Did Intel just drop the mic with a CPU that cranks out a blazing-fast 6.2 GHz turbo frequency? Hold on to your gaming chairs a second. While the Core i9-14900KS sounds like a dream come true on paper, with its 24 cores and 32 threads, it might be a nightmare for your wallet and your electricity bill.
Sure, it’s the king of the hill in Intel’s CPU kingdom, and that 6.2 GHz is a technical marvel. But here’s the thing: benchmarks by TechPowerUp reveal a not-so-pretty picture when it comes to using this beast in your next build.
First up, power consumption. Buckle up, because according to TechPowerUp, the i9-14900KS guzzles power – three times more than the average when tested across 13 games! Gamers, known for pushing their PCs to the limit, might want to steer clear of this energy hog.
But even if you’re not an eco-warrior, that kind of power draw translates to serious heat. You’ll need a top-notch water cooler running at max capacity just to keep this fiery chip from melting your entire PC. And let’s not forget the new Nvidia 4090s – pair them together, and you’re looking at a power plant disguised as a gaming rig.
Here’s the kicker: despite the impressive specs, the i9-14900KS doesn’t necessarily outperform other options on the market. In fact, TechPowerUp’s benchmarks show that AMD’s Ryzen 7 7800X3D often edged it out in gaming performance. Plus, the Ryzen comes in at roughly half the price of the i9-14900KS’s hefty $699.99 MSRP (and forget MSRP, some listings are already hitting over $1,000!).
There’s no denying the technical feat Intel achieved with this CPU. A 6.2 GHz clock speed is nothing to scoff at. But for now, it seems Intel needs to address the heat and power issues before this monster becomes a realistic option for gamers and high-end PC users.
