Is the Core i9-13900KS Overkill for Gaming?
Today we find out whether or not the 13900KS is overkill for gaming.
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Intel has kicked off the new year in spectacular fashion by adding yet another few processors to their Raptor Lake lineup. Their most recent addition is the i9-13900KS. The S here stands for ‘special edition’ – the processor is made with Intel’s finest binned silicon.
Now read: Best motherboard for 13900KS
Intel gave us a sneak peek into i9-13900KS only a few days ago and officially launched the processor yesterday at a retail price of $699. A beefy $110 increase from the standard 13900K available at $589.
The processor boasts max clock speeds of 6GHz at stock, making it the first-ever CPU to break the 6Ghz barrier without overclocking.
Is it worth paying extra for the Special edition processor, or would that simply be overkill? Let’s find out.
The i9-13900KS: Specifications
The core i9-13900KS is Intel’s finest consumer-grade processor. Intel officially claims it to be the “fastest desktop processor.”
And fast it is – Let’s take a more detailed look at the processor’s official specs.
- Core Count: 24
- Performance Cores: 8 (Hyperthreading Enabled)
- Efficiency Cores: 16
- Total Threads: 32
- Cache: 68 MB
- P.Core Base Clock: 3.2GHz
- P.Core Boost Clock: 5.4GHz
- P.Core Max Clock with Thermal Velocity Boost: 6GHz
- E.Core Base Clock: 2.4GHz
- E.Core Boost Clock: 4.3GHz
- Base TDP: 150 Watts
- Max TDP: 320 Watts
- Socket: LGA 1700
While P-Cores have a boost clock of 5.4GHz, Intel’s Thermal Velocity Boost technology allows a few P.Cores at a time to push those limits even further, up to 6GHz.
Overall, the i9-13900KS’ specs are identical to the standard version, with the most notable exception being the higher max clock speed. The Special edition is about 200Mhz faster at max potential – and that’s enough to max a tangible difference.
The special edition processor performs roughly 5% better in single-core tests and approximately 10% better in multi-core tests.
Is the Core i9-13900KS Overkill for Gaming?
In their attempts to one-up each other, Intel and AMD have released some incredibly powerful processors, to the point where we now have to wonder whether or not these newer ones are overkill.
The i9-13900KS is currently king. It’s so fast that it would almost be unfair to pair it up with anything other than the fastest GPUs – the 4090 ti and the 7900xtx.
This may not be an option for you if you don’t have a large-sized PC case.
What that in mind, if you’re budget-conscious but don’t want to compromise too much on performance either, I’d recommend opting for an i7 or an i5 from the same Raptor Lake lineup.
The i5-13400F is an excellent option, retailing at a relatively affordable $216 while offering great performance. It also has a few efficiency cores mixed in, meaning you’ll get good power efficiency too.
If you’re a PC enthusiast who wants to boast the best possible setup and doesn’t mind the extra spend, the special edition i9-13900KS is for you.
Otherwise, yes, it’s definitely overkill. Games today simply can’t utilize the impressive clock speed and thread count offered by this incredible processor. So, Is the Core i9-13900KS Overkill for Gaming?
I9-13900KS Power Efficiency and Thermals
While the i9-13900KS is the current best gaming processor in the world, it’s not necessarily the most practical.
Even though its compatibility with Alder Lake motherboards softens the blow, the processor retails at an expensive $699 price point.
It’s also not the most power-efficient, with a base TDP of 150 watts and a max TDP of 320 (when run on Intel’s Extreme Power Delivery Profile).
This extreme power usage will likely demand a top-of-the-line liquid thermal solution to keep the processor from throttling. Air cooling is simply out of the question here.
The chip needs to be kept below 70°C/158°F for Intel’s Thermal Velocity Boost to kick in. Otherwise, it won’t hit its 6GHz max clock.
Final Thoughts
Overall, the core i9-13900Ks is a great CPU for gaming – it’s actually the best there is right now (although that may change soon, as AMD is expected to fire back with the 3D V Cache versions of their 7000 CPUs).
The CPU is a bit costly, though. And currently, games cant utilize their fullest potential. If you aren’t building a PC with the absolute best specs and don’t have use cases other than gaming, it’s probably overkill. That’s not to say you shouldn’t get one, however.
