The upcoming Intel Core i7-14700K processor
The eagerly anticipated Intel Core i7-14700K processor has been benchmarked, with the Raptor Lake Refresh chip scoring very close to the current flagship Core i9 in terms of performance. While we’ll have to wait until later this year to see how it performs in real-world testing, the initial indications are that it could be a compelling option for those looking for high-performance processors without the need for the flagship models.
Improved Performance and Features
The Core i7-14700K features eight high-performance Raptor Cove cores and 12 energy-efficient Gracemont cores, packing more cores than its predecessor, the Core i7-13700K, and able to boost its clocks higher, too. With increased cores and higher clocks, the 14700K delivers improved performance in multi-threaded workloads, as one might expect.
According to a Chinese reviewer (via TechBuy), the Core i7-14700K performs “very close” to the current flagship Core i9-13900K in terms of performance. In CPU-Z multi-threaded benchmark tests, the 14700K outperforms its predecessor by around 20%, while it performs approximately 14% better in the Cinebench R23 multi-threaded test.
Enhanced Gaming Performance
In terms of gaming performance, the Core i7-14700K also appears to be a step up on its predecessor, although the reviewer doesn’t directly compare it to the Core i9-13900K. The reviewer says that the upcoming processor demonstrates improved performance in gaming workloads when compared to the Core i7-13700K, and given that it has the same core configuration and similar frequencies, such a leap is perhaps expected.
With the same core configuration and similar frequencies, the Core i7-14700K’s performance is perhaps exactly as one would expect. After all, the performance difference between the Core i9 processors and the moderately priced Core i7 CPUs is likely to be negligible in most cases, and the 14700K is naturally positioned to be the most high-performance value option in the stack.
It’s also worth noting that we’re still awaiting the arrival of the Core i9-14900K and Core i9-14900KS, with the former expected to boast even higher boost clocks than the 14700K. So, if you’re looking for top-end performance and aren’t able to stretch to the best 9 series parts, the 14700K could still end up being a worthwhile choice.
