Intel has finally launched what it's calling the world's fastest desktop CPU, the Core i9-14900KS, for $699 US and packing a 6.2 GHz clock.
Intel Core i9-14900KS CPU Launched: $699 US & Up To 15% Faster Gaming Performance Than The Core i9-13900KS
The Intel Core i9-14900KS CPU is going to be a beast of a desktop chip in all regards. It will offer the highest clock speeds ever seen on a desktop CPU to date along with the highest power ratings that we have seen on a chip designed for a mainstream platform. The CPU is designed to cater to pure enthusiasts who are looking for the best binned dies to achieve the fastest overclocking results and performance possible.
- Up to 6.2 GHz max turbo frequency with Intel® Thermal Velocity Boost – the fastest desktop processor speeds available on the market.
- Twenty-four cores (eight performance cores and 16 efficient cores), 32 threads, 150-watt processor base power, 36MB Intel Smart Cache, and 20 PCIe lanes (16 PCIe 5.0 and four PCIe 4.0 lanes).
- Expanded Intel APO support for the i9-14900KS – providing up to 11% performance uplift in supported titles4. Intel is continuing to expand support for APO, which now includes 14 gaming titles.
- Support for up to 192GB of DDR5 5600 mega transfers per second (MT/s) or DDR4 3200 MT/s memory.
- Compatibility with Z790 and Z690 motherboards, with the latest BIOS, recommended for the best gaming and content creation experience.
Starting with the specifications, the Intel Core i9-14900KS is very similar to the Core i9-14900K & Core i9-13900KS/13900K chips that came before it. It features a total of 8 P-Cores and 16 E-Cores, a cumulation of 24 cores and 32 threads. The chip comes equipped with 32 MB of L2 cache & 36 MB of L3 cache. The clock frequencies are rated at 3.2 GHz base, a boost clock of 6.2 GHz for the P and 4.5 GHz for the E-Cores. The CPU also incorporates the Intel UHD Graphics 770 chip and offers 20 PCIe lanes with support for DDR5-5600/DDR4-3200 memory in up to 192 GB capacities (up to 256 GB with the latest BIOS).
As for the power draw, the Intel Core i9-14900KS CPU has a base power rating of 150W which is up to 253W (PL2) and multi-threaded workloads will see the chip exceed the 400W barrier as seen in early tests. The CPU will be priced at $699 US which is the same as the MSRP of Core i9-13900KS chips.
In terms of performance, Intel has compared the Core i9-14900KS against a range of AMD Ryzen 7000 offerings including the 7950X3D, 7950X, and the 7800X3D along with its 13900KS. The Core i9-14900KS offers up to 15% better gaming performance than the 13900KS and up to a 26% lead over the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D.
The AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D is shown to be very competitive against the Core i9-14900KS given its price point in Intel's benchmarks but from a multi-threaded stand-point, the 14900KS should be a very powerful solution. It's up to 16% faster in multi-threaded apps versus the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X 16-core CPU.
In addition to the flagship CPU, Intel is also announcing its latest APO (Application Optimization) games with 12 new verified titles which include:
- Red Dead Redemption 2
- Final Fantasy XIV
- Marvel's Guardians of The Galaxy
- Watch Dogs: Legion
- World of Tanks
- World of Warcraft
- Dirt 5
- F1 22
- Dream Three Kingdoms 2
- Serious Sam 4 (VLK)
- Strange Brigade (VLK)
- World War Z
APO optimized the CPU so that games can take full advantage of the E-Cores onboard the chip for faster processing, enabling up to double-digit performance gains. The Intel Core i9-14900KS will be available now from leading retailers.
About the author: A Software Engineer by training and a PC enthusiast by passion, Hassan Mujtaba serves as Wccftech's Senior Editor for hardware section. With years of experience in the industry, he specializes in deep-dive technical analysis of next-generation CPU and GPU architectures, motherboards, and cooling solutions. His work involves not only breaking news on upcoming technologies but also extensive hands-on reviews and benchmarking.
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