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Intel Core i9-14900K
The Intel Core i9-14900K is a powerful but power-hungry processor that easily pulls hundreds of watts through the Intel socket. With 24 cores and 32 threads, there's plenty of headroom for the most demanding tasks.
Per- Better performance
- Hybrid core configuration
Disadvantages- Higher power consumption
- Less efficient, more heat
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AMD Ryzen 9 9900X
The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X is one of the Zen 5 CPUs with a focus on efficiency. TSMC's 4nm manufacturing process gives you access to an incredibly energy-efficient chip with correspondingly high performance.
Per- More efficient
- Excellent performance at lower TDP
Disadvantages- Fewer cores and threads
- Lower clock speeds
When you consider the most powerful processors from AMD and Intel, you'll probably consider the Intel Core i9-14900K and AMD Ryzen 9 9900X. These two desktop processors are about as good as you're going to get in 2024 without having to go overboard with the 14900K and 9950X. They're designed for power users and enthusiasts who will take full advantage of the available cores, but they're also pretty good for running games in 4K with a flagship GPU from AMD or Nvidia. So which should you choose for your next PC build?
Price, specifications and availability
AMD offered discounts on its AMD Ryzen 9000 series and the Ryzen 9 9900X, which launched with an MSRP of $499. The Intel Core i9-14900K launched at $599, but can be had for $549. That's a full $50 more for a chip that runs hotter, uses more power, but still offers better multi-core performance. The two processors are worlds apart. The i9-14900K has 24 cores, 32 threads, a maximum boost speed of 6.0GHz, 42MB cache, support for DDR4 and DDR5 RAM, and PCIe 5.0. With a TDP of 125W, you can expect it to pull more than 250W through the socket.
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Intel Core i9-14900K AMD Ryzen 9 9900X Socket LGA1700 AM5 Cores 8 P-cores, 16 E-cores 12 Topics 32 24 Base clock frequency 3.2GHz, 2.4GHz 4.4GHz Increase clock frequency 6.0GHz, 4.4GHz 5.6GHz PCIe 5.0 5.0 Cache 36MB L3 Datasheet RAM support DDR5-5600, DDR4-3200 DDR5-5600 graphic Intel UHD Graphics 770 AMD Radeon graphics (2 cores) architecture Raptor Lake refreshment Zen5 Proceedings Intel 7 (10nm) TSMC 4nm, 6nm TDP 125 watts 120 watts Power consumption ~253 watts ~162W
AMD takes a slightly different approach to a traditional core configuration, resulting in 12 cores and 24 threads. That's significantly less than Intel's chip, but it manages to pack a punch in heavier workloads. There's a whopping 77MB of cache available, almost double what you'll find in the 14900K. RAM support is limited to DDR5, as AM5 is only compatible with that, but that shouldn't be a problem if you want to use the latest technologies in your PC build. The TDP is only slightly lower, but power consumption is far lower, resulting in less heat generation.
Two very different architectures
Raptor Lake and Zen 5 are two very different architectures. Intel has been fixated on larger process nodes for years as it struggles to keep up with the advances of TSMC, AMD's manufacturing partner. Although Intel is technically behind, the company continues to release processors that win hands down in performance tests. The Intel Core i9-14900K is a monster on paper, with a whopping 32 threads and a maximum boost speed of 6.0 GHz. The AMD Ryzen 9900X on Zen 5 has “only” 24 threads and reaches speeds of 5.6 GHz.
Intel follows a similar core configuration to ARM chips with a “Big.Little” design. You'll find P cores, which are your standard performance cores with multi-thread support, and E cores, which are slower and use less power, running background tasks and leaving P cores free for gaming and other more intensive workloads. Zen 5 stays true to tradition and all cores are the same. All 12 cores in the 9900X have multi-thread support and run at maximum speed. Due to advances elsewhere (architecture and process nodes), AMD has been able to keep power consumption low.
Performance and Gaming
Modern processors are much more powerful than what was available years ago. It's amazing how far technology has advanced, as even an AMD Ryzen 5 or Intel Core i5 is considered powerful enough for gaming and creative use. You won't find a CPU with less than 6 cores in the mainstream SKU family. We put the Intel Core i9-14900K and AMD Ryzen 9 9900X to the test and used a range of tests for our testing, including some gaming. As expected, the 14900K is the most powerful processor across the board, but it doesn't win by a huge margin.
The best CPU is the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X, mainly due to the energy efficiency of the Zen 5 architecture and the 4nm process node from TSMC.
The differences in temperature readings are astonishing. The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X heats up to around 76 degrees Celsius in the stress test, but the Core i9-14900K hits 100 degrees Celsius before dropping back to 98 degrees Celsius due to thermal throttling. Given the close performance results of these two processors, this is a clear indication of the efficiency differences, where AMD comes out on top. AMD's Ryzen 9 9900X consumed around 100W less, which helped keep temperatures under control and save a few pennies on your annual electricity bill.
Which CPU is best for your PC?
The best CPU is the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X, which is mainly due to the power efficiency of the Zen 5 architecture and TSMC's 4nm process node. That's not to say that the 14900K is a bad chip. It's capable of almost anything you can throw at it. Whether it's gaming, creative software, or other resource-intensive tasks, this Intel processor can handle it. You'll need to make sure you have enough cooling to allow the chip to run as fast as the throttling will allow. And boy, will it throttle.
The Editor's Choice
Intel Core i9-14900K
549 $ $599 Save $50
The Intel Core i9-14900K is the high-end version of the older Raptor Lake processor that is intended to replace the i9-13900k. However, this is only a refresh model and the performance gains are not big enough to justify an upgrade.
AMD's Ryzen 9 9900X is the better choice of the two chips. It consumes significantly less power, generates less waste heat, and can keep up with the Intel Core i9-14900K. This processor uses the same AM5 socket as the Ryzen 7000 series and is a good candidate for an upgrade from a previous-generation Ryzen 5 or Ryzen 7. AMD has pledged to support the same platform for several years, opening up new possibilities for future system upgrades.
Good alternative
AMD Ryzen 9 9900X
AMD's Ryzen 9 9900X is a strong contender for creative systems and gaming rigs. 12 physical cores make it a powerful processor, and the low 120W TDP ensures you don't need the most expensive CPU coolers to prevent meltdowns.