Intel announces the Core i9-13900KS: its first 6 GHz processor
The manufacturer revealed the newest member of the Raptor Lake family, a 24-core desktop processor that reaches 6 GHZ without overclocking.
As anticipated for months, Intel announced its first 6 GHz desktop processor. After offering a glimpse during its keynote at CES 2023, the manufacturer made the launch of the Core i9-13900KS official. The new member of the Raptor Lake family has 24 cores and 32 threads, a maximum consumption of 300 W, and reaches a frequency of 6 GHz out of the box.
The Intel chip is built under the 10 nm Intel 7 process and has a hybrid architecture that integrates eight performance (P) and 16 efficiencies (E) cores. In terms of specifications, it is identical to the Core i9-13900K variant, with the difference that it reaches 6 GHz in Boost mode on its P cores. The manufacturer claims it is the first desktop processor to achieve this frequency without overclocking.
Intel posted a YouTube video a few days ago showing the Core i9-13900KS in action. A company engineer ran the 7-zip benchmark on a machine with the default options, reaching 6 GHz on two performance cores while the other six remained at 5.6 GHz. According to Intel, the test was carried out on a computer with an ASUS Z790 motherboard and a Corsair heatsink; components sold today do not involve a complex cooling setup.
Achieving 6 GHz will depend on many factors.
In one of the tests, the two cores are just a few Hz away from reaching the promised number. According to the Intel engineer, the 6 GHz promoted by the manufacturer is limited by several factors; issues such as the environment, power management, or heat dissipation are critical, although the software itself will also dictate the top.
The new 6GHz Core i9-13900KS will not be a typical processor we can buy anytime. For Special Edition, the S denotes that a limited number of pieces will be produced and eventually run out. Achieving this frequency is a milestone for Intel, which expects enthusiasts and gamers to use the speed.
Unfortunately, the 6 GHz has a disadvantage: the price. The Core i9-13900KS will retail for $699, which means you’d pay $110 for an extra 200 MHz. The Core i9-13900K offers a 5.8GHz Boost and starts at $589. Another point to note is that it will arrive with a TDP of 150 W and reach 300 W, according to the YouTube video.
Intel Core i9-13900KS: price and availability
Starting today, the Core i9-13900KS will be available from retail channels at a suggested price of $699. The chip features a 36 MB L3 cache and supports DDR4-3200 and DDR5-5600 memory. The processors use the LGA 1700 socket and are compatible with Z790 motherboards.
Intel also used its presence at CES 2023 to announce its Raptor Lake processors for laptops, including the mighty Core i9-13980HX. This version will arrive with 24 cores with a maximum frequency of 5.6 GHz, support for 128 GB of DDR5 5600 (or DDR4 3200) memory, Thunderbolt 4, WiFi 6E, and Bluetooth 5.2.
