Intel Core i7-14701E vs Intel Core Ultra 7 165H Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data splits these two processors along clear lines of workload character. The Intel Core Ultra 7 165H, a Meteor Lake mobile part, wins 6 of the 17 recorded head-to-head tests, while the Intel Core i7-14701E, a Raptor Lake desktop part, takes 11. That is not a close overall tally, but the nature of the wins matters more than the count.

The Ultra 7 165H dominates in data manipulation and math-heavy throughput tasks. Its PassMark data compression score of 291,161 beats the i7-14701E's 282,939 by 2.9%. Data encryption shows a much larger gap: 17,169 versus 14,862, a 15.5% advantage for the Ultra 7. Floating point math also favors the mobile chip, 66,273 versus 61,873, a 7.1% lead. Integer math follows the same pattern, with the Ultra 7 scoring 89,415 against 81,325, a 9.9% margin. Random string sorting, a memory-latency sensitive workload, goes to the Ultra 7 as well: 33,473 versus 29,158, a 14.8% edge. These five wins are all in PassMark sub-tests that reward parallel throughput and memory bandwidth efficiency.

The i7-14701E, by contrast, wins every single-core test and the newer Cinebench multi-core tests. Its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 3,133 crushes the Ultra 7's 1,759 by 43.9%. The same pattern appears in Cinebench R15 single-core, 315 versus 257, an 18.4% gap, and in PassMark single-thread, 4,305 versus 3,509, an 18.5% gap. Multi-core Cinebench results are mixed: the i7 wins R23 by a massive 34.4% (22,195 versus 14,551), but the two chips are nearly tied in R20, with the i7 ahead by only 0.9% (9,321 versus 9,233). The i7 also wins PassMark physics (2,399 versus 1,806, a 24.7% margin), extended instructions (18,528 versus 17,299, a 6.6% margin), and prime number finding (176 versus 118, a 33% margin). PassMark multithread is essentially a tie, with the i7 at 26,112 versus the Ultra 7's 25,933, a 0.7% difference.

In practical terms, the Ultra 7 165H is better suited for encrypted data streams, compression workloads, and general math processing. The i7-14701E is better for latency-sensitive single-threaded tasks, physics simulations, and the kind of sustained multi-core rendering that Cinebench R23 measures. The R20 multi-core result, where the i7 barely edges ahead, suggests that the Ultra 7's advantage in certain parallel workloads can offset the i7's raw core-speed advantage, but only in specific conditions.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel design lineages. The Ultra 7 165H uses the Meteor Lake architecture, built on a 7 nm process node, while the i7-14701E uses Raptor Lake, specifically the Raptor Lake-R refresh, on a 10 nm node. Both are manufactured by Intel, but the node difference is significant: the Meteor Lake part is denser and more power-efficient, while the Raptor Lake part uses a more mature, higher-clock design.

Core counts diverge sharply. The Ultra 7 has 16 cores and 22 threads, while the i7 has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Ultra 7's extra cores are not all equal; Meteor Lake uses a hybrid arrangement of performance and efficiency cores, which explains the thread count being lower than 2x the core count. The i7's 8 cores with 16 threads are all performance-oriented, which is why it can pull ahead in single-threaded tests despite fewer total threads.

Cache configurations also differ. The Ultra 7 has 112 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3. The i7 has 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 33 MB of shared L3. The i7's larger L3 pool helps in workloads that repeatedly access a working set, while the Ultra 7's larger L1 per core aids certain latency-critical paths.

Memory support and platform integration differ fundamentally. The Ultra 7 is a mobile part on the Intel BGA 2049 socket, with dual-channel DDR5 memory whose bandwidth is rated at 89.6 GB/s. The i7 is a desktop part on Intel Socket 1700, supporting both DDR4 and DDR5, also dual-channel, but the database does not record a bandwidth figure for it. The i7 also supports ECC memory, which the Ultra 7 does not. PCIe lane counts differ: the Ultra 7 provides Gen 5 with 8 lanes (CPU only), while the i7 provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only). For desktop expansion, the i7 has more headroom.

Integrated graphics differ as well. The Ultra 7 carries Arc Xe-LPG with 128 execution units, a relatively strong iGPU. The i7 has UHD Graphics 770, a more modest part. Neither is benchmarked in this database, but the hardware specification is recorded.

The i7 has a larger die, measured at 257 mm²; the Meteor Lake die size is not recorded. The Ultra 7's base clock is 3.80 GHz with a boost of 5.00 GHz, while the i7's base clock is 2.60 GHz with a boost of 5.40 GHz. The i7's higher boost clock is a key factor in its single-core dominance. The i7's TDP is 65 watts, versus 28 watts for the Ultra 7, reflecting the desktop part's higher power envelope and the mobile part's efficiency focus.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 165H has 16 cores and 22 threads. The Intel Core i7-14701E has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Ultra 7 offers 8 more cores and 6 more threads.

Q: Why does the i7-14701E win single-core benchmarks despite having fewer cores?

A: The i7-14701E has a boost clock of 5.40 GHz, higher than the Ultra 7's 5.00 GHz. It also uses the Raptor Lake architecture with 8 full performance cores, whereas the Ultra 7's 16 cores include efficiency cores. The single-core Cinebench R23 score shows a 43.9% lead for the i7.

Q: Is the Ultra 7 165H better for encryption workloads?

A: Yes. The PassMark data encryption score for the Ultra 7 is 17,169, which is 15.5% higher than the i7-14701E's 14,862. The Ultra 7 also wins data compression by 2.9% and integer math by 9.9%.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Core i7-14701E supports ECC memory. The Intel Core Ultra 7 165H does not. This is a notable differentiator for workstation or server use cases.

Q: What is the process node difference between the two?

A: The Ultra 7 165H is built on a 7 nm node, while the i7-14701E uses a 10 nm node. Both are manufactured by Intel. The smaller node contributes to the Ultra 7's lower 28-watt TDP versus the i7's 65-watt TDP.

Q: How close are the two in overall PassMark multithread performance?

A: The i7-14701E scores 26,112 versus the Ultra 7's 25,933 in PassMark multithread, a difference of only 0.7%. This is the closest head-to-head result among the recorded benchmarks.

Specification Differences

The two parts differ across nearly every physical and logical specification. The Ultra 7 165H has 16 cores and 22 threads; the i7-14701E has 8 cores and 16 threads. Base clocks are 3.80 GHz versus 2.60 GHz, but boost clocks are 5.00 GHz versus 5.40 GHz, favoring the i7. TDP is 28 watts for the Ultra 7 and 65 watts for the i7.

Sockets are incompatible: Intel BGA 2049 for the mobile Ultra 7, Intel Socket 1700 for the desktop i7. Architecture and codename differ: Meteor Lake versus Raptor Lake, with the i7 specifically using the Raptor Lake-R refresh. Process nodes are 7 nm and 10 nm, respectively. The i7 has a recorded die size of 257 mm²; the Ultra 7's die size is not recorded.

Cache hierarchies differ in L1 and L3. The Ultra 7 has 112 KB of L1 per core and 24 MB of shared L3. The i7 has 80 KB of L1 per core and 33 MB of shared L3. Both have 2 MB of L2 per core.

Memory support is broader on the i7: it supports DDR4 and DDR5, while the Ultra 7 supports DDR5 only (with capacity depending on the motherboard). Both are dual-channel. The Ultra 7 has a recorded memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s; the i7 has no recorded bandwidth. ECC support goes to the i7 only. PCIe lanes differ: the Ultra 7 has Gen 5 with 8 lanes, the i7 has Gen 5 with 16 lanes.

Integrated graphics are Arc Xe-LPG 128EU on the Ultra 7 versus UHD Graphics 770 on the i7. The Ultra 7 is a mobile-market part, the i7 is desktop. Both are active in production status. Release dates are December 13, 2023 for the Ultra 7 and June 30, 2024 for the i7. The Ultra 7 has a recorded launch MSRP of $460; no launch MSRP is recorded for the i7. Neither has an unlocked multiplier. Part numbers are SRMZ3 for the Ultra 7 and Q49FSRNJK for the i7.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single benchmark gap in either direction is in Cinebench R23 single-core, where the i7-14701E leads by 43.9%. The i7 scores 3,133 versus the Ultra 7's 1,759. This gap reflects the i7's 5.40 GHz boost clock and Raptor Lake's high-frequency design. The same test in multi-core shows a 34.4% lead for the i7: 22,195 versus 14,551. That is the second-largest margin. The i7's advantage in Cinebench R23 multi-core is surprising given the Ultra 7's extra cores, but the Ultra 7's efficiency cores do not scale as well in this workload.

The i7 also wins Cinebench R15 single-core by 18.4% (315 versus 257) and PassMark single-thread by 18.5% (4,305 versus 3,509). PassMark physics goes to the i7 by 24.7% (2,399 versus 1,806). Prime number finding favors the i7 by 33% (176 versus 118). Extended instructions favor the i7 by 6.6% (18,528 versus 17,299). The i7 wins Cinebench R20 multi-core by only 0.9% (9,321 versus 9,233) and R20 single-core by 0.9% (1,315 versus 1,303). PassMark multithread is a 0.7% i7 win (26,112 versus 25,933).

The Ultra 7's largest win is in data encryption, 15.5% (17,169 versus 14,862). Random string sorting goes to the Ultra 7 by 14.8% (33,473 versus 29,158). Integer math favors the Ultra 7 by 9.9% (89,415 versus 81,325). Floating point math favors the Ultra 7 by 7.1% (66,273 versus 61,873). Data compression is a narrower Ultra 7 win at 2.9% (291,161 versus 282,939). The Ultra 7's Cinebench R15 multi-core score is 2641 versus 2,237, an 18.1% lead, the only Cinebench multi-core test it wins.

Overall, the i7-14701E holds a 83rd percentile rank against all CPUs, while the Ultra 7 sits at 84th. The i7's average benchmark score is 33,206, and the Ultra 7's is 34,083. The database records the Ultra 7's nearest rivals as the Core Ultra 5 338H (0.3% ahead), AMD EPYC 4244P (0.4% behind), AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 (0.4% behind), and AMD Ryzen 7 3700X (0.5% behind). The i7's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 6950H (0.0% difference), AMD Ryzen 5 8645HS (0.1% behind), AMD Ryzen 7 7745HX (0.3% ahead), and Intel Core i7-13650HX (0.4% ahead). These percentile figures place both parts in the upper tier of the database, with the Ultra 7 having a slightly higher aggregate score despite losing most head-to-head tests. The reason is that the Ultra 7's wins in compression, encryption, and math are substantial, while the i7's wins are often narrow except in single-core and R23 multi-core.