Intel Core i9-13980HX vs Intel Core i9-14900T Comparison

The Intel Core i9-14900T and Intel Core i9-13980HX are both 24-core, 32-thread Raptor Lake parts, but the benchmark data reveals they are not interchangeable. The i9-13980HX dominates the multi-threaded and throughput-oriented tests, while the i9-14900T delivers a stunning single-core victory in Cinebench R23. The data shows a clear split: the mobile HX chip is the workhorse, while the desktop T-series chip excels at specific latency-sensitive tasks.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core i9-13980HX wins 14 of the 17 head-to-head comparisons, and the margins are often decisive. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i9-13980HX scores 4717 against the i9-14900T's 3104, a 34.2% advantage. The gap narrows in Cinebench R20 multicore, where the i9-13980HX leads 16187 to 12937, a 20.1% difference. This pattern continues across the PassMark suite: data compression shows the i9-13980HX ahead by 25.9% (588306 vs 436066), data encryption by 23.4% (35332 vs 27062), and extended instructions by 30.1% (33868 vs 23660). The i9-13980HX also wins floating-point math by 21.9% (118645 vs 92699) and integer math by 17% (166455 vs 138149). In the PassMark multithread test, the i9-13980HX posts 46409 versus 36239, a 21.9% lead, and it edges ahead in single-thread at 4252 versus 4016, a 5.6% margin.

The i9-14900T's three wins are concentrated in specific Cinebench tests, and one is a blowout. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the i9-14900T scores 4348 against the i9-13980HX's 2110, an enormous 106.1% lead. This is the largest delta in the entire comparison. The i9-14900T also wins Cinebench R23 multicore, but by a slim 1.8% margin (30803 vs 30273), and Cinebench R15 single-core, where it scores 438 versus 304.5, a 43.8% advantage.

Notably, the two chips trade places between Cinebench R20 single-core and R23 single-core. In R20, the i9-13980HX wins 2285 to 1826 (20.1% lead), but in R23, the i9-14900T reverses the result with a massive 106.1% lead. This suggests the i9-14900T's single-core performance is highly workload-specific, not universally superior. The i9-13980HX also wins the PassMark single-thread test (4252 vs 4016) and the PassMark singlethread test (4252 vs 4016), both by 5.6%.

The Verdict

The data points to a straightforward conclusion: the Intel Core i9-13980HX is the better all-around processor for anyone prioritizing throughput and sustained multi-threaded performance. It wins the majority of benchmarks, including all PassMark tests except none, and its Cinebench R15 and R20 multicore leads are substantial. The i9-13980HX also claims the single-thread crown in PassMark, making it the safer pick for general productivity and mixed workloads.

The Intel Core i9-14900T is not a loser, but its wins are narrow except for the Cinebench R23 single-core anomaly. The 106.1% lead in that test is extraordinary, but it does not translate to other single-core or multi-core benchmarks. The i9-14900T's average benchmark score is 51015, slightly above the i9-13980HX's 50398, but this aggregate hides the fact that the i9-13980HX wins more individual tests. The i9-14900T's percentile rank is 90, same as the i9-13980HX, placing both in the top tier of all CPUs.

Buyers should choose the i9-13980HX for heavy rendering, data compression, encryption, and any workload that scales with cores. The i9-14900T is the pick only for workloads that mirror Cinebench R23 single-core, where its advantage is undeniable. The i9-14900T's 35 TDP versus the i9-13980HX's 55 TDP suggests the desktop chip is designed for lower power envelopes, but the benchmark data does not reward that efficiency with performance wins.

Architecture Differences

Both processors share the Raptor Lake architecture, but they belong to different segments. The i9-14900T is a Raptor Lake-R desktop part, while the i9-13980HX is a Raptor Lake-HX mobile part. Both are built on Intel's 10 nm process and feature a 257 mm² die size. The core counts are identical at 24 cores and 32 threads, and the cache hierarchy is the same: 80 KB L1 per core, 2 MB L2 per core, and 36 MB shared L3. Both support DDR4 and DDR5 memory in dual-channel mode, and both include the UHD Graphics 770 integrated GPU.

The key architectural differences are the socket, base clock, boost clock, TDP, and PCIe lanes. The i9-14900T uses Intel Socket 1700, while the i9-13980HX uses Intel BGA 1964, which is soldered to the motherboard. The base clock differs significantly: the i9-14900T runs at 1.10 GHz, while the i9-13980HX runs at 2.20 GHz. The boost clock is closer, with the i9-14900T at 5.50 GHz and the i9-13980HX at 5.60 GHz. The TDP tells a story of thermal design: the i9-14900T is rated at 35 watts, the i9-13980HX at 55 watts. The i9-13980HX also offers more PCIe connectivity with Gen 5, 20 lanes, versus the i9-14900T's Gen 5, 16 lanes.

The i9-13980HX has an unlocked multiplier, while the i9-14900T does not. The i9-14900T was released on 2024-01-07 with a launch MSRP of $549. The i9-13980HX was released earlier, on 2023-01-03, with a launch MSRP of $668. Both parts are active in production. The i9-14900T is classified as a Desktop part, the i9-13980HX as a Mobile part.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i9-13980HX has a marginal edge, with a boost clock of 5.60 GHz compared to the i9-14900T's 5.50 GHz.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core i9-14900T and the Intel Core i9-13980HX have ECC memory support enabled.

Q: How many PCIe lanes does each processor provide?

A: The i9-13980HX provides Gen 5, 20 lanes (CPU only), while the i9-14900T provides Gen 5, 16 lanes (CPU only).

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The i9-14900T has a slightly higher average benchmark score of 51015, compared to the i9-13980HX's 50398, although the i9-13980HX wins more individual head-to-head tests.

Q: Are both processors in the same performance percentile?

A: Yes, both the i9-14900T and the i9-13980HX are in the 90th percentile against all CPUs.

Q: Which processor has an unlocked multiplier?

A: The Intel Core i9-13980HX has an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel Core i9-14900T does not.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i9-13980HX is the clear winner in most multi-threaded and throughput-oriented scenarios. It wins Cinebench R15 multicore by 34.2%, Cinebench R20 multicore by 20.1%, and every single PassMark test except none. For data compression, encryption, extended instructions, prime number finding, floating-point math, integer math, multithread, physics, and random string sorting, the i9-13980HX is ahead by margins ranging from 12.8% to 30.1%. It also wins the PassMark single-thread test by 5.6%, making it the better choice for general-purpose computing that mixes single and multi-threaded tasks.

The Intel Core i9-14900T wins in three specific areas. The most dramatic is Cinebench R23 single-core, where it leads by 106.1% (4348 vs 2110). It also wins Cinebench R23 multicore by a narrow 1.8% and Cinebench R15 single-core by 43.8%. These wins suggest the i9-14900T is optimized for the Cinebench R23 workload, particularly the single-core variant, but this advantage does not extend to other benchmarks. For workloads that resemble Cinebench R23, the i9-14900T is superior. For everything else, the i9-13980HX is the better performer.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specifications. The socket is different: Intel Socket 1700 for the i9-14900T versus Intel BGA 1964 for the i9-13980HX. The base clock is 1.10 GHz for the i9-14900T and 2.20 GHz for the i9-13980HX. The boost clock is 5.50 GHz versus 5.60 GHz, favoring the i9-13980HX. The TDP is 35 watts for the i9-14900T and 55 watts for the i9-13980HX. The PCIe configuration is Gen 5, 16 lanes for the i9-14900T and Gen 5, 20 lanes for the i9-13980HX. The market segment is Desktop for the i9-14900T and Mobile for the i9-13980HX. The release date is 2024-01-07 for the i9-14900T and 2023-01-03 for the i9-13980HX. The launch MSRP is $549 for the i9-14900T and $668 for the i9-13980HX. The multiplier is locked on the i9-14900T and unlocked on the i9-13980HX. The part numbers are SRN3U for the i9-14900T and SRME9 for the i9-13980HX.