Intel Core i9-13900K overview – Is the 13900K value it?

Intel’s Thirteenth-generation CPUs are lastly right here, however what will we consider the i9-13900K thus far?

Up to date: Oct 20, 2022 2:00 pm

Desk of Contents Desk of Contents

Intel has lastly launched its Thirteenth technology Raptor lake CPUs, and what stir they’ve brought on. On this article, we’ll discover the specs, value, efficiency, and use case of the 13900K. In addition to giving our opinion on the CPU and technology itself. 

Now learn: The place to purchase Intel i9-13900K

Within the crosshairs at this time is the i9-13900K. Intel’s flagship Thirteenth-generation CPU. 

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Core i9-13900K CPU specs

The 13900K is designed to be the perfect of the perfect, it’s Intel’s new flagship CPU for the Raptor Lake technology. Intel’s 13900K spares no expense on the subject of efficiency.

The specs for the i9-13900K are as follows: 

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Core i9-13900K what’s new?

Apparently sufficient, regardless of the Thirteenth-generation being similar to the Twelfth-generation CPUs internally, even being constructed on the identical Intel 7 10nm course of node. However Intel has managed to make some fairly critical enhancements over Alder Lake. 

Hyperthreaded E-cores

As an example, the cut up core expertise is right here to remain, solely this time with a really clear distinction.  And we’re not simply speaking concerning the variety of cores. 

Half of the 16 E-cores are hyperthreaded this time round, giving the 13900K a critical benefit in core and thread counts over the 12900K and even the 7950X. This implies the general IPC goes to be vastly improved over earlier generations, with out taking on rather more area on the CCD. 

A lot of the new options include the Z790 motherboards, and we’ll cowl that in one other piece. However you possibly can count on PCIe 5.0 assist and sooner DDR5 reminiscence assist on the Z790 platform. 

TDP

The TDP has seen an enormous improve as much as 253W in some instances, which means you’ll want a reasonably beefy cooler to maintain the 13900K cool. That is solely a small improve over Alder Lakes’s finest, however as you’ll quickly see this turns into a problem. 

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Intel Core i9-13900K efficiency

We examined the i9-13900K on a check bench comprised of solely the most recent and best {hardware}. Our check bench was comprised of the next elements: 

For almost all of the check, we can be evaluating the 13900K with the 7900X, we all know it makes extra sense to check with the 7950X, however these two CPUs are nearer in value. 

Intel Core i9-13900K artificial benchmarks

Right here we ran the 13900K via all of the artificial fan favorites, equivalent to CPU Z, Cinebench R23, and Geekbench 5. Reporting on each single and multi-core efficiency all through. As you’ll quickly see, this 13900K is a beast in its personal proper. 

As you possibly can see, the 13900K is sort of the CPU, now onto the outcomes: 

CPU-Z

First on the checklist is the CPU-Z benchmarks. The 13900K scored a complete of 933 factors within the single-core benchmarks and 16,812 factors within the multi-core benchmarks. That is a lot better than the 7900X’s rating of 789 factors and 11,827 factors respectively. 

Cinebench R23

The Cinebench scores present a mighty CPU within the making, tackling the CB single-core render with a rating of two,288 and scoring an enormous 38,951 factors within the multi-core render. These further cores and threads are actually serving to the 13900K out in multi-threaded benchmarks. 

Geekbench 5

The Geekbench outcomes are the collective single and multi-core outcomes, as they are going to suffice for comparative functions. The 13900K scored an enormous 2,224 within the single-core benchmarks and introduced residence a rating of 25,102. In contrast, the 7900X managed 2,259 single and 18,720 multi. Presumably on account of Ryzen’s proficiency in AI-accelerated workloads.

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Intel Core i9-13900K real-world gaming benchmarks

We put the i9-13900K via its paces in not solely artificial workloads however real-world gaming workloads too. Listed here are 5 fashionable video games we opted to check the 13900K in. 

We’re once more evaluating the 13900K’s efficiency to that of the 7900X akin to the artificial portion of this text. 

These are the video games we examined and the outcomes we discovered whereas benchmarking. All the video games are examined in 1080p and on low settings, aside from CS:GO which is ready on excessive.

Intel Core i9-13900K gaming benchmarks

As you possibly can see from the desk above, the 13900K can maintain its personal on the subject of gaming efficiency. 

First up, in Cyberpunk 2077, the 13900K managed a 185 FPS common, whereas the 7900X solely managed a 174 FPS common. The upper clock velocity of the 13900K coming to the rescue right here. 

In Elden Ring, it’s an identical story. The i9-13900K brings in a median of 175 FPS and in contrast, the 7900X manages a 157 FPS common. The 13900K is the clear winner as soon as once more. 

In CS:GO it’s a lot of the identical, with the 113900K bringing residence 362 FPS on common. Contrasted by the 7900X’s 389 FPS common. Who’d have thought the 7900X might come out on high, in E-sports titles of all issues? 

Lastly, we now have GTA V, the benchmark portion of GTA V was used to remove discrepancies, and each CPUs rating the very same common FPS. Each the 13900K and the 7900XC managed 157 FPS. seems like we’re GPU sure in GTA V. regardless of the low settings. 

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Intel Core i9-13900K efficiency overview

Intel CEO, Pat Gelsinger, acknowledged at Intel’s newest innovation occasion that the efficiency of the Thirteenth technology over Alder Lake could be huge, and he wasn’t improper. 

The projected efficiency improve was round a 15% single-core efficiency uplift and round a 46% efficiency uplift on multi-core features. And he wasn’t far off. 

The 13900K manages to dominate in each benchmark aside from the AI and decoding-based Geekebench 5 benchmark. 

The 13900K additionally managed to drag extra FPS out of each sport we examined, other than CS:GO, which is so well-optimized that we’re fairly certain it will probably run on a potato. 

The elevated core enhance speeds and improve within the variety of cores, threads, and the addition of hyperthreaded E-cores deliver the 13900K to the forefront of efficiency. Taking the trade by storm. 

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Intel Core i9-13900K iGPU efficiency.

The iGPU that resides within the Thirteenth-generation of Intel CPUs is the very same one that may be discovered contained in the Twelfth-generation processors. The Intel UHD 770 iGPU. 

We additionally examined the Intel iGPU to see if its efficiency has been improved over the past generations utility of it.

Initially, we examined the iGPU in 3DMARK’s Time Spy. In Time Spy, the 13900K managed to attain a decent 1,388 factors in 1080P, that’s method forward of the 7900X’s 739 factors. Nonetheless, the 7900X solely had two computing items to work with. 

Each GTA V and CS:GO really wielded related outcomes, with a 64 FPS common and a 60 FPS common respectively. Not a horrible efficiency, after all, the settings had been set to the bottom of the low in GTA V however set to excessive in CS:GO. Each video games had been examined at 1080P. 

These outcomes appear unusual in comparison with the 7900X’s outcomes. Because the 7900X managed 54 FPS in GTA V, however 131 FPS in CSGO, a lot decrease efficiency in GTA V, however a lot larger in CS:GO. We do know simply how highly effective the brand new RDNA 2 structure is, and it’s unusual to see it have such an affinity for older video games. 

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The Intel Core i9-13900K runs sizzling, too sizzling

We will clearly see that Intel has packed numerous efficiency into its new Thirteenth-generation CPUs. However is there such a factor as an excessive amount of? 

We ran a check on the 13900K with the ASUS Ryujin ii 360MM CPU cooler, certainly not a slouch on this planet of CPU cooling. In truth, it’s up there as probably the greatest we’ve ever examined. Why are we hammering residence the effectiveness of the Ryujin ii a lot? Right here’s why. 

We ran an AIDA64 stress check, stressing each FPU and CPU, and we managed to drive the 13900K as much as 105°C, with AIDA reporting 13% thermal throttling, we’re certain we don’t must inform you how unhealthy that is, however that proper there’s a 13% lack of CPU effectiveness due to the 13900K’s huge TDP. 

Now, a stress check is a worst-case state of affairs, and we’re certain no one will ever meet these ranges of CPU stress in regular day-to-day utilization and even heavy gaming. However the reality we are able to get the 13900K to those temperatures with a £280 360mm AIO CPU cooler is unacceptable. 

When you’ve got an older, smaller AIO CPU cooler and even an air-based cooler, you possibly can in all probability kiss proudly owning a 13900K goodbye. 

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Intel core i9-13900K value

The Intel Core i9-13900K may be had for an enormous, enormous, gargantuan … $589 USD. We checked this thrice, and that’s the precise value. As we talked about earlier on within the overview, the rationale we’re evaluating to the 7900X is that they’re virtually the identical value. 

Contemplating that the 7950X prices over $100 extra and doesn’t carry out all that higher in even multi-core workloads, it’s getting troublesome to discover a motive to go along with AMD this time round. Strengthened by the very fact it’s important to purchase a brand new motherboard to assist AMD’s latest CPUs. with Intel, that’s not a necessity. 

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Intel Core i9-13900K professionals and cons

The Intel Core i9-13900K has one obtrusive downside, and for as soon as it’s not the value. It’s the warmth, the 13900K runs method too sizzling when harassed for our liking and it might even find yourself being detrimental to your {hardware} in the event you run your CPUs near 100% always. 

Professionals

• Highly effective single and multi-core efficiency
• Excessive enhance speeds
• improved L2 cache capability
• 32 logical processors

On the flip aspect, the 13900K is actually a wonderful CPU, simply packed to the brim with efficiency, the additional benefit is, you don’t even have to fret about upgrading your motherboard to get these new ranges of efficiency. It’s simply an choice. 

If you happen to upgraded when Alder Lake was launched, you possibly can actually simply whack your new 13900K within the LGA 1700 socket in your motherboard with out having to fret about compatibility (it’s not but sure whether or not you’ll want a BIOS replace, nonetheless). 

The 13900K is fairly cost-effective whenever you take a look at it, the flagship prices the identical because the 2nd finest CPU on workforce Crimson’s latest line-up. However, is that as a result of we’re wanting on the true flagship? Or is that this the 2nd finest in Intel’s class additionally?

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Flagship or not?

Is the 13900K Intel’s latest flagship CPU? Nicely, ye sit is form of. Nonetheless, CEO, Pat Gelsinger, revealed that there can be a flagship CPU able to 6GHz clock speeds out of the field, this clearly should be referring to the 13900KS. 

The i9-13900KS has not been introduced wherever as of but, however Alder Lake acquired the 12900KS so many individuals are skeptical as as to whether we’ll see one from Raptor Lake, because the final KS earlier than Alder Lake was again on ninth gen. Solely time will inform. 

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Last phrase

We predict that the 13900K is completely value each penny in the event you’ve already upgraded to socket LGA 1700, you will have some DDR5 reminiscence already, and a really beefy CPU cooler. If you happen to’re a gamer and solely plan on gaming, then you would save a buck or two by choosing one thing a bit decrease than the flagship that also presents good single-core efficiency. 

The warmth points do must be addressed, though we didn’t see any throttling whereas gaming that we might see. The actual fact we are able to get the 13900K to throttle with such environment friendly cooling {hardware} is worrisome. 

When you’ve got the spare money, and cooling headroom, we expect the 13900K will make a superb 12900K / KS alternative, particularly in the event you’re somebody who makes use of numerous the CPU’s multi-core strengths.