Intel Core i7-14700 vs Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data set shows a decisive outcome: the Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus wins every single head-to-head benchmark against the Intel Core i7-14700. Across 17 compared tests, the Ultra 9 290HX Plus takes all 17, with the i7-14700 recording zero wins. The overall average benchmark score tells the same story, 79,574 for the Ultra 9 290HX Plus versus 52,301 for the i7-14700, a gap of roughly 52%.

The largest single margins appear in compute-heavy workloads. In PassMark's extended instructions test, the Ultra 9 290HX Plus scores 51,290 against 28,388 for the i7-14700, a 44.7% advantage. Floating point math shows a similar pattern: 201,773 versus 106,716, a 47.1% lead. Prime number generation is the most lopsided result, with the Ultra 9 290HX Plus posting 519 versus 164, a 68.4% edge. Data encryption also favors the newer part, 50,008 versus 29,601, a 40.8% difference.

Cinebench results reinforce the pattern. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Ultra 9 290HX Plus scores 39,684 against 28,398, a 28.4% lead. The R20 multi-core test shows 21,198 versus 14,388, a 32.1% margin, and R15 multi-core shows 5,981 versus 4,061, also 32.1%. Single-core Cinebench results are closer but still favor the Ultra 9 290HX Plus: R23 single-core is 2,356 versus 2,080, an 11.7% edge; R20 single-core is 2,992 versus 2,031, a 32.1% margin; R15 single-core is 340 versus 299, a 12.1% edge.

PassMark's multithread score gives the Ultra 9 290HX Plus 59,439 versus 40,318, a 32.2% advantage. Physics simulation follows at 3,387 versus 2,226, a 34.3% gap. Random string sorting shows 80,327 versus 54,340, a 32.4% difference. The narrowest win in the entire set is PassMark integer math, where the Ultra 9 290HX Plus reaches 164,839 versus 154,535, just 6.3% ahead. Data compression also favors the Ultra 9 290HX Plus, 658,724 versus 498,198, a 24.4% lead. Single-thread PassMark scores are 4,951 versus 4,236, a 14.4% difference.

The percentile standings reflect this overall dominance. The Ultra 9 290HX Plus sits at the 95th percentile among all CPUs in the database, while the i7-14700 sits at the 91st. The rival comparison lists confirm the tier difference. The i7-14700's nearest rivals are the Intel Xeon Gold 5320H (0.2% behind), AMD EPYC 8124P (0.3% ahead), Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX (0.4% ahead), and AMD Ryzen 9 5950X (0.7% ahead). The Ultra 9 290HX Plus sits alongside the Intel Core i9-14900KF (0.3% ahead), AMD EPYC 7413 (0.6% behind), Intel Core i9-14900K (0.6% ahead), and Intel Xeon w5-2565X (1.4% behind). In other words, the Ultra 9 290HX Plus competes in the flagship desktop tier despite being a mobile part.

The Verdict

The data does not support any scenario where the Intel Core i7-14700 wins on raw performance. Every benchmark in the comparison favors the Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus, with margins ranging from 6.3% in integer math to 68.4% in prime number finding. The Ultra 9 290HX Plus also ranks higher in overall percentile, 95th versus 91st, and its average benchmark score is roughly 52% higher.

The i7-14700 does have a place in the record. It is a desktop processor on Intel Socket 1700 with support for both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the Ultra 9 290HX Plus is a mobile processor on Intel BGA 2114 with DDR5-only support. The i7-14700 also carries a launch MSRP of $384. For platform flexibility and a lower power envelope, the i7-14700 may be the only option of the two, but the benchmark data shows a clear performance hierarchy.

The Ultra 9 290HX Plus is the stronger processor in every measured workload. It delivers higher multi-core throughput, higher single-core throughput, and substantially higher results in encryption, compression, and math-heavy tests. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i9-14900K and i9-14900KF, which places it in a different competitive class than the i7-14700.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher overall average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus has an average benchmark score of 79,574, while the Intel Core i7-14700 has an average of 52,301.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two processors?

A: The largest gap is in PassMark's find prime numbers test, where the Ultra 9 290HX Plus scores 519 against 164 for the i7-14700, a 68.4% difference.

Q: Are there any benchmarks where the i7-14700 wins?

A: No. Across all 17 head-to-head benchmarks in the database, the Ultra 9 290HX Plus wins every test.

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Ultra 9 290HX Plus has 24 cores and 24 threads, while the i7-14700 has 20 cores and 28 threads.

Q: How do the two processors compare in single-core performance?

A: The Ultra 9 290HX Plus leads in Cinebench R23 single-core, 2,356 versus 2,080 (11.7%), and in PassMark single-thread, 4,951 versus 4,236 (14.4%).

Q: What is the percentile ranking of each processor?

A: The Ultra 9 290HX Plus is at the 95th percentile among all CPUs, and the i7-14700 is at the 91st percentile.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every core specification. The i7-14700 has 20 cores and 28 threads, while the Ultra 9 290HX Plus has 24 cores and 24 threads. Base clocks are 2.10 GHz for the i7-14700 and 2.70 GHz for the Ultra 9 290HX Plus. Boost clocks are closer, 5.40 GHz versus 5.50 GHz. Thermal design power is 65 watts for the i7-14700 and 55 watts for the Ultra 9 290HX Plus. The i7-14700 uses Intel Socket 1700, while the Ultra 9 290HX Plus uses Intel BGA 2114. The multiplier is locked on the i7-14700 and unlocked on the Ultra 9 290HX Plus.

Memory support also differs. The i7-14700 supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the Ultra 9 290HX Plus supports DDR5 only. Both use a dual-channel memory bus, but the Ultra 9 290HX Plus has a recorded memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s; no memory bandwidth figure is recorded for the i7-14700. Both support ECC memory. PCIe lane counts differ: the i7-14700 provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the Ultra 9 290HX Plus provides Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics differ as well, with the i7-14700 using UHD Graphics 770 and the Ultra 9 290HX Plus using Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU. Part numbers are SRN40 for the i7-14700 and SADSS for the Ultra 9 290HX Plus.

Architecture Differences

The architectural split is substantial. The i7-14700 is built on Raptor Lake, specifically Raptor Lake-R, part of the Core 14th Gen series and the Core i7 (Raptor Lake Refresh) generation. The Ultra 9 290HX Plus is built on Arrow Lake-HX Refresh, part of the Core Ultra Series 2 and the Ultra 9 (Arrow Lake-HX) generation. The i7-14700 uses a 10 nm process node from Intel, while the Ultra 9 290HX Plus uses a 3 nm node from TSMC. The Ultra 9 290HX Plus has a recorded transistor count of 17,800 million; no transistor count is recorded for the i7-14700. Die sizes are 257 mm² for the i7-14700 and 243 mm² for the Ultra 9 290HX Plus.

Cache layouts differ across all levels. The i7-14700 has 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 33 MB of shared L3. The Ultra 9 290HX Plus has 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 36 MB of shared L3. No total L3 or 3D V-Cache figures are recorded for either part. The market segments also differ: the i7-14700 is a desktop part, while the Ultra 9 290HX Plus is a mobile part. Release dates are recorded as January 2024 for the i7-14700 and March 2026 for the Ultra 9 290HX Plus. Both are listed as active in production.

Where Each One Wins

Based strictly on the benchmark data, the Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus wins in every recorded category. It is faster in multi-core rendering, as shown by Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests, with margins between 28.4% and 32.1%. It is faster in single-core rendering, with Cinebench R23 single-core showing an 11.7% lead. It wins in encryption, compression, extended instructions, prime number finding, floating point math, integer math, physics simulation, random string sorting, and multithreaded workloads. Its largest advantage is in prime number finding at 68.4%, and its smallest is in integer math at 6.3%.

The Intel Core i7-14700 does not win any benchmark in the comparison. Its role in the data is as a lower-tier reference point. It has more threads than the Ultra 9 290HX Plus, 28 versus 24, but that does not translate into any test victory. It supports DDR4 memory, which the Ultra 9 290HX Plus does not, and it uses a desktop socket rather than a mobile BGA package. It also has a lower TDP of 65 watts versus 55 watts for the Ultra 9 290HX Plus, though both are relatively modest figures. The i7-14700's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X at 0.7% ahead, placing it in the high-end desktop range, while the Ultra 9 290HX Plus sits alongside the Intel Core i9-14900K and i9-14900KF.

For workloads measured in this database, the Ultra 9 290HX Plus is the stronger choice on every metric. The i7-14700 remains relevant only for scenarios that require its specific platform attributes, such as DDR4 support or the LGA 1700 socket, since the performance data shows no workload where it leads.