Intel's 14th generation CPUs are finally out in the open with review units already available with various outlets. What is essentially a refresh of the 13th generation Raptor Lake is due to replace the outgoing chips at the same price points with 3 major processors and their iGPU-less KF versions on offer to gamers, power users, and enthusiasts alike.
Intel's 14 Generation Raptor Lake Refresh: What is New?
The 14th generation Raptor Lake Refresh CPUs currently feature 6 chips based on 3 performance tiers as has lately been the norm with new Intel CPU launches. All 3 CPUs are unlocked and replace their equivalent 13th-generation predecessors at the same price points the latter initially sold at.
This, in essence, makes them a no-brainer purchase for many gamers and enthusiasts even as Intel retains the same LGA 1700 socket as it did for the 12th and 13th generation. Users however on the 12th and 13th generation Intel CPUs might not be the target audience for the 14th generation Intel CPUs which not only have significant thermal needs thanks to higher clocks but also rely on the same Raptor Lake cores that power the latter generation.
All 3 processors have seen an increase in their turbo boost clocks for the performance cores by 200 MHz with the efficiency cores (based on Intel's Gracemont) being bumped up by 100 MHz each. Core counts remain the same for the most part except for the Intel Core i7 14700K and KF which see an additional 4 efficiency cores being added, making them 28 thread processors, much closer to the 14900K and KF than its predecessor.
All in all the 14th generation "Raptor Lake Refresh" is literally just that: 13th generation CPU cores being tweaked slightly, with higher clocks and thermal/power requirements before being released to end users.
The Raptor Lake Refresh CPUs are already available at multiple retailers including Amazon, Newegg, and Best Buy making them an important consideration for many users especially when considering the price points they come at, often replacing or superseding existing Intel CPUs with ease.
Which Intel 14th Generation CPU Should You Get?
Intel Core i9 14900K 24-Core, 32-Thread CPU
The Intel Core i9 14900K 24-Core, 32-Thread CPU is Intel's highest-end 14th generation CPU and offers the highest boost clocks for a consumer-grade CPU from Intel to date, clocking in at an impressive 6 GHz natively.
It succeeds the limited-release Intel Core 13900KS as the first mainstream 6 GHz CPU, even as it brings a large power draw and thermal requirement to reach said clock speed.
- Brand
- Intel
- CPU Model
- Core i9 14900K
- CPU Socket
- LGA 1700
- Cores
- 24 (8P + 16E)
- Threads
- 32
- Architecture
- Raptor Lake (Refresh)
- Process
- Intel 7 (10 nm)
- Base Clock Speed
- 3.2 GHz
- Boost Clock Speed
- 6 GHz
- Cache
- 32MB L2 + 36MB L3 Cache
- PCIe
- PCI-E 4.0/5.0 supported
- Graphics
- Intel UHD Graphics 770
- TDP
- 253 W
- Currently the fastest Intel Consumer-grade CPU on offer
- Costs the same as the Intel Core i9 13900K
- Can do up to 6 GHz Single-Core Performance
- Still does not outright win in gaming vs AMD's Ryzen 7000 X3D-based CPUs
The Intel Core i9 14900K and KF represent the top tier of Intel's Raptor Lake refresh offerings. They also cost considerably more for their 24-core CPU offerings and have demanding thermal constraints in play for a gaming PC in addition to power draw. These are targeted towards enthusiast-grade system builders, gamers, and power users who must have the best gaming and number-crunching potential that Intel's current generation flagship can offer. At sub $600 for these processors, they exact a premium for the performance on offer much like the processors they replace.
The 24-core, 32-thread CPU offers significant power under the hood while building onto the older 13900K's reputation for number-crunching that easily rivals that of many entry-level server CPUs even as it offers gains in the gaming and productivity department in general. It does require significant cooling and the team at Game ZXC recommends pairing it with an adequate cooler such as the ASUS ROG Ryujin III 360 ARGB AIO Liquid Cooler which also happens to be one of the best performers in the high-end bracket.
Intel also ships an AI-powered version of the XTU utility that leverages machine learning across multiple CPU and desktop hardware samples to determine if the 14900K can overclock and/or perform to spec based on its findings and suggests new tuning settings at the end of a short evaluation. These can then be applied at the press of a button using the XTU utility.
Note: This feature is exclusive to the Intel Core i9 14900K and 14900KF CPUs currently and may or may not be available to other CPUs down the line
The Intel Core i9 14900KF 24-Core, 32-Thread CPU is the iGPU-less version of the similarly spec'd 14900K and trades at a small discount as it removes the integrated Intel UHD 770 graphics from the equation. The savings, while small compared to the overall cost of the processor are up for grabs by users looking to capitalize on Intel's latest CPU with a discrete GPU already in play.
Intel's 14th Generation Raptor Lake Refresh: Intel Core i7 14700K & 14700KF: For Power Users And Gamers
Intel Core i7 14700K 20-Core, 28-Thread CPU
The Intel Core i7 14700K 20-Core, 28-Thread CPU succeeds the Intel Core i7 13700K CPU with a 200 MHz boost clock increase as Intel also throws in an additional 4 efficiency cores to make it increasingly better value for money versus its predecessor.
With 28 threads on offer and higher boost clocks, the Intel Core i7 14700K is noticeably faster in both games and productivity benchmarks alike while replacing its predecessor at the same price points.
- Brand
- Intel
- CPU Model
- Core i7 14700K
- CPU Socket
- LGA 1700
- Cores
- 20 (8P + 12E Cores)
- Threads
- 28
- Architecture
- Rocket Lake Refresh
- Process
- Intel 7 (10 nm)
- Base Clock Speed
- 3.4 GHz
- Boost Clock Speed
- 5.6 GHz
- Cache
- 28MB L2 + 33MB L3
- RAM
- Upto 192GB DDR5 RAM
- PCIe
- PCI-E 4.0/5.0 Support
- Graphics
- Yes, Intel UHD 770
- Power Draw
- 253W (Turbo)
- Significantly faster than the 13700K out-of-the-box
- Costs the same as the Intel Core i7 14700K At Launch
- Has a 200 MHz Boost Clock in play vs its predecessor
- Adds 4 additional efficiency cores
- Is still somewhat slower than AMD's cheaper 7800X3D for Gaming
- Does not represent an upgrade for last-generation Intel Core i9 CPU owners
The more mainstream high-end Intel Core i7 14700K and KF CPUs offer significantly more value thanks to the higher clocks, added efficiency cores, and generally better value for money that sees them move closer to the Core i9 CPU offerings from Intel than in previous generations. These target high-end gamers and power users who need productivity, albeit at a better value-for-money equation than the Core i9 currently represents.
The Intel Core i7 14700K 20-Core, 28-Thread CPU receives the most meaningful upgrade of all 3 processors in the list. The high-end mainstream CPU sees an addition of 4 efficiency cores (and 4 threads as a result) even as it gets the same clock speed increases as its other siblings. It still lags behind AMD's Ryzen 7 7800X3D in most games despite this, but makes up for it in some others such as Starfield which see it emerge as a clear favorite thanks to Intel's performance bias in play for the title.
It also uses the LGA 1700 bracket and can be an easy upgrade to go for as it closes in on the 13900K's performance tier thanks to the added 4 efficiency cores and the higher clock speeds, making it a 1:1 replacement for most tasks and gaming needs with ease. At the same time, the 4 extra efficiency cores make for greater power and thermal requirements that need to be met.
Its predecessor, the 13700K already runs considerably hot and while this is a well-priced upgrade relative to its other 14th-generation alternatives, it does mean that users might finally have to invest in better cooling options as it pushes considerably closer to Core i9 territory in terms of power this generation.
The iGPU-less version of the Core i7 14700K, the Intel Core i7 14700KF 20-Core, 28-Thread CPU is an identical CPU that gamers and enthusiasts with discrete solutions already present might consider a better option given that it is currently available at a sub $25 discount while skipping on the iGPU altogether - money that could be best spent elsewhere if saved for a component that is not in play for most enthusiast-grade hardware users.
Intel's 14th Generation Raptor Lake Refresh: Intel Core i5 14600K & 14600KF : For Budget Gamers & System Builders
Intel Core i5 14600K 14-Core, 20-Thread CPU
The Intel Core i5 14600K 14-Core, 20-Thread CPU is a powerful mid-range CPU that replaces the last generation Intel Core i5 13600K with higher clocks on both its performance and efficiency cores. Like all its siblings, it does offer better performance out-of-the-box versus its predecessors but replaces them at the same price points they sold last year.
- Brand
- Intel
- CPU Model
- Core i5 14600K
- CPU Socket
- LGA 1700
- Cores
- 14 (6P + 8E Cores)
- Threads
- 20
- Architecture
- Raptor Lake Refresh
- Process
- Intel 7 (10 nm)
- Base Clock Speed
- 3.5 GHz
- Boost Clock Speed
- 5.3 GHz
- Cache
- 20MB L2 + 24MB L3
- RAM
- Upto 192GB DDR5 RAM
- PCIe
- PCI-E 4.0/5.0 support
- Graphics
- Intel UHD 770
- Power Draw
- 181W (Turbo)
- Offers higher clocks than its predecessors at the same price point
- Works with 12th and 13th generation Intel motherboards
- Offers better value for money than its higher-end counterparts for gaming
- Is essentially a tweaked-out 13600K
The Intel Core i5 14600K and KF CPUs offer excellent value for money, catering to most mid-range PC builds making them the backbone value-for-money offering that Intel has for most PC gamers and enthusiasts looking to upgrade. These represent a mild upgrade over the excellent, capable 13600K and 13600KF CPUs, offering higher boost clock speeds and tamer power and thermal needs compared to the other unlocked Intel CPUs.
The budget, unlocked Intel Core i5 13600K which many consider the best gaming CPU given its high clocks and decent all-round performance while delivering excellent price-to-performance under the hood also sees its replacement being offered by Intel. The Intel Core i5 14600K 14-Core, 20-Thread CPU is essentially a reskinned 13600K, but one that offers slightly better clocks and the same price point that the 13600K fetched at launch earlier in 2022.
The i5 14600K does offer some benefits that its higher end, higher core count and higher clock speed siblings do not. It has much more manageable power draw and cooling requirements, making it the only SKU of all 3 (KF processors notwithstanding) to cater to mid-range PC builds for system builders, power users, and PC gamers alike.
It retains the same price point as the 13600K which it replaces and is available at multiple retailers at the time of writing.
The iGPU-less version of the 14600K is the otherwise identical Intel Core i5 14600KF 14-Core, 20-Thread CPU which offers the same performance gains, but at a slight price haircut while discounting the integrated Intel UHD 770 graphics.
Best Budget Gaming Intel CPUs in 2024
PC gaming can be a costly hobby, but some of Intel's latest gaming-centric CPUs can get gamers doing more for less when it comes to performance!
As Intel continues to offer a flat $25 off across the board for its 14th generation KF SKUs versus the K lineup, this looks particularly better as the discount scales thanks to the lower price of the 14600KF compared to the 14700KF and 14900KF, making it look like a better bargain in the process.
Intel's 14th Generation CPUs: Just A Refreshed 13th Gen?
For the most part, the 14th generation is a call to arms from Intel to avoid ceding market space while giving a promised performance boost as gamers and enthusiasts expect from it on an annual basis. This will be appreciated by gamers looking to get faster hardware while upgrading from the 11th generation or older Intel CPUs as Team Blue, by essentially keeping prices fixed for the current generation delivering better value to end users.
Intel Core i7 13700K vs 12700K - Which CPU Should You Buy?
Intel's 13th Generation Core i7 Processor faces off against its predecessor in a show of value, performance, and efficiency.
This is particularly appreciable given how the GPU market has recently played out with both AMD and Nvidia raising prices across performance tiers as well as moving goalposts about what is mid-range and high-end when it comes to GPUs. One could argue that the 14th generation is not really a new CPU release but one that is a slightly optimized version of the 13th generation, and they would be correct.
Intel not raising prices in the face of a PC market slowdown might not have anything to do with altruism even as AMD continues to dominate the gaming and efficiency end of the spectrum, but it does benefit end users, even if slightly thanks to major price cuts on both Intel's 12th and 13th generation CPUs as well as slightly better performance in the shape of the newer generation that has potential to elicit a response from AMD in the coming days.
FAQ
Q: What is the best Intel CPU For Gaming?
The fastest Intel CPU is the Raptor Lake Refresh-based Intel Core i9 14900K (or 14900KF) which can clock up to 6GHz in single-core frequencies. It is comparable to the limited release Intel Core i9 13900KS from last year.
Q: When Did The Intel Core i9 14900K Launch?
The Intel Core i9 14900K was announced on the 16th of October 2023 and was launched subsequently on the 17th of the same month with widespread availability in the US market.