However, when pushing this chip to the absolute limits of its performance, it turns into a seriously power-hungry beast. We registered a max power draw of 337W during our tests, massively more than any other mainstream CPU on the market right now. This isn’t a deal-breaker by any means, but it does mean that you may need to spring for a hefty power supply if you want to routinely use this chip for highly resource-intensive tasks.

While it was fairly easy with previous generations of CPUs for coolers to keep the processor well under TJ max (the maximum temperature a CPU can sustain without throttling) in demanding workloads, this is no longer realistically possible on current generation CPUs without extreme cooling (or enabling power limits). The Z790 chipset is able to support an additional eight PCI-E 4.0 lanes than Z690, and it also can support an extra USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 port. The chipset’s integrated Wi-Fi controller is now based on an Intel Killer Wi-Fi 6E design as well. Video editors, 2D and 3D graphics tools, software compilers, and engineering tools require high-performing CPUs.

Max Turbo Frequency

Based on our evaluation of using Intel's Core i9-13900F CPU for professional tools, you can expect excellent tool performance with a high-performance CPU cooler. It even has the same integrated graphics, Intel UHD Graphics 770, although don’t expect too much from this. It’s capable of running standard computing tasks at output resolutions up to 8K, but you won’t be using it for gaming or any demanding graphical software. Besides, if you can afford this chip, you can afford a discrete graphics card. Five stars. This is the best desktop processor money can buy right now, and it bodes well for the future of CPUs. Synthetic single and multi-core benchmarks test the performance of specific instruction sets and processor operations like floating-point calculations using benchmark tools like GeekBench, Cinebench, and CPU-Z. This article compares Intel's Core i9-13900KF and Core i9-13900F desktop CPUs. We evaluated Intel's Core i9-13900KF and Core i9-13900F desktop CPUs to determine which would be better for various use cases. We shaped our testing methodology to focus on each CPU's attributes rather than relying solely on benchmarks.

Overall, we concluded that the MSI MEG Z790 ACE Gaming motherboard strikes a balance between performance and functionality, offering an exceptional gaming experience. With its advanced features and versatile connectivity options, this motherboard is a reliable choice for gamers looking to elevate their gameplay.

Instruction Set Extensions

Where things get a little more interesting is the power draw and thermal performance. The 16 E-cores on the 13900K’s die mean that average power use is very low compared to just about any other high-end CPU, which is great for when you’re just running everyday tasks on your PC and means that you get better performance per watt than any other chip on the market right now. Based on our evaluation of using Intel's Core i9-13900KF CPU for general apps, you can expect excellent app performance with a high-performance CPU cooler. The Intel Core i9-13900KF's 8 Performance cores have a 3.00 GHz base frequency and support a 5.40 GHz max turbo boost frequency.

So, whether you’re Team 13900K or Team 13900KF, one thing is for sure: with either of these processors, you’re in for a fantastic computing experience. Just make sure your CPU cooler is up to the task, or your PC might end up hotter than a summer day in the Sahara. While in the past a CPU hitting its peak temperature was cause for concern, enthusiasts are going to have to learn to accept high temperatures as “normal” while running demanding workloads with Raptor Lake and Ryzen 7000 CPUs. Intel’s 12th-gen ‘Alder Lake’ processors were built using the same 10nm process as the i9-13900K, and brought with them a new set of features, most prominently the new 'hybrid' core microarchitecture. This saw cores on the CPU die divided into performance and efficiency cores, a design choice seen previously in ARM chips.The Intel Core i9-13900K's 8 Performance cores have a 3.00 GHz base frequency and support a 5.40 GHz max turbo boost frequency. Intel's Core i9-13900F CPUs have 8 Performance cores (P-cores) and 16 Efficiency cores (E-cores) for a total of 24 cores. No way would I take my 13900kf that is a virgin to that ILS and soil it. Sure my 12700k didn't see much difference in temps with my Prime Z690 P ILS, but there was a depression that will always be there at least a little. If you're only planning to stream shows, use office apps, or browse the internet, you won't need a top-end CPU to get good performance. The most important CPU capability for general app usage is the single-core max turbo boost frequency. We found that the ASUS ROG Strix Z790-E Gaming WiFi 6E motherboard offered superior connectivity as well. Its 2.5 Gbps Ethernet port enables speedy file transfers, surpassing typical home internet speeds. Wi-Fi 6E technology provides fast wireless connections, making online gaming and streaming seamless. Plus, Bluetooth 5.3 support allows convenient music streaming to Bluetooth headphones.

I wholeheartedly agree with this recommendation. While there'll always be people who wants balls-out speed and hang the noise/power, using power limits (for both Intel & AMD) is a much more reasonable approach for the vast majority, and cheaper, if you want to use a budget air cooler. Raptor Lake processors will run just fine inside of existing Alder Lake motherboards, but Intel also launched a new Z790 chipset for Raptor Lake, too. I'm not sure about the wisdom of buying a flagship CPU only to substantially reduce its power (to 125W) for the sake of quietness. If such were the goal, the person should buy a cheaper and lower-powered part to begin with. When it comes to choosing a processor for your next PC build, you’re faced with an array of options. Intel has been a household name in the world of CPUs, and they’ve recently launched two contenders that have piqued my interest: the Intel Core i9-13900K and the Intel Core i9-13900KF. As a tech enthusiast, I couldn’t resist diving into the specs and testing these two chips to see which one comes out on top. Read on to explore my 13900k vs 13900kf comparison… Meet the Contenders – Intel Core i9-13900K vs. 13900KF The only significant difference between the 13900K and last year’s 12900K - other ‘more cores, faster cores’ - is that the 13900K has slightly more cache memory and support for faster DDR5 RAM kits thanks to superior memory bandwidth. The former should provide a small boost to gaming performance, but Intel doesn’t yet have a counter to AMD’s incredible 3D v-cache technology; once the Ryzen 70003D CPUs arrive, Intel could have serious competition in the gaming space once again.

Fran- said:Holy cow, I know you teased this yesterday in the Discord, but great work with this investigation. We found that, in general, more cores do provide better performance in professional tools and when running multiple applications simultaneously.