Intel Core i5-9400H vs Intel Core i5-14501E vs Intel Core i5-13500

Intel Core i5-9400H

The Intel Core i5-9400H is a high-end processor for laptops with four cores based on the Coffee Lake architecture (2019 refresh, CFL-HR). The processor clocks at between 2.5 and 4.3 GHz (4.1 with 4 cores) and can execute up to eight threads simultaneously thanks to Hyper-Threading. According to Intel, the CPU is manufactured in an improved 14nm (14nm++) process. Compared to the predecessor, the Core i5-8400H from 2018, the 9300H is only clocked slightly higher (+100 MHz CPU Turbo, +50 MHz GPU).

The Coffee Lake architecture is similar to Kaby Lake and differs only in the amount of cores (now six cores for the high end versions) and the improved 14nm process (14nm++ according to Intel).

Performance

The Intel Core i5-9400H should perform similar as the older Core i7-7920HQ (3.1 - 4.1 GHz). The faster Coffee Lake CPUs, like the Core i7-9750H offers two additional cores and is therefore up to 50% faster in multithreaded benchmarks. Still, the performance of the i5-9400H should be sufficient for even demanding applications and games.

Graphics

The integrated Intel UHD Graphics 630 iGPU is supposed to offer a slightly higher performance as its clock rate has been increased by 50 MHz. The architecture is identical to that of the Intel HD Graphics 630. We do expect a performance improvement, but as a low-end solution it will probably only display current games smoothly at reduced details - if at all.

Power Consumption

Intel specifies the TDP with 45 watts and therefore the i5 is only suited for big laptops with good cooling solutions. Using cTDP-down, the CPU can also be configured to 35 Watt resulting in a reduced performance.

Beware, the CPU was not yet released at the time of writing and the information is based on leaks and early price list information (e.g. by Intel or on Baidu).

Intel Core i5-14501E

The Intel Core i5-14501E is a peculiar Raptor Lake family desktop processor (SoC) that has 6 performance cores but 0 efficient cores. It's the lack of E-cores that makes 14X01 chips special.

The product has decently sized level 2 and 3 caches at 12 MB and 24 MB, respectively. Its CPU cores run at up to 5.2 GHz. The UHD 770 serves as the integrated graphics solution. There is no 'proper' NPU here, however, vPro Enterprise features such as RPE (Remote Platform Erase) are onboard.

The i5 chip is manufactured built with the Intel 7 process which is fairly old, as of mid 2025. Its base TDP sits at 65 W which is the standard value for desktop CPUs.

Performance

While we have not tested a single 14X01 processor as of July 2025, we do know that a single 4.6 GHz Raptor Cove core, such as that of an Core i7-14650HX is good for 116 Cinebench 2024 points and 285 Cinebench R15 points. (The 14501E can run at up to 5.2 GHz, too, to remind you.) If we multiply the values by 6, we get a reasonably fair projection that sees the 14501E being about as fast as lower mid-range laptop AMD chips of 2025, such as the AMD Ryzen AI 5 340. While not particularly impressive, this is definitely sufficient for any tasks and applications one could run in 2025, top games included.

Intel Core i5-13500

The Intel Core i5-13500 is a fast and relatively power efficient desktop processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture, which was introduced in October 2022. The processor offers a base clock of 2.5 GHz and reaches up to 4.8 GHz in Turbo. The hybrid CPU architecture introduced with Alder Lake is also used in the Raptor Lake processors. Compared to the Intel Core i5-12500, the Intel Core i5-13500 offers more cores, which means a higher overall performance can be achieved. In total, the Intel Core i5-13500 can process up to 20 threads in parallel. The performance cores (P cores) offer hyperthreading for this purpose, which is withheld from the energy-efficient cores (E cores).

Performance

Due to the higher number of physical computing units, the Intel Core i5-13500 offers noticeably more performance compared to the Intel Core i5-12500. Both processors have 6 P-cores, although only the Intel Core i5-13500 is additionally equipped with 8 E-cores.

Graphics unit

Like the Intel Core i5-12600K, the Intel Core i5-13500 offers an integrated graphics unit. The Intel Iris Xe architecture continues to serve as the basis. In terms of performance, however, not much has changed with the new Intel UHD Graphics 770.

Power consumption

The TDP of the Intel Core i5-13500 is 65 watts, with the option to increase this to up to 154 watts in Turbo mode. Compared to the Intel Core i5-12500, the energy requirement increases slightly.