Intel Core i7-14700 vs Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus has 24 cores and 24 threads, while the Intel Core i7-14700 has 20 cores and 28 threads. The i7-14700 uses hyper-threading, giving it more threads than cores, while the Ultra 7 270K Plus has a 1:1 core-to-thread ratio.

Q: How do their single-threaded Cinebench scores compare?

A: In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus scores 2439, which is 14.7% higher than the i7-14700's 2080. The Ultra 7 270K Plus also wins in Cinebench R20 single-core with 3453 versus 2031, a 41.2% advantage.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus boosts to 5.50 GHz, while the Intel Core i7-14700 boosts to 5.40 GHz. The base clocks differ more significantly: 3.70 GHz for the Ultra 7 270K Plus versus 2.10 GHz for the i7-14700.

Q: What are the process node differences?

A: The Intel Core i7-14700 uses a 10 nm process from Intel, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus uses a 3 nm process from TSMC. The Ultra 7 270K Plus also has a transistor count of 17,800 million, whereas the i7-14700's transistor count is not recorded in the database.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core i7-14700 and the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus list ECC memory support as true. However, the i7-14700 supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the Ultra 7 270K Plus supports only DDR5.

Q: How many benchmark wins does each processor have in the head-to-head data?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus wins all 17 recorded head-to-head benchmarks. The Intel Core i7-14700 has zero wins in the same dataset.

Where Each One Wins

The head-to-head benchmark data is entirely one-sided. The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus takes all 17 comparisons, covering Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 in both single-core and multi-core, plus the full Passmark suite. The i7-14700 does not secure a single win in any recorded test.

For multi-threaded rendering workloads, the Ultra 7 270K Plus dominates. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 44253 against the i7-14700's 28398, a 35.8% gap. The gap widens in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the Ultra 7 270K Plus delivers 24461 versus 14388, a 41.2% difference. The Cinebench R15 multi-core result shows a 39% advantage for the Ultra 7 270K Plus (6656 versus 4061).

The single-core results are closer but still favor the Ultra 7 270K Plus. Cinebench R23 single-core shows a 14.7% lead (2439 vs 2080), and Cinebench R15 single-core shows a 15.5% lead (354 vs 299). The Passmark single-thread test confirms this pattern with a 16.4% advantage (5068 vs 4236).

Specialized workloads reveal the largest differences. The Passmark extended instructions test shows the Ultra 7 270K Plus ahead by 55.3% (63506 vs 28388). The find prime numbers test shows a 73.3% lead (615 vs 164). Floating point math favors the Ultra 7 270K Plus by 53.5% (229491 vs 106716). Data encryption shows a 49.9% gap (59097 vs 29601).

The i7-14700's closest relative performance comes in Passmark integer math, where the Ultra 7 270K Plus leads by only 12.2% (175986 vs 154535). Even there, the direction of the result does not change.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel generations with distinct design philosophies. The Intel Core i7-14700 uses the Raptor Lake architecture, specifically Raptor Lake-R, and belongs to the Core 14th Gen series. The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus uses the Arrow Lake Refresh codename and belongs to the Core Ultra Series 2.

The manufacturing process marks a major generational shift. The i7-14700 is built on Intel's 10 nm node, while the Ultra 7 270K Plus is built on TSMC's 3 nm node. The die sizes are similar at 257 mm² for the i7-14700 and 243 mm² for the Ultra 7 270K Plus, but the transistor count for the Ultra 7 270K Plus is recorded at 17,800 million, while the i7-14700's transistor count is not recorded.

Cache hierarchies differ substantially. The i7-14700 has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 cache per core, and 33 MB of shared L3 cache. The Ultra 7 270K Plus has 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 36 MB of shared L3 cache. The larger per-core caches on the Ultra 7 270K Plus align with its higher per-thread performance in single-core tests.

Memory support diverges as well. The i7-14700 supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the Ultra 7 270K Plus supports only DDR5. The Ultra 7 270K Plus records a memory bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s, while the i7-14700 does not have a recorded memory bandwidth figure.

Integrated graphics differ. The i7-14700 uses UHD Graphics 770, while the Ultra 7 270K Plus uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU. Both are desktop processors with active production status.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts differ as noted: 20 cores and 28 threads for the i7-14700, 24 cores and 24 threads for the Ultra 7 270K Plus. The base clock is 2.10 GHz for the i7-14700 and 3.70 GHz for the Ultra 7 270K Plus. Boost clocks are 5.40 GHz and 5.50 GHz, respectively.

Thermal design power differs. The i7-14700 has a TDP of 65 watts, while the Ultra 7 270K Plus has a TDP of 125 watts. Socket compatibility also changes: the i7-14700 uses Intel Socket 1700, and the Ultra 7 270K Plus uses Intel Socket 1851.

The PCIe configuration differs. The i7-14700 supports Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the Ultra 7 270K Plus supports Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only). The multiplier is locked on the i7-14700 and unlocked on the Ultra 7 270K Plus.

The integrated graphics differ as above. The i7-14700 launches with a recorded MSRP of $384, while the Ultra 7 270K Plus has a recorded MSRP of $299. The release dates differ: the i7-14700 appears in the database with a January 2024 release date, while the Ultra 7 270K Plus has a March 2026 release date.

Part numbers are recorded as SRN40 for the i7-14700 and SA4V6 for the Ultra 7 270K Plus. Both support ECC memory and both are dual-channel memory designs.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single gap in the head-to-head data appears in Passmark find prime numbers. The Ultra 7 270K Plus scores 615, which is 73.3% higher than the i7-14700's 164. This test shows the starkest difference in raw computational throughput.

Passmark extended instructions shows a 55.3% gap, with scores of 63506 versus 28388. Floating point math follows closely at 53.5% (229491 vs 106716). These results indicate that the Ultra 7 270K Plus handles specialized instruction sets and floating-point workloads with considerably more headroom.

Data encryption shows a 49.9% gap (59097 vs 29601). This test exercises cryptographic workloads, and the Ultra 7 270K Plus nearly doubles the i7-14700's result. Random string sorting shows a 43.9% gap (96945 vs 54340), and Passmark physics shows a 45.2% gap (4064 vs 2226).

The Cinebench suite shows consistent multi-core advantages for the Ultra 7 270K Plus. R20 multi-core shows a 41.2% gap (24461 vs 14388), and R15 multi-core shows a 39% gap (6656 vs 4061). Passmark multithread shows a 41.2% gap (68574 vs 40318).

Single-core Cinebench results are more moderate. R20 single-core shows a 41.2% gap (3453 vs 2031), which is surprisingly large for a single-core test. R15 single-core shows a 15.5% gap (354 vs 299), and R23 single-core shows a 14.7% gap (2439 vs 2080).

Passmark single-thread results show a 16.4% gap (5068 vs 4236). Data compression shows a 38.1% gap (804322 vs 498198). The smallest gap in the entire dataset is Passmark integer math at 12.2% (175986 vs 154535).

The overall average benchmark score reflects the same direction. The i7-14700 has an average score of 52301, while the Ultra 7 270K Plus has an average score of 93785. The i7-14700 sits at the 91st percentile of all CPUs, while the Ultra 7 270K Plus sits at the 96th percentile.

Nearest rival data places the i7-14700 near the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X (0.7% difference) and the Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX (0.4% difference). The Ultra 7 270K Plus sits near the Intel Xeon 6520P (0% difference) and trails the AMD EPYC 4564P by 1.5%.

The Verdict

The benchmark data presents a clear hierarchy. The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus outperforms the Intel Core i7-14700 in every recorded test, with no exceptions across 17 head-to-head comparisons. The i7-14700's zero wins are not a matter of close margins; the Ultra 7 270K Plus leads by double-digit percentages in nearly all tests.

The Ultra 7 270K Plus is the stronger choice for multi-threaded productivity. Its 35.8% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 41.2% lead in Passmark multithread indicate substantially better rendering and parallel workload performance. The 24 physical cores without hyper-threading deliver more raw throughput than the i7-14700's 20 cores with 28 threads.

The single-core advantage of the Ultra 7 270K Plus is smaller but consistent. Leads of 14.7% to 16.4% in single-threaded tests suggest better responsiveness in lightly threaded applications, though the gap is less dramatic than the multi-core results.

The i7-14700 retains a lower TDP at 65 watts versus 125 watts, which may matter for power-constrained builds. It also supports DDR4 memory, offering platform flexibility that the DDR5-only Ultra 7 270K Plus does not. The i7-14700 uses Socket 1700, which is a different platform from the Ultra 7 270K Plus's Socket 1851.

For users prioritizing raw performance, the Ultra 7 270K Plus is the clear pick from the data. The 96th percentile ranking versus 91st, the 17-0 head-to-head sweep, and the 79% higher average benchmark score (93785 vs 52301) all point in one direction. The i7-14700 remains competitive only in the sense that its closest rivals are within 0.7% in average score, but those rivals are not the Ultra 7 270K Plus.