Intel Core i9 14900K vs Intel Core i9 13900K – Is the Raptor Lake upgrade worth it?

Intel Core i9 14900K vs Intel Core i9 13900K – Is the Raptor Lake upgrade worth it?
Rosa Fryer Updated on by

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We’re comparing Intel Core i9 14900K vs Intel Core i9 13900K to help you deicide which one is right for you.

The Core i9 14900K has been Intel’s highly anticipated CPU over the last few months. With leaks and speculations being dropped up until its big release, it’s time to get the facts in and find out if it’s worth the hype. Meanwhile, the Intel Core i9 13900K has been around since the end of 2022. The 13th generation has proved popular amongst Intel users, and offers high quality performance. Take a look at the Core i9 13900k review, to why the Intel CPU is rated so highly.

Now, it’s time to pit the freshly released Core i9 14900k against it’s popular previous iteration, the Core i9 13900k, and find out if it’s time for an upgrade or not. We’ve compiled a detailed and researched list of the similarities and differences between the two CPUs.

Intel Core i9 14900K vs Intel Core i9 13900K – Specs comparison

Intel doesn’t fail to bring something new and exciting with each generation of Core i9, and the upcoming release of the 14th generation is no exception.

FeatureIntel Core i9 14900K Intel Core i9 13900K
Cores8+16 (24)8+16 (24)
Threads3232
Base Clock3.2 GHz3 GHz
Boost Clock6.0 GHz5.8 GHz
L2 / L3 Cache32 / 36 MB32 / 36 MB
TDP (PL1)125W125W
MSRP$589 US$589 US

It’s clear that both the Intel Core i9-14900K and the Core i9-13900K, based off the core configuration specs, are both powerhouses in their own right. In general, in terms of performance, they are fairly well balanced. Both CPUs have 24 cores and 32 threads, which are brilliant tools for multi-tasking and intensive workloads.

Let’s not forget special features. The Intel Core i9 13900K has an Intel Gaussian & Neural Accelerator 3.0 which Intel describes as ‘ultra-low power accelerator block designed to run audio and speed-centric AI workloads’

Here’s where it differs. The Core i9-14900K comes in hot with faster clock speeds of a base clock of 3.2 GHz, and can shoot up to an incredible 6.0GHz because of the Thermal Velocity Boost. In comparison to the Core i9 13900K, this is a +200MHz jump form the 3 GHz base clock and the 5.8 GHz boost clock. Despite this speculated difference in speeds, the CPUs share an identical 32 MB L2 cache, 36 MB L3 cache, and a base TDP of 125W.

Intel Core i9 14900K vs Intel Core i9 13900K – Architecture

On the whole, the two CPUs share a similar architecture with both boasting hybrid architecture. The Intel Core i9 14900k boast an innovate hybrid architecture that is aimed at optimizing multi-threaded performance. Whereas the Intel Core i9 13900k also has a hybrid architecture which allows it to streamline the data grabbing process.

Intel Core i9 14900K vs Intel Core i9 13900K – Core count

As you can see from the specs table, the Core i9 14900K and the Core i9 13900k have the same thread and core count. They both offer a high core count meaning greater amounts of data can be run and processed simultaneously. Both are great if you are needing to run multiple processes at once and need a CPU that can can maintain that demand.

Intel Core i9 14900K vs Intel Core i9 13900K – Cache

Again, the two CPUs share the same amount of cache. 36 MB cache is okay but it could definitely be better. The more cache you have the faster date can be processed. if you look at the difference between the Ryzen 7 7800X3D vs Intel Core i9-13900K, the Ryzen offers almost triple the amount of cache than the Intel. If you are wanting to process lots of data at high speeds, a greater cache CPU may be better.

Intel Core i9 14900K vs Intel Core i9 13900K – TDP

The Intel Core i9 14900K and the Intel Core i9 13900K share the same TDP (Thermal Design Power). Both CPUs have a default TDP of 125W which means they are both pretty powerful. When it comes to heat of your CPU, make sure you have all the right equipment to support it. Check out the best CPU cooler, to guarantee effective cooling.

Intel Core i9 14900K vs Intel Core i9 13900K – Price

This is where it gets interesting. The Core i9 14900k price is currently on sale at $589 which is the same price at the Core i9 13900K. It’s not the shocking because the two CPUs offer similar specs and performance. However, as the Core i9 14900K does perform better in some areas, it makes it a better choice. What will be useful to keep an eye on is the fact that when new CPUs are released, there is often a rearranging of prices on previous generations. We will of course update you if this happens.

Intel Core i9-14900K

Intel Core i9-14900K unlocked box.

Architecture

Raptor lake

Cores

8+16 (24)

Threads

32

Boost speed

6.0 GHz

Cache (L2 / L3)

68MB (32 + 36)

Intel Core i9-13900K

Architecture

Raptor Lake

Core Count

24

Thread Count

32

Boost Speed

5.8GHz

Cache

36MB

Make sure you know where to buy all the Intel 14th Gen CPUs.

Final word

Both the Intel Core i9 14900K and the Intel Core i9 13900K are powerful CPUs. The two share many similar features including cache, cores, and TDP. If you are needing a lot of information process simulatenaously, both Intel products perform well.

However, for the same price you can choose the i9 14900K which offers a faster clock speed than the i9 13900K by a significant jump. It’s worth mentioning though that for both these powerful CPUs, it’s important that the rest of your rig is of similar standard. Check out the best graphics card for 4K gaming, best GPU for 1440p , and the best 4K monitor.

Is it worth upgrading to Intel Core 14th Gen?

If you’re already using a 13th Gen CPU then we don’t really recommend upgrading to 14th Gen as the performance differences are quite minimal. However, if you’re still using 12th Gen Alder Lake on socket LGA 1700 then the jump may be more noticeable, provided you can flash the bios on your motherboard.