AMD Ryzen 9 9900X vs Intel Core i7-14701E Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head comparison between the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X and the Intel Core i7-14701E produces a lopsided result: the AMD part wins 14 of the 15 shared benchmarks, with the Intel chip taking exactly one. The margins are not subtle. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the 9900X scores 32,172 against 22,195 for the 14701E, a 45% advantage. The gap widens further in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where the 9900X records 5,008 versus 2,237, a 123.9% difference. That is more than double the Intel processor's output in that test.

The single-core picture is more nuanced. The 9900X wins Cinebench R15 single-core with 353 points against 315, a 12.1% edge. But in Cinebench R23 single-core, the 14701E reverses the result: 3,133 versus 2,253, which is a 28.1% advantage for Intel. This is the only head-to-head benchmark the Intel chip wins, and it is a significant one, indicating that in a lightly threaded Cinebench R23 workload, the 14701E holds a clear lead.

PassMark results reinforce the AMD dominance. In data compression, the 9900X scores 683,579 against 282,939, a 141.6% delta. Data encryption shows 33,421 versus 14,862, a 124.9% margin. Extended instructions, a workload that benefits from wide SIMD execution, yields 55,243 for AMD against 18,528 for Intel, a 198.2% difference, the largest proportional gap in the entire comparison. Prime number finding follows the same pattern: 436 versus 176, a 147.7% edge. Floating point math produces 120,083 versus 61,873, a 94.1% delta, while integer math lands at 181,056 versus 81,325, a 122.6% margin.

The multithreaded PassMark score is 54,643 for the 9900X and 26,112 for the 14701E, a 109.3% difference. Physics tests show 3,381 versus 2,399, a 40.9% gap. Random string sorting gives 72,013 against 29,158, a 147% margin. Even the single-threaded PassMark tests, which often favor higher-boost Intel parts, go to AMD: 4,672 versus 4,305, an 8.5% edge. The same delta appears in the duplicate passmark_singlethread entry, confirming the consistency of that measurement.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X dominates every multi-threaded and most single-threaded workloads in the recorded data. Its 12 cores and 24 threads provide a structural advantage over the Intel chip's 8 cores and 16 threads, and the benchmark results reflect that in every parallel test. For rendering (Cinebench R15 and R23 multi-core), compression, encryption, prime number computation, floating-point math, integer math, and physics simulations, the 9900X is the clear choice. The data shows margins ranging from roughly 41% (physics) to nearly 200% (extended instructions), which suggests the AMD part is not merely faster but often more than twice as fast in heavily parallel workloads.

The Intel Core i7-14701E wins only one benchmark: Cinebench R23 single-core. With a score of 3,133 versus 2,253, it leads by 28.1%. This is a meaningful result for applications that depend on a single thread's performance in a R23-style workload. However, the AMD chip wins Cinebench R15 single-core by 12.1%, and it also wins both PassMark single-thread tests by 8.5%. So the Intel advantage is isolated to one specific test, not a general single-thread superiority. The 14701E also records a higher Cinebench R20 single-core score (1,315) in its own data, but that test is not part of the head-to-head set, so it cannot be directly compared.

For users running mixed workloads, the pattern is clear: the 9900X wins nearly everything, and the 14701E offers one specific single-thread win in Cinebench R23. The 9900X also holds a higher percentile ranking (92 versus 83), meaning it outperforms a larger share of all CPUs in the database.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has the higher multi-core Cinebench R23 score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X scores 32,172, while the Intel Core i7-14701E scores 22,195. The AMD part leads by 45%.

Q: Does the Intel chip win any benchmark in the head-to-head set?

A: Yes, the Intel Core i7-14701E wins Cinebench R23 single-core with 3,133 points versus 2,253 for the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X, a 28.1% advantage.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two CPUs?

A: The largest gap is in PassMark extended instructions, where the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X scores 55,243 versus 18,528 for the Intel Core i7-14701E, a 198.2% difference.

Q: How do the two compare in PassMark single-thread performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X scores 4,672, and the Intel Core i7-14701E scores 4,305. The AMD part leads by 8.5%.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each CPU?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X has an average benchmark score of 57,498. The Intel Core i7-14701E has an average of 33,206.

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

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X sits at the 92nd percentile, while the Intel Core i7-14701E sits at the 83rd percentile.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in almost every core specification. The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X uses 12 cores and 24 threads, while the Intel Core i7-14701E uses 8 cores and 16 threads. Base clocks are 4.40 GHz for the AMD part and 2.60 GHz for the Intel part, a substantial difference. Boost clocks are closer: 5.60 GHz for AMD versus 5.40 GHz for Intel. Thermal design power is 120 watts for the 9900X and 65 watts for the 14701E, meaning the AMD chip draws more power but also delivers far higher multi-threaded performance.

Sockets differ completely: the AMD part uses AMD Socket AM5, the Intel part uses Intel Socket 1700. Memory support also separates them: the 9900X supports DDR5 only, while the 14701E supports both DDR4 and DDR5. The AMD chip has a recorded memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s; the Intel chip has no memory bandwidth figure in the data. Both support ECC memory. PCIe lanes differ: the 9900X provides Gen 5 with 24 lanes (CPU only), the 14701E provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only).

Integrated graphics are present on both: the AMD part uses Radeon Graphics, the Intel part uses UHD Graphics 770. The AMD multiplier is unlocked; the Intel multiplier is locked. The AMD part has a launch MSRP of $499; the Intel part has no launch MSRP recorded. Release dates are close: the 9900X launched on 2024-08-14, the 14701E on 2024-06-30. Both are active production parts for the desktop market.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X is built on the Zen 5 architecture, codenamed Granite Ridge, part of the 9000 series. It uses a 4 nm process node from TSMC and packs 16,630 million transistors across a dual-die design with each die measuring 70.6 mm². The Intel Core i7-14701E uses the Raptor Lake architecture, codenamed Raptor Lake-R, part of the Core 14th Gen series. It uses a 10 nm process node from Intel with a die size of 257 mm² and no transistor count recorded.

Cache layouts differ significantly. Both have 80 KB of L1 cache per core. The AMD part has 1 MB of L2 per core, while the Intel part has 2 MB per core. L3 cache is 64 MB for the AMD chip, shared across all cores, versus 33 MB shared for the Intel chip. The AMD part has no 3D V-Cache; the Intel part has none either, so that field does not differentiate them.

The architectural implications are visible in the benchmark results. The Zen 5 design, with its smaller process node and larger L3 cache, delivers massive multi-threaded gains. The Raptor Lake design, with its larger per-core L2 cache and higher single-core Cinebench R23 score, shows strength in one specific single-threaded workload. The process node difference (4 nm versus 10 nm) likely contributes to the AMD part's efficiency gains in the extended instructions and floating-point tests, though the data does not isolate that cause directly.

The Verdict

The recorded data points to a decisive overall winner. The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X wins 14 of 15 head-to-head benchmarks, holds a 92nd percentile ranking versus 83rd for the Intel chip, and posts an average benchmark score of 57,498 versus 33,206. The margins are often enormous, with several tests showing the AMD part more than doubling the Intel output. For multi-threaded workloads such as rendering, compression, encryption, and math-heavy tasks, the 9900X is the superior choice based on every measured result.

The Intel Core i7-14701E has one clear strength: Cinebench R23 single-core performance, where it leads by 28.1%. That is a relevant data point for users whose primary workload matches that specific test. The Intel chip also runs at a lower 65 W TDP versus 120 W for the AMD part, which may matter for thermally constrained systems, though the data does not include power efficiency benchmarks. For any workload outside that single Cinebench R23 scenario, the AMD part holds the advantage, often by a wide margin.

Users who need maximum multi-threaded throughput should select the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X. Users whose sole priority is Cinebench R23 single-core performance may find the Intel Core i7-14701E acceptable, but the data shows the AMD chip wins the other single-thread tests (Cinebench R15 single-core, PassMark single-thread) by smaller but consistent margins. The overall pattern is unambiguous: the 9900X is the stronger processor across nearly the entire benchmark suite.