CPU Comparison
Intel Core i7-14700HX vs Intel Core i9-13900HX
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i7-14700HX is a 20-core mobile processor bringing desktop-class multi-threaded performance to high-end gaming laptops.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
The 12 E-cores provide massive throughput for mobile rendering.
Strong multi-threaded performance in content creation and professional workloads, thanks to 24 cores and 32 threads, though efficiency-core performance is lower than P-cores for some scalar workloads.
Gaming
Top-tier mobile gaming performance, easily driving high-end mobile GPUs.
High-refresh-rate gaming is well within reach, with modern titles typically CPU-limited only at very high frame rates; the 13900HX is more than sufficient for most gaming scenarios paired with high-end mobile GPUs.
Virtualization
Excellent for running local VMs on a laptop.
Capable of running several VMs simultaneously, with plenty of threads and memory bandwidth for lab environments and light server workloads.
Efficiency
Very high power draw limits battery life significantly.
Power efficiency is acceptable but not class-leading; the 55 W base and 157 W turbo envelope demand robust cooling and limit purely battery-powered use.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- Strong CPU-based AI inference due to 28 threads.
- Includes DLBoost for enhanced AI operations.
- Lacks a dedicated NPU found in newer Meteor Lake chips.
- Intel Deep Learning Boost (AVX2 VNNI) accelerates INT8 inference on CPU.
- No dedicated NPU; AI workloads that fit in CPU cache benefit, but heavy inference is still better suited to GPUs or specialized accelerators.
Content Creation
Gaming
- Ideal pairing with mobile RTX 4080 and 4090 GPUs.
- 5.5 GHz boost maximizes framerates in eSports titles.
- Requires substantial laptop cooling to maintain boost clocks.
- High single-core and lightly-threaded performance benefits titles that are mainly CPU-bound.
- Adequate headroom for high-refresh-rate (144–240 Hz) gaming at 1080p and 1440p with a powerful mobile GPU.
- At 4K or with very heavy GPU workloads, the GPU becomes the primary limiter rather than the CPU.
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- 20 cores and 28 threads offer incredible mobile multi-core performance.
- Up to 5.5 GHz clock speed for elite mobile gaming.
- Includes UHD 770 graphics with Quick Sync support.
- Supports PCIe 5.0 for next-gen mobile GPUs and SSDs.
- Unlocked for OEM and enthusiast tuning.
Cons
- Very high power draw (up to 157W) requires thick, heavy laptops.
- Generates substantial heat requiring robust cooling.
- Battery life will be very poor during intense workloads.
- Significantly more expensive than lower-tier mobile CPUs.
Pros
- 24 cores and 32 threads for heavy multi-threaded workloads.
- 5.4 GHz max turbo provides strong single-threaded performance.
- 36 MB L3 cache improves performance in latency-sensitive workloads.
- DDR5-5600 support increases memory bandwidth vs DDR4-only designs.
- 20 PCIe 5.0/4.0 lanes enable direct GPU and NVMe connectivity.
- Good balance of gaming and creator performance in a single mobile chip.
Cons
- High power draw (55 W base, up to 157 W turbo) demands robust cooling.
- Locked multiplier limits traditional overclocking; OC support varies by OEM.
- Integrated UHD Graphics 32EU is only suitable for basic display and light workloads.
- Thermal and power constraints mean real-world performance depends heavily on laptop design.
- Partially superseded by 14th-gen Raptor Lake-HX Refresh with higher clocks and better efficiency.
Competitors & Alternatives
Intel Core i7-14700HX
- AMD Ryzen 9 7945HXRival
Mobile Workstation
- AMD Ryzen 9 7940HXRival
Mobile Gaming
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i9-13900HXRival
Mobile Gaming
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i9-14900HXRival
Mobile Workstation
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i7-14650HXRival
Mobile Gaming
- AMD Ryzen 9 7940HSAlt
Better efficiency for slightly thinner gaming laptops.
Previous generation with very similar 20-core performance.
Compare head-to-head
Intel Core i9-13900HX
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i9-13980HXRival
High-End Laptop
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i9-13950HXRival
High-End Laptop
- AMD Ryzen 9 7945HXRival
High-End Laptop
- AMD Ryzen 9 7845HXRival
High-End Laptop
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i7-13850HXRival
High-End Laptop
14th-gen Raptor Lake-HX Refresh with higher clocks and refined power behavior for better performance per watt.
Compare head-to-head16-core / 24-thread CPU with lower power draw, suitable if you want strong performance but not the full 24-core HX thermal envelope.
Compare head-to-head
Our Verdict on Each
A beastly mobile CPU that mirrors the desktop 14700K, offering unparalleled multi-core performance for demanding laptop users.
Best for: Buying a top-tier desktop replacement gaming laptop.
Read the full reviewA very powerful hybrid mobile CPU that excels in multi-threaded workloads and high-end gaming, provided your laptop can cool its 55–157 W power envelope. It is slightly outpaced by the i9-13980HX in peak clocks, but offers similar core counts at a more accessible price point.
Best for: High-end gaming or workstation laptop where you need desktop-grade multi-threaded performance and can accept the thermal and power characteristics of a 55–157 W CPU.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core i7-14700HX or Intel Core i9-13900HX?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core i7-14700HX comes out ahead with a score of 9.1/10. That said, the best choice depends on your workload — check the spec and performance breakdown above for gaming, productivity and efficiency differences.
Which is faster for gaming, Intel Core i7-14700HX or Intel Core i9-13900HX?
For gaming, the Intel Core i7-14700HX leads with a gaming performance score of 93/100 among Intel Core i7-14700HX and Intel Core i9-13900HX.
Do Intel Core i7-14700HX and Intel Core i9-13900HX use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Intel Core i7-14700HX: Intel BGA 1964, Intel Core i9-13900HX: FCBGA1964), so each needs a compatible motherboard.
Which has more cores?
The Intel Core i9-13900HX has the most cores. Core counts: Intel Core i7-14700HX (20 cores), Intel Core i9-13900HX (24 cores).
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Intel Core i7-14700HX posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i7-14700HX (0). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.