Intel's new 14th Gen Raptor Lake Refresh processors will be available on Oct 17
The Core i9-14900K will retail at US$589, while the Core i5-14600K is priced at US$319.
Intel is set to unveil its 14th Gen desktop processors this week, continuing to make strides in the highly competitive CPU market. While last year's 13th Gen processors already turned heads, this year's lineup, known as Raptor Lake Refresh, aims to hold consumer attention with some remarkable specifications. Yet, perhaps the most interesting aspect is that Intel is not hiking up the price; the new Core i9, i7, and i5 processors will retail at the same price points as their 13th Gen counterparts when they launch on October 17.
The star of the show is the flagship Core i9-14900K, which boasts a staggering 6GHz boost frequency right out of the box. Intel has dubbed it the "fastest desktop processor at volume", indirectly referencing its limited-run Core i9-13900KS variant that initially broke the 6GHz barrier last year. The 13900KS, however, wasn’t widely available, making the 14900K the first to offer these speeds on a large scale. The processor features Thermal Velocity Boost frequency, a technology previously found on the special-edition US$699 Core i9-13900KS.
Frequencies for the P-core max turbo are up by 200Hz to 5.6GHz this year, and the E-core max turbo frequency sees a bump of 100MHz. Even the base frequencies for both the P- and E-cores have been increased by 200MHz, making it a compelling option for users looking for extreme performance. On paper at least.
There's also something in the lineup for the mid-range users, with the refreshed Core i5-14600K. This chip includes a total of 20 cores, comprising six P-cores and eight E-cores. The i5 features a base clock of 3.5GHz on the P-core side and can boost up to 5.3GHz. It is slated to launch at US$319, making it an affordable option for those who don’t require the high-end specifications of the i9 or i7.
What's more, these 14th Gen chips are backward compatible with Intel 600- and 700-series motherboards, thanks to the continued use of the LGA 1700 socket. They also come with support for Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4, available through a discrete option that motherboard manufacturers can include in refreshed Z790 boards. Memory support has also been updated, with these chips supporting DDR5 5600 and DDR4 3200 speeds.
In terms of pricing, the Core i9-14900K will retail at US$589, while the Core i5-14600K is priced at US$319. All 14th Gen processors in the lineup will be available from system builders and retailers starting tomorrow (Oct 17).
Stay tuned to our i9-14900K and i5-14600K reviews.
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