Intel Core i7-14700HX vs Intel Core i9-13900HX Comparison

The Intel Core i9-13900HX and Intel Core i7-14700HX are both high-end mobile processors from Intel’s Raptor Lake family, but the benchmark data draws a clear line between them. The i9-13900HX wins 16 of 17 head-to-head comparisons, making it the dominant choice for multi-threaded and productivity workloads, while the i7-14700HX claims a narrow single-core victory in one test. The i9’s advantage stems from its additional cores and larger cache, but the i7 counters with a slightly higher boost clock, making it a closer contest in lightly threaded tasks than the overall scoreboard suggests.

Where Each One Wins

The i9-13900HX is the clear winner in every heavily threaded workload. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 27,900 against the i7’s 24,595, a 13.4% lead. That margin expands in PassMark’s integer math test, where the i9 posts 156,175 versus 131,296, a difference of 18.9%. The pattern holds across data compression (531,224 vs 438,539, +21.1%), data encryption (32,130 vs 26,092, +23.1%), and floating-point math (110,470 vs 93,836, +17.7%). For users running video rendering, code compilation, or scientific simulations, the i9’s multi-core muscle is decisive.

The i7-14700HX’s only outright win comes in Cinebench R23 single-core, where it scores 2,103 against the i9’s 2,056, a 2.2% edge. It also ties in Cinebench R15 single-core at 296 points. These results indicate that for older or single-threaded applications like spreadsheet macros or legacy software, the i7 holds a small but measurable advantage. However, the i9 still wins PassMark’s single-thread test (4,081 vs 3,947, +3.4%), so the i7’s single-core superiority is not universal across all benchmark suites.

The i9 also excels in memory-sensitive and mixed workloads. Its PassMark multithread score of 43,062 beats the i7’s 36,566 by 17.8%, and its physics score (2,645 vs 2,252) is 17.5% higher. The i9’s 18.8% lead in extended instructions (30,550 vs 25,718) further cements its position for AVX-heavy tasks. In short, the i9 wins wherever the workload scales with core count, cache size, or memory bandwidth.

Architecture Differences

Both CPUs share the same Raptor Lake architecture, built on Intel’s 10 nm process node, and both fit the Intel BGA 1964 socket. The die size is identical at 257 mm², and both rely on Intel as the foundry. However, the i9-13900HX is a Raptor Lake-HX part, while the i7-14700HX is a Raptor Lake-HX Refresh, indicating a minor generational update rather than a full architectural overhaul.

The core configuration differs significantly. The i9 packs 24 cores and 32 threads, while the i7 offers 20 cores and 28 threads. That four-core deficit directly explains the i9’s multi-core dominance. Both CPUs share the same per-core cache structure — 80 KB of L1 and 2 MB of L2 per core — but the i9 has 36 MB of shared L3 cache versus the i7’s 33 MB. This 3 MB difference helps the i9 in workloads that repeatedly access large datasets.

Clock speeds are close but not identical. The i9 has a 2.20 GHz base clock and a 5.40 GHz boost clock, while the i7 starts slightly lower at 2.10 GHz base but boosts higher to 5.50 GHz. That higher boost clock is why the i7 manages to edge out the i9 in Cinebench R23 single-core. Both CPUs have a 55 W TDP, unlocked multipliers, and integrated UHD Graphics 770.

Connectivity and memory support are nearly identical, with one exception. Both support DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, and both support ECC memory. Both also use PCIe Gen 5, but the i9 provides 20 lanes (CPU only) while the i7 provides 16 lanes (CPU only). That extra PCIe bandwidth could matter for users connecting multiple high-speed NVMe drives or external GPUs.

The Verdict

Pick the Intel Core i9-13900HX for maximum multi-threaded performance. The data is unambiguous: it wins 16 of 17 comparisons, with leads ranging from 3.4% in PassMark single-thread to 23.1% in data encryption. Its 24 cores and 36 MB of L3 cache make it the superior choice for video editing, 3D rendering, and any workload that uses all available threads. The i9 also carries a launch MSRP of $668, which reflects its flagship positioning.

Pick the Intel Core i7-14700HX if single-core speed in specific legacy benchmarks is a priority. Its 5.50 GHz boost clock delivers a 2.2% win in Cinebench R23 single-core and a tie in Cinebench R15 single-core. For users running older software that relies on one or two threads, the i7 is marginally faster. It also offers the same 55 W TDP and integrated UHD Graphics 770, so power consumption and display output are identical.

The i7 is not a bad processor — it still sits at the 89th percentile among all CPUs, matching the i9’s percentile ranking. But the i9’s average benchmark score of 46,098 versus the i7’s 45,953 shows that the i9 is consistently ahead across the board. If the workload is multi-threaded, the i9 is the only rational choice. If the workload is strictly single-threaded and the 2.2% delta matters, the i7 is acceptable, but that is a narrow use case.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster in multi-core benchmarks?

A: The i9-13900HX wins every multi-core comparison. It leads by 13.4% in Cinebench R23 multi-core (27,900 vs 24,595), by 17.8% in PassMark multithread (43,062 vs 36,566), and by 17.9% in Cinebench R15 multi-core (4,494.5 vs 3,812).

Q: Does the i7-14700HX win any benchmarks?

A: Yes, it wins Cinebench R23 single-core with a score of 2,103 versus the i9’s 2,056, a 2.2% margin. It also ties the i9 at 296 points in Cinebench R15 single-core.

Q: What is the core and thread difference between the two?

A: The i9-13900HX has 24 cores and 32 threads, while the i7-14700HX has 20 cores and 28 threads. The i9 also has 36 MB of shared L3 cache versus the i7’s 33 MB.

Q: Are these CPUs the same architecture?

A: Both use Raptor Lake architecture on Intel’s 10 nm process. The i9 is from the Raptor Lake-HX generation, while the i7 is a Raptor Lake-HX Refresh. Both have a 257 mm² die size and identical per-core cache of 80 KB L1 and 2 MB L2.

Q: Do they support the same memory and expansion options?

A: Both support DDR4 and DDR5 in dual-channel mode, both support ECC memory, and both use PCIe Gen 5. The i9 provides 20 CPU lanes, while the i7 provides 16 CPU lanes.

Q: What are the clock speed differences?

A: The i9 has a 2.20 GHz base clock and 5.40 GHz boost clock. The i7 has a 2.10 GHz base clock and 5.50 GHz boost clock. Both have a 55 W TDP and unlocked multipliers.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single win for the i9-13900HX comes in PassMark data encryption, where it scores 32,130 against the i7’s 26,092, a 23.1% advantage. This test is heavily dependent on AES-NI throughput and multi-core scaling, and the i9’s extra four cores deliver a decisive edge. Similarly, PassMark random string sorting shows a 21.9% lead (59,199 vs 48,544), a workload that stresses cache hierarchy and memory latency. The i9’s larger 36 MB L3 cache helps keep more data on-die, reducing stalls.

Data compression is another strong point for the i9, with a 531,224 score versus 438,539, a 21.1% gap. Compression algorithms are highly parallel, so the 24-core i9 naturally outperforms the 20-core i7. Integer math follows the same pattern: 156,175 vs 131,296, an 18.9% lead. Extended instructions, which test AVX and SIMD throughput, show an 18.8% gap (30,550 vs 25,718).

Cinebench R15 multi-core gives the i9 a 17.9% win (4,494.5 vs 3,812), and PassMark multithread shows a 17.8% margin (43,062 vs 36,566). Floating-point math is 17.7% higher on the i9 (110,470 vs 93,836), and physics simulation scores 17.5% better (2,645 vs 2,252). The i9 also wins PassMark’s prime number search by 15.2% (190 vs 165). Cinebench R20 multi-core shows a 13.6% lead (14,836 vs 13,059), and the same 13.6% margin appears in Cinebench R20 single-core (2,094 vs 1,843). Cinebench R23 multi-core is 13.4% faster on the i9 (27,900 vs 24,595).

The i7’s only win is Cinebench R23 single-core, where it scores 2,103 versus the i9’s 2,056. The two CPUs tie at 296 points in Cinebench R15 single-core. PassMark single-thread favors the i9, but narrowly: 4,081 vs 3,947, a 3.4% margin. The i7’s higher 5.50 GHz boost clock helps it in one test, but the i9’s superior cache and core count win the majority of single-threaded comparisons as well.

Specification Differences

The two CPUs differ in several key specifications. The i9-13900HX has 24 cores and 32 threads, while the i7-14700HX has 20 cores and 28 threads. The i9’s base clock is 2.20 GHz versus the i7’s 2.10 GHz, but the i7’s boost clock is higher at 5.50 GHz versus 5.40 GHz. L3 cache differs: 36 MB on the i9 versus 33 MB on the i7. PCIe lane count also varies, with the i9 offering 20 Gen 5 lanes (CPU only) and the i7 offering 16 Gen 5 lanes (CPU only).

Both CPUs share the same process node (10 nm), die size (257 mm²), L1 cache (80 KB per core), L2 cache (2 MB per core), memory support (DDR4, DDR5 dual-channel), ECC support, integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 770), TDP (55 W), socket (Intel BGA 1964), and unlocked multiplier. The i9 is part of the Core i9 (Raptor Lake-HX) generation, while the i7 is a Core i7 (Raptor Lake-HX Refresh). The i9’s part number is SRMEC, and the i7’s is SRMXG. The i9 was released on 2023-01-03, and the i7 on 2024-01-07. The i9 has a launch MSRP of $668; the i7 has no listed launch MSRP.