Intel is launching its fastest desktop processor to date, breaking the 6GHz barrier at stock speeds for the first time. The new Core i9-13900KS is based on the 13th Gen Core i9-13900K that came close to the 6GHz barrier with its 5.8GHz turbo frequency last year.
The 13900KS is the first CPU to achieve 6GHz without overclocking, breaking through the 6GHz barrier and enhancing PC gaming performance. It does this by utilizing Intel’s Thermal Velocity Boost technology. However, it accomplishes so by consuming more electricity. The base power of the 13900K was 125 watts; in the 13900KS, Intel increased this to 150 watts. It will reach slightly more than 250 watts at maximum turbo power, similar to the 13900K.
The 13900KS and 13900K are nearly identical, with the exception of the power and turbo frequency. However, it still features the same 24 cores (eight performance and 16 efficiency cores), 32 threads, 36MB of Intel Smart Cache, and 20 PCIe lanes. The performance core base frequencies have been raised to 3.2GHz from 3GHz on the 13900K.
Intel’s latest CPU arrives just weeks before AMD launches its Ryzen 7000 X3D CPUs. According to AMD, the top-tier Ryzen 9 7950X3D chip will be the “ideal processor for gamers and creators,” with promises of up to a 25% improvement in performance for CPU-bound 1080p games.
