 5 338H has a 1.90 GHz base and 4.70 GHz boost. TDP is another clear difference, 65 W for the desktop part and 25 W for the mobile part. The cache configurations are not directly comparable due to different per-core sizes. The i7-14700 has 80 KB L1 per core, 2 MB L2 per core, and 33 MB shared L3. The Ultra 5 338H has 192 KB L1 per core, 2.5 MB L2 per core, and 18 MB shared L3.

Memory support differs. The i7-14700 supports DDR4 and DDR5, while the Ultra 5 338H supports LPDDR5X. The Ultra 5 338H has a recorded memory bandwidth of 136.5 GB/s, while no bandwidth number is recorded for the i7-14700. ECC memory is supported on the i7-14700 but not on the Ultra 5 338H. PCIe lanes are 16 for the i7-14700 and 4 for the Ultra 5 338H, both Gen 5. The integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 770 for the i7-14700 and Arc B370 for the Ultra 5 338H. The sockets are Intel Socket 1700 for the i7-14700 and Intel BGA 2540 for the Ultra 5 338H. The i7-14700 has a launch MSRP of $384, and the Ultra 5 338H has no recorded launch MSRP. Release dates are 2024-01-07 and 2026-01-04 respectively.