Intel Core i7-14701E vs Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark comparison between the Intel Core i7-14701E and the Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus is heavily lopsided. The Ultra 9 290HX Plus wins 16 of the 17 recorded head-to-head tests, with only a single victory for the i7-14701E. The average benchmark score tells the same story: the Ultra 9 290HX Plus records 79,574 against 33,206 for the i7-14701E, a gap that places the two processors far apart in the database rankings.

The most dramatic difference appears in multi-core workloads. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Ultra 9 290HX Plus scores 5,981 versus 2,237 for the i7-14701E, a 62.6% advantage. Cinebench R20 multi-core shows a 56% lead for the Ultra 9 (21,198 versus 9,321), and Cinebench R23 multi-core shows a 44.1% lead (39,684 versus 22,195). PassMark multi-thread follows the pattern: 59,439 versus 26,112, a 56.1% margin. The data indicates that the Ultra 9 290HX Plus is in a different class for heavily threaded rendering and compute tasks.

The single-core picture is more nuanced. The Ultra 9 290HX Plus wins Cinebench R15 single-core (340 versus 315, a 7.4% lead) and Cinebench R20 single-core (2,992 versus 1,315, a 56% lead). However, the i7-14701E takes Cinebench R23 single-core by 33%, scoring 3,133 versus 2,356. This is the only head-to-head test the i7-14701E wins, and it is a meaningful one for lightly threaded applications. PassMark single-thread also favors the Ultra 9, with 4,951 versus 4,305, a 13% margin.

Specialized workloads reinforce the Ultra 9's dominance. PassMark data compression shows 658,724 versus 282,939 (57% lead), data encryption shows 50,008 versus 14,862 (70.3% lead), and extended instructions show 51,290 versus 18,528 (63.9% lead). Floating point math favors the Ultra 9 by 69.3% (201,773 versus 61,873), integer math by 50.7% (164,839 versus 81,325), and find prime numbers by 66.1% (519 versus 176). Random string sorting goes to the Ultra 9 by 63.7% (80,327 versus 29,158), and physics by 29.2% (3,387 versus 2,399).

The percentile ranking reflects the overall performance separation. The Ultra 9 290HX Plus sits at the 95th percentile among all CPUs, while the i7-14701E sits at the 83rd percentile. The nearest rivals for each chip are also instructive. The i7-14701E's nearest rival is the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 6950H with an average score of 33,201, a delta of 0%. The Ultra 9 290HX Plus is closest to the Intel Core i9-14900KF at 79,371, a delta of 0.3%, and the Intel Core i9-14900K at 79,097, a delta of 0.6%. In other words, the Ultra 9 290HX Plus performs like a desktop flagship in the database's measurements, while the i7-14701E matches a mid-range mobile Ryzen.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel design generations and manufacturing approaches. The i7-14701E belongs to the Core 14th Gen series, uses the Raptor Lake architecture with the Raptor Lake-R codename, and is built on Intel's 10 nm process node. The Ultra 9 290HX Plus belongs to the Core Ultra Series 2, uses the Arrow Lake-HX Refresh codename, and is built on TSMC's 3 nm node. The process node difference is significant: the Ultra 9 uses a smaller, more advanced fabrication process, which helps explain its higher transistor count of 17,800 million. The i7-14701E's transistor count is not recorded in the database.

Core counts differ sharply. The i7-14701E has 8 cores and 16 threads, a traditional hyper-threaded configuration. The Ultra 9 290HX Plus has 24 cores and 24 threads, meaning it does not use hyper-threading. The raw core count advantage of the Ultra 9 (3 times as many cores) is the primary driver of its multi-core benchmark wins. The cache hierarchy also differs: the i7-14701E has 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 33 MB of shared L3. The Ultra 9 has 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 36 MB of shared L3. Both the per-core and total cache capacities favor the Ultra 9.

Clock speeds are close on paper. The i7-14701E has a base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. The Ultra 9 has a base clock of 2.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz. The Ultra 9's boost advantage is small, 0.10 GHz, but its single-core Cinebench R15 and R20 scores are higher, indicating better per-clock efficiency. The i7-14701E's win in Cinebench R23 single-core is an outlier in this pattern.

Thermal design power differs, with the i7-14701E rated at 65 W and the Ultra 9 at 55 W. The Ultra 9 delivers far higher multi-core performance while drawing a lower TDP rating, a result consistent with the 3 nm process. The i7-14701E uses Intel Socket 1700, while the Ultra 9 uses Intel BGA 2114, meaning the former is a socketed desktop part and the latter is a mobile package. The market segments confirm this: the i7-14701E is listed as Desktop, the Ultra 9 as Mobile.

Memory support also differs. The i7-14701E supports both DDR4 and DDR5 over a dual-channel bus. The Ultra 9 supports DDR5 only, also over a dual-channel bus, but records a memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s. The i7-14701E's memory bandwidth is not recorded. Both processors support ECC memory. PCIe support favors the Ultra 9: it provides Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only), while the i7-14701E provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only).

Integrated graphics differ as well. The i7-14701E uses UHD Graphics 770. The Ultra 9 uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU. The Ultra 9 also has an unlocked multiplier, while the i7-14701E's multiplier is locked. The release dates place the i7-14701E in mid-2024 and the Ultra 9 in early 2026, with the Ultra 9 being the newer design.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus has 24 cores and 24 threads. The Intel Core i7-14701E has 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: Which processor wins in single-core performance?

A: The results are split. The Ultra 9 290HX Plus wins Cinebench R15 single-core (340 versus 315) and Cinebench R20 single-core (2,992 versus 1,315). The i7-14701E wins Cinebench R23 single-core (3,133 versus 2,356). PassMark single-thread favors the Ultra 9 at 4,951 versus 4,305.

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

A: The Ultra 9 290HX Plus leads by 62.6% in Cinebench R15 multi-core, 56% in Cinebench R20 multi-core, and 44.1% in Cinebench R23 multi-core. PassMark multi-thread shows a 56.1% lead for the Ultra 9.

Q: What process nodes do the two processors use?

A: The i7-14701E uses Intel's 10 nm process. The Ultra 9 290HX Plus uses TSMC's 3 nm process.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the i7-14701E and the Ultra 9 290HX Plus support ECC memory.

Q: Which processor has more PCIe lanes?

A: The Ultra 9 290HX Plus provides Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only). The i7-14701E provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only).

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification category. The core count difference is 8 versus 24, and the thread count difference is 16 versus 24. The i7-14701E uses hyper-threading; the Ultra 9 does not. Base clocks are close (2.60 GHz versus 2.70 GHz), and boost clocks are close (5.40 GHz versus 5.50 GHz), but the Ultra 9 is slightly higher in both. TDP differs by 10 W, with the i7-14701E at 65 W and the Ultra 9 at 55 W.

The sockets are incompatible: Intel Socket 1700 for the i7-14701E, Intel BGA 2114 for the Ultra 9. The architectures are different generations: Raptor Lake (Raptor Lake-R) versus Arrow Lake-HX Refresh. Process nodes differ (10 nm Intel versus 3 nm TSMC). The Ultra 9's die size is 243 mm², while the i7-14701E's is 257 mm². The Ultra 9 has 17,800 million transistors; the i7-14701E's transistor count is not recorded.

Cache sizes differ at every level. L1 per core is 80 KB for the i7-14701E and 192 KB for the Ultra 9. L2 per core is 2 MB versus 3 MB. Shared L3 is 33 MB versus 36 MB. Memory support narrows to DDR5 only on the Ultra 9, while the i7-14701E supports DDR4 and DDR5. The Ultra 9 records 102.4 GB/s memory bandwidth; the i7-14701E has no recorded bandwidth figure. PCIe lanes favor the Ultra 9 (20 versus 16). Integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 770 versus Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU. The Ultra 9 has an unlocked multiplier; the i7-14701E does not. The Ultra 9 is a mobile part; the i7-14701E is a desktop part.

The Verdict

The benchmark data indicates a clear performance hierarchy. The Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus is the stronger processor in nearly every measured workload, with an average benchmark score of 79,574 versus 33,206 for the i7-14701E. It wins 16 of 17 head-to-head tests, often by margins exceeding 50%. Its 24 cores, larger caches, 3 nm process, and higher memory bandwidth combine to deliver multi-core results that place it at the 95th percentile of all CPUs. The i7-14701E, at the 83rd percentile, is a capable desktop processor but is outclassed in this matchup.

The i7-14701E's only head-to-head win is Cinebench R23 single-core, where it leads by 33%. This single result does not offset the Ultra 9's wins in Cinebench R15 single-core, Cinebench R20 single-core, and PassMark single-thread. For users focused on a single application that behaves like Cinebench R23 single-core, the i7-14701E has a narrow niche. For everything else in the database, the Ultra 9 is ahead.

The Ultra 9's nearest rivals are desktop flagship processors: the Intel Core i9-14900KF (0.3% delta), the Intel Core i9-14900K (0.6% delta), and the AMD EPYC 7413 (-0.6% delta). This places the Ultra 9 in flagship desktop territory despite being a mobile segment part. The i7-14701E's nearest rival is the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 6950H at a 0% delta, a mid-range mobile processor. The database's measurements therefore place the two chips in entirely different performance tiers.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus wins in multi-core rendering, as shown by Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests. It wins in data compression (658,724 versus 282,939), data encryption (50,008 versus 14,862), extended instructions (51,290 versus 18,528), floating point math (201,773 versus 61,873), integer math (164,839 versus 81,325), prime number finding (519 versus 176), random string sorting (80,327 versus 29,158), and physics (3,387 versus 2,399). It also wins PassMark multi-thread (59,439 versus 26,112) and PassMark single-thread (4,951 versus 4,305). Its 24 cores and 36 MB of L3 cache make it the choice for heavily threaded workloads, and its 3 nm process allows this performance at a lower TDP rating of 55 W.

The Intel Core i7-14701E wins Cinebench R23 single-core with a score of 3,133 versus 2,356, a 33% margin. This is the single recorded workload where the i7-14701E leads. It also offers a desktop socket (Intel Socket 1700), DDR4 memory support in addition to DDR5, and a 65 W TDP. For applications that closely match the Cinebench R23 single-core workload, the i7-14701E holds an advantage. The data does not show any other workload in which the i7-14701E outperforms the Ultra 9, so its use case is limited to that specific single-threaded pattern.