Intel Core i7-14701E vs Intel Core Ultra 7 155H Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data splits these two Intel processors into clear roles. The Intel Core i7-14701E takes 12 of the 17 head-to-head wins, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H claims 5. The most decisive victories belong to the desktop part, and they are not subtle.

The single-core gap is the defining story. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the i7-14701E scores 3133 against the Ultra 7's 1743, a 79.7% advantage. That same pattern repeats in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the i7 wins 315 to 255, a 23.5% lead. PassMark single-thread confirms it: 4305 versus 3468, a 24.1% margin. The i7-14701E's 5.40 GHz boost clock versus the Ultra 7's 4.80 GHz explains much of this, but the architectural gap matters too.

Multi-core results are more split. The i7-14701E wins Cinebench R23 multi-core by a massive 47.7%, scoring 22195 to 15028. It also leads in Cinebench R20 multi-core (9321 vs 8754, a 6.5% edge) and PassMark multi-thread (26112 vs 24873, a 5% win). However, the Ultra 7 155H takes Cinebench R15 multi-core, scoring 2450 to 2237, an 8.7% victory. That early R15 result looks like an outlier, since the newer R20 and R23 tests both favor the i7 by significant margins.

PassMark's specialized workloads show a split personality. The i7-14701E wins data compression (282939 vs 277353, a 2% edge), extended instructions (18528 vs 16456, a 12.6% lead), find prime numbers (176 vs 113, a 55.8% blowout), and physics (2399 vs 1727, a 38.9% advantage). The Ultra 7 155H counters with data encryption (16358 vs 14862, a 9.1% win), floating point math (63703 vs 61873, a 2.9% edge), integer math (86870 vs 81325, a 6.4% lead), and random string sorting (31990 vs 29158, an 8.9% win).

The encryption result deserves attention. The Ultra 7's 16358 score beats the i7's 14862 despite the i7's higher core count and clock speed. That suggests the Ultra 7's architecture handles certain cryptographic workloads more efficiently. Similarly, integer math and floating point favor the Ultra 7, which points to a different execution pipeline.

Where Each One Wins

The i7-14701E is the clear choice for single-threaded performance and sustained multi-core rendering. Its 79.7% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core is enormous, and the 55.8% edge in prime number finding shows raw integer calculation strength. Physics simulation also favors the i7, with a 38.9% advantage that matters for scientific workloads. Extended instruction execution, which covers SIMD and AVX-style tasks, goes to the i7 by 12.6%.

The Ultra 7 155H wins in encryption, both integer and floating point math, random string sorting, and the early R15 multi-core test. The encryption win is the most notable, since it is the largest Ultra 7 victory at 9.1%. The integer math lead of 6.4% and floating point lead of 2.9% suggest the Ultra 7's hybrid core layout handles these workloads with better efficiency per clock. Random string sorting, a memory-heavy task, also favors the Ultra 7 by 8.9%, which aligns with its higher memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s.

For desktop users, the i7-14701E dominates. For mobile users who need the Ultra 7's specific strengths, the encryption and math wins matter, but they are narrower than the i7's victories.

Architecture Differences

These are two entirely different Intel designs. The i7-14701E uses Raptor Lake, specifically the Raptor Lake-R refresh, built on a 10 nm process. The Ultra 7 155H uses Meteor Lake, built on a 7 nm process. The node difference is significant: the Ultra 7 uses a smaller process, which typically allows for better power efficiency, but the i7 compensates with higher clocks.

Core counts diverge sharply. The i7-14701E has 8 cores and 16 threads, all of which are conventional cores. The Ultra 7 155H has 16 cores and 22 threads, but that count includes performance cores, efficiency cores, and low-power efficiency cores in a hybrid arrangement. The thread count of 22 indicates some cores do not support hyper-threading, which is typical of efficiency cores.

Cache hierarchies differ as well. The i7-14701E has 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 33 MB of shared L3. The Ultra 7 155H has 112 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, but only 24 MB of shared L3. The i7's larger L3 cache gives it a distinct advantage in workloads that benefit from large shared pools, such as rendering and data compression.

The integrated graphics are different generations. The i7-14701E uses UHD Graphics 770, while the Ultra 7 155H uses Arc Xe-LPG 128EU. The Ultra 7's newer graphics architecture is clearly more capable, though the database does not include graphics benchmarks for either part.

Memory support diverges. The i7-14701E supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the Ultra 7 155H supports DDR5 only, with the note that the specifics depend on the motherboard. Both are dual-channel, but the Ultra 7 has a listed memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, while the i7 does not have a bandwidth figure in the data.

PCIe lanes differ. The i7-14701E offers Gen 5 with 16 lanes, while the Ultra 7 155H offers Gen 5 with 8 lanes. For desktop expansion, the i7's 16 lanes are a substantial advantage, allowing more devices at full bandwidth.

Specification Differences

The i7-14701E has a base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. The Ultra 7 155H has a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 4.80 GHz. The i7 boosts much higher, which drives its single-core dominance, while the Ultra 7 has a higher base clock, which helps sustained all-core workloads at lower power.

Thermal design power differs dramatically. The i7-14701E is rated at 65 watts, while the Ultra 7 155H is rated at 28 watts. That 37-watt gap explains the Ultra 7's suitability for thin laptops and the i7's need for desktop cooling.

Sockets are incompatible. The i7-14701E uses Intel Socket 1700, a desktop socket. The Ultra 7 155H uses Intel BGA 2049, a soldered mobile socket. There is no upgrade path between them.

The i7-14701E supports ECC memory, while the Ultra 7 155H does not. For workstation or server use, ECC support is a meaningful feature.

Market segments differ. The i7-14701E is a desktop part, while the Ultra 7 155H is mobile. Release dates also differ: the i7 launched on 2024-06-30, and the Ultra 7 launched on 2023-12-13. The Ultra 7 has a launch MSRP of $503, which can be stated once as the recorded launch price.

The process node difference is 10 nm for the i7 and 7 nm for the Ultra 7, both from Intel's foundry. The i7's die size is listed at 257 mm², while the Ultra 7's die size is not recorded.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has better single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i7-14701E is clearly ahead. It wins Cinebench R23 single-core by 79.7% (3133 vs 1743) and PassMark single-thread by 24.1% (4305 vs 3468).

Q: How do they compare in multi-core rendering?

A: The i7-14701E wins Cinebench R23 multi-core by 47.7% (22195 vs 15028) and Cinebench R20 multi-core by 6.5% (9321 vs 8754). The Ultra 7 155H wins only Cinebench R15 multi-core, by 8.7% (2450 vs 2237).

Q: Which processor is better for encryption workloads?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 155H beats the i7-14701E in PassMark data encryption, scoring 16358 versus 14862, a 9.1% advantage. This is the Ultra 7's largest head-to-head win.

Q: What is the core and thread difference?

A: The i7-14701E has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Ultra 7 155H has 16 cores and 22 threads. The Ultra 7's higher core count does not translate to a multi-core win in most tests, because the i7's larger L3 cache and higher clocks compensate.

Q: Can these processors use the same motherboard?

A: No. The i7-14701E uses Intel Socket 1700, a desktop socket. The Ultra 7 155H uses Intel BGA 2049, a soldered mobile socket. They are not interchangeable.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Core i7-14701E supports ECC memory. The Intel Core Ultra 7 155H does not. This makes the i7 more suitable for error-sensitive workstation tasks.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear split by use case. For desktop workloads that prioritize single-threaded speed, rendering, physics simulation, and extended instructions, the Intel Core i7-14701E is the stronger part. Its 79.7% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core and 47.7% lead in multi-core are decisive. The 65-watt TDP and Socket 1700 compatibility make it a conventional desktop choice, and ECC support adds workstation credibility.

For mobile systems where power efficiency matters, the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H is the only option of the two, given its BGA 2049 socket and 28-watt TDP. It also wins specific workloads: encryption by 9.1%, integer math by 6.4%, floating point math by 2.9%, and random string sorting by 8.9%. Users who process large datasets with these operations will notice the Ultra 7's strengths.

The i7-14701E wins 12 benchmarks; the Ultra 7 wins 5. The magnitude of the i7's wins is also larger, with multiple victories above 20%, while the Ultra 7's largest win is 9.1%. The average benchmark scores reflect this: the i7-14701E sits at 33206, and the Ultra 7 155H at 32697. Both rank at the 83rd percentile among all CPUs, placing them in the same overall tier.

The choice comes down to the platform. If the workload runs on a desktop and demands peak single-core and rendering performance, the i7-14701E is the recorded data's clear winner. If the system must be mobile and the workload involves encryption or math-heavy tasks, the Ultra 7 155H provides those capabilities in a 28-watt package. There is no overlap in socket or memory support, so the decision should be made before choosing a motherboard or laptop.