i9-14900K vs i9-13900K Best Buyer’s Guide: Q1-2024
Last updated on January 18, 2024
The 14th Gen Core i9-14900K and the 13th Gen Core i9-13900K are the flagship processors from Intel that offer amazing performance for both gaming and productivity. But how do they compare? Is it worth upgrading from the 13th Gen to the 14th Gen? Let’s find out!
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i9-14900K vs i9-13900K Specs
First, let’s look at the specifications of these two CPUs. Confirmed details indicate that the 14th Gen Core i9-14900K will feature 8 P-cores and 16 E-cores, resulting in a configuration of 24 cores and 32 threads, which is identical to the 13th Gen i9-13900K. As a result, any performance improvement is expected to be marginal. However, the 14th Gen i9-14900K has a higher base clock of 3.2 GHz and a higher turbo clock of 6 GHz, compared to the 13th Gen i9-13900K’s 3 GHz base clock and 5.8 GHz turbo clock. This means that the 14th Gen i9-14900K can boost to higher frequencies when needed, which can give it an edge in some scenarios.
| Core i9-14900K | Core i9-13900K | |
|---|---|---|
| Current price | Current Price – Amazon.com | Current Price – Amazon.com |
| Cores/Threads | 24(8+16) / 32 | 24 (8+16) / 32 |
| L3/L2 Cache | 36MB / 32MB | 36MB / 32MB |
| Max turbo frequency | 6GHz | 5.8GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.2 / 2.4 | 3.0 / 2.2 |
| Base/Turbo Power | 125W / 253W | 125W / 253W |
Intel XTU (Extreme Tuning Utility) AI Assist
Another difference between these two CPUs is the support for AI-assisted overclocking. The 14th Gen i9-14900K comes with a new feature called Intel XTU (Extreme Tuning Utility) AI Assist, which can help overclock the CPU for even better gains in performance. This feature uses artificial intelligence to analyze the system and optimize the settings for the best balance between speed and stability. The 13th Gen i9-13900K does not have this feature, so you will have to manually tweak the settings if you want to overclock it.
In practice, the Intel XTU AI Assist isn’t any better than the presets for this particular CPU. However, this is only the first iteration of this new overclocking technology and, we can only hope to see an improvement from here. Is it worth jumping to get the i9-14900K? I don’t think so.
i9-14900K vs i9-13900K Real-World Tests
So, how do these two CPUs perform in real-world tests? Well, according to UserBenchmark, the 14th Gen i9-14900K has an average effective speed of 131%, while the 13th Gen i9-13900K has an average effective speed of 129%. This means that the difference is only about 2%, which is not very significant. However, in some specific tests, such as single-core speed, dual-core speed, quad-core speed, octa-core speed, and multi-core speed, the 14th Gen i9-14900K has a slight advantage over the 13th Gen i9-13900K, ranging from 2% to 4%. This means that the 14th Gen i9-14900K can handle some tasks slightly faster than the 13th Gen i9-13900K.
Which Intel i9 should you buy?
So, is it worth upgrading from the 13th Gen i9-13900K to the 14th Gen i9-14900K? Well, that depends on your budget and your needs. If you already have a 13th Gen i9-13900K and you are happy with its performance, then there is no need to upgrade. The difference is not very noticeable, and you will not get much more value for your money.
However, if you are looking for a new CPU and you want the best of the best from Intel, then the 14th Gen i9-14900K is a great choice. It offers flawless performance for both gaming and productivity tasks, and it has some extra features like AI-assisted overclocking and support for future technologies like Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4. The price difference is also not very big, as the 14th Gen i9-14900K costs $549.99 after a $10.74 Amazon coupon (as of 1/17/2024) while the 13th Gen i9-13900K sells for $536.57.
In conclusion, the Intel Core i9-14900K and the Intel Core i9-13900K are both amazing CPUs that offer exceptional performance for any task. The 14th Gen i9-14900K has a slight edge over the 13th Gen i9-13900K in terms of speed and features, but the difference is not very significant. Therefore, the choice between them depends on your budget and your needs.
If you already have a 13th Gen i9-13900K, then don’t throw away your money, you definitely don’t need to upgrade. If you are looking for a new CPU and you want the best of the best, then the 14th Gen i9-14900K is a great option and, is only $14.00 more than the i9-13900K. Either way, you can’t go wrong with these CPUs.
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Read More: Intel 13th Gen i9-13900KS – 6GHz On A Tight Leash, Intel 14th Generation Meteor Lake Rumors
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