OVERALL

ALTERNATIVES

SPECS

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REVIEWS

Intel Core i9-13900K review: 74 specs compared

Avg. price:~£480PassMark multi-core score:58239N. of physical cores:24CPU boost clock speed:5.8 GHzCPU socket:LGA1700TDP (Thermal design power):125 W

Intel Core i9-13900K Review: Compare 74 technical specifications, 59 expert and video reviews and 6 best-of lists to see how this product ranks in the Processors category and whether it is worth buying.

Intel Core i9-13900K

8.3/10

★Better than 98% of processors

8.2

★Better than 93%

8.6

★Better than 95%

8.3

▲Better than 86%

8.3

★Better than 97%

8.9
Gaming
Gaming
8.9/ 10
✕
What it is
Measures single-core benchmark performance, peak boost clock speeds, and fast L3 cache sizing critical for high frame rates.
When it matters
When you want to play demanding mobile games, 3D titles, or run graphics-intensive apps smoothly.
Score distribution
▼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
Score components
30.0%
10
PassMark single-core score
25.0%
9.3
Geekbench 6 single-core score
20.0%
10
CPU boost clock speed
17.0%
4.4
L3 cache
8.0%
10
N. of physical cores
9.2
Video editing
Video editing
9.2/ 10
✕
What it is
Assesses multi-core benchmark throughput, total physical core and thread count, and cache bandwidth for rapid video rendering.
When it matters
When evaluating how effectively this processors meets your specific video editing needs.
Score distribution
▼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
Score components
45.0%
10
Geekbench 6 multi-core score
20.0%
10
N. of physical cores
20.0%
10
CPU threads
15.0%
4.4
L3 cache

Where to buy

N/A~ £480

Best rankings

What reviewers say about the Intel Core i9-13900K

Based on 10 · 27

Multi-core performance impresses almost everyone, but it draws a lot of power and runs hot; opinions on gaming are split.

Praised

Mixed views

Criticised

Pick a topic to see who said what

What owners say about the Intel Core i9-13900K

Based on 154 owners sharing their experience in online comments

49%positive15%mixed36%negative

Owners prize its gaming and work speed, while heat and power draw can make cooling and tuning a challenge.

What owners like

Owners report steady frame rates with fewer dips and stutters, with smoothness improving most over older chips even when average fps barely changes.15
Owners use it for code compiling, large music projects and video rendering, saying these jobs run much faster than on older chips.13
Owners say a 360mm AIO or large tower cooler, plus a power limit near 250W or a light undervolt, keeps gaming temperatures around 60 to 75C.11
Owners say gaming draws roughly 120W, and turning off hyper-threading or some E-cores for games cuts power and voltage sharply.9
Owners reach roughly 5.6 to 6.1GHz on performance cores with tuning, and say a tuned 13900K matches the 14900K in benchmarks.8
Owners say a modest undervolt, or a power limit near 246W with a good cooler, passes stress tests without throttling; stock settings do not.6
Owners moving from 9900K, 10900K or 8700K say the uplift is large, with compile and everyday work noticeably faster.4

What owners dislike

Owners report temperatures hitting 90 to 100C under heavy loads like Cinebench or photo editing, with 240mm coolers often throttling and a 360mm radiator needed.36
Owners see package power of 250 to 370W in multicore workloads, often above rival chips, though gaming draw is much lower.10
Owners say XTU refuses to load or set negative offsets unless undervolt protection is disabled in BIOS, and some offsets crash or show undefined.9
Owners say enabling XMP on DDR5 memory can cause no-boot, blue screens or only half the RAM being detected.7
Owners report crashes, reboots or freezes, for example when editing photos in Lightroom or when enabling 6GHz clocks or auto overclocking.7
Owners say 4K fps matches rival chips and rivals have better 1% lows, and older Intel upgrades added little gaming fps.4
Owners mention chips failing within months, degradation linked to power and heat, and heatspreader warping from contact pressure, leading to RMA replacements.3
Owners say the chip is expensive, and a full high-end build with it costs a lot of money.3

Points mentioned by at least 3 owners, most mentioned first.

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Technical Specifications of processor Intel Core i9-13900K

8.3

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Platform

8.5

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Processor type

CPU socket

Chipset

CPU architecture

Instruction sets

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What reviewers say

Performance

9.4

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N. of physical cores

CPU threads

CPU boost clock speed

CPU base clock speed

PassMark multi-core score

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What reviewers say

Architecture

7.6

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Semiconductor size

Foundry

L3 cache

L2 cache

L1 cache

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Memory & PCIe

9.1

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DDR memory version

Maximum memory speed

Max memory speed (JEDEC)

Max memory speed (XMP / EXPO)

Maximum memory capacity

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What reviewers say

Integrated graphics

7.9

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Integrated graphics

Integrated GPU model

Integrated GPU execution units

Integrated GPU base frequency

Integrated media encoders/decoders

?

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Power & Thermal

3.3

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TDP (Thermal design power)

Base power (PL1)

Boost power (PL2)

Tau (power duration limit)

N/A

Configurable TDP

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What reviewers say

Intel Core i9-13900K vs the average processor

Why is Intel Core i9-13900K better than the average processor?

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5.08x higher PassMark score
This processor has a higher PassMark benchmark score than the average processor (58,239 vs 11,469). The average processor scores 11,469 in PassMark benchmark.
58,239 vs 11,469
4.07x higher multi-core score
This processor has a higher Geekbench 6 multi-core score than the average processor (21,183 vs 5,209). The average processor scores 5,209 in Geekbench 6 multi-core.
21,183 vs 5,209
18 more CPU cores
This processor has more CPU cores than the average processor (24 vs 6). The average processor has 6 CPU cores.
24 vs 6
79.8% better single-core performance
This processor has a higher PassMark single-core score than the average processor (4,599 vs 2,558). The average processor scores 2,558 in PassMark single-core.
4,599 vs 2,558
94.4% higher single-core score
This processor has a higher Geekbench 6 single-core score than the average processor (2,984 vs 1,535). The average processor scores 1,535 in Geekbench 6 single-core.
2,984 vs 1,535
31.8% higher boost clock
This processor has a higher boost clock speed than the average processor (5.8 GHz vs 4.4 GHz). The average processor reaches boost clock speed of 4.4 GHz.
5.8 GHz vs 4.4 GHz
24 more CPU threads
This processor has more CPU threads than the average processor (32 vs 8). The average processor has 8 CPU threads.
32 vs 8
10.67x larger L2 cache
This processor has a higher L2 cache than the average processor (32 MB vs 3 MB). The average processor has L2 cache of 3 MB.
32 MB vs 3 MB

23.9% higher review score
Reviews score
8.3/ 10
✕
What it is
Average grade from independent test sites, magazines and video reviewers, 1–10.
How we count it
Grades: Each review's own score is converted to 1–10; without one, we grade the review ourselves. Big test sites count more, short reviews half as much as full tests. A video review counts half.
Score: The average grade is 80% of the review mark; the number of reviews is the other 20% (1 review = 5, the typical number in this category = 8, the most-reviewed model = 10).
Enough data: With few reviews, the average grade is pulled toward the typical grade of this category. No reviews yet: 7.2 for now.
Share: Reviews count 25% of the overall score.
Score distribution
▼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
▲ Better than 86% of models
80%
7.8
Average grade
20%
10
Popularity
Grades by review (59)
32 reviews: 19 with a printed score, 13 estimated from the review. 27 video reviews, each counting half as much as a written test. Reviews count 25% of the overall score.
User ratings collected online are not part of this score.
8.3 vs 6.7
12.8% better value for money
Intel Core i9-13900K has better value for money than the average processor (8.22 vs 7.3).
8.22 vs 7.29
6.4% higher list score
List score
8.3/ 10
✕
What it is
How often independent test sites, magazines and video reviewers put this model in their best-of lists for this category.
How we count it
Points: The model in the most lists of this category gets 10; the others get 8 to 10 in proportion. In no list yet: 7.5. Lists count 25% of the overall score.
Enough data: Every list counts, even a single one. With fewer than 5 best-of lists in the category, this part is left out.
Lists with this model (6)
List score: in 6 of 87 lists (7%)
8.3 vs 7.8

Modern CPU socket
This processor uses a more modern CPU socket than the average processor (LGA1700 vs FP5).
LGA1700 vs FP5
More extensive crypto acceleration
This processor offers more extensive crypto acceleration than the average processor (AES, VAES, SHA, RSA/PKA vs AES, SHA).
AES, VAES, SHA, RSA/PKA vs AES, SHA
Supports heterogeneous scheduling
This processor uses heterogeneous multi-processing, while the average processor does not. 24.8% of processors use it.

5.08x higher PassMark score
This processor has a higher PassMark benchmark score than the average processor (58,239 vs 11,469). The average processor scores 11,469 in PassMark benchmark.
58,239 vs 11,469
4.07x higher multi-core score
This processor has a higher Geekbench 6 multi-core score than the average processor (21,183 vs 5,209). The average processor scores 5,209 in Geekbench 6 multi-core.
21,183 vs 5,209
18 more CPU cores
This processor has more CPU cores than the average processor (24 vs 6). The average processor has 6 CPU cores.
24 vs 6
79.8% better single-core performance
This processor has a higher PassMark single-core score than the average processor (4,599 vs 2,558). The average processor scores 2,558 in PassMark single-core.
4,599 vs 2,558
94.4% higher single-core score
This processor has a higher Geekbench 6 single-core score than the average processor (2,984 vs 1,535). The average processor scores 1,535 in Geekbench 6 single-core.
2,984 vs 1,535
31.8% higher boost clock
This processor has a higher boost clock speed than the average processor (5.8 GHz vs 4.4 GHz). The average processor reaches boost clock speed of 4.4 GHz.
5.8 GHz vs 4.4 GHz
24 more CPU threads
This processor has more CPU threads than the average processor (32 vs 8). The average processor has 8 CPU threads.
32 vs 8
73.3% higher Cinebench R20 single-core score
This processor has a higher Cinebench R20 single-core score than the average processor (849 vs 490). The average processor scores 490 in Cinebench R20 single-core.
849 vs 490
Higher base clock
This processor has a higher base clock than the average processor (8x3 GHz & 16x2.2 GHz vs 4x3.4 GHz).
8x3.0 GHz & 16x2.2 GHz vs 4x3.4 GHz
Unlocked for overclocking
This processor has an unlocked multiplier, while the average processor does not. 22.6% of processors offer this.
64% faster classroom rendering
This processor has a lower Blender Classroom render time than the average processor (557.7 vs 340.1). The average processor needs 340.075 for the Blender Classroom test.
557.66 vs 340.075
2x higher bus transfer rate
This processor has a higher bus transfer rate than the average processor (16 GT/s vs 8 GT/s). The average processor offers bus transfer rate of 8 GT/s.
16 GT/s vs 8 GT/s
More advanced Turbo Core
This processor has a more advanced Turbo Core version than the average processor (3 vs 2).
Turbo Boost
3 vs 2

10.67x larger L2 cache
This processor has a higher L2 cache than the average processor (32 MB vs 3 MB). The average processor has L2 cache of 3 MB.
32 MB vs 3 MB
More advanced microarchitecture
This processor uses a more advanced microarchitecture than the average processor (Raptor Lake vs Kaby Lake).
Raptor Lake vs Kaby Lake
4x more L2 per core
This processor has more L2 cache per core than the average processor (2 MB/core vs 0.5 MB/core). The average processor provides 0.5 MB/core of L2 cache per core.
2 MB/core vs 0.5 MB/core
4x larger L3 cache
This processor has a higher L3 cache than the average processor (36 MB vs 9 MB). The average processor has L3 cache of 9 MB.
36 MB vs 9 MB
5.67x larger L1 cache
This processor has a higher L1 cache than the average processor (2,176 KB vs 384 KB). The average processor has L1 cache of 384 KB.
2,176 KB vs 384 KB
Mixed big and small cores
This processor uses a big.LITTLE design, while the average processor does not. 22.6% of processors use one.
P-cores + E-cores
More advanced foundry
This processor uses a more advanced foundry process than the average processor (Intel 7 vs Intel 14 nm).
Intel 7 vs Intel 14 nm

Newer PCIe version
This processor supports a newer PCIe version than the average processor (5 + 4 vs 3).
5.0 + 4.0 vs 3.0
3x more memory capacity
This processor has more maximum memory capacity than the average processor (192 GB vs 64 GB). The average processor supports 64 GB of memory.
192 GB vs 64 GB
91% higher memory bandwidth
This processor has a higher memory bandwidth than the average processor (89.6 GB/s vs 46.9 GB/s). The average processor offers memory bandwidth of 46.9 GB/s.
89.6 GB/s vs 46.9 GB/s
Newer DDR support
This processor supports a newer DDR generation than the average processor (DDR4/DDR5 vs DDR4).
DDR4/DDR5 vs DDR4
Supports memory overclocking
This processor supports memory overclocking, while the average processor does not. 43.9% of processors support memory overclocking.
75% higher memory speed
This processor has a higher maximum memory speed than the average processor (5,600 MHz vs 3,200 MHz). The average processor supports memory speed of 3,200 MHz.
5,600 MHz vs 3,200 MHz
4 more PCIe lanes
This processor has more PCIe lanes than the average processor (20 vs 16). The average processor offers 16 PCIe lanes.
20 vs 16
Supports ECC memory
This processor supports ECC memory, while the average processor does not. 32% of processors support it.
Higher JEDEC memory speed
This processor has a higher JEDEC memory speed than the average processor (DDR5-5600 MHz vs DDR4-3200 MHz). The average processor supports JEDEC memory speed of DDR4-3200 MHz.
DDR5-5,600 MHz vs DDR4-3,200 MHz

1 more supported displays
This processor has more supported displays than the average processor (4 vs 3). The average processor supports 3 displays.
4 vs 3

Why is Intel Core i9-13900K worse than the average processor?

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3.95x higher boost power
This processor has a higher boost power draw than the average processor (253 W vs 64 W). The average processor has a boost power draw of 64 W.
253 W vs 64 W
No configurable TDP
This processor does not support configurable TDP, while the average processor does. 53.7% of processors support configurable TDP.
2.78x higher base power
This processor has a higher base power draw than the average processor (125 W vs 45 W). The average processor has a base power draw of 45 W.
125 W vs 45 W
Narrower instruction support
This processor supports a narrower instruction set than the average processor (SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX2, FMA3, AES, BMI1, BMI2 vs MMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSSE3, SSE4A, SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX, AVX2, F16C, FMA3, AES, SHA, AMD-V).
SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX2, FMA3, AES, BMI1, BMI2 vs MMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSSE3, SSE4A, SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX, AVX2, F16C, FMA3, AES, SHA, AMD-V
45.2% larger die size
This processor has a higher die size than the average processor (257 mm² vs 177 mm²). The average processor has a die size of 177 mm².
257 mm² vs 177 mm²
2.78x higher TDP
This processor has a higher TDP than the average processor (125 W vs 45 W). The average processor has a TDP of 45 W.
125 W vs 45 W
18.9% less L3 per core
This processor has less L3 cache per core than the average processor (1.5 MB/core vs 1.85 MB/core). The average processor provides 1.85 MB/core of L3 cache per core.
1.5 MB/core vs 1.85 MB/core
Limited PCIe bifurcation
This processor supports less flexible PCIe bifurcation than the average processor (x16, x8/x8 vs x16, x8/x8, x4/x4/x4/x4).
x16, x8/x8 vs x16, x8/x8, x4/x4/x4/x4

92% more expensive
Intel Core i9-13900K is more expensive than the average processor (£480 vs £250).
£480 vs £250

Narrower instruction support
This processor supports a narrower instruction set than the average processor (SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX2, FMA3, AES, BMI1, BMI2 vs MMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSSE3, SSE4A, SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX, AVX2, F16C, FMA3, AES, SHA, AMD-V).
SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX2, FMA3, AES, BMI1, BMI2 vs MMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSSE3, SSE4A, SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX, AVX2, F16C, FMA3, AES, SHA, AMD-V

45.2% larger die size
This processor has a higher die size than the average processor (257 mm² vs 177 mm²). The average processor has a die size of 177 mm².
257 mm² vs 177 mm²
18.9% less L3 per core
This processor has less L3 cache per core than the average processor (1.5 MB/core vs 1.85 MB/core). The average processor provides 1.85 MB/core of L3 cache per core.
1.5 MB/core vs 1.85 MB/core

Limited PCIe bifurcation
This processor supports less flexible PCIe bifurcation than the average processor (x16, x8/x8 vs x16, x8/x8, x4/x4/x4/x4).
x16, x8/x8 vs x16, x8/x8, x4/x4/x4/x4

3.95x higher boost power
This processor has a higher boost power draw than the average processor (253 W vs 64 W). The average processor has a boost power draw of 64 W.
253 W vs 64 W
No configurable TDP
This processor does not support configurable TDP, while the average processor does. 53.7% of processors support configurable TDP.
2.78x higher base power
This processor has a higher base power draw than the average processor (125 W vs 45 W). The average processor has a base power draw of 45 W.
125 W vs 45 W
2.78x higher TDP
This processor has a higher TDP than the average processor (125 W vs 45 W). The average processor has a TDP of 45 W.
125 W vs 45 W

Video reviews

Hands-on testing, unboxing, and real-world video evaluations

8.0

Digital David

≈ estimated

16/03/2023

Hands-on review · benchmarks and temperature tests

Verdict

Intel Core i9-13900K delivers top-tier results, but it runs very hot at full load and carries a high price.

7.0

Nicolas11x12 English

≈ estimated

01/02/2023

Hands-on review · benchmarks, power and temperatures

Verdict

Intel Core i9-13900K offers clear performance gains, mainly in productivity, but high power draw and heat make the gaming upgrade questionable.

8.0

Anish Rajah

≈ estimated

13/11/2022

Hands-on review · codec tests and creative workloads

Verdict

Intel Core i9-13900K is a strong upgrade for power users, but its price and power draw mean upgraders should wait.

5.0

eTeknix

≈ estimated

21/10/2022

Hands-on review · gaming, power and temperature tests

Verdict

Intel Core i9-13900K is powerful for gaming, but high power use and heat make it hard to recommend over the i7 13700K.

6.0

Gamers Nexus

≈ estimated

20/10/2022

Hands-on review · benchmarks, power and efficiency tests

Verdict

Intel Core i9-13900K is a big production step up from the 12900K, but poor value, high power draw and cooling needs hold it back for most buyers.

4.0

Hardware Unboxed

≈ estimated

20/10/2022

Hands-on review · gaming, power and thermal tests

Verdict

Intel Core i9-13900K is only worth it for peak gaming speed; its power draw and heat make it hard to recommend.

8.5

KitGuruTech

✓ explicit

20/10/2022

Hands-on review · benchmarks, gaming and power tests

Verdict

Intel Core i9-13900K is very fast and worth buying, but it runs very hot, and the Zen 4 chip just edges it out.

9.0

Tech Point

≈ estimated

20/10/2022

Hands-on review · benchmarks, temperatures and platform comparison

Verdict

Intel Core i9-13900K is an excellent CPU, especially for productivity and content creation, and strong for gaming too.

7.0

OC3D TV

≈ estimated

20/10/2022

Hands-on review · gaming, power, temperatures and overclocking

Verdict

Intel Core i9-13900K is a top performer for content creation, but it runs very hot and needs serious cooling and undervolting.

6.0

Robtech

≈ estimated

20/10/2022

Hands-on review · gaming, emulation and iGPU benchmarks

Verdict

Intel Core i9-13900K's gaming gains are modest, so upgrading from the 12900K is hard to justify unless the price gap is small.

9.0

JayzTwoCents

≈ estimated

20/10/2022

Benchmark comparison · 13900K versus 7950X

Verdict

Intel Core i9-13900K is a clear value pick for budget builds, trading blows with AMD's flagship in gaming but losing some productivity tests.

8.0

Paul's Hardware

≈ estimated

20/10/2022

Launch review · benchmarks, gaming and power tests

Verdict

Intel Core i9-13900K is a new flagship that retakes the top spot, but only by a modest margin and not for everyone.

HardwareDealz · 20/10/2022

Hands-on review · benchmarks, power and temperature tests

Intel Core i9-13900K is very fast in multicore and gaming, but it runs hot and is less efficient than AMD.

Likes

Fastest multicore performance in Cinebench and Blender
Gaming results ahead of AMD for now
Strong productivity results overall

Dislikes

Reaches 100 °C within seconds under load
Draws around 300 W in Cinebench
Efficiency behind AMD's Ryzen 9 7950X
Performance drops about 8% after ten minutes of load

igorsLAB · 20/10/2022

Full review · benchmarks, power and temperature tests

Intel Core i9-13900K performs strongly, but the LGA1700 socket is a dead end, so there is no clear buy recommendation.

Likes

Good CPU with thoughtful refinements over Alder Lake
Strong performance in the tested benchmarks
Power and efficiency changes that the creator sees as a real step forward

Dislikes

The LGA1700 socket is dead, with no further CPUs planned
Upgrade path is limited, so the chip stays locked to the old board
Price is high for the gain over cheaper upgrade options

Nilson1489 · 20/10/2022

Hands-on review · creator benchmarks and streaming tests

Intel Core i9-13900K offers a big performance gain for creators, though it runs very hot; upgrade only if you are building a new system.

Likes

Big performance gain over the 12th-gen chip
Strong results in Blender and Premiere Pro
Excellent x264 streaming with CPU headroom to spare

Dislikes

Gets very hot, close to 100 degrees in Cinebench
Not worth upgrading an existing Z690 board for most users

Bens Hardware · 20/10/2022

Launch review · synthetic and gaming benchmarks

Fully convincing: faster than its main rival in nearly every benchmark while costing less and reusing older boards.

Likes

About 10% faster single-core than the Ryzen 9 7950X
Big multi-core jump over the 12900K
Works in existing boards after a BIOS update
Cheaper than the main AMD rival

Dislikes

High power draw under full load
Needs a large cooler to stay in check

Nicolas11x12 Deutsch · 01/02/2023

Comparison test · gaming, productivity, power and temperature

Intel Core i9-13900K brings big gains in productivity, but the gaming upgrade is small and power draw and heat are high.

Likes

Big productivity gains from the higher core count
Clear clock speed gains over the previous generation
Noticeable gains in some games, such as Far Cry 6

Dislikes

Small FPS gain in many games, such as Forza Horizon 5
High power draw, about 52 percent more than the 12900K at stock settings
Runs hot, reaching 100 degrees Celsius at automatic settings
Upgrade hardly pays off for gaming alone

KreativEcke · 21/11/2022

Comparison · i5, i7 and i9 gaming and render tests

Intel Core i9-13900K is more than most people need, since the i7 gives nearly the same gaming for much less money.

Likes

Clear multi-core advantage over the i7 in rendering
Solid gaming performance, close to the i7 and i5
Power and temperature figures shown with power limits unlocked

Dislikes

Poor value: the price premium over the i7 is not matched by the gain
Only a few percent more gaming performance
Up to 330 W power draw with power limits unlocked

ITRaidDE · 08/11/2022

Comparison test · gaming, power and temperature measurements

Intel Core i9-13900K offers strong performance, but high power draw and price make it worth buying only for heavy workloads.

Likes

Gaming performance better than expected
Power draw lower than expected during gaming
Temperatures stay low, mostly in the mid-50s

Dislikes

Peak power draw reaches 168 watts
Very high price, though it costs less than the Ryzen 9 7950X
Test system draws around 600 watts at stock settings

DasMonty

Hands-on review · power limit and efficiency tests

Intel Core i9-13900K is efficient at 100 to 150 watts, but very power-hungry at stock; only recommended with adjusted power limits.

Likes

Clearly faster than the 12900K
Much lower power draw at 100 to 150 watts with similar performance
Lower temperatures than the predecessor
Lower price than the competing flagship

Dislikes

Very high power consumption at standard power limits
Occasional frame time stutters at low power limits
Not a good all-round pick, even at its price

Expert reviews

In-depth analysis and verdict from leading tech publications

7.5

techspot.com

✓ explicit

20/10/2022

Intel Core i9-13900K Review: Hot and Hungry

Benchmark review · Thermal throttling

Verdict

The Intel Core i9-13900K leads single-core speed and matches the Ryzen 9 7950X in several tests, but it slows down under long heavy loads.

9.0

pcmag.com

✓ explicit

20/10/2022

Intel Core i9-13900K Review

Lab test · Desktop CPU

Verdict

The Intel Core i9-13900K is the fastest consumer chip tested, but it runs hot, draws the most power and needs a 240mm cooler.

8.5

kitguru.net

✓ explicit

20/10/2022

Intel Core i9-13900K Review - KitGuru

Launch review · Desktop CPU

Verdict

The Intel Core i9-13900K is a 24-core chip that boosts to 5.8GHz and suits enthusiasts who want maximum speed and can handle its power draw.

8.0

theverge.com

✓ explicit

20/10/2022

Intel Core i9-13900K review: an AMD Zen 4 beater

Hands-on test · Desktop CPU

Verdict

The Intel Core i9-13900K retakes the performance crown for heavy multi-core work, but AMD's 5800X3D stays a strong gaming rival.

9.5

tweaktown.com

✓ explicit

20/10/2022

Intel Core i9-13900K "Raptor Lake" CPU Review

Benchmark test · Desktop CPU

Verdict

The Intel Core i9-13900K tops multi-threaded tests and edges rivals on performance per watt, but gains little per clock over Alder Lake.

9.0

pcper.com

≈ estimated

20/10/2022

Intel Core i9-13900K Processor Review - Intel Back On Top

Benchmark test · Desktop CPU

Verdict

The Intel Core i9-13900K tops most CPU charts here, but results may shift after a late BIOS update.

9.0

club386.com

≈ estimated

20/10/2022

Intel Core i9-13900K review: defender of the faith

Hands-on test · Gaming CPU

Verdict

The Intel Core i9-13900K is a fast gaming CPU that fits existing 600- and 700-series boards, but it needs serious cooling.

9.0

tomshardware.com

✓ explicit

30/10/2022

Intel Core i9-13900K and Core i5-13600K Review(www.anandtech.com) | October 20 2022 | The Intel Core i9-13900K and i5-13600K Review: Raptor Lake Bring...

Lab test · Gaming CPU

Verdict

The Intel Core i9-13900K is the fastest gaming chip on the market, but its 253W draw and heat need a serious cooler.

9.0

trustedreviews.com

✓ explicit

05/04/2023

Intel Core i9-13900K Review

Lab test · Benchmarks and heat

Verdict

The Intel Core i9-13900K is the strongest chip for single-core and heavy multi-core work, but it draws 354W and reaches 100°C.

8.0

pcguide.com

✓ explicit

27/03/2024

Intel Core i9-13900K review - is it worth it? - PC Guide

Retrospective test · Gaming focus

Verdict

The Intel Core i9-13900K is still a strong gaming chip, but the faster Core i9-14900K has replaced it, and it runs very hot.

8.0

computerbase.de

≈ estimated

20/10/2022

Core i9-13900K, i7-13700K & i5-13600K: Gaming Kings Put to the Test

Benchmark test · Multi-core CPU

Verdict

The Intel Core i9-13900K's strength is multi-core work, but it needs full power to lead and trails the Ryzen 9 7950X in 7-Zip.

9.4

chip.de

✓ explicit

20/10/2022

Intel Core i9-13900K Test

Lab test · Productivity CPU

Verdict

The Intel Core i9-13900K is strongest in rendering and productivity work, but it draws a lot of power and its built-in graphics trail AMD.

9.0

pcmasters.de

✓ explicit

23/10/2023

Intel Core i9-13900K Review & Benchmarks

Lab test · Gaming and power

Verdict

The Intel Core i9-13900K leads in single-core and gaming speed, but it draws much more power than the Ryzen 9 7950X and needs a 360mm water cooler.

8.0

hardware-mag.de

≈ estimated

15/04/2023

Intel Core i9-13900K und i5-13600K im Test (Seite 13)

Lab test · Power and heat

Verdict

The Intel Core i9-13900K is a powerful flagship with top single- and multi-core speed, but it draws a lot of power and needs an AIO cooler.

9.4

profesionalreview.com

✓ explicit

20/10/2022

Intel Core i9-13900K Review (Complete Analysis)

Lab test · Hybrid core design

Verdict

The Intel Core i9-13900K is a fast chip with 32 threads and up to 5.8GHz, but it draws about 250W under load, so it needs a high-end cooler.

8.0

elchapuzasinformatico.com

≈ estimated

20/10/2022

Intel Core i9-13900K: Dominating the Market Once Again

Lab test · Gaming and temperatures

Verdict

The Intel Core i9-13900K is a strong gaming and multitasking chip, but its heat and power draw make a high-end cooler essential.

10

geeknetic.es

✓ explicit

20/10/2022

Intel Core i9-13900K Review: Full Analysis

Full review · Raptor Lake

Verdict

The Intel Core i9-13900K is Intel's most powerful desktop chip, with 32 threads and 5.8GHz boost, best suited to heavy multitasking, but it needs strong cooling.

8.0

gameit.es

≈ estimated

30 de noviembre de 2022

Intel Core i9-13900K: Full Review

Benchmark review · Power and cooling

Verdict

The Intel Core i9-13900K delivers strong multi-core performance with 32 threads and supports DDR4 or DDR5 RAM, but its high power draw calls for top-end cooling.

8.0

madboxpc.com

≈ estimated

05 de noviembre de 2022

Intel Core i9-13900K Review (Raptor Lake LGA-1700)

Lab test · Overclocking and heat

Verdict

The Intel Core i9-13900K delivers top performance and overclocks easily, but it draws over 300W and runs near 100°C at peak.

8.0

pisapapeles.net

≈ estimated

06/02/2023

Intel Core i9-13900K Review - Paperweight

Lab test · Heat and overclocking

Verdict

The Intel Core i9-13900K is a very fast 24-core chip, but it runs hot and needs a strong cooler to hold its top clocks.

Third-party reviews

What customers like about Intel Core i9-13900K

Industry-leading single-core and multi-core performance for gaming and productivity
Massive core count (24 cores / 32 threads) excels at heavy multitasking and rendering
High boost clock speeds reaching up to 5.8 GHz out of the box
Versatile memory support for both DDR4 and faster DDR5 standards
Backwards compatibility with many existing Z690 motherboards
Excellent for professional content creation like 4K video editing and 3D modeling

What customers don't like about Intel Core i9-13900K

Extreme operating temperatures that frequently hit 100°C and trigger thermal throttling under load
Very high power consumption, pulling over 250W-300W during intense workloads
Requires expensive, high-end cooling solutions (360mm AIO or better) to maintain performance
Reports of long-term stability issues and crashes leading to system instability for some users
Diminishing returns for gaming-only builds compared to more affordable i5 or i7 alternatives

Verdict

The Intel Core i9-13900K is a high-performance 13th Gen Raptor Lake flagship processor featuring a hybrid architecture with 24 cores (8 Performance-cores and 16 Efficient-cores) and 32 threads. It operates at a 3.0 GHz P-core base frequency with a maximum Thermal Velocity Boost speed of up to 5.8 GHz, supported by 36MB of L3 Intel Smart Cache and compatibility with both DDR4 (3200 MT/s) and DDR5 (5600 MT/s) memory. Its main pros include industry-leading single-core and multi-threaded performance ideal for intensive gaming and professional content creation, alongside support for PCIe 5.0 and backwards compatibility with 600-series motherboards. However, the processor has significant cons, specifically a very high maximum turbo power draw of 253W that leads to extreme operating temperatures, often requiring premium liquid cooling to avoid thermal throttling under heavy loads.

Best alternatives

AMD Ryzen 9 9950X

Processors

Intel Core i9-13900KS

Processors

Intel Core Ultra 9 285K

Processors

AMD Ryzen 9 7900X3D

Processors

AMD Ryzen 9 7950X

Processors

Intel Core i9-14900T

Processors

Intel Core i9-14900F

Processors

Intel Core i9-14900K

Processors

Intel Core i9-13900

Processors

Intel Core i9-13900KF

Processors

Intel Core i9-10900KF

Processors

Intel Core i7-13700KF

Processors

See best alternatives in Buying Guide

Compare Intel Core i9-13900K with other processors

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