Intel Core i7-14700 vs Intel Core Ultra 9 386H Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-14700 has 20 cores and 28 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 9 386H has 16 cores and 16 threads. The desktop part delivers 12 more threads than the mobile part.

Q: How do their boost clocks compare?

A: The Core i7-14700 boosts to 5.40 GHz, while the Core Ultra 9 386H reaches 4.90 GHz. The desktop chip holds a 0.50 GHz advantage in maximum frequency.

Q: Which CPU has the larger L3 cache?

A: The Core i7-14700 has 33 MB of shared L3 cache, whereas the Core Ultra 9 386H has 18 MB. The desktop part offers 15 MB more L3 capacity.

Q: What process nodes do these processors use?

A: The Core i7-14700 uses Intel's 10 nm process, while the Core Ultra 9 386H is built on a 3 nm node. The mobile chip uses a significantly smaller fabrication process.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The Core i7-14700 supports ECC memory, but the Core Ultra 9 386H does not. Memory support otherwise differs: the desktop part handles DDR4 and DDR5, while the mobile part uses DDR5 and LPDDR5X.

Q: Which CPU has a higher overall benchmark percentile?

A: The Core i7-14700 sits at the 91st percentile among all CPUs, while the Core Ultra 9 386H sits at the 88th. The desktop chip also has a higher average benchmark score of 52301 versus 43210.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations and target different market segments. The Core i7-14700 is a Raptor Lake-R part, part of the Core 14th Gen desktop lineup, built on Intel's 10 nm node with a die size of 257 mm². The Core Ultra 9 386H belongs to the Panther Lake-H generation, the Core Ultra Series 3, and uses a 3 nm process. That node advantage gives the mobile part a substantially denser transistor layout, though the database does not list a die size for it.

Core organization diverges sharply. The Core i7-14700 provides 20 cores and 28 threads, which indicates a hybrid arrangement with more execution threads than physical cores. The Core Ultra 9 386H provides 16 cores and 16 threads, meaning each core maps to exactly one thread. Cache hierarchies also differ: the desktop part has 80 KB of L1 per core and 2 MB of L2 per core, while the mobile part has 192 KB of L1 per core and 2.5 MB of L2 per core. However, the Core i7-14700 has 33 MB of shared L3 cache against 18 MB for the Core Ultra 9 386H.

Memory architecture separates the two as well. The desktop chip supports DDR4 and DDR5 in dual-channel mode, along with ECC memory. The mobile chip supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X in dual-channel mode, with a listed memory bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s, and it lacks ECC support. PCIe connectivity differs: the Core i7-14700 offers Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes, while the Core Ultra 9 386H offers Gen 5 with 12 CPU lanes.

Integrated graphics and sockets reflect their respective platforms. The Core i7-14700 pairs with UHD Graphics 770 and uses Intel Socket 1700. The Core Ultra 9 386H contains Intel Xe3 Graphics and uses Intel BGA 2540. The desktop part has a launch MSRP of $384, while the mobile part has no listed launch MSRP. Both have locked multipliers. The desktop chip carries part number SRN40, and the mobile chip carries SA4R5Q9EH.

The Verdict

The benchmark data consistently favors the Core i7-14700 in threaded workloads. It wins 12 of the 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons and holds a 21% higher average benchmark score (52301 versus 43210). In multi-core rendering, the desktop chip leads by 26% in Cinebench R15 multi-core, 12.2% in R20 multi-core, and 38.2% in R23 multi-core. Integer math shows the largest gap at 77% in favor of the desktop part.

The Core Ultra 9 386H wins 5 of the 17 comparisons, but those wins are concentrated in specific workloads. Its largest victory comes in PassMark find prime numbers, where it beats the Core i7-14700 by 51.9%. It also wins in physics by 26.5%, extended instructions by 2.6%, floating point math by 1.7%, and Cinebench R15 single-core by 1.5%. These results indicate that the mobile chip has strengths in certain math and physics workloads, but they do not offset the desktop part's broad multi-threaded dominance.

For a desktop user who prioritizes rendering, compilation, or any heavily threaded task, the Core i7-14700 is the clear choice from this data. For a mobile platform where power efficiency and compactness matter, the Core Ultra 9 386H delivers competitive single-thread performance and wins in physics and prime number processing. The desktop part also holds the higher overall percentile rank (91 versus 88), reinforcing its position as the more capable processor in aggregate.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i7-14700 | Intel Core Ultra 9 386H |

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

| Series | Core 14th Gen | Core Ultra Series 3 |

| Cores | 20 | 16 |

| Threads | 28 | 16 |

| Base Clock | 2.10 GHz | 2.10 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.40 GHz | 4.90 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 25 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1700 | Intel BGA 2540 |

| Architecture | Raptor Lake | Panther Lake |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 3 nm |

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

| L2 Cache | 2 MB (per core) | 2.5 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 33 MB (shared) | 18 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR5, LPDDR5X |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not listed | 115.2 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 12 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 770 | Intel Xe3 Graphics |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Release Date | 2024-01-07 | 2026-01-04 |

| Launch MSRP | $384 | Not listed |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | No |

| Part Number | SRN40 | SA4R5Q9EH |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Core i7-14700 dominates the Cinebench suite. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 4061 against 3223, a 26% advantage. In R20 multi-core, it scores 14388 against 12820, a 12.2% lead. The R23 multi-core result shows the largest rendering gap: 28398 versus 20547, a 38.2% margin. Single-core results are much closer. The Core i7-14700 wins R20 single-core by 12.3% (2031 versus 1809) and R23 single-core by just 0.4% (2080 versus 2071.5). The Core Ultra 9 386H wins R15 single-core by 1.5% (303.5 versus 299).

PassMark results paint a mixed picture. The Core i7-14700 wins data compression by 41.4% (498198 versus 352365), data encryption by 9% (29601 versus 27150), integer math by 77% (154535 versus 87284), multithread by 13.9% (40318 versus 35399), random string sorting by 29% (54340 versus 42135), and single-thread by 0.4% (4236 versus 4218). The Core Ultra 9 386H wins extended instructions by 2.6% (29138 versus 28388), find prime numbers by 51.9% (341 versus 164), floating point math by 1.7% (108527 versus 106716), and physics by 26.5% (3028 versus 2226).

The largest single delta in either direction belongs to the Core i7-14700 in integer math at 77%. The second largest is the Core Ultra 9 386H in find prime numbers at 51.9%. These two workloads define the opposite ends of the performance spectrum: the desktop chip crushes integer-heavy tasks, while the mobile chip excels at prime number generation and physics simulation.

Where Each One Wins

The Core i7-14700 wins in every multi-core rendering benchmark and in most throughput-oriented tasks. Cinebench R23 multi-core shows its biggest rendering margin at 38.2%, and PassMark integer math shows its biggest overall margin at 77%. Data compression follows at 41.4%, random string sorting at 29%, and multithread at 13.9%. Data encryption adds a 9% win. These results make the desktop part the stronger option for video rendering, code compilation, compression workloads, and any task that scales with thread count.

The Core Ultra 9 386H wins in physics by 26.5% and in find prime numbers by 51.9%. It also edges out the desktop part in extended instructions by 2.6%, floating point math by 1.7%, and Cinebench R15 single-core by 1.5%. The mobile chip's single-thread results are close to the desktop chip across the board, with only 0.4% separating them in both R23 single-core and PassMark single-thread. This suggests the Core Ultra 9 386H is well suited for physics simulation, prime number computation, and workloads that lean on extended instruction sets. Its 25 W TDP, compared to 65 W for the desktop part, positions it for power-constrained mobile systems, while the Core i7-14700's 65 W TDP reflects its desktop-oriented design.