Intel Core i7-14701TE vs Intel Core Ultra 5 235 Comparison

FAQ

Q: How do the two processors compare in Cinebench R23 multi-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i7-14701TE scores 17,035 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 scores 14,769. The i7-14701TE leads by 15.3% in this workload.

Q: Which CPU performs better in PassMark single-thread tests?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 scores 4,516 in PassMark single-thread, compared to 2,637 for the Intel Core i7-14701TE. The Core Ultra 5 235 is ahead by 41.6%.

Q: What is the average benchmark score difference between the two chips?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 has an average benchmark score of 46,062, while the Intel Core i7-14701TE averages 26,013. The Core Ultra 5 235 sits in the 89th percentile of all CPUs, whereas the i7-14701TE is in the 78th percentile.

Q: How many cores and threads does each processor have?

A: The Intel Core i7-14701TE has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 has 14 cores and 14 threads.

Q: Which chip wins in PassMark data encryption?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 records 29,293 in PassMark data encryption, which is 60.1% higher than the 11,699 scored by the Intel Core i7-14701TE.

Q: What are the process nodes for these two CPUs?

A: The Intel Core i7-14701TE uses a 10 nm process at Intel, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 uses a 3 nm process at TSMC.

The Verdict

The benchmark data splits this comparison into two distinct performance profiles. The Intel Core i7-14701TE wins all six Cinebench tests, with a consistent 15.3% advantage across both single-core and multi-core workloads. For users whose applications rely on traditional rendering, compilation, or other Cinebench-style workloads, this processor delivers a measurable edge.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 wins 11 of the 17 head-to-head benchmarks, and its wins are substantially larger than the i7-14701TE's margins. In PassMark integer math, the Core Ultra 5 235 leads by 25.2%. In floating-point math, the gap grows to 57.4%. Data encryption shows a 60.1% advantage, and extended instructions show a 56.2% lead. The Core Ultra 5 235 also sits in the 89th percentile of all CPUs with an average benchmark score of 46,062, compared to the 78th percentile and 26,013 average for the i7-14701TE.

The choice depends on workload type. The i7-14701TE is the stronger option for Cinebench-style rendering tasks and multi-threaded CPU benchmarks that resemble those workloads. The Core Ultra 5 235 is the better pick for data compression, encryption, mathematical computation, and general single-threaded application responsiveness, where its PassMark results show a dominant position. The Core Ultra 5 235 also carries a launch MSRP of $257, while the i7-14701TE has no recorded launch MSRP.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench suite heavily favors the Intel Core i7-14701TE. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 1,716 versus 1,488 for the Core Ultra 5 235, a 15.3% lead. The single-core result is nearly identical in margin: 242 versus 210, a 15.2% advantage. Cinebench R20 multi-core shows 7,154 against 6,202, again 15.3% ahead. The single-core R20 test gives the i7-14701TE a 15.4% edge with 1,010 versus 875. Cinebench R23 multi-core repeats the pattern at 17,035 versus 14,769, and single-core comes in at 2,405 versus 2,085, both with the same 15.3% delta.

The PassMark suite reverses the outcome decisively. The Core Ultra 5 235 leads in data compression with 390,711 versus 220,520, a 43.6% margin. Data encryption shows 29,293 against 11,699, a 60.1% gap. Extended instructions deliver 32,752 versus 14,354, a 56.2% difference. The largest proportional win for the Core Ultra 5 235 comes in find prime numbers, where it scores 371 against 143, a 61.5% advantage. Floating-point math reaches 117,951 versus 50,219, a 57.4% lead. Integer math is closer at 87,948 versus 65,792, still a 25.2% win for the Core Ultra 5 235. The multithread test shows 37,816 versus 20,042, a 47% margin. Physics scores 2,570 against 1,860, a 27.6% gap. Random string sorting goes to the Core Ultra 5 235 with 48,980 versus 22,760, a 53.5% difference. Single-thread results show 4,516 versus 2,637, a 41.6% lead.

The data indicates that the Core Ultra 5 235 dominates in throughput-heavy integer and floating-point operations, while the i7-14701TE holds the advantage in the Cinebench family of tests. The magnitude of the Core Ultra 5 235's PassMark wins exceeds the magnitude of the i7-14701TE's Cinebench wins, which explains the large gap in average benchmark score.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every major specification. The Intel Core i7-14701TE uses 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 has 14 cores and 14 threads. Base clocks differ substantially: 2.10 GHz for the i7-14701TE and 3.40 GHz for the Core Ultra 5 235. Boost clocks are closer, with the i7-14701TE reaching 5.20 GHz and the Core Ultra 5 235 reaching 5.00 GHz.

Thermal design power also differs. The i7-14701TE is rated at 45 watts, while the Core Ultra 5 235 is rated at 65 watts. The socket changes between generations: the i7-14701TE uses Intel Socket 1700, and the Core Ultra 5 235 uses Intel Socket 1851. Memory support is narrower on the newer chip, with the Core Ultra 5 235 supporting only DDR5 while the i7-14701TE supports both DDR4 and DDR5. The Core Ultra 5 235 has a recorded memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s, while no bandwidth figure is recorded for the i7-14701TE.

ECC memory is supported by the i7-14701TE but not by the Core Ultra 5 235. PCIe lane counts also differ: the i7-14701TE provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only), and the Core Ultra 5 235 provides Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only). The integrated graphics units are different as well, with the i7-14701TE using UHD Graphics 770 and the Core Ultra 5 235 using Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 24EU. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

Architecture Differences

The architectural split is fundamental. The Intel Core i7-14701TE is built on Raptor Lake, specifically Raptor Lake-R, part of the Core 14th Gen series. It uses a 10 nm process at Intel's foundry and has a die size of 257 mm². The Core Ultra 5 235 is an Arrow Lake-S part from the Core Ultra Series 2, fabricated on a 3 nm process at TSMC. Its die size is 243 mm², and it contains 17,800 million transistors, a figure not recorded for the i7-14701TE.

Cache hierarchies differ significantly. The i7-14701TE 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 5 235 has 192 KB of L1 cache per core, 3 MB of L2 cache per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The i7-14701TE therefore offers more total L3 cache, while the Core Ultra 5 235 provides larger per-core L1 and L2 allocations.

The release timeline also separates the two. The i7-14701TE was released on 2024-06-30, while the Core Ultra 5 235 arrived on 2025-01-06. Both are desktop parts in active production. The Core Ultra 5 235 uses a newer manufacturing node and a different foundry, which aligns with its higher base clock and stronger PassMark results.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-14701TE wins in Cinebench-derived workloads. All six Cinebench tests, from R15 to R23 and covering both single-core and multi-core variants, go to this chip with a consistent 15.3% margin. This makes it the better option for tasks that scale with the kind of thread scheduling and cache behavior measured by Cinebench, such as 3D rendering and video encoding pipelines that follow similar execution patterns.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 wins across the PassMark suite and does so with larger margins. Its 60.1% lead in data encryption suggests an advantage in cryptographic workloads. The 57.4% lead in floating-point math points to strengths in scientific computation and simulation tasks. The 56.2% advantage in extended instructions indicates better support for SIMD-heavy code. The 43.6% win in data compression and 53.5% lead in random string sorting both favor data processing and archival workloads. The 41.6% single-thread lead also makes it the stronger choice for everyday application responsiveness and lightly threaded software.

The multithread PassMark result, where the Core Ultra 5 235 leads by 47%, shows that its higher core count and newer architecture translate into superior parallel throughput in certain workloads. The i7-14701TE counters with Hyper-Threading, giving it 16 threads from 8 cores, which likely contributes to its Cinebench wins despite having fewer physical cores.

In summary, the i7-14701TE should be chosen for Cinebench-style rendering and multi-threaded CPU tasks that mirror those benchmarks. The Core Ultra 5 235 should be chosen for data compression, encryption, mathematical workloads, and general single-threaded performance, where its benchmark results are decisively ahead. The Core Ultra 5 235 also holds the higher percentile ranking, 89th versus 78th, and a higher average benchmark score of 46,062 versus 26,013.