Intel Core i7-14701E vs Intel Core Ultra 7 266V Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark comparison between the Intel Core i7-14701E and the Intel Core Ultra 7 266V is strikingly one-sided. Of the 17 recorded head-to-head tests, the Core i7-14701E wins 16, while the Core Ultra 7 266V takes a single victory. The margins, however, vary considerably by workload type.

The most dominant result for the Core i7-14701E appears in PassMark integer math, where it scores 81,325 against 41,558 for the Core Ultra 7 266V, a 95.7% advantage. This near-doubling of throughput reflects a fundamental difference in how the two chips handle integer workloads. Data compression shows a similarly large gap: 282,939 versus 187,050, a 51.3% delta. Physics simulation also favors the desktop part heavily, with a 49.2% lead (2,399 versus 1,608).

Across the Cinebench suite, the results are consistent but less extreme. In Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, both multi-core and single-core tests show the Core i7-14701E ahead by 34.0% to 34.2%. For example, Cinebench R23 multi-core scores 22,195 for the Core i7-14701E versus 16,544 for the Core Ultra 7 266V, while the single-core test shows 3,133 versus 2,335. The uniformity of this 34% margin across all three Cinebench generations suggests a stable architectural advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk.

PassMark multi-thread performance follows the same pattern, with the Core i7-14701E at 26,112 versus 19,461, again a 34.2% lead. Random string sorting shows a 27.3% edge (29,158 versus 22,905), and extended instructions come in at 16.3% (18,528 versus 15,928). Floating-point math is closer, with an 8.7% advantage (61,873 versus 56,923). Data encryption shows the narrowest meaningful gap at 7.5% (14,862 versus 13,822).

Single-thread PassMark results place the Core i7-14701E at 4,305 versus 3,943, a 9.2% lead. This is a smaller margin than the Cinebench single-core difference, indicating that the two benchmarks weight different aspects of single-thread performance.

The sole win for the Core Ultra 7 266V comes in the PassMark find prime numbers test, where it scores 191 versus 176, a 7.9% advantage. This isolated result suggests the Lunar Lake architecture handles this particular mathematical routine more efficiently, despite losing broadly elsewhere.

Looking at the overall average benchmark scores, the Core i7-14701E sits at 33,206, placing it in the 83rd percentile of all CPUs in the database. The Core Ultra 7 266V averages 23,297, which lands in the 76th percentile. The comparison pool for each chip reflects their respective performance tiers: the Core i7-14701E trades blows with the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 6950H (33,201, 0% delta), AMD Ryzen 5 8645HS (33,244, -0.1%), AMD Ryzen 7 7745HX (33,091, 0.3%), and Intel Core i7-13650HX (33,089, 0.4%). The Core Ultra 7 266V sits alongside the AMD Ryzen 7 5800H (23,277, 0.1%), Intel Core i9-11900F (23,254, 0.2%), Intel Core Ultra 9 288V (23,219, 0.3%), and AMD EPYC 4124P (23,167, 0.6%).

The Verdict

The data points to a clear performance hierarchy. The Intel Core i7-14701E is the faster processor in nearly every measured category, and in several workloads the margin is substantial. The 34.2% lead across all Cinebench versions, both single and multi-core, establishes a consistent baseline advantage. The 95.7% gap in integer math and the 51.3% gap in data compression are the kind of margins that translate directly into shorter render times, faster compilation, and snappier data processing.

The Core Ultra 7 266V does hold one specific advantage: prime number finding. For workloads that resemble that test, the Lunar Lake chip is 7.9% faster. But this single win does not offset the breadth of losses elsewhere. The Core Ultra 7 266V also operates in a different market context: its 17 W TDP and mobile socket (Intel BGA 2833) place it in ultraportable territory, whereas the Core i7-14701E is a 65 W desktop part on Intel Socket 1700. The performance gap is therefore partly a consequence of power envelope and platform.

A strict performance ranking from the recorded data puts the Core i7-14701E first. The Core Ultra 7 266V remains relevant for scenarios where its 3 nm process and low power draw matter more than raw throughput. Neither chip is unlocked for overclocking, so the recorded scores represent the practical ceiling for both.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from entirely different Intel design lineages. The Intel Core i7-14701E uses Raptor Lake architecture, specifically the Raptor Lake-R refresh, built on Intel's 10 nm process at Intel as the foundry. The die size is 257 mm². The Core Ultra 7 266V uses Lunar Lake architecture, fabricated by TSMC on a 3 nm process. This process node difference is significant: the 3 nm node allows for much denser transistor packing, which explains how the mobile chip achieves competitive performance in some tests despite its lower power budget.

Core organization differs as well. Both chips have 8 cores, but the Core i7-14701E supports 16 threads via Hyper-Threading, while the Core Ultra 7 266V has 8 threads with no simultaneous multithreading. This partially explains the large multi-threaded performance gaps. The cache hierarchy also diverges. The Core i7-14701E has 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 33 MB of shared L3. The Core Ultra 7 266V has 192 KB of L1 per core, 2.5 MB of L2 per core, but only 12 MB of shared L3. The larger L1 and L2 on the Lunar Lake part suggest a design philosophy that favors fast access to recently used data, while the Raptor Lake part compensates with a much larger L3 pool.

Integrated graphics differ substantially. The Core i7-14701E includes UHD Graphics 770, while the Core Ultra 7 266V carries Arc 140V. The Arc 140V is a newer GPU architecture, and its presence in a 17 W mobile chip indicates a stronger focus on integrated graphics performance. Memory support also diverges: the Core i7-14701E supports both DDR4 and DDR5 in dual-channel configuration, while the Core Ultra 7 266V uses LPDDR5X, with the recorded memory bandwidth of 136.5 GB/s. The desktop part supports ECC memory; the mobile part does not.

PCIe connectivity shows a major difference. The Core i7-14701E provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the Core Ultra 7 266V provides Gen 5 with only 4 lanes. This makes the desktop chip far more suitable for high-bandwidth add-in cards, such as discrete GPUs or NVMe storage arrays.

Specification Differences

The core counts are identical at 8, but thread counts differ: 16 for the Core i7-14701E versus 8 for the Core Ultra 7 266V. Base clocks are 2.60 GHz for the desktop chip and 2.20 GHz for the mobile chip. Boost clocks reach 5.40 GHz on the Core i7-14701E and 5.00 GHz on the Core Ultra 7 266V.

TDP is a major differentiator: 65 W for the Core i7-14701E against 17 W for the Core Ultra 7 266V. The socket types are incompatible: Intel Socket 1700 for the desktop part, Intel BGA 2833 for the mobile part. Process nodes differ as noted: 10 nm (Intel) versus 3 nm (TSMC).

Cache configurations differ in all three levels. L1 is 80 KB per core versus 192 KB per core. L2 is 2 MB per core versus 2.5 MB per core. L3 is 33 MB shared versus 12 MB shared. The die size is recorded for the Core i7-14701E at 257 mm², while no die size is listed for the Core Ultra 7 266V.

Memory support: DDR4 and DDR5 for the Core i7-14701E, LPDDR5X for the Core Ultra 7 266V. Memory bandwidth is only listed for the Lunar Lake part: 136.5 GB/s. ECC support exists only on the desktop chip. PCIe lane counts differ: 16 lanes versus 4 lanes, both Gen 5. Integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 770 versus Arc 140V. Market segments are Desktop versus Mobile. Release dates differ by roughly three months: the Core i7-14701E launched on 2024-06-30, the Core Ultra 7 266V on 2024-09-23. Both parts are marked as Active in production status, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i7-14701E averages 33,206, compared to 23,297 for the Intel Core Ultra 7 266V.

Q: In which test does the Core Ultra 7 266V outperform the Core i7-14701E?

A: The Core Ultra 7 266V wins the PassMark find prime numbers test, scoring 191 against 176, a 7.9% advantage.

Q: How large is the multi-core performance gap in Cinebench R23?

A: The Core i7-14701E scores 22,195 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, while the Core Ultra 7 266V scores 16,544, a 34.2% lead for the desktop part.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?

A: No. The Core i7-14701E supports DDR4 and DDR5, while the Core Ultra 7 266V supports LPDDR5X.

Q: What are the TDP ratings for each chip?

A: The Core i7-14701E has a 65 W TDP, and the Core Ultra 7 266V has a 17 W TDP.

Q: How do the thread counts compare?

A: The Core i7-14701E has 16 threads across 8 cores, while the Core Ultra 7 266V has 8 threads across 8 cores.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-14701E wins in 16 of 17 recorded tests. Its largest advantages are in integer math (95.7%), data compression (51.3%), physics (49.2%), and the entire Cinebench suite (34.2% across all versions). These results point to workloads that scale with thread count and raw compute throughput: rendering, video encoding, data processing, scientific simulation, and heavy multitasking. The 16 PCIe Gen 5 lanes also make it the appropriate choice for systems with discrete GPUs or multiple high-speed storage devices. The 65 W TDP and desktop socket indicate a build where power draw is not the primary constraint.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 266V has one measured win: prime number finding, where it leads by 7.9%. This suggests an efficiency advantage in certain mathematical routines. Its 17 W TDP, 3 nm process, and 136.5 GB/s memory bandwidth make it suitable for thin-and-light mobile systems where battery life and thermal output take priority over peak performance. The Arc 140V integrated graphics and LPDDR5X memory support further position it as a mobile-first part. The 4 PCIe Gen 5 lanes limit expansion options, reinforcing its role in compact, integrated designs rather than high-throughput desktops.