Intel’s Core i5-14400 processor has been the subject of a benchmark leak that casts the CPU in a disappointing light.
This is the successor to the popular Core i5-13400, and the chip is rumored to be unveiled by Intel at CES 2024 (along with other non-K versions – locked CPUs that can’t be overclocked – of the new Raptor Lake Refresh desktop series).
Leaker @wxnod posted screenshots of CPU-Z on X (formerly Twitter) showing the specs and single-core plus multi-core benchmark tests. (Note that this is the Core i5-14400F, but it’s exactly the same as the vanilla 14400, it just doesn’t have integrated graphics – but of course that doesn’t make any difference for CPU benchmarking).
The Core i5-14400F achieved a score of 765 for single-core and 6,730 for multi-core in CPU-Z, which is a pretty pathetic 2% increase for the latter compared to its predecessor, the 13400 (according to a comparison noted in the thread of that tweet).
However, in some ways this isn’t all that surprising, because as the specs show, the 14400 retains the same core configuration as the 13400, and only increases the clock speed by a scant 100MHz. (Elsewhere in Raptor Lake Refresh we see slightly more substantial 200MHz boosts compared to previous generation chips).
Analysis: a crucial weakness?
To say this seems like a very small increase in performance is an understatement. A 2% increase is virtually unnoticeable in real-world use – but we should note the caveats here: this is a leak and should be seasoned as such, and it’s just a single synthetic benchmark. (CPU-Z isn’t exactly the best choice for benchmarking either).
Nevertheless, it’s a clear suggestion that the Core i5-14400 processor won’t offer much upside, which the specs themselves support.
Why is this a problem for potential buyers of Intel processors? Well, the Core i5-13400 is widely regarded as a crucial mid-range chip for Raptor Lake, giving you fast gaming performance at an attractive price, and overall offering an excellent value proposition in the mid-range CPU space. (It was the recommended processor in our guide to building a cheap gaming PC – although you might be able to get some great Black Friday deals on CPUs and gaming PCs now too).
In other words, the 14400 is a major update, and one that will apparently fall a bit flat. That’s a disappointing insight, of course – caveats still apply – although we also need to see the processor’s price tag to get the full picture.
Mind you, another way to look at this is that the 13400 is still a great CPU today, and a version of it that is slightly faster will still be a great CPU. But it will feel like a missed opportunity for Intel to make more meaningful progress here in the mid-range market.
Through VideoCardz