Intel Core i7-14700HX vs Intel Core Ultra 5 235 Comparison

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 and Intel Core i7-14700HX are both 89th-percentile performers, but they achieve that standing through very different means. The Core Ultra 5 235 posts an average benchmark score of 46062, while the Core i7-14700HX averages 45953. The data shows a near-total split: the Core i7-14700HX dominates multi-threaded rendering, while the Core Ultra 5 235 counters with wins in single-threaded tests and specialized workloads. This is a contest between a desktop Arrow Lake chip and a mobile Raptor Lake-HX part, and the benchmark results reflect their distinct design priorities.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most decisive margin in the entire comparison belongs to the Core i7-14700HX in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where it scores 3812 against the Core Ultra 5 235's 1488. That is a 61% advantage, and it sets the tone for the rendering suite. The gap narrows but remains substantial in Cinebench R20 multi-core, with the i7-14700HX scoring 13059 versus 6202 (a 52.5% lead). In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i7-14700HX scores 24595 against 14769, a 40% margin. These are not close contests; the i7-14700HX is categorically faster in multi-threaded rendering.

Single-core rendering tells a different story, though the i7-14700HX still wins. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the i7-14700HX scores 296 versus 210 for the Core Ultra 5 235 (a 29.1% lead). The same 52.5% delta appears in Cinebench R20 single-core, where the i7-14700HX scores 1843 versus 875. However, by Cinebench R23 single-core, the two are nearly identical: the i7-14700HX scores 2103, the Core Ultra 5 235 scores 2085, a difference of just 0.9%. That near-parity in the newest single-core test suggests the architectural gap is closing.

The PassMark suite flips the script. The Core Ultra 5 235 wins 9 of 17 head-to-head benchmarks overall, but the PassMark results are where it builds its case. In PassMark single-thread, the Core Ultra 5 235 scores 4516 against 3947 for the i7-14700HX, a 14.4% advantage. The same delta appears in the duplicate PassMark singlethread test. The Core Ultra 5 235 also wins PassMark find prime numbers by a stunning 124.8% (371 versus 165), PassMark extended instructions by 27.4% (32752 versus 25718), and PassMark floating point math by 25.7% (117951 versus 93836). PassMark data encryption goes to the Core Ultra 5 235 by 12.3% (29293 versus 26092), and PassMark physics by 14.1% (2570 versus 2252).

The i7-14700HX does hold PassMark integer math, scoring 131296 against 87948 for the Core Ultra 5 235 (a 33% lead). It also wins PassMark data compression (438539 versus 390711, a 10.9% edge) and PassMark random string sorting (48544 versus 48980, a 0.9% margin). PassMark multithread goes narrowly to the Core Ultra 5 235, 37816 versus 36566, a 3.4% lead. The overall win count is 9 for the Core Ultra 5 235 and 8 for the i7-14700HX, but the magnitudes of the i7-14700HX's Cinebench wins are far larger than most of the Core Ultra 5 235's PassMark victories.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 has an average benchmark score of 46062, slightly ahead of the Intel Core i7-14700HX's 45953.

Q: How large is the multi-core rendering gap between the two?

A: In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Core i7-14700HX scores 24595 versus 14769 for the Core Ultra 5 235, a 40% advantage. The gap is even larger in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where the i7-14700HX leads by 61%.

Q: Which chip wins in single-threaded PassMark tests?

A: The Core Ultra 5 235 scores 4516 in PassMark single-thread, which is 14.4% higher than the Core i7-14700HX's 3947.

Q: Are the two chips close in any benchmark?

A: Yes, Cinebench R23 single-core shows a 0.9% difference, with the Core i7-14700HX scoring 2103 and the Core Ultra 5 235 scoring 2085. PassMark random string sorting is also close, with the Core Ultra 5 235 winning by 0.9%.

Q: What is the biggest single benchmark win for the Core Ultra 5 235?

A: In PassMark find prime numbers, the Core Ultra 5 235 scores 371 against 165 for the Core i7-14700HX, a 124.8% advantage.

Q: Which processor has a higher percentile ranking among all CPUs?

A: Both processors are tied at the 89th percentile.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-14700HX is the clear choice for multi-threaded rendering workloads. Its Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core scores are all dramatically higher, with leads ranging from 40% to 61%. It also wins PassMark integer math by 33% and PassMark data compression by 10.9%, making it stronger for tasks that rely on raw integer throughput and data packing. The i7-14700HX also edges out the Core Ultra 5 235 in Cinebench R23 single-core, though by a negligible 0.9%.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 wins in single-threaded PassMark performance by 14.4%, which points to better per-core efficiency in certain workloads. Its 124.8% lead in PassMark find prime numbers is the largest of any benchmark in this comparison, indicating a major advantage in prime-number computation. The Core Ultra 5 235 also wins PassMark floating point math by 25.7% and PassMark extended instructions by 27.4%, suggesting stronger SIMD and floating-point throughput. It takes PassMark data encryption by 12.3%, PassMark physics by 14.1%, and narrowly wins PassMark multithread by 3.4%.

For mixed workloads, the Core Ultra 5 235 has the edge in number of overall wins (9 versus 8), but the i7-14700HX's rendering wins are so large that they dominate any workload heavily weighted toward Cinebench-style multi-threading. The choice depends on whether the workload resembles Cinebench (favoring the i7-14700HX) or PassMark's diverse test suite (favoring the Core Ultra 5 235).

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every core specification. The Intel Core i7-14700HX has 20 cores and 28 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 has 14 cores and 14 threads. The i7-14700HX also has a higher boost clock at 5.50 GHz versus 5.00 GHz, though the Core Ultra 5 235 has a higher base clock at 3.40 GHz versus 2.10 GHz. The TDP differs slightly: 55 for the i7-14700HX and 65 for the Core Ultra 5 235.

Cache configurations are distinct. The Core Ultra 5 235 has 192 KB of L1 per core and 3 MB of L2 per core, while the i7-14700HX has 80 KB of L1 per core and 2 MB of L2 per core. The shared L3 cache favors the i7-14700HX at 33 MB, versus 24 MB for the Core Ultra 5 235. Memory support also differs: the Core Ultra 5 235 supports only DDR5, while the i7-14700HX supports both DDR4 and DDR5. The Core Ultra 5 235 has a memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s, while the i7-14700HX has no listed bandwidth figure. ECC memory is supported by the i7-14700HX but not by the Core Ultra 5 235.

PCIe lanes differ: the Core Ultra 5 235 offers Gen 5 with 20 lanes, while the i7-14700HX offers Gen 5 with 16 lanes. The integrated graphics are different as well, with the Core Ultra 5 235 using Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 24EU and the i7-14700HX using UHD Graphics 770. The socket is a major difference: the Core Ultra 5 235 uses Intel Socket 1851 for desktop, while the i7-14700HX uses Intel BGA 1964 for mobile. The multiplier is unlocked on the i7-14700HX but locked on the Core Ultra 5 235. The Core Ultra 5 235 has a launch MSRP of $257; the i7-14700HX has no listed launch MSRP.

Architecture Differences

The architectural split is fundamental. The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 is built on Arrow Lake, a 3 nm process from TSMC, while the Intel Core i7-14700HX uses Raptor Lake on Intel's 10 nm process. The Core Ultra 5 235 has a die size of 243 mm² with 17,800 million transistors, while the i7-14700HX has a die size of 257 mm² with no listed transistor count. The Core Ultra 5 235 is part of the Core Ultra Series 2 and the "Ultra 5 (Arrow Lake)" generation; the i7-14700HX is part of Core 14th Gen and the "Core i7 (Raptor Lake-HX Refresh)" generation.

The Core Ultra 5 235 is a desktop part using Intel Socket 1851, while the i7-14700HX is a mobile part using Intel BGA 1964. The foundry also differs, with TSMC producing the Core Ultra 5 235 and Intel producing the i7-14700HX. The Core Ultra 5 235 was released on 2025-01-06, while the i7-14700HX was released on 2024-01-07. Both are marked as Active in production status. The Core Ultra 5 235 has a part number of SRQAS, and the i7-14700HX has a part number of SRMXG.

The Verdict

The data paints a clear picture for workload-specific selection. For anyone prioritizing multi-threaded rendering, the Intel Core i7-14700HX is the only choice from these two. Its Cinebench R15 multi-core score is 61% higher, and its R20 and R23 multi-core scores are 52.5% and 40% higher, respectively. This is a dominant margin that no other benchmark in the comparison counterbalances.

For workloads that resemble PassMark's diverse suite, the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 takes the lead. It wins 9 of 17 head-to-head benchmarks, including the largest single win (find prime numbers at 124.8%) and a 14.4% single-thread advantage. The Core Ultra 5 235 also wins PassMark multithread, making it competitive even in multi-threaded PassMark workloads despite losing to the i7-14700HX in Cinebench multi-core.

The decision comes down to the specific benchmark suite. If the task is Cinebench-style rendering, the i7-14700HX wins by a wide margin. If the task is a mix of PassMark-style tests, the Core Ultra 5 235 wins more often and with higher frequency. The two are tied in overall percentile at 89, but the average benchmark scores differ by just 0.2% (46062 versus 45953). The i7-14700HX offers more cores and threads (20/28 versus 14/14), a higher boost clock, and more L3 cache, but the Core Ultra 5 235 counters with a smaller process node, higher base clock, and wins in single-thread and specialized workloads. The right pick is entirely dependent on whether the workload skews toward multi-core rendering or diverse single-threaded tasks.