Intel Core 7 250H vs Intel Core i5-14450HX

Intel Core 7 250H

The Intel Core 7 250H is a high-end mobile CPU for laptops based on the Raptor Lake-H series (Alder Lake architecture). It was announced in late 2024 and offers 6 performance cores (P-cores, Golden Cove architecture) and 8 efficient cores (E-cores, Gracemont architecture). The P-cores support Hyper-Threading for 20 threads when combined with the E-cores. The clock rates range from 2.5 to 5.4 GHz (single core turbo) on the performance cluster and 1.8 to 4 GHz on the efficiency cluster. The performance of the E-cores should be similar to old Skylake cores (compare with the Core i7-6920HQ). All cores can use up to 24 MB L3 cache.

The CPU clocks with up to 5.4 GHz. Compared to the similar i7-13700H, the 250H offers a higher clock rates (e.g. +400 MHz boost clock speed) and a supports up to DDR5-5600.

Performance

Due to the higher boost core clock, the Core 7 250H should be slightly faster than the old Core i7-13700H. Especially single threaded workloads should profit from the improvements.

Features

The integrated memory controller supports various memory types up to DDR5-5600 (up from 5200 MHz for the 12th gen). The Thread Director (in hardware) can support the operating system to decide which thread to use on the performance or efficient cores for the best performance. For AI tasks, the CPU also integrates GNA 3.0 and DL Boost (via AVX2). Quick Sync in version 8 is the same as in the Rocket Lake CPUs and supports MPEG-2, AVC, VC-1 decode, JPEG, VP8 decode, VP9, HEVC, and AV1 decode in hardware. The CPU now supports PCIe 5.0 x8 for a GPU and two PCIe 4.0 x4 for SSDs.

The integrated graphics adapter is based on the Xe-architecture and offers 96 EUs (Execution Units) clocked at up to 1.55 GHz.

The CPU is rated at 45 W base power (115 W PL2) but most laptops will use a PL1 of around 60 Watt. The SoC is manufactured on an improved 10nm process at Intel, which is known as Intel 7.

Intel Core i5-14450HX

The Intel Core i5-14450HX is a mid-range CPU with 10 cores based on the Raptor Lake refresh series for large and heavy notebooks.

The total of 16 threads are divided into P-cores and E-cores, which we already know from Alder Lake. The 13450HX offers 6 performance cores (P-Cores, Raptor Cove or Golden Cove) with hyperthreading and 4 efficiency cores (E-Cores, Gracemont) without hyperthreading. The P-cores clock from 2.4 GHz (base clock) to 4.8 GHz (all cores) or 4.6 GHz (single core). The E-cores clock from 1.8 - 3.5 GHz. Compared to the older Core i5-13450HX the CPU cores are clocked slightly higher.

Compared to Alder Lake, the new Raptor Lake architecture offers improved P-cores (Raptor Cove architecture with more cache), more E-cores (same Gracemont architecture) and higher clock rates thanks to the improved Intel 7 process. In addition, Intel now supports faster DDR5 main memory in the top models (up to 5600 MHz, in the refresh now also in the i5).

The 14450HX is manufactured in the further improved 10nm FinFET process at Intel (Intel 7 process) and is specified with 55 watts base power and 157 watts turbo power.