Intel Core i7-14701E vs Intel Core Ultra 9 386H Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a decisive overall victory for the Intel Core Ultra 9 386H, which wins 12 of the 17 head-to-head comparisons. The Intel Core i7-14701E takes only 5 wins, but its victories are concentrated in single-threaded workloads where it holds a clear edge.

The largest margin in the entire comparison belongs to the Core Ultra 9 386H in the Cinebench R15 multicore test. It scores 3223 against 2237 for the i7-14701E, a 30.6% advantage. The Cinebench R20 multicore result tells a similar story: 12820 versus 9321, a 27.3% gap. These multicore results confirm that the Core Ultra 9 386H is the stronger processor for heavily threaded rendering workloads.

The Core Ultra 9 386H also dominates in PassMark encryption and floating-point math. Its data encryption score of 27150 beats the i7-14701E's 14862 by 45.3%. In floating-point math, the margin is 43%: 108527 against 61873. The extended instructions test shows a 36.4% lead (29138 versus 18528), and the find prime numbers test shows a 48.4% lead (341 versus 176). These are substantial, consistent gaps across computational workloads.

The i7-14701E posts its most dramatic win in the Cinebench R23 single-core test, where it scores 3133 versus 2071.5 for the Core Ultra 9 386H, a 51.2% advantage. That is the largest single-core margin recorded in this comparison. The PassMark single-thread test also goes to the i7-14701E, but by a much smaller margin: 4305 versus 4218, a 2.1% lead. The Cinebench R15 single-core result is similarly narrow, with the i7-14701E winning 315 to 303.5, a 3.8% edge.

The Cinebench R23 multicore test is the one notable exception to the Core Ultra 9 386H's multicore dominance. Here the i7-14701E wins 22195 to 20547, an 8% advantage. This stands in contrast to the R15 and R20 multicore results, where the Core Ultra 9 386H leads by 30.6% and 27.3% respectively. The data indicates that the relative performance of these two processors shifts depending on the specific rendering workload.

In the remaining PassMark tests, the Core Ultra 9 386H leads across the board. Data compression: 352365 versus 282939, a 19.7% margin. Multithread: 35399 versus 26112, a 26.2% margin. Physics: 3028 versus 2399, a 20.8% margin. Random string sorting: 42135 versus 29158, a 30.8% margin. Integer math shows the closest PassMark gap: 87284 versus 81325, a 6.8% lead for the Core Ultra 9 386H.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel generations and use different manufacturing processes. The Intel Core i7-14701E uses Raptor Lake architecture on a 10 nm process node, while the Intel Core Ultra 9 386H uses Panther Lake architecture on a 3 nm process node. Both are manufactured by Intel.

The core configurations differ significantly. The i7-14701E has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Core Ultra 9 386H has 16 cores and 16 threads. This means the Core Ultra 9 386H doubles the physical core count but matches the thread count, indicating a different approach to core design and thread handling. The i7-14701E relies on simultaneous multithreading to reach 16 threads from 8 cores, while the Core Ultra 9 386H reaches 16 threads without multithreading.

Cache hierarchies also diverge. The i7-14701E has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 cache per core, and 33 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core Ultra 9 386H has 192 KB of L1 cache per core, 2.5 MB of L2 cache per core, and 18 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core Ultra 9 386H provides more per-core cache, while the i7-14701E offers substantially more shared L3 cache.

Clock speeds favor the i7-14701E. Its base clock is 2.60 GHz with a boost clock of 5.40 GHz, compared to the Core Ultra 9 386H's 2.10 GHz base and 4.90 GHz boost. The i7-14701E also carries a 65 W TDP, while the Core Ultra 9 386H is rated at 25 W, reflecting its mobile orientation.

Memory support differs as well. The i7-14701E supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory with dual-channel access and supports ECC memory. The Core Ultra 9 386H supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X memory with dual-channel access, has no ECC support, and lists a memory bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s. The i7-14701E supports PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the Core Ultra 9 386H supports PCIe Gen 5 with 12 lanes.

The integrated graphics differ: the i7-14701E uses UHD Graphics 770, while the Core Ultra 9 386H uses Intel Xe3 Graphics. The i7-14701E is a desktop processor on Intel Socket 1700, while the Core Ultra 9 386H is a mobile processor on Intel BGA 2540. The release dates are also different, with the i7-14701E appearing in 2024 and the Core Ultra 9 386H in 2026. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

The Verdict

The benchmark data indicates that the Intel Core Ultra 9 386H is the stronger overall processor. It holds an 88th percentile ranking among all CPUs, compared to the 83rd percentile for the i7-14701E. Its average benchmark score of 43210 is well above the i7-14701E's 33206, a difference of roughly 30%.

The Core Ultra 9 386H wins the majority of workloads, especially multicore rendering, encryption, floating-point math, and data compression. It also uses a newer 3 nm process node and delivers this performance at a 25 W TDP, which is notably lower than the 65 W TDP of the i7-14701E. For mobile systems and power-sensitive applications, the data strongly favors the Core Ultra 9 386H.

The i7-14701E retains a clear single-thread advantage, most visible in the Cinebench R23 single-core result where it leads by 51.2%. Its higher boost clock of 5.40 GHz and larger 33 MB shared L3 cache contribute to this edge. The i7-14701E is also the only one of the two with ECC memory support, which matters for certain stability-critical workloads.

The Core Ultra 9 386H sits near the AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 385 in the database, with a delta of -0.3%, and near the AMD Ryzen AI 9 465 at -0.5%. It also outperforms the Intel Core i9-12900 by 0.7% and the Intel Core i9-12900KF by 0.9%. The i7-14701E sits near the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 6950H with a 0% delta, the AMD Ryzen 5 8645HS at -0.1%, the AMD Ryzen 7 7745HX at 0.3%, and the Intel Core i7-13650HX at 0.4%.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several core specifications. The i7-14701E has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Core Ultra 9 386H has 16 cores and 16 threads. Base clocks are 2.60 GHz versus 2.10 GHz, and boost clocks are 5.40 GHz versus 4.90 GHz. The TDP is 65 W for the i7-14701E and 25 W for the Core Ultra 9 386H.

The sockets are different: Intel Socket 1700 for the i7-14701E and Intel BGA 2540 for the Core Ultra 9 386H. The i7-14701E uses Raptor Lake architecture on a 10 nm node, while the Core Ultra 9 386H uses Panther Lake architecture on a 3 nm node. The i7-14701E has a die size of 257 mm², while the Core Ultra 9 386H has no recorded die size.

Cache configurations differ across all levels. The i7-14701E has 80 KB L1 per core, 2 MB L2 per core, and 33 MB shared L3. The Core Ultra 9 386H has 192 KB L1 per core, 2.5 MB L2 per core, and 18 MB shared L3. Memory support shows the i7-14701E accepting DDR4 and DDR5, while the Core Ultra 9 386H accepts DDR5 and LPDDR5X. The Core Ultra 9 386H records a memory bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s, while the i7-14701E has no recorded bandwidth figure. ECC memory is supported on the i7-14701E but not on the Core Ultra 9 386H.

PCIe lanes differ: 16 lanes on the i7-14701E versus 12 lanes on the Core Ultra 9 386H, both Gen 5. Integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 770 on the i7-14701E and Intel Xe3 Graphics on the Core Ultra 9 386H. The market segments are Desktop for the i7-14701E and Mobile for the Core Ultra 9 386H. Both are active production parts with locked multipliers.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmarks?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 386H wins 12 of the 17 recorded head-to-head benchmarks. The Intel Core i7-14701E wins the remaining 5.

Q: What is the biggest single benchmark margin?

A: The largest margin is in Cinebench R23 single-core, where the Intel Core i7-14701E leads the Core Ultra 9 386H by 51.2% with a score of 3133 against 2071.5.

Q: How do the multicore scores compare?

A: The Core Ultra 9 386H leads in Cinebench R15 multicore by 30.6% and in R20 multicore by 27.3%. The i7-14701E leads in R23 multicore by 8%.

Q: Which processor has the higher core count?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 386H has 16 cores, while the Intel Core i7-14701E has 8 cores. Both have 16 threads.

Q: What are the TDP ratings?

A: The Intel Core i7-14701E is rated at 65 W TDP, while the Intel Core Ultra 9 386H is rated at 25 W TDP.

Q: Which processor ranks higher among all CPUs?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 386H ranks in the 88th percentile, while the Intel Core i7-14701E ranks in the 83rd percentile. The Core Ultra 9 386H also has a higher average benchmark score of 43210 versus 33206.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 9 386H is the clear choice for multicore rendering workloads. It wins Cinebench R15 multicore by 30.6% and R20 multicore by 27.3%. Its PassMark multithread score of 35399 is 26.2% higher than the i7-14701E's 26112. The Core Ultra 9 386H also dominates in encryption work, with a 45.3% lead in data encryption, and in floating-point math, with a 43% lead. Data compression goes to the Core Ultra 9 386H by 19.7%, and random string sorting by 30.8%. The extended instructions test shows a 36.4% advantage, and the find prime numbers test shows a 48.4% advantage. The physics test also favors the Core Ultra 9 386H by 20.8%. For any workload that scales across many cores or relies heavily on math and data processing, the data points to the Core Ultra 9 386H.

The Intel Core i7-14701E wins the single-thread comparisons. Its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 3133 is 51.2% above the Core Ultra 9 386H, and its PassMark single-thread score of 4305 is 2.1% higher. The Cinebench R15 single-core result also goes to the i7-14701E by 3.8%. The i7-14701E additionally wins the Cinebench R23 multicore test by 8%, a result that suggests certain rendering workloads respond better to its higher clock speeds and larger 33 MB shared L3 cache. The i7-14701E also supports ECC memory, which the Core Ultra 9 386H does not, and it offers 16 PCIe Gen 5 lanes versus 12 on the Core Ultra 9 386H. For applications that depend on high single-thread performance, ECC support, or additional PCIe lanes, the i7-14701E is the better fit.

The market segments reinforce this split. The i7-14701E is a desktop processor with a 65 W TDP, designed for socketed systems. The Core Ultra 9 386H is a mobile processor with a 25 W TDP, built for power-constrained environments. The 3 nm process node and lower TDP of the Core Ultra 9 386H make it the more efficient option in the recorded data, while the higher boost clock of the i7-14701E serves workloads that favor raw single-thread speed. The overall benchmark average, the percentile ranking, and the 12-to-5 win count all favor the Core Ultra 9 386H as the more capable processor in the database's measurements.