Intel Core i7-14701E vs Intel Core Ultra 5 338H Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor shows a higher overall average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H has an average benchmark score of 33989, which is 2.4% higher than the Core i7-14701E's 33206. This places the Ultra 5 at the 84th percentile of all CPUs, while the i7-14701E sits at the 83rd percentile.

Q: How does the core count differ between the two mobile and desktop parts?

A: The Ultra 5 338H features 12 cores and 12 threads, while the i7-14701E has 8 cores and 16 threads. The higher thread count of the i7 comes from Hyper-Threading, a feature absent on the Ultra 5.

Q: Which chip has a larger L3 cache?

A: The i7-14701E has 33 MB of shared L3 cache, significantly more than the 18 MB shared L3 cache on the Ultra 5 338H.

Q: What are the differences in their memory support?

A: The Ultra 5 338H exclusively supports LPDDR5X memory with a measured bandwidth of 136.5 GB/s and no ECC support. The i7-14701E supports both DDR4 and DDR5, has ECC memory support enabled, and its memory bandwidth is not specified in the database.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock, and what is the difference?

A: The i7-14701E has a boost clock of 5.40 GHz, which is 0.70 GHz higher than the 4.70 GHz boost clock of the Ultra 5 338H.

Q: In the head-to-head tests, how many wins does each processor secure?

A: The Ultra 5 338H wins 10 out of 17 benchmarks, while the i7-14701E wins 7. The Ultra 5's wins are often by large margins, while the i7's wins are mostly by smaller margins.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent fundamentally different design philosophies and market segments within Intel's lineup. The Core Ultra 5 338H is a mobile-first processor built on the Panther Lake architecture, fabricated on Intel's 3 nm process node. It is part of the Core Ultra Series 3 and uses the Intel BGA 2540 socket, indicating it is designed for soldered, low-power mobile applications.

In contrast, the Core i7-14701E is a desktop processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture (specifically Raptor Lake-R), built on a 10 nm process node. It uses the Intel Socket 1700, which is a standard desktop platform. The i7-14701E is part of the 14th Gen Core series, classified as a Raptor Lake Refresh part.

The core layouts reveal a stark difference. The Ultra 5 338H has 12 cores and 12 threads, suggesting a design without simultaneous multithreading. The i7-14701E has 8 cores and 16 threads, indicating it utilizes Hyper-Threading to double its thread count. The cache hierarchy also differs: the Ultra 5 has 192 KB of L1 cache per core and 2.5 MB of L2 cache per core, while the i7-14701E has 80 KB of L1 and 2 MB of L2 per core. The L3 cache is where the i7 pulls ahead significantly, with 33 MB shared versus 18 MB shared on the Ultra 5.

The process node difference is notable: 3 nm for the Ultra 5 versus 10 nm for the i7-14701E. This contributes to a massive difference in thermal design power, with the Ultra 5 rated at 25 W compared to the i7's 65 W. The integrated graphics also differ, with the Ultra 5 featuring an Arc B370 GPU and the i7-14701E using UHD Graphics 770. The Ultra 5 supports LPDDR5X memory only, while the i7 supports both DDR4 and DDR5, and the i7 also supports ECC memory, which the mobile chip does not.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear but nuanced picture. For mobile workloads and efficiency-sensitive applications, the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H is the superior choice. It wins 10 of 17 head-to-head benchmarks, including large wins in encryption (43.8% ahead), floating point math (35.9% ahead), and extended instructions (29% ahead). Its 25 W TDP makes it suitable for thin-and-light laptops, and it achieves these results with a smaller L3 cache and no Hyper-Threading.

For desktop users who prioritize single-threaded performance and specific multi-threaded workloads, the Intel Core i7-14701E is the better pick. It wins the Cinebench R23 multicore test decisively, scoring 22195 versus 16331, a 26.4% advantage. It also dominates the Cinebench R23 single-core test, with a 34.8% lead. The i7's higher boost clock (5.40 GHz) and larger L3 cache (33 MB) contribute to these wins. It also wins the integer math test by 20.2%.

The choice ultimately depends on the platform. The Ultra 5 338H is a mobile processor on a BGA socket, while the i7-14701E is a desktop processor on LGA 1700. The benchmark data suggests the Ultra 5 offers better balance across a wide range of tasks, but the i7 has specific strengths in rendering (R23) and integer-heavy workloads that may matter more for desktop productivity.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ on nearly every specification field in the database. The most fundamental difference is the target market: the Ultra 5 338H is a mobile processor, while the i7-14701E is a desktop processor.

| Specification | Intel Core Ultra 5 338H | Intel Core i7-14701E |

|---|---|---|

| Series | Core Ultra Series 3 | Core 14th Gen |

| Architecture | Panther Lake | Raptor Lake |

| Codename | Panther Lake | Raptor Lake-R |

| Process Node | 3 nm | 10 nm |

| Cores | 12 | 8 |

| Threads | 12 | 16 |

| Base Clock | 1.90 GHz | 2.60 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.70 GHz | 5.40 GHz |

| TDP | 25 W | 65 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 2540 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| L1 Cache | 192 KB (per core) | 80 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 2.5 MB (per core) | 2 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 18 MB (shared) | 33 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | LPDDR5X | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 136.5 GB/s | Not specified |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 4 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Arc B370 | UHD Graphics 770 |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Release Date | 2026-01-04 | 2024-06-30 |

| Die Size | Not specified | 257 mm² |

The i7-14701E has a higher base clock (2.60 GHz vs 1.90 GHz) and a higher boost clock (5.40 GHz vs 4.70 GHz). The i7 also has a larger die size at 257 mm², while the Ultra 5's die size is not listed. The i7 provides 16 PCIe Gen 5 lanes, while the Ultra 5 only provides 4, reflecting the desktop chip's ability to support more expansion devices.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data reveals a split personality between these two chips. The Ultra 5 338H dominates in synthetic compute workloads, while the i7-14701E excels in Cinebench and a few specific PassMark tests.

Starting with Cinebench, the results are contradictory. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Ultra 5 wins with a score of 2504 versus 2237, an 11.9% advantage. In R20 multicore, the Ultra 5 wins again, 10213 versus 9321, a 9.6% lead. However, in R23 multicore, the tables turn dramatically. The i7-14701E scores 22195 versus the Ultra 5's 16331, a 26.4% win for the i7. This suggests the i7 scales better with longer, more demanding multi-threaded workloads.

In single-core Cinebench tests, the i7 wins R15 by 3.2% (315 vs 305), but the Ultra 5 wins R20 by 9.6% (1441 vs 1315). Then in R23 single-core, the i7 dominates with a 34.8% lead (3133 vs 2044). The inconsistency in single-core results is puzzling, but the R23 results are the most recent and comprehensive, favoring the i7.

The PassMark suite shows the Ultra 5's strength in most tests. It wins data encryption by a massive 43.8% margin (21367 vs 14862), extended instructions by 29% (23906 vs 18528), and find prime numbers by 72.7% (304 vs 176). The Ultra 5 also wins floating point math (84067 vs 61873, a 35.9% lead), multithread (28717 vs 26112, a 10% lead), physics (2697 vs 2399, a 12.4% lead), and random string sorting (34082 vs 29158, a 16.9% lead).

The i7-14701E wins the remaining PassMark tests. It edges out the Ultra 5 in data compression (282939 vs 276539, a 2.3% lead) and single-thread tests (4305 vs 4180, a 2.9% lead). Its biggest win is in integer math, where it scores 81325 versus 64934, a 20.2% advantage.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H is the clear winner in math-heavy and data-processing workloads. Its 35.9% lead in floating point math and 29% lead in extended instructions indicate strong FPU performance and SIMD capabilities. The 72.7% lead in prime number finding is remarkable, suggesting excellent integer division and loop performance. Its 43.8% lead in data encryption points to hardware-accelerated cryptographic instructions. For mobile workloads like video encoding, scientific computing, and data analysis, the Ultra 5 is the better performer. It also wins the multithread and physics tests, making it suitable for general mobile productivity and light gaming.

The Intel Core i7-14701E's wins are more concentrated but significant. Its 20.2% lead in integer math indicates strong general-purpose integer processing. The 26.4% lead in Cinebench R23 multicore is the most important win, as this benchmark is often used to gauge rendering and 3D modeling performance. The 34.8% lead in R23 single-core is also notable, suggesting better responsiveness in single-threaded applications. Its wins in data compression (2.3%) and single-thread PassMark (2.9%) are narrow, but they add to its profile as a well-rounded desktop CPU.

In terms of use cases, the Ultra 5 338H is better suited for battery-powered mobile devices where its 25 W TDP and strong compute per watt are critical. The i7-14701E, with its 65 W TDP and desktop socket, is better for stationary workstations that require maximum rendering performance in Cinebench R23 and integer-heavy tasks like code compilation or spreadsheet calculations. The i7's ECC memory support also makes it attractive for reliability-focused desktop builds. The Ultra 5's higher average benchmark score (33989 vs 33206) and 84th percentile ranking, however, indicate it is the more balanced processor overall, despite the i7's specific strengths.