Intel Core i7-14700F vs Intel Core Ultra 7 356H Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark comparison between the Intel Core i7-14700F and the Intel Core Ultra 7 356H shows a dominant performance profile for the desktop part, but not without a few notable exceptions. The i7-14700F wins 15 of the 17 recorded head-to-head tests, with the Ultra 7 356H taking the remaining two.

The most striking margin appears in Cinebench R23 single-core, where the i7-14700F scores 4958 against the Ultra 7's 2040, a 143% advantage. This is the largest delta in the entire dataset and indicates a substantial difference in single-threaded capability. The R23 multi-core test also shows a huge gap: 35122 for the i7-14700F versus 18395 for the Ultra 7, a 90.9% lead. These two results alone suggest that the desktop chip operates in a different performance class for sustained rendering workloads.

The Cinebench R15 and R20 results follow a similar pattern, though with smaller margins. In R15 multi-core, the i7-14700F scores 3540 against 3055, a 15.9% advantage. The R20 multi-core test shows a 21.4% lead (14751 vs 12153). The R15 single-core result is particularly lopsided beyond the R23 figure: 499 versus 303, a 64.7% delta. The R20 single-core test matches the multi-core delta at 21.4% (2082 vs 1715).

PassMark results reinforce the multi-threaded story. The i7-14700F leads in integer math by 87.5% (155808 vs 83111) and in data compression by 50.5% (505885 vs 336177). Multi-thread scoring shows a 21.6% advantage (41317 vs 33978). Random string sorting favors the desktop part by 36.4% (55918 vs 40990). Data encryption shows a more modest 14.4% lead (30144 vs 26345).

The wins for the Ultra 7 356H are narrow and specialized. In PassMark find prime numbers, the mobile chip scores 327 against 176, a 46.2% advantage. This is the largest margin in either direction outside the Cinebench single-core tests. The other Ultra 7 win comes in PassMark physics, where it scores 2895 against 2455, a 15.2% lead. These two results indicate that the Panther Lake architecture handles certain mathematical workloads with greater efficiency per thread, despite the overall performance deficit.

Close contests appear in a few areas. PassMark extended instructions shows only a 2.4% gap (28564 vs 27898). Floating point math is similarly tight at 3.8% (107005 vs 103128). PassMark single-thread scoring (listed as both passmark_single_thread and passmark_singlethread in the data) shows a 4.5% edge for the i7-14700F (4257 vs 4072). These results suggest that for certain instruction-heavy or floating-point tasks, the two processors are nearly equivalent in throughput.

The average benchmark scores place the i7-14700F at 53620 and the Ultra 7 356H at 41215. The i7-14700F sits in the 91st percentile of all CPUs in the database, while the Ultra 7 356H sits in the 87th. The nearest rivals for the i7-14700F include the Intel Xeon 6505P (0.2% behind), the Intel Xeon Phi 7290 (0.3% ahead), the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X (0.6% ahead), and the AMD EPYC 7313P (0.8% ahead). The Ultra 7 356H's nearest rivals are the AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 (0% delta), the Intel Core Ultra 7 366H (0.1% behind), the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X (0.4% behind), and the Intel Core Ultra X7 358H (0.6% ahead). These rival deltas are all within 1%, meaning both processors sit in tightly contested performance bands relative to their peers.

The Verdict

The data clearly favors the Intel Core i7-14700F for raw computational throughput. It wins the majority of benchmarks by wide margins, particularly in multi-core rendering and integer-heavy workloads. The 90.9% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core and the 87.5% lead in PassMark integer math are decisive. Anyone selecting between these two purely on benchmark scores would choose the i7-14700F without hesitation.

The Ultra 7 356H does not compete on overall performance, but its two wins point to specific strengths. The 46.2% advantage in find prime numbers and the 15.2% advantage in physics suggest that the Panther Lake architecture has optimized certain mathematical operations. These are narrow victories, however, and they do not offset the broad deficit across nearly every other test.

The percentile data reinforces the hierarchy. The i7-14700F ranks in the 91st percentile of all CPUs, while the Ultra 7 356H ranks in the 87th. The difference in average benchmark scores (53620 vs 41215) is substantial. The nearest rival comparisons show that the i7-14700F trades places with workstation and server parts like the Xeon 6505P and EPYC 7313P, while the Ultra 7 356H sits alongside mobile and older desktop parts like the Ryzen 9 5900X.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-14700F wins in all multi-core rendering scenarios. Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests all show double-digit leads, with the R23 delta reaching 90.9%. This makes the desktop chip the clear choice for video rendering, 3D modeling, and any workload that scales across many threads. The PassMark data compression and integer math results, with leads of 50.5% and 87.5% respectively, indicate strength in database operations, scientific computing, and general number crunching.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H wins in two specific PassMark subtests: find prime numbers and physics. The prime number test shows a 46.2% advantage, which is a substantial margin but applies to a niche workload. The physics test shows a 15.2% lead, which could matter for certain simulation or gaming physics calculations. Neither of these wins translates to a broad performance recommendation, but they do indicate that the Ultra 7 architecture has specific computational strengths.

The single-thread results are worth examining separately. The i7-14700F leads in Cinebench R23 single-core by 143%, which is an outlier even among the other single-thread tests. The R15 single-core delta is 64.7%, the R20 delta is 21.4%, and the PassMark single-thread delta is 4.5%. This inconsistency suggests that the Cinebench R23 single-core test is particularly sensitive to the clock speed difference between the two processors, while PassMark single-thread tests are more balanced.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every core specification. The Intel Core i7-14700F has 20 cores and 28 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 356H has 16 cores and 16 threads. The desktop part has a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz, compared to 1.90 GHz base and 4.70 GHz boost for the mobile part.

The thermal design power figures are dramatically different: 65 watts for the i7-14700F versus 25 watts for the Ultra 7 356H. This is the most significant specification gap for any comparison, as it indicates the desktop chip consumes and dissipates considerably more energy.

Memory support also differs. The i7-14700F supports DDR4 and DDR5, while the Ultra 7 356H supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X. Both use dual-channel memory buses. The Ultra 7 356H has a recorded memory bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s, while the i7-14700F has no memory bandwidth figure in the data. The i7-14700F supports ECC memory, while the Ultra 7 356H does not.

PCIe lanes differ as well: 16 lanes for the i7-14700F versus 12 lanes for the Ultra 7 356H. Both use PCIe Gen 5. The i7-14700F has no integrated graphics, while the Ultra 7 356H includes Intel Xe3 Graphics.

Cache layouts are distinct. The i7-14700F 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 356H has 192 KB of L1 per core, 2.5 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3 cache. The die size for the i7-14700F is 257 mm², while the Ultra 7 356H has no die size recorded.

The release dates are nearly two years apart: January 2024 for the i7-14700F and January 2026 for the Ultra 7 356H. The i7-14700F has a launch MSRP of $359, while the Ultra 7 356H has no recorded launch MSRP. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

Architecture Differences

The i7-14700F uses the Raptor Lake architecture, specifically Raptor Lake-R, on a 10 nm process node. The Ultra 7 356H uses the Panther Lake architecture, specifically Panther Lake-H, on a 3 nm process node. Both are manufactured by Intel.

The process node difference is significant: 10 nm versus 3 nm. The smaller node for the Ultra 7 356H allows for a higher L1 cache per core (192 KB vs 80 KB) and a higher L2 cache per core (2.5 MB vs 2 MB), despite having a lower total L3 cache (18 MB vs 33 MB). The 3 nm process likely contributes to the Ultra 7's lower 25 watt TDP while still delivering competitive performance in specific workloads.

The socket types are completely different. The i7-14700F uses Intel Socket 1700, a desktop platform. The Ultra 7 356H uses Intel BGA 2540, a mobile platform. This fundamental difference means the two processors are not interchangeable in any system configuration.

The integrated graphics situation is another major architectural split. The i7-14700F has no integrated graphics, requiring a discrete GPU for any display output. The Ultra 7 356H includes Intel Xe3 Graphics, providing built-in display capability. This makes the Ultra 7 suitable for compact or power-constrained systems without a dedicated graphics card.

The generation labels differ as well: Core i7 (Raptor Lake Refresh) for the desktop part versus Ultra 7 (Panther Lake-H) for the mobile part. The part numbers are also distinct: SRN3Z for the i7-14700F and SA4RGQ9EU for the Ultra 7 356H.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-14700F has 20 cores and 28 threads. The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H has 16 cores and 16 threads.

Q: What is the performance difference in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The i7-14700F scores 35122, while the Ultra 7 356H scores 18395. The i7-14700F leads by 90.9%.

Q: Does the Ultra 7 356H win any benchmarks?

A: Yes, it wins two PassMark subtests: find prime numbers (327 vs 176, a 46.2% lead) and physics (2895 vs 2455, a 15.2% lead).

Q: What are the TDP ratings for each processor?

A: The i7-14700F has a TDP of 65 watts. The Ultra 7 356H has a TDP of 25 watts.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?

A: No. The i7-14700F supports DDR4 and DDR5. The Ultra 7 356H supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X. The i7-14700F also supports ECC memory, which the Ultra 7 does not.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The i7-14700F has no integrated graphics. The Ultra 7 356H includes Intel Xe3 Graphics.

Q: How do these processors rank against all CPUs in the database?

A: The i7-14700F ranks in the 91st percentile with an average benchmark score of 53620. The Ultra 7 356H ranks in the 87th percentile with an average benchmark score of 41215.