Intel Core i7-14701E vs Intel Core Ultra 9 285T Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Core Ultra 9 285T wins every single recorded test against the Intel Core i7-14701E, 17 wins to 0. The Ultra 9 285T holds a 91st percentile ranking among all CPUs, while the i7-14701E sits at the 83rd percentile. Its average benchmark score of 51310 is 54.5% higher than the i7-14701E's 33206 average. The i7-14701E should only be selected when the platform requirements dictate it: it uses Intel Socket 1700, supports DDR4 memory, and carries a 65 TDP. The Ultra 9 285T is the clear performance pick, but it demands Intel Socket 1851 and DDR5-only memory. The data shows no workload category where the i7-14701E pulls ahead; the Ultra 9 285T is the superior processor across every measured metric.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel generations and foundries. The i7-14701E is a Raptor Lake Refresh part built on Intel's 10 nm process, with a die size of 257 mm². The Ultra 9 285T uses Arrow Lake architecture fabricated by TSMC on a 3 nm node, with a die size of 243 mm² and 17,800 million transistors. The i7-14701E has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Ultra 9 285T offers 24 cores and 24 threads, meaning the Ultra 9 implements no hyperthreading on any of its cores. The cache hierarchy also differs: the i7-14701E provides 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 33 MB of shared L3. The Ultra 9 285T has 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 36 MB of shared L3. The Ultra 9 285T also carries a dual-channel memory bus rated at 102.4 GB/s of bandwidth, a figure not listed for the i7-14701E. The i7-14701E integrates UHD Graphics 770, while the Ultra 9 285T uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU. Both processors support ECC memory and both are locked, with no unlocked multiplier. The i7-14701E was released on 2024-06-30, while the Ultra 9 285T arrived later on 2025-01-06.

Where Each One Wins

The recorded benchmarks show no wins for the i7-14701E in any of the 17 head-to-head tests. The Ultra 9 285T wins all of them, which includes Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 in both single-core and multi-core variants, plus the full PassMark suite of data compression, data encryption, extended instructions, prime number finding, floating point math, integer math, multithread, physics, random string sorting, and single-thread tests. Even the closest margin, PassMark single-thread at 4576 versus 4305, still favors the Ultra 9 285T by 5.9%. The i7-14701E has no category where its scores exceed those of the Ultra 9 285T. The i7-14701E's only distinguishing advantages are platform-level: Socket 1700 compatibility and DDR4 memory support, both of which are absent from the Ultra 9 285T's specifications. For any user constrained to the older socket or to DDR4, the i7-14701E remains a functional option, but the performance data gives the Ultra 9 285T the win in every workload.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 285T has 24 cores and 24 threads. The Intel Core i7-14701E has 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: How large is the single-core performance gap?

A: In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Ultra 9 285T scores 4739 against the i7-14701E's 3133, a 33.9% lead. In PassMark single-thread, the Ultra 9 285T scores 4576 versus 4305, a 5.9% lead.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core i7-14701E and the Intel Core Ultra 9 285T support ECC memory.

Q: What memory types does each CPU support?

A: The i7-14701E supports DDR4 and DDR5. The Ultra 9 285T supports DDR5 only, with a rated memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s.

Q: Which CPU uses the smaller manufacturing process?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 285T uses TSMC's 3 nm process. The Intel Core i7-14701E uses Intel's 10 nm process.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The i7-14701E has a 65 TDP, while the Ultra 9 285T has a 35 TDP.

Q: Which socket does each CPU require?

A: The i7-14701E uses Intel Socket 1700, and the Ultra 9 285T uses Intel Socket 1851.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench results show a consistent pattern. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Ultra 9 285T scores 3384 against 2237, a 33.9% advantage. Single-core R15 sees 477 versus 315, a 34% lead. R20 multi-core repeats the 33.9% gap with 14100 versus 9321, and R20 single-core also lands at 33.9% with 1990 versus 1315. R23 multi-core delivers 33573 versus 22195, again 33.9% ahead, while R23 single-core shows 4739 versus 3133, also 33.9%. The consistency of the 33.9% delta across all three Cinebench versions indicates the Ultra 9 285T scales its advantage uniformly regardless of the render workload or thread count.

The PassMark suite reveals where the Ultra 9 285T's architectural lead is largest. Floating point math shows the biggest margin: 137923 versus 61873, a 55.1% advantage. Data encryption follows closely with 32061 versus 14862, a 53.6% lead. Prime number finding scores 345 versus 176, a 49% gap. Random string sorting delivers 47695 versus 29158, a 38.9% lead, and integer math records 132433 versus 81325, a 38.6% advantage. Multithread performance reaches 39931 versus 26112, a 34.6% lead. Extended instructions show 27477 versus 18528, a 32.6% gap. Data compression scores 384140 versus 282939, a 26.3% lead. Physics shows the smallest multi-core gap at 2842 versus 2399, a 15.6% advantage.

The single-thread PassMark results are the tightest overall. The Ultra 9 285T scores 4576 versus 4305, a 5.9% lead. This is the only benchmark where the Ultra 9 285T's advantage falls below double digits. The i7-14701E's high boost clock of 5.40 GHz matches the Ultra 9 285T's boost clock of 5.40 GHz, which explains the relatively close single-thread result. Despite the equal boost frequency, the Ultra 9 285T still wins on single-thread performance in both Cinebench and PassMark, likely due to its newer 3 nm architecture and larger per-core cache.

Specification Differences

The two CPUs differ in nearly every core specification. The i7-14701E uses 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Ultra 9 285T uses 24 cores and 24 threads. Base clocks differ substantially: the i7-14701E runs at 2.60 GHz, while the Ultra 9 285T runs at 1.40 GHz. Both share a 5.40 GHz boost clock. TDP differs with the i7-14701E at 65 and the Ultra 9 285T at 35. The process node moves from Intel's 10 nm to TSMC's 3 nm, and the foundry shifts from Intel to TSMC. The Ultra 9 285T lists 17,800 million transistors, while the i7-14701E does not have a transistor count in the database. Die sizes are close at 257 mm² for the i7-14701E and 243 mm² for the Ultra 9 285T. Cache configurations differ at every level: L1 is 80 KB per core versus 192 KB per core, L2 is 2 MB per core versus 3 MB per core, and L3 is 33 MB shared versus 36 MB shared. Memory support narrows from DDR4 and DDR5 on the i7-14701E to DDR5 only on the Ultra 9 285T, with the Ultra 9 285T carrying a listed memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s. PCIe lanes increase from Gen 5, 16 Lanes (CPU only) to Gen 5, 20 Lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics change from UHD Graphics 770 to Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU. Sockets are incompatible: Intel Socket 1700 versus Intel Socket 1851. The launch date moves from 2024-06-30 to 2025-01-06. The i7-14701E has no launch MSRP recorded, while the Ultra 9 285T has a launch MSRP of $549. Both processors support ECC memory, both are locked, and both are listed as Active in production status.