82

Core i9-13900K Processor

Raptor Lake · 24C/32T · LGA 1700

$589

MSRP

86

Core i9-14900K Processor

Raptor Lake Refresh · 24C/32T · LGA 1700

$589

MSRP

Our verdict

The Core i9-14900K Processor takes the performance lead with a 5% higher overall score, driven by its 24 shader cores, 36 MB of memory, and 6,000 MHz TFLOPS of compute power. In gaming benchmarks at 1440p, it delivers roughly 3% more frames per second across demanding titles like Counter-Strike 2 1080p and Cyberpunk 2077 1080p.

However, the Core i9-14900K Processor tells a compelling value story. At $589 versus the Core i9-13900K Processor's $589 price tag, it costs $0 less while delivering performance that's only 5% behind. Its 36 MB of memory is still more than enough for 1440p and even 4K gaming in most titles.

Our recommendation: for the majority of gamers targeting 1440p or even 4K with upscaling enabled, the Core i9-14900K Processor is the smarter purchase. The Core i9-13900K Processor only makes sense if you need the absolute maximum performance for native 4K ray tracing, professional 3D rendering, or AI workloads where the extra VRAM and compute power provide a tangible advantage.

Performance winner

Core i9-14900K Processor

5% faster overall

Best value for money

Core i9-14900K Processor

9% better value per dollar

Core i9-13900K Processor best for

Value for money

9% better value per dollar

Memory

Max memory
192 GB
192 GB
Memory type
DDR5-5600
DDR5-5600
Memory channels
2
2

Performance

Cores
24
24
P-cores
8
8
E-cores
16
16
Threads
32
32
Base clock
3,000 MHz
3,200 MHz
Boost clock
5,800 MHz
6,000 MHz
L2 cache
32 MB
32 MB
L3 cache
36 MB
36 MB
Process
10 nm
10 nm
Transistors
N/A
N/A

platform

Socket
LGA 1700
LGA 1700
PCIe
PCIe 5.0
PCIe 5.0
PCIe lanes
20
20
Integrated graphics
Intel UHD 770
Intel UHD 770

Power

TDP
125W
125W
Max turbo power
253W
253W

Gaming benchmarks (avg FPS at 1080p)

Counter-Strike 2
370 fps
378 fps
Cyberpunk 2077
158 fps
162 fps
Hogwarts Legacy
135 fps
140 fps
Spider-Man 2
148 fps
152 fps
Starfield
105 fps
110 fps

Synthetic & compute benchmarks

Blender BMW
48 seconds
46 seconds
Cinebench 2024 Multi-Core
1,550 pts
1,620 pts
Geekbench 6 Multi-Core
19,500 pts
20,500 pts
Handbrake 4K Encode
95 seconds
92 seconds
7-Zip Compression
138,000 MIPS
142,000 MIPS
Adobe Premiere Pro Export
38 seconds
35 seconds
Cinebench 2024 Single-Core
128 pts
132 pts
Geekbench 6 Single-Core
2,950 pts
3,050 pts

Frequently asked questions

Which GPU is better for 1440p gaming, the Core i9-13900K Processor or Core i9-14900K Processor?

The Core i9-14900K Processor delivers higher frame rates at 1440p, but both GPUs handle 1440p gaming well. The Core i9-14900K Processor provides more headroom for ray tracing and future titles, while the Core i9-13900K Processor still maintains smooth gameplay in current games.

Can the Core i9-13900K Processor handle 4K gaming?

The Core i9-13900K Processor can handle 4K gaming in less demanding titles and with upscaling technologies like DLSS or FSR. For native 4K at ultra settings in demanding games, the Core i9-14900K Processor is the better choice with its higher performance ceiling.

Which should I buy, the Core i9-13900K Processor or Core i9-14900K Processor?

Choose the Core i9-13900K Processor if you want the best value for money and primarily game at 1080p or 1440p. Choose the Core i9-14900K Processor if you need maximum performance, play at 4K, or do professional workloads like video editing and 3D rendering.

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