Intel Core i7-14701TE vs Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a decisive performance gap between the Intel Core i7-14701TE and the Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX. Out of 17 recorded comparisons, the Core Ultra 7 255HX wins 16, while the Core i7-14701TE takes a single victory. The average benchmark score for the Ultra 7 255HX is 62,738, compared to 26,013 for the i7-14701TE, a substantial margin that places the two processors in different performance tiers.

The largest single delta appears in passmark_data_encryption, where the Ultra 7 255HX scores 39,499 against 11,699 for the i7-14701TE, a 70.4% advantage. This is followed closely by passmark_floating_point_math, where the Ultra 7 255HX posts 160,624 versus 50,219, a 68.7% lead. Passmark_extended_instructions shows a 65.2% gap (41,247 vs 14,354), and passmark_find_prime_numbers shows a 64.2% gap (400 vs 143). These results indicate that the Ultra 7 255HX delivers roughly two to three times the throughput in mathematically intensive workloads.

In multitasking and rendering tests, the pattern continues. Cinebench R15 multicore favors the Ultra 7 255HX at 4,916 points versus 1,716, a 65.1% difference. Cinebench R20 multicore shows 17,187 versus 7,154, a 58.4% gap, and Cinebench R23 multicore records 32,612 versus 17,035, a 47.8% difference. Passmark multithread scores 48,234 versus 20,042, also a 58.4% gap. The passmark_integer_math result is closer in relative terms: 127,126 versus 65,792, a 48.2% lead for the Ultra 7 255HX. These figures point to a consistent pattern where the 20-core part outperforms the 8-core part by roughly half to two-thirds across heavily threaded workloads.

Single-thread performance tells a more nuanced story. In passmark_single_thread, the Ultra 7 255HX scores 4,562 against 2,637 for the i7-14701TE, a 42.2% advantage. Cinebench R15 singlecore also favors the Ultra 7 255HX, 327 versus 242, a 26% gap. Cinebench R20 singlecore shows 2,426 versus 1,010, a 58.4% lead for the Ultra 7 255HX. However, in Cinebench R23 singlecore, the i7-14701TE wins outright: 2,405 versus 2,163, an 11.2% advantage. This is the only benchmark in the entire dataset where the i7-14701TE comes out ahead, and it suggests that the older Raptor Lake architecture retains a specific edge in that particular rendering workload.

Other passmark tests reinforce the overall picture. Passmark_data_compression shows 515,143 versus 220,520, a 57.2% lead for the Ultra 7 255HX. Passmark_random_string_sorting records 62,591 versus 22,760, a 63.6% gap. Passmark_physics shows 2,926 versus 1,860, a 36.4% difference. The percentile ranking also separates the two: the Ultra 7 255HX sits at the 93rd percentile of all CPUs, while the i7-14701TE sits at the 78th percentile.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX has an average benchmark score of 62,738, while the Intel Core i7-14701TE averages 26,013.

Q: Does the Core i7-14701TE win any benchmark?

A: Yes, it wins Cinebench R23 singlecore with 2,405 points versus 2,163 for the Ultra 7 255HX, an 11.2% advantage.

Q: How large is the difference in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The Ultra 7 255HX scores 32,612 versus 17,035 for the i7-14701TE, a 47.8% lead.

Q: What is the single-thread score difference in Passmark?

A: The Ultra 7 255HX scores 4,562 in passmark_single_thread, while the i7-14701TE scores 2,637, a 42.2% advantage.

Q: How do the two compare in data encryption?

A: The Ultra 7 255HX scores 39,499 in passmark_data_encryption versus 11,699 for the i7-14701TE, the largest percentage gap in the dataset at 70.4%.

Q: Which processor ranks higher among all CPUs?

A: The Ultra 7 255HX is at the 93rd percentile, while the i7-14701TE is at the 78th percentile.

Where Each One Wins

The Core Ultra 7 255HX dominates nearly every workload category recorded in the database. For heavily threaded work such as video rendering, simulation, data compression, and encryption, the 20-core configuration provides a clear throughput advantage. The data compression score of 515,143 versus 220,520 and the encryption score of 39,499 versus 11,699 both show the Ultra 7 255HX roughly doubling or tripling the output of the i7-14701TE. Floating point math, integer math, and extended instruction workloads all follow the same direction, with margins between 48.2% and 68.7%. Users running multi-core rendering in Cinebench R15, R20, or R23 will see a consistent and large performance lift on the Ultra 7 255HX.

The i7-14701TE wins only Cinebench R23 singlecore, where it posts 2,405 versus 2,163. This is a narrow but real advantage of 11.2%. It means that in at least one specific single-threaded rendering scenario, the older architecture holds a measurable edge. However, this does not extend to the other single-thread tests. In Cinebench R15 singlecore, the Ultra 7 255HX leads by 26%, and in Cinebench R20 singlecore, it leads by 58.4%. In Passmark single-thread, the Ultra 7 255HX leads by 42.2%. The i7-14701TE win is isolated and workload-specific, not a general single-thread superiority.

Passmark physics also favors the Ultra 7 255HX, 2,926 to 1,860, a 36.4% margin, which may matter for physics simulation in games or engineering tools. The random string sorting test shows a 63.6% gap in favor of the Ultra 7 255HX, indicating faster data organization tasks. Across every multithreaded Passmark test and every Cinebench multicore test, the Ultra 7 255HX is the faster part. The only scenario where the i7-14701TE should be chosen based on benchmark data is a workflow that specifically relies on Cinebench R23 singlecore performance.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in core count, thread count, base clock, TDP, socket, process node, foundry, cache layout, memory support, PCIe lanes, integrated graphics, and market segment. The Core i7-14701TE has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Core Ultra 7 255HX has 20 cores and 20 threads. The absence of hyperthreading on the Ultra 7 255HX means thread count equals core count, while the i7-14701TE doubles its threads through SMT.

Base clock speeds differ: the i7-14701TE runs at 2.10 GHz, the Ultra 7 255HX at 2.40 GHz. Both boost to 5.20 GHz. TDP differs as well, with the i7-14701TE rated at 45 watts and the Ultra 7 255HX at 55 watts. The i7-14701TE uses Intel Socket 1700, while the Ultra 7 255HX uses Intel BGA 2114. The i7-14701TE is a desktop part, the Ultra 7 255HX is mobile.

Memory support diverges: the i7-14701TE supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the Ultra 7 255HX supports DDR5 only. Both use dual-channel memory buses. The Ultra 7 255HX has a recorded memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s; no bandwidth figure is recorded for the i7-14701TE. ECC memory is supported on the i7-14701TE but not on the Ultra 7 255HX.

PCIe connectivity differs: the i7-14701TE provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the Ultra 7 255HX provides Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics also differ: the i7-14701TE uses UHD Graphics 770, while the Ultra 7 255HX uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU. The multiplier is locked on the i7-14701TE and unlocked on the Ultra 7 255HX. Release dates differ by about six months: the i7-14701TE launched on 2024-06-30, the Ultra 7 255HX on 2025-01-12. Both are listed as active in production.

Architecture Differences

The architectural split is significant. The Core i7-14701TE is built on Raptor Lake, specifically the Raptor Lake-R refresh, using a 10 nm process node fabricated by Intel. Its die size is 257 mm². The Core Ultra 7 255HX uses the Arrow Lake architecture, specifically Arrow Lake-HX, on a 3 nm process node fabricated by TSMC. The Ultra 7 255HX has 17,800 million transistors and a die size of 243 mm². The i7-14701TE has no transistor count recorded.

Cache structures differ substantially. The i7-14701TE has 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 33 MB of shared L3. The Ultra 7 255HX has 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 30 MB of shared L3. Although the i7-14701TE has more L3 total (33 MB versus 30 MB), the Ultra 7 255HX has larger per-core L1 and L2 allocations. With 20 cores, the Ultra 7 255HX also has far more aggregate L2 capacity.

The generation labels confirm the generational jump: the i7-14701TE is listed as Core i7 (Raptor Lake Refresh), while the Ultra 7 255HX is listed as Ultra 7 (Arrow Lake-HX). The manufacturing transition from Intel 10 nm to TSMC 3 nm marks a major process node change. The foundry shift also matters: Intel fabricates the i7-14701TE, while TSMC fabricates the Ultra 7 255HX.

The feature sets also diverge. The i7-14701TE supports ECC memory; the Ultra 7 255HX does not. The Ultra 7 255HX supports more PCIe lanes (20 versus 16) and includes a newer integrated graphics block (Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU versus UHD Graphics 770). The Ultra 7 255HX has an unlocked multiplier, whereas the i7-14701TE does not. The i7-14701TE supports DDR4 memory in addition to DDR5, which the Ultra 7 255HX does not. These architectural differences explain much of the benchmark gap, particularly the core count, process node, and cache hierarchy changes.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear performance hierarchy. The Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX is the faster processor in 16 of 17 recorded benchmarks, with an average score of 62,738 versus 26,013 for the Core i7-14701TE. The Ultra 7 255HX leads by wide margins in multi-core rendering, data compression, encryption, floating point math, integer math, and nearly every Passmark subtest. It also sits higher in the global percentile ranking, at 93 compared to 78. Users who need maximum throughput in heavily threaded workloads should look to the Ultra 7 255HX based on these measurements.

The Core i7-14701TE retains a single benchmark win in Cinebench R23 singlecore, where it scores 2,405 versus 2,163, an 11.2% advantage. That result is genuine but isolated. In all other single-thread comparisons, including Cinebench R15, Cinebench R20, and Passmark single-thread, the Ultra 7 255HX leads. The i7-14701TE also offers DDR4 support, ECC memory support, a desktop socket, lower TDP at 45 watts, and a larger shared L3 cache of 33 MB. These attributes may matter for specific platforms or reliability requirements, but they do not translate into benchmark wins.

The Ultra 7 255HX, by contrast, offers 20 cores, 20 threads, a 3 nm TSMC process node, 102.4 GB/s memory bandwidth, 20 PCIe Gen 5 lanes, an unlocked multiplier, and a newer integrated graphics solution. Its benchmark profile is consistently strong across both single-thread and multi-thread tests, with the sole exception noted above. Based on the recorded data, the Ultra 7 255HX is the higher-performing part overall, while the i7-14701TE is the appropriate choice only for workloads that specifically depend on Cinebench R23 singlecore performance or require the i7-14701TE's platform features such as DDR4 and ECC support.