Intel Core i7-11700KF vs Intel Core i7-14701TE Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents an unusual matchup. The Intel Core i7-11700KF, despite being from an older generation, wins 15 of the 17 recorded head-to-head comparisons. The Intel Core i7-14701TE takes only 2 wins, but those wins are decisive and reveal a distinct workload-specific advantage.

Starting with the most lopsided result, the i7-14701TE dominates in the PassMark find prime numbers test. It scores 143 against the i7-11700KF's 62, a 130.6% advantage. This is a massive margin and indicates a fundamental difference in how the two processors handle this particular integer workload. The newer architecture appears to have a significantly more efficient prime number calculation path, likely due to improved instruction handling.

The i7-14701TE also wins the PassMark physics test, scoring 1860 versus 985, an 88.8% lead. Physics simulations often rely on specific math operations and memory access patterns, and here the newer part shows a clear edge. This is a substantial performance gap that suggests the i7-14701TE is better suited for physics-based computation tasks.

Every other recorded benchmark favors the i7-11700KF. The Cinebench suite shows a consistent pattern. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the i7-11700KF scores 20214 against 17035 for the i7-14701TE, a 15.7% difference. The single-core R23 result follows the same trend: 2853 versus 2405, also a 15.7% delta. This consistency extends across Cinebench R15 and R20, with the i7-11700KF ahead by 15.8% and 15.7% respectively in both single-core and multicore tests. The older chip simply posts higher raw scores across the board in rendering workloads.

The PassMark suite reveals a broader performance gap in several areas. The largest single deficit for the i7-14701TE is in random string sorting, where the i7-11700KF scores 36309 against 22760, a 37.3% advantage. Extended instructions show a 35.5% lead for the i7-11700KF (22247 versus 14354). Data compression favors the i7-11700KF by 30.6%, with scores of 317712 versus 220520. Data encryption shows a 23.2% gap (15229 versus 11699), and integer math a 22.9% gap (85377 versus 65792).

The multithread PassMark score gives the i7-11700KF a 15.9% edge (23819 versus 20042), while the single-thread score shows a 21.7% advantage (3368 versus 2637). Floating point math is essentially a tie, with the i7-11700KF ahead by just 0.7% (50571 versus 50219). The overall average benchmark scores reflect this: the i7-11700KF averages 25423 against the i7-14701TE's 26013, a difference of 2.3% in favor of the newer chip despite losing most head-to-head tests. This apparent contradiction is explained by the fact that the i7-14701TE's wins are so large that they lift its average score.

Context from the database's nearest rival data places both CPUs in a similar performance tier. The i7-14701TE sits at the 78th percentile, with its nearest rivals including the AMD Ryzen AI 5 340 (0.1% ahead) and the AMD Ryzen 5 8640HS (0.4% behind). The i7-11700KF sits at the 77th percentile, with the AMD Ryzen 7 7840U as a near-exact match (0% delta) and the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D 0.2% ahead. Both processors are clearly competitive in their respective peer groups, but the head-to-head data tells a more nuanced story.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more head-to-head benchmark comparisons?

A: The Intel Core i7-11700KF wins 15 of the 17 recorded comparisons. The Intel Core i7-14701TE wins only 2, but those wins are by margins of 130.6% and 88.8%.

Q: How large is the performance gap in Cinebench tests?

A: The i7-11700KF leads by 15.7% in Cinebench R20 and R23 for both single-core and multicore, and by 15.8% in Cinebench R15 multicore and 15.7% in R15 single-core.

Q: In which specific workloads does the i7-14701TE outperform the i7-11700KF?

A: The i7-14701TE wins in PassMark find prime numbers (143 versus 62, a 130.6% advantage) and PassMark physics (1860 versus 985, an 88.8% advantage).

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The i7-14701TE has an average benchmark score of 26013, while the i7-11700KF averages 25423. This means the newer chip is 2.3% higher on average despite losing most individual tests.

Q: What are the closest rival comparisons for each CPU?

A: The i7-14701TE's nearest rival is the AMD Ryzen AI 5 340 at 0.1% ahead, while the i7-11700KF's nearest rival is the AMD Ryzen 7 7840U at 0% difference.

Q: How much faster is the i7-11700KF in single-threaded PassMark performance?

A: The i7-11700KF scores 3368 versus 2637 for the i7-14701TE, a 21.7% lead in the PassMark single-thread test.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear choice for most users: the Intel Core i7-11700KF delivers higher performance in the majority of measured workloads. Its 15 wins cover rendering, compression, encryption, integer math, and general multithreaded and single-threaded tasks. The consistent 15.7% lead across Cinebench tests indicates that the older chip is simply faster for CPU rendering workloads.

The i7-14701TE is the better choice for two specific use cases. Anyone running prime number calculations or physics simulations should prefer it, given the 130.6% and 88.8% margins respectively. These are not small differences; they represent more than double the performance in the find prime numbers test. The i7-14701TE also has the advantage of a higher average benchmark score (26013 versus 25423), which suggests that in a mixed workload environment, its strengths may compensate for its deficits.

The i7-11700KF remains a competitive part despite being from an older generation. Its 77th percentile ranking versus the i7-14701TE's 78th shows that both sit in the same performance class relative to all CPUs in the database. The choice ultimately depends on workload: rendering and general computing favor the i7-11700KF, while prime number and physics workloads favor the i7-14701TE.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specifications. The i7-14701TE has a base clock of 2.10 GHz, while the i7-11700KF runs at 3.60 GHz. Boost clocks are closer: 5.20 GHz for the i7-14701TE versus 5.00 GHz for the i7-11700KF. The i7-14701TE has a TDP of 45 watts, compared to 125 watts for the i7-11700KF, a significant difference in power envelope.

The sockets differ as well. The i7-14701TE uses Intel Socket 1700, while the i7-11700KF uses Intel Socket 1200. The i7-14701TE supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, whereas the i7-11700KF supports only DDR4. The i7-11700KF has a recorded memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s; no such figure is recorded for the i7-14701TE. ECC memory support is present on the i7-14701TE but absent on the i7-11700KF.

PCIe capabilities differ: the i7-14701TE offers Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i7-11700KF offers Gen 4 with 20 lanes. The i7-14701TE includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 770), while the i7-11700KF has no integrated graphics. The i7-11700KF has an unlocked multiplier; the i7-14701TE does not. Production status also differs, with the i7-14701TE listed as Active and the i7-11700KF as End-of-life. The i7-11700KF has a launch MSRP of $374.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide is substantial. The i7-14701TE is built on Raptor Lake architecture (codename Raptor Lake-R) from the Core 14th Gen series, while the i7-11700KF uses Rocket Lake architecture (codename Rocket Lake) from the Core 11th Gen series. The process node differs: 10 nm for the i7-14701TE versus 14 nm for the i7-11700KF. Die sizes are 257 mm² for the i7-14701TE and 276 mm² for the i7-11700KF.

Both processors have 8 cores and 16 threads, with identical L1 cache of 80 KB per core. The L2 cache differs significantly: 2 MB per core for the i7-14701TE versus 512 KB per core for the i7-11700KF. L3 cache also differs: 33 MB shared for the i7-14701TE versus 16 MB shared for the i7-11700KF. The larger caches on the i7-14701TE are notable, yet the benchmark data shows the i7-11700KF winning most tests despite the smaller cache sizes.

The i7-14701TE was released on 2024-06-30, while the i7-11700KF was released on 2021-03-15. The newer part benefits from a smaller process node and larger caches, but the benchmark results indicate that the i7-11700KF's higher base clock and possibly other architectural factors translate into superior performance in most recorded workloads. The i7-14701TE's wins in prime number finding and physics suggest that the newer architecture has specific strengths that do not generalize across all test types.