Intel Core i7-12700 vs Intel Core i7-14700

The Intel Core i7-12700 (Alder Lake-S), introduced at the end of 2021, and the Intel Core i7-14700 (Raptor Lake-S Refresh), released at the end of 2023, are both aimed at mainstream desktop users.

Both Intel processors are manufactured using the 10 nm process and support PCIe 5.0. The Intel Core i7-12700 features 8 performance and 4 efficiency cores (12 cores, 20 threads) with 12 MB L2 and 25 MB L3 cache. The Intel Core i7-14700 offers 8 performance and 12 efficiency cores (20 cores, 28 threads) with 28 MB L2 and 33 MB L3 cache, giving it a significant advantage of over 50% in multi-core applications.

Single-core performance is also over 10% higher in the Intel Core i7-14700, supported by a maximum memory bandwidth of 90 GB/s compared to 77 GB/s in the Intel Core i7-12700. Both integrate the Intel UHD Graphics 770. In gaming scenarios, the Intel Core i7-14700 offers a slight performance advantage, while the Intel Core i7-12700 still delivers excellent results.

Under load, the Intel Core i7-14700 exhibits higher power consumption and heat generation due to its higher core count and clock speeds, requiring more robust cooling. In terms of price, the older Intel Core i7-12700 is often cheaper and offers good value for money.

The Intel Core i7-14700 is more expensive but delivers higher absolute performance, especially for demanding, multi-thread-intensive tasks.