Intel Core i7-14700HX vs Intel Core i9-13950HX Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i9-13950HX has 24 cores and 32 threads, while the Intel Core i7-14700HX has 20 cores and 28 threads.

Q: Do these two processors share the same architecture?

A: Yes, both are built on Raptor Lake architecture with the Raptor Lake-HX codename, and both use Intel's 10 nm process node with a 257 mm² die size.

Q: Which processor wins in single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i7-14700HX edges ahead in the Cinebench R23 single-core test with a score of 2103 versus 2096 for the i9-13950HX, a 0.3% advantage. It also leads in PassMark single-thread testing with 3947 versus 3899, a 1.2% gap.

Q: How large is the L3 cache difference?

A: The Intel Core i9-13950HX has 36 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Intel Core i7-14700HX has 33 MB. Both have the same per-core L1 cache at 80 KB and per-core L2 cache at 2 MB.

Q: What is the release date difference between the two?

A: The Intel Core i9-13950HX was released on January 3, 2023, and the Intel Core i7-14700HX was released on January 7, 2024, roughly one year later.

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i7-14700HX has a higher average benchmark score of 45953, compared to 44342 for the Intel Core i9-13950HX, even though the i9 wins the majority of individual head-to-head tests.

Where Each One Wins

The head-to-head data paints a clear split. The Intel Core i9-13950HX wins 14 of the 17 recorded comparisons, and it wins them by substantial margins. Its multi-core dominance is consistent across every Cinebench iteration: 15.8% ahead in R15 multicore, 9.7% ahead in R20 multicore, and 14.2% ahead in R23 multicore. The i9 also takes every PassMark workload except single-thread tests, with advantages ranging from 10.7% in integer math to 18.7% in find prime numbers.

The Intel Core i7-14700HX wins only three comparisons, but they are the ones that matter for responsiveness and lightly threaded workloads. It wins Cinebench R23 single-core by 0.3% and PassMark single-thread by 1.2%. The third win is the duplicate PassMark single-thread entry, which confirms the same result rather than adding a new test. For users whose workloads depend on single-core speed, the i7 is the more sensible choice.

The data suggests a workload split: heavily parallel rendering, compression, encryption, and math workloads favor the i9, while snappy single-threaded application behavior slightly favors the i7. The i9's 24-core configuration gives it a structural advantage in any task that can use more than 20 cores, and the benchmark results reflect that.

Architecture Differences

Both processors share the same fundamental design. They use Raptor Lake architecture with the Raptor Lake-HX codename, are manufactured on Intel's 10 nm process node, and are built on a 257 mm² die. Both support DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, and both include UHD Graphics 770 as integrated graphics. ECC memory support is present on both.

The core configuration is where they diverge. The i9-13950HX packs 24 cores and 32 threads, while the i7-14700HX uses 20 cores and 28 threads. This four-core difference explains the i9's multi-core lead. The cache hierarchy also differs: the i9 has 36 MB of shared L3 cache versus 33 MB on the i7. Per-core L1 and L2 caches are identical at 80 KB and 2 MB respectively.

PCIe connectivity differs as well. The i9-13950HX provides Gen 5 with 20 lanes from the CPU, while the i7-14700HX provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes. Both are mobile processors on the Intel BGA 1964 socket, and both have unlocked multipliers. The i9 belongs to the Core 13th Gen series, while the i7 belongs to the Core 14th Gen series, though the underlying architecture is the same Raptor Lake design refined for the newer generation.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several specification fields. The i9-13950HX has 24 cores and 32 threads versus 20 cores and 28 threads on the i7-14700HX. Base clocks differ slightly, with the i9 at 2.20 GHz and the i7 at 2.10 GHz, though both boost to 5.50 GHz. The L3 cache is 36 MB on the i9 and 33 MB on the i7.

PCIe lane count differs, with the i9 offering 20 Gen 5 lanes from the CPU and the i7 offering 16. The i9 was released on January 3, 2023, while the i7 arrived on January 7, 2024. The i9 has a launch MSRP of $590; the i7 has no recorded launch MSRP. Both share the same 55 W TDP, same socket, same process node, same die size, same memory support, same integrated graphics, and same per-core cache sizes. The part numbers differ, SRMEB for the i9 and SRMXG for the i7.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core i9-13950HX dominates the multi-core Cinebench results. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i9 scores 4529 against 3812 for the i7, a 15.8% advantage. Cinebench R20 multicore shows 14462 versus 13059, a 9.7% gap. Cinebench R23 multicore delivers 28681 versus 24595, a 14.2% lead for the i9. These are consistent double-digit margins in the i9's favor, with the smallest being 9.7% in R20 multicore.

Single-core Cinebench results are much closer. The i7 wins Cinebench R23 single-core with 2103 against 2096, a 0.3% margin. The i9 wins Cinebench R15 single-core by 0.3% with 297 versus 296, and Cinebench R20 single-core by 9.7% with 2041 versus 1843. The R20 single-core result is an outlier compared to the other single-core tests, showing a much larger gap than the R15 or R23 tests.

PassMark workloads heavily favor the i9. Data compression shows 510258 versus 438539, a 14.1% lead. Data encryption shows 30805 versus 26092, a 15.3% lead. Extended instructions show 29779 versus 25718, a 13.6% lead. Find prime numbers shows 203 versus 165, the largest margin at 18.7%. Floating point math shows 105553 versus 93836, an 11.1% lead. Integer math shows 147091 versus 131296, a 10.7% lead. Multithread shows 41614 versus 36566, a 12.1% lead. Physics shows 2668 versus 2252, a 15.6% lead. Random string sorting shows 57274 versus 48544, a 15.2% lead.

The i7's PassMark wins come in single-thread tests, where it scores 3947 against 3899, a 1.2% advantage. This appears twice in the data, once under passmark_single_thread and once under passmark_singlethread, with identical scores and the same 1.2% delta. The i7's percentile ranking is 89 versus 88 for the i9, and its average benchmark score is 45953 versus 44342.

The Verdict

The Intel Core i9-13950HX is the clear choice for multi-threaded workloads. Its 24 cores and 32 threads translate into double-digit wins across nearly every PassMark workload and all multi-core Cinebench tests. The data shows margins of 9.7% to 18.7% in the i9's favor for rendering, compression, encryption, physics, and math tasks. Users who regularly run heavily parallel workloads should pick the i9 without hesitation.

The Intel Core i7-14700HX is the better pick for single-threaded sensitivity. It wins both PassMark single-thread entries by 1.2% and Cinebench R23 single-core by 0.3%. The margins are narrow, but they are consistent across the single-thread tests. The i7 also holds a slightly higher average benchmark score at 45953 versus 44342 and a higher percentile ranking at 89 versus 88. For users whose daily tasks are dominated by single-threaded application responsiveness, the i7 offers a marginal but measurable edge.

The decision comes down to workload shape. The i9-13950HX wins 14 of 17 head-to-head comparisons, and its wins are large. The i7-14700HX wins only the single-thread tests, and its wins are small. A user who prioritizes raw throughput in parallel tasks gets more from the i9. A user who prioritizes the fastest possible single-thread response gets a slight advantage from the i7, though the difference is close to negligible at 1.2% in PassMark and 0.3% in Cinebench R23. The data supports the i9 as the stronger overall processor for demanding multi-core work, with the i7 as a niche pick for single-thread-focused use cases.