During CES2024, Intel released the 14th generation Core HX high-performance processor, which is mainly used in gaming notebooks. There are 5 models in total. We PConline got the test prototype of the flagship i9-14900HX at the first time. As the top model of this generation of mobile terminals, how strong is it?


IntelCore14thGenHX

1. Introduction to i9-14900HX specifications

Let’s take a look at the basic specifications first. Intel’s 14th generation Core i9-14900HX has 24 cores, including 8 high-performance cores and 16 high-efficiency cores, with a total of 32 threads. The maximum turbo frequency of the P core is 5.8GHz, and the maximum turbo frequency of all cores is 5. .2GHz; maximum turbo frequency of E core/maximum turbo frequency of all cores is 4.1GHz, L2 cache 32MB, L3 cache 36MB, TDP55W, the maximum configurable power consumption is 157W, and the memory supports DDR55600MHz.

Compared with the previous generation's top flagship i9-13980HX, the specification gap mainly lies in the maximum turbo frequency and all-core turbo frequency of the P core and E core. Other aspects such as the number of cores, L2 cache, L3 cache, memory support, etc. are exactly the same. This is because in the 13th generation Core HX, the three models of i9HX already adopted the core configuration of the full-blooded Raptor Lake architecture.

In terms of other technical support, Intel's 14th generation Core HX processor family is the only Core platform that supports Thunderbolt 5 technology, which can achieve two-way 80Gbps or 120Gbps+40Gbps transmission and reception. The increase in interface bandwidth brings higher transmission efficiency and further eliminates the performance loss when connecting an external graphics card expansion dock.

The 14th generation Core HX series processors support complete XMP, XTU and other functions, and have excellent overclocking capabilities. In addition, all 14th generation Core series support the Application Optimization function, which can provide optimization for some supported games.

2. Introduction to test platform

The test platform we used to test the i9-14900HX this time is: Colorful Star X17 ProMax. In addition to the flagship CPU such as i9-14900HX, this model is also equipped with the top-level Nvidia GeForce RTX4090 Laptop GPU with 175W full power consumption. Its configuration is as follows:

CPU: Intel Core i9-14900HX

GPU: NVIDIA GeForceRTX4090LaptopGPU, 175W, supports direct connection of independent graphics

Memory: dual channel 32GBDDR55600MHz

SSD: 1TBPCIe4.0

Screen: 17.3 inches, 2.5K/240Hz/100%DCI-P3

Power supply: 330W

This model adopts a heat dissipation configuration of dual fans + 9 heat pipes + 4 air outlets. In the double baking test, AIDA64 system stability test StressFPU + FurMark1920*1080 was used. The CPU power consumption was 70W, the temperature was 98 degrees, the P core frequency was 2.7GHz, the E core frequency was 2.3GHz; the GPU power consumption was 170W, the temperature was 88 degrees, and the frequency was about 1500MHz. Under double baking, the CPU and GPU can achieve a total power consumption release of 240W.

In the CPU single bake test, the StressFPU option in the AIDA64 system stability test was used for testing. The test time was 30 minutes, the CPU power consumption was 120W, the P core frequency was 3.6GHz, the E core frequency was 3.1GHz, and the temperature was 98 degrees.

The heat-removing capabilities of the Colorful General X17 ProMax are already at the top level among current gaming laptops. Using this gaming laptop, you can explore the true performance of the i9-14900HX.

3. i9-14900HX performance test

All tests were conducted in "Performance Mode".

·Common benchmark performance tests

Let’s first look at the benchmark test CPU-Z. In BenchMark in CPU-Z, the single-core performance of the i9-14900HX is close to 900 points, and the multi-core performance is 13780.5 points.

In CINEBENCH, a common benchmark test for testing CPU rendering capabilities, CINEBENCHR23 single-core performance was 2197 and multi-core performance was 29035;

Maxon launched a new CINEBENCH version, CINEBENCH2024, in the second half of last year. Compared with CINEBENCHR23, it has a new rendering engine, more responsible scenes, and larger memory usage. The test pressure of CINEBENCH2024 is also greater.

In CINEBENCH2024, the i9-14900HX single-core performance was 131 and the multi-core performance was 1683.

Geekbench6 is also a very commonly used testing software. The software’s tests can cover more content and better demonstrate the all-round capabilities of a CPU. In Geekbench6, the single-core performance score is 3072 and the multi-core performance score is 18217.

3DMARK's CPUProfile project can call different threads for testing, with a single-thread performance score of 1164 and a full-thread performance score of 12939.

·Productivity benchmark performance test

The first part of the test is the compression and decompression test. Compression and decompression are two functions that can fully load the CPU in daily computers, and almost every user uses them more or less. Using BenchMark in the compression/decompression software 7-Zip for testing, the maximum compression speed can reach 132064KB/S, and the maximum decompression speed can reach 1951514KB/S.

The picture editing performance test uses the PhotoEditing project test in ULProycon. This test will call two common picture editing software, Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Lightroom, for testing. The final score is 8469 points.

For the rendering performance test, we used the BenchMark officially launched by Blender and chose to use the CPU for testing. Among the three scenes tested, the Monster scene was 185.19, the junkshop scene was 124.84, and the classroom scene was 87.38.

For performance tests related to video editing, the first is the two video codec tests that only call the CPU for work, X264/X265FHDBenchMark. The score in X264FHDBenchMark is 108.8fps, and the score in X265FHDBenchMark is 109.36fps.

The last test in this section is the VideoEditing project in ULProcyon. This project will call Adobe Premiere for testing, but the GPU will participate in some work during the test. The final score is 8295 points.

·Game performance test

We selected two games that put a lot of pressure on the CPU for testing to try to reflect the impact of the CPU on the performance of the game. One is "Cyberpunk 2077" and the other is "Total War: Warhammer 3".

In "Cyberpunk 2077", the image quality was adjusted to the default "Ray Tracing: Super", the DLSS gear was turned to the "Auto" gear, DLSSFrameGeneration was turned on, and the game's built-in BenchMark was run, and the average frame number was 131.28.

In "Total War: Warhammer 3", the preset is "Ultra High Image Quality", 2.5K resolution, running the game's built-in BenchMark, and the average number of frames is 114.9 frames in a standard battle scenario.

There is another test scene in the BenchMark of "Total War: Warhammer 3", Mirrors of Madness. There are so many units in this test and there are so many various particle effects. It can be said to be the ultimate test of the CPU. The final test result is an average of 74 frames. Under this "abnormal" pressure, the flagship-level performance of the i9-14900HX can easily cope with it.

4. Test summary

The Intel Core i9-14900HX does not have as big changes in the underlying architecture as the Ultra processor, but such a design may be a more reasonable answer to achieve high-performance design goals at the moment.

Through the above tests, the performance of the i9-14900HX is obvious to all. Although the paper data does not seem to be much improved compared to the previous generation, its performance is still the top level of the current mobile terminal, and its flagship status has not been reduced. In the above various benchmark tests and game tests, we can see its leading performance. There is no doubt that the i9-14900HX is the peak performance of this generation of mobile processors.