Intel Core i7-14701E vs Intel Core Ultra X9 378H Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data presents an unusual picture: the Intel Core Ultra X9 378H wins every single benchmark comparison against the Intel Core i7-14701E, with 17 wins out of 17 recorded tests. The margin varies dramatically by workload, which makes the analysis more interesting than a simple sweep.

The largest gaps appear in integer-heavy and cryptographic tasks. In PassMark data encryption, the Ultra X9 378H scores 29840 versus 14862 for the i7-14701E, a delta of -50.2 percent (meaning the i7 trails by half). Prime number finding shows a similar story: 357 versus 176, a -50.7 percent difference. The extended instructions test also favors the mobile chip heavily, 31315 against 18528, a -40.8 percent gap. These are not marginal differences; they indicate a fundamental advantage in specific execution paths.

Floating-point math shows a -46 percent delta, with the Ultra X9 378H posting 114500 versus 61873. Data compression is closer but still decisively won, 386591 against 282939, a -26.8 percent difference. Random string sorting goes to the Ultra X9 378H by -34.7 percent, 44648 versus 29158.

The Cinebench suite tells a consistent story across all six tests. Every single-core and multi-core result shows the exact same -31.8 percent delta. The Ultra X9 378H scores 3281 in R15 multi-core, 462 in R15 single-core, 13672 in R20 multi-core, 1929 in R20 single-core, 32553 in R23 multi-core, and 4595 in R23 single-core. The i7-14701E records 2237, 315, 9321, 1315, 22195, and 3133 respectively. The uniformity of the -31.8 percent figure across all Cinebench versions suggests a consistent architectural efficiency advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk.

PassMark multi-thread shows 38298 versus 26112, again -31.8 percent. Physics simulation records 3404 versus 2399, a -29.5 percent gap. The narrowest margin in the entire dataset is PassMark single-thread: 4453 versus 4305, only a -3.3 percent difference. That is a remarkable result. For a single-threaded workload, the two processors are nearly equivalent despite the massive differences in core counts and process technology.

Integer math is the second-closest test: 92603 versus 81325, a -12.2 percent difference. This suggests that for scalar integer operations, the older desktop chip holds up relatively well, but it loses ground quickly as soon as the workload branches into encryption, compression, or vectorized instructions.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from completely different design philosophies. The i7-14701E uses Raptor Lake architecture, specifically Raptor Lake-R, on a 10 nm process node manufactured by Intel. The die size is documented at 257 mm². It has 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. The cache hierarchy consists of 80 KB L1 per core, 2 MB L2 per core, and 33 MB shared L3.

The Ultra X9 378H uses Panther Lake codename, from the Core Ultra Series 3 generation, on a 3 nm process node, also manufactured by Intel. It has 16 cores and 16 threads (no hyperthreading), with a base clock of 2.00 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. The cache configuration is markedly different: 192 KB L1 per core, 2.5 MB L2 per core, and 18 MB shared L3. The L3 is nearly half the size, but the per-core L1 and L2 allocations are substantially larger.

The process node difference is the most striking architectural factor. A 10 nm desktop chip versus a 3 nm mobile chip represents a significant generational jump in transistor density. The smaller node likely explains how the Ultra X9 378H achieves higher performance despite a much lower thermal envelope and lower clock speeds. The boost clock of the i7-14701E is higher at 5.40 GHz versus 5.00 GHz, yet the mobile part still wins every benchmark. This indicates that instructions per clock (IPC) improvements on the 3 nm node more than compensate for the 0.40 GHz clock deficit.

Memory support diverges sharply. The i7-14701E supports DDR4 and DDR5 over a dual-channel bus, with ECC memory enabled. The Ultra X9 378H supports only LPDDR5X, also dual-channel, with a documented memory bandwidth of 153.6 GB/s. The mobile chip does not support ECC. The PCIe configuration also differs: the desktop part offers Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the mobile part offers Gen 5 with only 4 lanes (CPU only).

Integrated graphics present another clear split. The i7-14701E uses UHD Graphics 770, while the Ultra X9 378H uses Arc B390. The database does not include graphics benchmarks, so a performance comparison cannot be quantified, but the product positioning signals a different intent for the integrated GPU.

The socket and market segment are decisive: the i7-14701E is a desktop processor on Intel Socket 1700, while the Ultra X9 378H is a mobile processor on Intel BGA 2540. The TDP figures reflect this: 65 watts for the desktop part versus 25 watts for the mobile part. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Core Ultra X9 378H outperforms the Intel Core i7-14701E in every recorded benchmark. The overall average benchmark score in the database places the Ultra X9 378H at 47468, which corresponds to the 89th percentile of all CPUs. The i7-14701E averages 33206, landing in the 83rd percentile. The mobile chip sits approximately 43 percent higher in average score.

Looking at the nearest rivals confirms the positioning. The i7-14701E is closest to the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 6950H (33201, 0 percent delta), the AMD Ryzen 5 8645HS (33244, -0.1 percent), the AMD Ryzen 7 7745HX (33091, 0.3 percent), and the Intel Core i7-13650HX (33089, 0.4 percent). The Ultra X9 378H, by contrast, matches the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 (47527, -0.1 percent), the Intel Core i7-13700KF (47330, 0.3 percent), the Intel Core Ultra 7 265T (47697, -0.5 percent), and the Intel Core i9-12900F (47176, 0.6 percent). The competitor set for the Ultra X9 378H consists largely of high-end desktop chips from previous generations, while the i7-14701E competes with mid-range mobile and desktop parts.

The i7-14701E retains one advantage in the raw specifications: a higher boost clock of 5.40 GHz and a larger shared L3 cache of 33 MB. The single-thread benchmark gap of only -3.3 percent suggests that for purely single-threaded legacy workloads, the desktop chip is nearly competitive. However, no benchmark in the dataset favors it, and the multi-threaded and specialized instruction gaps are too large to ignore.

Specification Differences

| Field | Intel Core i7-14701E | Intel Core Ultra X9 378H |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 8 | 16 |

| Threads | 16 | 16 |

| Base Clock | 2.60 GHz | 2.00 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.40 GHz | 5.00 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 25 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1700 | Intel BGA 2540 |

| Codename | Raptor Lake-R | Panther Lake |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 3 nm |

| Die Size | 257 mm² | Not specified |

| L1 Cache | 80 KB (per core) | 192 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 2 MB (per core) | 2.5 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 33 MB (shared) | 18 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4, DDR5 | LPDDR5X |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not specified | 153.6 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 4 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 770 | Arc B390 |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Release Date | 2024-06-30 | 2026-04-03 |

The release dates are notable: the i7-14701E appears in the database as released on 2024-06-30, while the Ultra X9 378H is dated 2026-04-03. The production status for both is listed as Active.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core Ultra X9 378H has 16 cores, while the Intel Core i7-14701E has 8 cores. Both have 16 threads.

Q: What is the single-thread performance difference?

A: In PassMark single-thread, the Ultra X9 378H scores 4453 versus 4305 for the i7-14701E, a -3.3 percent delta. This is the smallest performance gap in the entire dataset.

Q: Does the i7-14701E support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the i7-14701E has ECC memory support enabled. The Ultra X9 378H does not support ECC memory.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth of the Ultra X9 378H?

A: The database records a memory bandwidth of 153.6 GB/s for the Ultra X9 378H. The i7-14701E memory bandwidth is not specified, but it supports DDR4 and DDR5 over a dual-channel bus.

Q: Which processor has a smaller manufacturing process?

A: The Ultra X9 378H uses a 3 nm process node, while the i7-14701E uses a 10 nm process node. Both are manufactured by Intel.

Q: How many PCIe lanes does each processor provide?

A: The i7-14701E provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The Ultra X9 378H provides Gen 5 with 4 lanes (CPU only).

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra X9 378H wins every recorded benchmark, so the use-case split is not about which chip wins a given task, but rather which chip wins by a margin that matters for the intended workload.

For encryption and security-related workloads, the Ultra X9 378H is the clear choice. The data encryption score of 29840 is more than double the 14862 of the i7-14701E. Similarly, extended instruction workloads (likely SIMD or specialized vector operations) show a -40.8 percent delta, favoring the mobile chip substantially. Prime number finding, which often correlates with certain mathematical and scientific workloads, shows a -50.7 percent delta.

For floating-point intensive tasks such as scientific computing, physics simulation, or 3D rendering calculations, the Ultra X9 378H again dominates. Floating-point math scores 114500 versus 61873, a -46 percent gap. Physics simulation records 3404 versus 2399, a -29.5 percent delta. Data compression, relevant for file archiving and database workloads, favors the Ultra X9 378H by -26.8 percent.

For general multi-threaded productivity, the Cinebench results indicate a consistent -31.8 percent advantage for the Ultra X9 378H across R15, R20, and R23. This covers typical rendering and CPU-heavy creative workloads.

The i7-14701E does not win any recorded test, but the narrowest margins reveal where it is least disadvantaged. Single-thread performance shows only a -3.3 percent delta, meaning for legacy single-threaded applications, office productivity, or lightly threaded tasks, the desktop chip is nearly on par. Integer math shows a -12.2 percent delta, so general arithmetic-heavy code without vectorization is also relatively close.

The i7-14701E also offers features the mobile chip lacks: ECC memory support, a larger shared L3 cache at 33 MB versus 18 MB, and a higher boost clock at 5.40 GHz versus 5.00 GHz. The desktop chip also supports DDR4, which may matter for systems with existing DDR4 memory infrastructure. The Ultra X9 378H is limited to LPDDR5X.

The socket difference is not a performance factor but a platform constraint. The i7-14701E targets desktop builds on Intel Socket 1700, while the Ultra X9 378H is a mobile BGA 2540 part. The TDP difference of 65 watts versus 25 watts indicates the mobile chip achieves its superior performance at less than half the thermal budget, which is relevant for sustained workloads in compact systems.

The percentile rankings place the Ultra X9 378H in the 89th percentile of all CPUs, versus the 83rd percentile for the i7-14701E. Given the data, the Ultra X9 378H is the higher-performing processor in every measured dimension, with the i7-14701E retaining relevance only in narrow single-threaded scenarios and platform-specific features such as ECC and DDR4 support.