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With its Ryzen 9 7950X, which was the fastest consumer-oriented processor in the world for the few weeks prior to this review, AMD was able to wrest control of the processor performance crown from Intel. Unfortunately for AMD, Intel is always moving forward. Since the introduction of the 13th Generation “Raptor Lake” Core i9-13900K, Intel has reclaimed the top spot.

The Core i9-13900K from Intel follows a strategy that is very different from AMD’s upcoming Zen 4 processors. While Intel’s Raptor Lake design is an improvement over the Alder Lake that came before it, AMD’s Zen 4 design represents a significant shift from its Zen 3 architecture. Intel is packing on cores while AMD is pushing performance and efficiency with less.

Even said, there are still areas where the new Core i9 falls short, particularly in terms of heat and power consumption. The $589 Intel Core i9 13900K, however, is without a doubt the greatest CPU you can buy if getting the quickest performance possible is your main goal.

Intel Core i9 13900K Specifications

Intel is generationally boosting core counts with the 13th Gen “Raptor Lake” desktop processors, but only with the E-core counts. Although Intel updated the P-cores itself with greater IPC, the total number of P-cores remained the same. The 8P+16E combination of the 13th Gen Core i9 SKUs, like the i9-13900K in this review, is an improvement over the 8P+8E arrangement of the previous-gen i9-12900K.

The 8P+8E loadout of the 13th Gen Core i7 chips, such the Intel Core i7 13700K, is an improvement over the 8P+4E loadout of the i7-12700K and is comparable to the i9-12900K. Additionally, the Core i5 K-series receives an upgrade, becoming 6P+8E as opposed to 6P+4E in the prior iteration.

Eight “Raptor Cove” performance cores on the “Raptor Lake” silicon offer better IPC and run at much faster clock speeds than the “Golden Cove” cores on the “Alder Lake.” These cores’ dedicated L2 caches have grown in size from the previous generation’s 1.25 MB to 2 MB.

Although Intel expanded their L2 caches from 2 MB per 4-core cluster to 4 MB and clocked their E-cores faster, the “Gracemont” E-cores retain the same architecture as the previous generation. The generationally increased L3 cache, which is shared by P-core and E-core clusters, is now 36 MB on Core i9 chips, 30 MB on Core i7 chips, and 24 MB on Core i5 K-series processors.

Although they debut alongside enhanced 700-series chipset motherboards, which also allow you to use older 12th Gen processors with them, the new 13th Gen Core desktop processors share the same Socket LGA1700 package with the 12th Gen “Alder Lake” and are compatible with motherboards using Intel chipsets from the 600 series with BIOS updates.

In addition to supporting both DDR5 and older DDR4 memory, the new processors also provide platform versatility. The processors’ PCI-Express configuration remains the same, with 16 PCIe Gen 5 lanes for the graphics card, an M.2 Gen 4 slot for a CPU-attached NVMe SSD, and a DMI 4.0 x8 chipset bus. On motherboards with 700-series chipsets, Gen 5 NVMe slots are accessible, but they obstruct the graphics card’s x16 PEG lanes, forcing it to run at x8 bandwidth (while the Gen 5 M.2 slot is active).

With its 8P+16E core configuration, full 36 MB L3 cache, maximum clock speeds, and unlocked multipliers, the Intel Core i9 13900K tops the “Raptor Lake-S” silicon to lead the raptor pack. The E-cores run at 2.20 GHz and can boost to 4.30 GHz, while the P-cores run at 3.00 GHz and can reach a staggering 5.80 GHz.

The CPU’s maximum turbo power (MTP), which was 241 W in the 12900k, has been boosted to 253 W, while the processor base power (PBP) number remains the same at 125 W. At USD $590, Intel’s Core i9-13900K is attractively priced compared to AMD’s Ryzen 9 7000-series “Zen 4” lineup, which is led by the $700 7950X. The Intel Core i9 13900KF, which is essentially identical to this CPU but lacks integrated graphics and is $25 less expensive, is for you if you can live without integrated graphics.

Intel Core i9 13900K Essential information

Product Collection	13th Generation Intel® Core™ i9 Processors
Code Name	Products formerly Raptor Lake
Vertical Segment	Desktop
Processor Number	i9-13900K
Status	Launched
Launch Date	Q4’22
Lithography	Intel 7
Recommended Customer Price	$589.00 – $599.00
Use Conditions	PC/Client/Tablet, Workstation

Intel Core i9 13900K Specs

Total Cores	24
# of Performance-cores	8
# of Efficient-cores	16
Total Threads	32
Max Turbo Frequency	5.80 GHz
Intel® Thermal Velocity Boost Frequency	5.80 GHz
Intel® Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0 Frequency	5.70 GHz
Performance-core Max Turbo Frequency	5.40 GHz
Efficient-core Max Turbo Frequency	4.30 GHz
Performance-core Base Frequency	3.00 GHz
Efficient-core Base Frequency	2.20 GHz
Cache	36 MB Intel® Smart Cache
Total L2 Cache	32 MB
Processor Base Power	125 W
Maximum Turbo Power	253 W

Intel Core i9 13900K Performance

Beginning with the multi-core Cinebench R23 results, we can see that the Intel Core 13900K is able to match the 7950X, which is a great accomplishment. Though the Intel CPU was faster after just one run, scoring about 4-5% higher than what is displayed above. However, thermal throttling did somewhat lower the score after 10 minutes, despite the usage of a 360mm liquid cooler; we’ll examine this more closely in a later section of the evaluation.

The 13900K easily defeated the 7950X by a margin of 14% in the 7-Zip File Manager Compression test and completely destroyed its predecessor, the 12900K, by a margin of approximately 40% thanks to its outstanding core performance.

The Intel Core i9 13900K does get a little flattened by the 7950X, which trails here by an 18% margin, since AMD’s SMT is far more powerful for decompression work, as we have obviously seen multiple times in the past. The new 13th generation Core i9 still represents a significant 56% improvement over the 12900K.

Because the Blender Open Data benchmark takes a while to complete, the 13900K really heats up in this test, which contributes to its 12% loss versus the 7950X. Although it was 41% quicker than the 12900K, a significant improvement there, and it was 16% faster than the 7900X, it likely fits in nicely in terms of value.

On the other hand, the Corona test runs incredibly quickly on these premium CPUs, finishing in just 35 seconds for the 7950X and 36 seconds for the 13900K. Due to its ability to prevent thermal throttling, the Core i9 processor can compete with the 7950X. Although I suppose I could repeat this test in the future, it serves as an excellent illustration of the 13900K’s potential, provided you can keep it cool.

Next up is Hitman 3, where the 13900K falls short of Zen 4 devices with better performance levels including the 7700X, 7900X, and 7950X. For instance, the 7950X was 5% quicker, which isn’t much of a difference, but it does demonstrate that Raptor Lake and Zen 4 will compete head-to-head in terms of gaming performance.

Intel Core i9 13900K Conclusion

The Core i9-13900K doesn’t really offer much more performance than, for example, the Core i5-12600K, the Ryzen 7 7700X, or even the Ryzen 7 5700X, so there are plenty of other options if you’re looking for a computer primarily for gaming. If you’re on a tight budget, it’s probably best to choose one of these less expensive CPUs and use the money you save to upgrade your graphics card. If you own a compact form factor, mini-ITX PC, this is also our suggestion to you.

Last but not least, whether you choose to upgrade to the Intel Core i9 13900K relies on on the software you’re already using. Realistically, the Core i9-13900K offers significantly more performance than even comparable Core i5-12600K or Core i9-11900K processors. The Core i9-13900K could be a great upgrade for a PC with an 11th Gen or older processor or an Alder Lake CPU of lower performance.

Is the Intel Core i9 13900K worth it?

The newest flagship CPU from Intel, built on the 13th generation Raptor Lake architecture, is the Intel Core i9 13900K. It is a 24-core, 32-thread processor with outstanding multitasking, gaming, and content-creation capability. Its base clock is 3.5 GHz, and its boost rate is 5.8 GHz. It is compatible with both DDR4 and DDR5 memory. If your motherboard and cooling system are suitable, it can also be unlocked for overclocking.

With the Intel Core i9 13900K surpassing or matching the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X in the majority of benchmarks, it is the greatest consumer desktop CPU ever produced. Additionally, it is a major upgrade over the Core i9 12900K of the previous generation, which had fewer cores and slower clock speeds.

The Intel Core i9 13900K does, however, come with a few disadvantages, including increased heat output, higher power consumption, and a higher price than its predecessor. If you want to upgrade from an older Intel CPU, you will also need a new motherboard because it requires a new LGA 1700 socket.

The Intel Core i9 13900K value ultimately depends on your needs for performance, your budget, and your existing system. The Intel Core i9 13900K is a great option if you want the most powerful CPU available, one that can easily run any game or application and don’t mind changing your motherboard at a higher cost. However, you might want to wait for a price reduction or a better bargain if you have a limited budget or currently own a good processor that satisfies your needs.

Is Intel Core i9 13900K good for gaming?

The majority of games run exceptionally well on the Intel Core i9 13900K processor, which is highly recommended for gaming at 1080p and 1440p resolutions. Reviews claim that in the majority of benchmarks, the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X, another well-liked gaming CPU, is beaten or tied by the Intel Core i9 13900K. In addition, compared to the Core i9 12900K of the previous generation, it features more cores, a faster clock, and a bigger cache.

The Intel Core i9 13900K does, however, come with a few disadvantages, including increased heat output, higher power consumption, and a higher price than its predecessor. If you want to upgrade from an older Intel CPU, you will also need a new motherboard because it requires a new LGA 1700 socket.

The Intel Core i9 13900K’s suitability for gaming ultimately comes down to your needs in terms of performance, budget, and existing system. The Intel Core i9 13900K is a great option if you want the most powerful CPU available, one that can easily run any game or application and don’t mind changing your motherboard at a higher cost. However, you might want to wait for a price reduction or a better bargain if you have a limited budget or currently own a good processor that satisfies your needs.

Can you overclock the Intel Core i9 13900K?

The Intel Core i9 13900K is an unlocked processor that allows manual frequency and voltage adjustments, therefore the answer is definitely yes when it comes to overclocking. But in order to overclock, you’ll need a good cooling system, a suitable motherboard, and some technical know-how. In addition, overclocking can raise your system’s noise, heat production, and power consumption. If done improperly, it can also void your warranty or break your hardware.

The K-series CPU from Intel, the Intel Core i9 13900K, is probably unlocked and supports overclocking. Generally speaking, overclocking an unlocked Intel processor involves gaining access to your motherboard’s BIOS or UEFI settings, modifying variables like the voltages, base clock (BCLK), and CPU multiplier, and stress-testing the system to make sure it is stable.

Never forget that overclocking might void the warranty on your CPU and that it should only be done carefully to prevent instability or damage. Make sure you have enough cooling solutions on hand, and keep an eye on the temperature to make sure it stays within safe bounds.

You might be able to attain a steady overclock of 6.1 GHz or more on all P-Cores, which can greatly improve the performance of your games and applications, depending on your cooling system and CPU quality. Overclocking is not always possible and can vary from system to system, therefore you should always exercise caution and keep a close eye on your system.

What temperature should an Intel Core i9 13900K run at?

A strong processor that can operate at high temperatures under intense load is the Intel Core i9 13900K. The published specs state that the CPU’s maximum temperature (TJUNCTION) is 100°C. It is not necessary for the CPU to operate at this temperature all the time, though, as it could shorten its life and performance.

The cooling system, outside temperature, overclocking settings, workload, and other variables all affect the ideal temperature range for the Intel Core i9 13900K. Lower temperatures often help the CPU because they can avoid thermal throttling and increase stability. Less heat, noise, and money may also be needed for the cooling system at lower temperatures.

Reviews claim that the Intel Core i9 13900K can operate at 60–70°C on average and 80–85°C at its highest while playing demanding games and utilizing a good liquid cooling system. As long as the temperatures stay below the TJUNCTION limit, these are regarded as normal and safe for the CPU. But, if you wish to overclock the CPU, you might require additional voltage and a better cooling system, which can raise the temperature noticeably.

The optimal operating temperature of the Intel Core i9 13900K ultimately comes down to trade-offs and personal preference. Lower temperatures are ideal for maximizing CPU performance and lifespan, but you’ll have to put up with more noise and spend more money on the cooling system. You can withstand greater temperatures if you don’t mind moderate performance and lifespan, but take care not to damage the CPU or surpass the TJUNCTION limit.

How much power does the Intel Core i9 13900K draw?

A 24-core, 32-thread processor with 125W of processor base power (PBP) is the Intel Core i9 13900K. Nevertheless, this figure does not accurately represent the CPU’s real power usage over a range of workloads and overclocking configurations. The greatest power that the CPU can draw when increasing its frequency is known as the maximum turbo power, and it is 253W. This is more than the 241W maximum turbo power of the previous generation Core i9 12900K.