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Intel Core i9 14900KS Review | 78 Data compared

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  • Avg. price in UK: ~£650
  • Avg. price in US: ~$690
  • PassMark benchmark result: 60243
  • N. of physical cores: 24
  • CPU boost clock speed: 6.2 GHz

Intel Core i9 14900KS review. Compare 78 technical specifications and user reviews to see how it ranks among processors and if it is worth buying.

8.4

Overall score

What it is: An overall evaluation of the processor's quality, based on technical analyses and user reviews.

When it matters: When you need a quick reference to identify the best processors on the market.

Score components:

90.0%

8.7

Technical Score

10.0%

6.2

User score

Excellent
8.7

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the processor's technical performance, covering key areas such as processing performance, core configuration, efficiency, platform support, integrated features, and thermal behavior.

When it matters: When you want to compare processors based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

60.0%

9.6

Performance

18.0%

8.0

Cache & Architecture

10.0%

9.1

Memory & PCIe

7.0%

1.9

Power & Thermal

4.0%

8.4

Platform

1.0%

8.0

Integrated Graphics

Excellent
6.2

User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the processor.

When it matters: When you want to know how a processor performs in real workloads and how reliable it is for gaming, productivity, and efficiency according to user feedback.

Score components:

70.0%

7.0

User reviews

30.0%

4.3

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
3.5
(33)
amazon
3.5
(20)

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

Good
  • 9.1
    Gaming

    Score components:

    30.0%

    9.6

    PassMark single-core benchmark score

    25.0%

    9.5

    Geekbench 6 single-core benchmark score

    20.0%

    10

    CPU boost clock speed

    17.0%

    6.1

    L3 cache

    8.0%

    10

    N. of physical cores

  • 9.4
    Video editing

    Score components:

    45.0%

    10

    Geekbench 6 multi-core benchmark score

    20.0%

    10

    N. of physical cores

    20.0%

    10

    CPU threads

    15.0%

    6.1

    L3 cache

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Available: ranking among products currently available (including other versions of this product).
All: ranking among all products in the database.

Verdict

The Intel Core i9-14900KS is a high-performance, special edition desktop processor built on the Raptor Lake Refresh architecture, featuring 24 cores (8 Performance-cores and 16 Efficient-cores) and 32 threads. It distinguishes itself with a record-breaking maximum turbo frequency of 6.2 GHz, supported by a 3.2 GHz P-core base clock, 36MB of Intel Smart Cache, and compatibility with the LGA 1700 socket. Main pros include its position as the fastest single-threaded consumer CPU on the market, excellent gaming and content creation performance, and top-tier silicon binning for enthusiasts and overclockers. However, significant cons include extreme power consumption that can exceed 400W under full load, exceptionally high thermal output requiring premium cooling solutions, and a high price point that offers diminishing performance returns compared to the standard i9-14900K.

Technical Specifications of processor Intel Core i9 14900KS

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the processor's technical performance, covering key areas such as processing performance, core configuration, efficiency, platform support, integrated features, and thermal behavior.

When it matters: When you want to compare processors based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

60.0%

9.6

Performance

18.0%

8.0

Cache & Architecture

10.0%

9.1

Memory & PCIe

7.0%

1.9

Power & Thermal

4.0%

8.4

Platform

1.0%

8.0

Integrated Graphics

8.7
Intel Core i9 14900KS has a technical score of 8.69 points, which is higher than that of 99% of products in this category.
User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the processor.

When it matters: When you want to know how a processor performs in real workloads and how reliable it is for gaming, productivity, and efficiency according to user feedback.

Score components:

70.0%

7.0

User reviews

30.0%

4.3

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
3.5
(33)
amazon
3.5
(20)

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

6.2
Intel Core i9 14900KS has a user score of 6.2 points, which is lower than that of 98.1% of products in this category.
Popularity
What it is: An indicator based on the number of reviews received by the processor.
When it matters: When you prefer to choose a processor reviewed and selected by many other buyers.
4.3
Intel Core i9 14900KS has a popularity of 4.3 points, which is higher than 81.4% of products in this category.
Ratio quality/price

What it is: An indicator that combines the processor's overall rating with its cost.

When it matters: When you are looking for a processor with a good balance between performance, efficiency, and price.

Score components:

60.0%

8.4

Overall score

40.0%

7.1

Price

8.0
Intel Core i9 14900KS has a quality-to-price ratio of 8 points, which is higher than 94.2% of products in this category.
Brand name
What it is: The manufacturer or brand of the product.
When it matters: When you prefer a specific ecosystem, support network, or design philosophy.

Importance: MEDIUM

Intel
Processor type
What it is: The kind of system the processor is built for, such as desktop PCs, laptops, workstations, or servers.
When it matters: When you want a processor meant for the kind of machine you are actually building or buying, rather than a chip aimed at a different class of system.

Importance: HIGH

desktop
Intel Core i9 14900KS belongs to the desktop processor class, which is more advanced than that of 56% and equal to 37.9%.
CPU socket
What it is: The physical socket the processor fits into on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you need to make sure the CPU can actually be installed on a specific motherboard.

Importance: HIGH

LGA1700
Intel Core i9 14900KS uses the LGA1700 CPU socket, which is newer than that of 86.1% and equal to that of 7.4%.
Chipset
What it is: The motherboard chipset families officially meant to work with the processor.
When it matters: When you are checking whether a CPU will work with the motherboard features and platform you plan to use.

Importance: HIGH

Z790, H770, B760, Z690, H670, B660, H610, Q670, W680
Intel Core i9 14900KS supports Z790, H770, B760, Z690, H670, B660, H610, Q670, W680 chipsets, which is broader compatibility than 86.2% and equal to 2.2%.
CPU architecture
What it is: The processor family or design generation behind the chip, such as Zen 4 or Raptor Lake.
When it matters: When you are comparing CPUs across generations and want a clearer sense of their design age, feature level, and expected performance class.

Importance: HIGH

x86-64
Intel Core i9 14900KS uses the x86-64 architecture, which is more advanced than that of 1.7% and equal to that of 98.3%.
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N. of physical cores
What it is: The number of physical CPU cores on the processor.
When it matters: When you run workloads that benefit from more real cores.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: 8+

24
Intel Core i9 14900KS has 24 CPU cores, which is more than 96.6% and equal to 2.1%.
CPU threads
What it is: The total number of processing threads the CPU can handle at once.
When it matters: When you run heavily threaded workloads or multitask a lot.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: 16+

32
Intel Core i9 14900KS offers 32 CPU threads, which is more than 95% and equal to 3%.
Threads per core
What it is: The number of threads each physical core can handle at once.
When it matters: When you want to understand how much thread-level parallelism each core can provide in multitasking or heavily threaded work.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: 2

?
CPU boost clock speed
What it is: The highest clock speed the processor can reach under boost conditions.
When it matters: When you care about peak speed in short bursts.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >4.7 GHz

6.2 GHz
Intel Core i9 14900KS reaches a boost clock of 6.2 GHz which is higher than that of 100%.
CPU base clock speed
What it is: The processor's normal all-core starting frequency before boost behavior raises clocks temporarily.
When it matters: When you care about steadier performance in longer workloads rather than short burst speed alone.

Importance: MEDIUM

8 x 3.2 GHz & 16 x 2.4 GHz
Intel Core i9 14900KS has a base clock of 8x3.2 GHz & 16x2.4 GHz which is equal to that of 100%.
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Semiconductor size
What it is: The manufacturing process node used to produce the processor, usually expressed in nanometers.
When it matters: When efficiency, heat, and the relative modernity of the chip-making process matter to your comparison.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: <10 nm

10 nm
Intel Core i9 14900KS uses a 10 nm process node, which is more advanced than that of 52.3% and equal to that of 19.1%.
Foundry
What it is: The semiconductor manufacturer that physically fabricates the processor chip.
When it matters: When process source, manufacturing generation, or foundry differences matter to your comparison more than day-to-day performance alone.

Importance: MEDIUM

Intel 7
Intel Core i9 14900KS is built on the Intel 7 foundry process, which is more advanced than that of 66.2% and equal to that of 14.9%.
L3 cache
What it is: The total amount of L3 cache available on the processor.
When it matters: When you want better performance in cache-sensitive workloads and games.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=16 MB

36 MB
Intel Core i9 14900KS has an L3 cache of 36 MB which is larger than that of 92.7% and equal to that of 1.8%.
L2 cache
What it is: The total amount of L2 cache available across the processor.
When it matters: When you want to compare CPU design efficiency and how much fast intermediate cache the cores have available.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=6 MB

32 MB
Intel Core i9 14900KS has an L2 cache of 32 MB which is larger than that of 96.7% and equal to that of 1.6%.
L1 cache
What it is: The total amount of L1 cache built into the processor, which sits closest to the cores.
When it matters: When you are comparing low-level CPU design details rather than the broader performance picture buyers usually notice first.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=512 KB

2,176 KB
Intel Core i9 14900KS has an L1 cache of 2,176 KB which is larger than that of 96.8% and equal to that of 1%.
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DDR memory version
What it is: The RAM generation the processor is designed to support, such as DDR4 or DDR5.
When it matters: When you need the CPU to match the kind of memory platform you want to buy or reuse.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: DDR5

DDR4/DDR5
Intel Core i9 14900KS supports DDR DDR4/DDR5, which is newer than in 79.1% and equal to that of 9.7%.
Maximum memory speed
What it is: The highest official memory speed supported by the processor.
When it matters: When you choose RAM and want to know the supported speed ceiling.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=4800 MHz

5,600 MHz
Intel Core i9 14900KS supports memory speeds up to 5,600 MHz, which is higher than in 79.8% and equal to 4%.
Max memory speed (JEDEC)
What it is: The highest official RAM speed the processor supports under standard JEDEC settings, before any memory overclocking profiles are applied.
When it matters: When officially supported stock RAM speed matters more than XMP, EXPO, or manual memory tuning.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=5600 MHz

DDR5-5600 MHz
Intel Core i9 14900KS supports JEDEC memory speeds up to DDR5-5,600 MHz, which is higher than in 80.3% and equal to 5.1%.
Max memory speed (XMP / EXPO)
What it is: The highest memory speed supported through XMP or EXPO profiles.
When it matters: When you want faster RAM through memory profiles.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=5200 MHz

?
Maximum memory capacity
What it is: The largest total amount of memory officially supported by the processor.
When it matters: When you plan a system with very large RAM capacity.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=128 GB

192 GB
Intel Core i9 14900KS supports up to 192 GB of memory, which is more than 83.3% and equal to 6%.
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Integrated graphics
What it is: Includes built-in graphics, so the system can output video without a separate graphics card.
When it matters: When you want the PC to work without a dedicated GPU, or you are building an office, media, compact, or troubleshooting-friendly system.

Importance: HIGH

yes
Intel Core i9 14900KS includes integrated graphics. 87.6% include integrated graphics.
Integrated GPU model
What it is: The model name of the integrated graphics processor, if present.
When it matters: When you plan to use the CPU's built-in graphics.

Importance: MEDIUM

Intel UHD Graphics 770
Intel Core i9 14900KS uses the Intel UHD Graphics 770 integrated GPU, which is more advanced than that in 56.9% and equal to that in 4.9%.
Integrated GPU execution units
What it is: The number of execution units available in the integrated graphics part of the processor.
When it matters: When you plan to rely on built-in graphics and want a better sense of its light gaming, display, or media capability.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=24

32
Intel Core i9 14900KS has 32 GPU execution units, which is more than 70.8% and equal to 9.9%.
Integrated GPU base frequency
What it is: The base operating frequency of the integrated GPU.
When it matters: When integrated graphics performance matters to you.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=350 MHz

300 MHz
Intel Core i9 14900KS has an integrated GPU clock of 300 MHz which is lower than that of 57% and equal to that of 38.7%.
Integrated media encoders/decoders
What it is: The hardware media formats the processor can encode or decode directly.
When it matters: When you stream, edit video, or rely on hardware media acceleration.

Importance: LOW

H.264 (HW decode/encode), H.265 (HW decode/encode), VP9 (HW decode/encode), AV1 (HW decode)
Intel Core i9 14900KS supports H.264 (HW decode/encode), H.265 (HW decode/encode), VP9 (HW decode/encode), AV1 (HW decode) media codecs, which is broader support than 85% and equal to 5.6%.
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TDP (Thermal design power)
What it is: The rated thermal design power, which gives a general idea of cooling and power needs.
When it matters: When you choose a cooler or build in a tighter case.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: <30 W

150 W
Intel Core i9 14900KS has a TDP of 150 W which is higher than that of 95.6% and equal to that of 0.2%.
Base power (PL1)
What it is: The sustained power target used for longer CPU loads.
When it matters: When you choose cooling and power delivery for sustained workloads.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: <30 W

150 W
Intel Core i9 14900KS has a base power of 150 W which is higher than that of 95.6% and equal to that of 0.2%.
Boost power (PL2)
What it is: The short-term boost power limit the processor may draw under heavier turbo loads.
When it matters: When you size cooling and power delivery for peak turbo behavior.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: <50 W

253 W
Intel Core i9 14900KS has a boost power of 253 W which is higher than that of 97.3% and equal to that of 0.8%.
Tau (power duration limit)
What it is: The time limit the CPU can stay at higher boost power before dropping toward sustained power.
When it matters: When you want to understand turbo behavior under longer loads.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: <=28 s

N/A
Configurable TDP
What it is: Allows the processor to run in alternate power modes instead of being fixed to one default TDP target.
When it matters: When you want more control over heat, noise, and power draw in compact systems, quieter builds, or thermally limited machines.

Importance: LOW

no
Intel Core i9 14900KS does not support configurable TDP. 52.9% support configurable TDP.
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Intel Core i9 14900KS vs the average processor

  • 5.25x higher multi-core score
    Intel Core i9 14900KS has a higher Geekbench 6 multi-core score than the average processor (25,174 vs 4,793). The average processor scores 4,793 in Geekbench 6 multi-core.
    What it is: A Geekbench 6 score that reflects multi-core CPU performance in mixed modern workloads.
    When it matters: When you want a quick picture of multi-core speed in everyday mixed workloads, multitasking, and broadly optimized software.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: >8500

    Intel Core i9 14900KS has a higher Geekbench 6 multi-core score than the average processor (25,174 vs 4,793). The average processor scores 4,793 in Geekbench 6 multi-core.25,174 vs 4,793
  • 18 more CPU cores
    Intel Core i9 14900KS has more CPU cores than the average processor (24 vs 6). The average processor has 6 CPU cores.
    What it is: The number of physical CPU cores on the processor.
    When it matters: When you run workloads that benefit from more real cores.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: 8+

    Intel Core i9 14900KS has more CPU cores than the average processor (24 vs 6). The average processor has 6 CPU cores.24 vs 6
  • 5.72x higher PassMark score
    Intel Core i9 14900KS has a higher PassMark benchmark score than the average processor (60,243 vs 10,532.5). The average processor scores 10,532.5 in PassMark benchmark.
    What it is: A benchmark score that gives a broad idea of overall processor performance.
    When it matters: When you want a quick overall performance comparison.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: >19000

    Intel Core i9 14900KS has a higher PassMark benchmark score than the average processor (60,243 vs 10,532.5). The average processor scores 10,532.5 in PassMark benchmark.60,243 vs 10,532.5
  • 94.1% better single-core performance
    Intel Core i9 14900KS has a higher PassMark single-core score than the average processor (4,819 vs 2,483). The average processor scores 2,483 in PassMark single-core.
    What it is: A benchmark score that reflects single-core CPU performance.
    When it matters: When you care about responsiveness in lighter or older software.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: >3200

    Intel Core i9 14900KS has a higher PassMark single-core score than the average processor (4,819 vs 2,483). The average processor scores 2,483 in PassMark single-core.4,819 vs 2,483
  • 5.61x better multi-core performance
    Intel Core i9 14900KS has a higher multi-core performance than the average processor (15,599 vs 2,783). The average processor scores 2,783 in Cinebench R20 multi-core.
    What it is: A Cinebench R20 score that reflects how well the processor handles long, heavy rendering workloads across many cores.
    When it matters: When you care about sustained multi-core performance in rendering, compiling, heavy creation work, or productivity workloads that use many threads.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: >4700

    Intel Core i9 14900KS has a higher multi-core performance than the average processor (15,599 vs 2,783). The average processor scores 2,783 in Cinebench R20 multi-core.15,599 vs 2,783
  • 2.2x higher single-core score
    Intel Core i9 14900KS has a higher Geekbench 6 single-core score than the average processor (3,234 vs 1,471). The average processor scores 1,471 in Geekbench 6 single-core.
    What it is: A Geekbench 6 score that reflects single-core CPU performance in mixed modern workloads.
    When it matters: When you care about snappy everyday performance in lighter apps, browsing, office work, or tasks that do not scale well across many cores.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: >2000

    Intel Core i9 14900KS has a higher Geekbench 6 single-core score than the average processor (3,234 vs 1,471). The average processor scores 1,471 in Geekbench 6 single-core.3,234 vs 1,471
  • 44.2% higher boost clock
    Intel Core i9 14900KS has a higher boost clock speed than the average processor (6.2 GHz vs 4.3 GHz). The average processor reaches boost clock speed of 4.3 GHz.
    What it is: The highest clock speed the processor can reach under boost conditions.
    When it matters: When you care about peak speed in short bursts.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: >4.7 GHz

    Intel Core i9 14900KS has a higher boost clock speed than the average processor (6.2 GHz vs 4.3 GHz). The average processor reaches boost clock speed of 4.3 GHz.6.2 GHz vs 4.3 GHz
  • 24 more CPU threads
    Intel Core i9 14900KS has more CPU threads than the average processor (32 vs 8). The average processor has 8 CPU threads.
    What it is: The total number of processing threads the CPU can handle at once.
    When it matters: When you run heavily threaded workloads or multitask a lot.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: 16+

    Intel Core i9 14900KS has more CPU threads than the average processor (32 vs 8). The average processor has 8 CPU threads.32 vs 8
  • Modern CPU socket
    Intel Core i9 14900KS uses a more modern CPU socket than the average processor (LGA1700 vs FP2).
  • 4 year/s newer release date
    Intel Core i9 14900KS has a newer release date than the average processor (2024 vs 2020).
  • Supports HMP
    Intel Core i9 14900KS supports HMP, the average processor does not.
  • 5.25x higher multi-core score
    Intel Core i9 14900KS has a higher Geekbench 6 multi-core score than the average processor (25,174 vs 4,793). The average processor scores 4,793 in Geekbench 6 multi-core.
  • 18 more CPU cores
    Intel Core i9 14900KS has more CPU cores than the average processor (24 vs 6). The average processor has 6 CPU cores.
  • 5.72x higher PassMark score
    Intel Core i9 14900KS has a higher PassMark benchmark score than the average processor (60,243 vs 10,532.5). The average processor scores 10,532.5 in PassMark benchmark.
  • 94.1% better single-core performance
    Intel Core i9 14900KS has a higher PassMark single-core score than the average processor (4,819 vs 2,483). The average processor scores 2,483 in PassMark single-core.
  • 5.61x better multi-core performance
    Intel Core i9 14900KS has a higher multi-core performance than the average processor (15,599 vs 2,783). The average processor scores 2,783 in Cinebench R20 multi-core.
  • 2.2x higher single-core score
    Intel Core i9 14900KS has a higher Geekbench 6 single-core score than the average processor (3,234 vs 1,471). The average processor scores 1,471 in Geekbench 6 single-core.
  • 44.2% higher boost clock
    Intel Core i9 14900KS has a higher boost clock speed than the average processor (6.2 GHz vs 4.3 GHz). The average processor reaches boost clock speed of 4.3 GHz.
  • 24 more CPU threads
    Intel Core i9 14900KS has more CPU threads than the average processor (32 vs 8). The average processor has 8 CPU threads.
  • 87.8% higher Cinebench R20 single-core score
    Intel Core i9 14900KS has a higher Cinebench R20 single-core score than the average processor (909 vs 484). The average processor scores 484 in Cinebench R20 single-core.
  • Unlocked for overclocking
    Intel Core i9 14900KS has an unlocked multiplier, the average processor does not.
  • 2 wider front-end design
    Intel Core i9 14900KS has a higher front-end width than the average processor (6 vs 4). The average processor uses front-end width of 4.
  • 12.8x larger L2 cache
    Intel Core i9 14900KS has a higher L2 cache than the average processor (32 MB vs 2.5 MB). The average processor has L2 cache of 2.5 MB.
  • 4.5x larger L3 cache
    Intel Core i9 14900KS has a higher L3 cache than the average processor (36 MB vs 8 MB). The average processor has L3 cache of 8 MB.
  • 4x more L2 per core
    Intel Core i9 14900KS 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.
  • More advanced microarchitecture
    Intel Core i9 14900KS uses a more advanced microarchitecture than the average processor (Raptor Lake Refresh vs Kaby Lake).
  • Uses big.LITTLE design
    Intel Core i9 14900KS uses a big.LITTLE design, the average processor does not.
  • 5.67x larger L1 cache
    Intel Core i9 14900KS has a higher L1 cache than the average processor (2,176 KB vs 384 KB). The average processor has L1 cache of 384 KB.
  • More advanced foundry
    Intel Core i9 14900KS uses a more advanced foundry process than the average processor (Intel 7 vs Intel 14 nm).
  • 16.7% smaller process node
    Intel Core i9 14900KS has a lower process node than the average processor (10 nm vs 12 nm). The average processor uses a process node of 12 nm.
  • Newer PCIe version
    Intel Core i9 14900KS supports a newer PCIe version than the average processor (5.0 + 4.0 vs 3.0).
  • 3x more memory capacity
    Intel Core i9 14900KS has more maximum memory capacity than the average processor (192 GB vs 64 GB). The average processor supports 64 GB of memory.
  • 95.6% higher memory bandwidth
    Intel Core i9 14900KS has a higher memory bandwidth than the average processor (89.6 GB/s vs 45.8 GB/s). The average processor offers memory bandwidth of 45.8 GB/s.
  • Newer DDR support
    Intel Core i9 14900KS supports a newer DDR generation than the average processor (DDR4/DDR5 vs DDR4).
  • Supports memory overclocking
    Intel Core i9 14900KS supports memory overclocking, the average processor does not.
  • 90.9% higher memory speed
    Intel Core i9 14900KS has a higher maximum memory speed than the average processor (5,600 MHz vs 2,933 MHz). The average processor supports memory speed of 2,933 MHz.
  • 4 more PCIe lanes
    Intel Core i9 14900KS has more PCIe lanes than the average processor (20 vs 16). The average processor offers 16 PCIe lanes.
  • Supports ECC memory
    Intel Core i9 14900KS supports ECC memory, the average processor does not.
  • 1 more supported displays
    Intel Core i9 14900KS has more supported displays than the average processor (4 vs 3). The average processor supports 3 displays.

Total
Overall
Platform
Performance
Cache & Architecture
Memory & PCIe
Integrated Graphics
  • Narrower instruction support
    Intel Core i9 14900KS supports a narrower instruction set than the average processor (SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX2 vs MMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSSE3, SSE4A, SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX, AVX2, F16C, FMA3, AES, SHA).
  • 44.4% larger die size
    Intel Core i9 14900KS has a higher die size than the average processor (257 mm² vs 178 mm²). The average processor has a die size of 178 mm².
  • 12.5% less L3 per core
    Intel Core i9 14900KS has less L3 cache per core than the average processor (1.5 MB/core vs 1,714 MB/core). The average processor provides 1,714 MB/core of L3 cache per core.
  • 3.95x higher boost power
    Intel Core i9 14900KS 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.
  • 3.33x higher base power
    Intel Core i9 14900KS has a higher base power draw than the average processor (150 W vs 45 W). The average processor has a base power draw of 45 W.
  • 3.33x higher TDP
    Intel Core i9 14900KS has a higher TDP than the average processor (150 W vs 45 W). The average processor has a TDP of 45 W.
  • No configurable TDP
    Intel Core i9 14900KS does not support configurable TDP, the average processor does.
  • 3.95x higher boost power
    Intel Core i9 14900KS 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.
    What it is: The short-term boost power limit the processor may draw under heavier turbo loads.
    When it matters: When you size cooling and power delivery for peak turbo behavior.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: <50 W

    Intel Core i9 14900KS 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
  • Narrower instruction support
    Intel Core i9 14900KS supports a narrower instruction set than the average processor (SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX2 vs MMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSSE3, SSE4A, SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX, AVX2, F16C, FMA3, AES, SHA).
    What it is: The supported CPU instruction sets and extensions.
    When it matters: When you run software that depends on specific CPU instructions.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Intel Core i9 14900KS supports a narrower instruction set than the average processor (SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX2 vs MMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSSE3, SSE4A, SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX, AVX2, F16C, FMA3, AES, SHA).SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX2 vs MMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSSE3, SSE4A, SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX, AVX2, F16C, FMA3, AES, SHA
  • 3.33x higher base power
    Intel Core i9 14900KS has a higher base power draw than the average processor (150 W vs 45 W). The average processor has a base power draw of 45 W.
    What it is: The sustained power target used for longer CPU loads.
    When it matters: When you choose cooling and power delivery for sustained workloads.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: <30 W

    Intel Core i9 14900KS has a higher base power draw than the average processor (150 W vs 45 W). The average processor has a base power draw of 45 W.150 W vs 45 W
  • 44.4% larger die size
    Intel Core i9 14900KS has a higher die size than the average processor (257 mm² vs 178 mm²). The average processor has a die size of 178 mm².
    What it is: The physical area of the processor die, usually measured in square millimeters.
    When it matters: When you are comparing chip scale, packaging density, or broader design differences rather than direct user-visible performance.

    Importance: LOW

    Good value: <150 mm²

    Intel Core i9 14900KS has a higher die size than the average processor (257 mm² vs 178 mm²). The average processor has a die size of 178 mm².257 mm² vs 178 mm²
  • 3.33x higher TDP
    Intel Core i9 14900KS has a higher TDP than the average processor (150 W vs 45 W). The average processor has a TDP of 45 W.
    What it is: The rated thermal design power, which gives a general idea of cooling and power needs.
    When it matters: When you choose a cooler or build in a tighter case.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: <30 W

    Intel Core i9 14900KS has a higher TDP than the average processor (150 W vs 45 W). The average processor has a TDP of 45 W.150 W vs 45 W
  • No configurable TDP
    Intel Core i9 14900KS does not support configurable TDP, the average processor does.
    What it is: Allows the processor to run in alternate power modes instead of being fixed to one default TDP target.
    When it matters: When you want more control over heat, noise, and power draw in compact systems, quieter builds, or thermally limited machines.

    Importance: LOW

    Intel Core i9 14900KS does not support configurable TDP, the average processor does.
  • 12.5% less L3 per core
    Intel Core i9 14900KS has less L3 cache per core than the average processor (1.5 MB/core vs 1,714 MB/core). The average processor provides 1,714 MB/core of L3 cache per core.
    What it is: The amount of L3 cache effectively available per CPU core.
    When it matters: When you are comparing how much shared cache each core can draw on in deeper technical analysis.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: >=2 MB/core

    Intel Core i9 14900KS has less L3 cache per core than the average processor (1.5 MB/core vs 1,714 MB/core). The average processor provides 1,714 MB/core of L3 cache per core.1.5 MB/core vs 1,714 MB/core
  • 2.6x more expensive
    Intel Core i9 14900KS is more expensive than the average processor (£650 vs £250).
    Intel Core i9 14900KS is more expensive than the average processor (£650 vs £250).£650 vs £250
Total
Overall
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Cache & Architecture
Power & Thermal

Graphic comparison of Intel Core i9 14900KS and other processors

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Third-party reviews

United Kingdom
amazon
3.5
33 Reviews
amazon
3.5
20 Reviews

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

What customers like about Intel Core i9 14900KS?

  • World-record clock speeds reaching up to 6.2 GHz out of the box
  • Highest-binned silicon available for the LGA 1700 platform
  • Exceptional single-threaded performance for snappier desktop use
  • Strong multi-threading capabilities with 24 cores (8P + 16E)
  • Ideal 'tuner's dream' for extreme overclockers using advanced cooling
  • Support for both DDR4 and DDR5 memory on 600/700 series motherboards

What customers dislike about Intel Core i9 14900KS?

  • Extremely high power consumption, often exceeding 300-350W under load
  • Severe heat generation that frequently leads to thermal throttling at 100°C
  • Minimal real-world performance gains (2-5%) over the cheaper i9-14900K
  • Requires high-end cooling (360mm+ AIO or custom loops) to avoid system crashes
  • Widely reported stability issues, including BSODs and game crashes
  • Poor value proposition due to high MSRP and significant electricity costs
  • End-of-life platform with no further upgrade path for the LGA 1700 socket

Expert reviews

O
overclock3d.net
14/03/2024
Intel Core i9 14900KS Review - Overclock 3D

The Intel Core i9-14900KS is a speed-binned "final hurrah" for the 14th Gen, pushing 24 cores to an out-of-the-box 6.2 GHz boost. It offers superior, "blindingly fast" multi-threaded performance, rendering content significantly faster than the 14900K, though gaming gains are minimal. However, the chip requires extreme cooling to manage significant power draw, frequently hitting...Read more

P
pugetsystems.com
19/03/2024
Intel Core i9-14900KS Content Creation Review - Puget Systems

The Puget Systems review of the Intel Core i9-14900KS, a "special edition" chip, highlights it as a 6.2 GHz processor pushing Raptor Lake architecture to its limit, though with marginal 2-5% performance gains over the standard i9-14900K in most content creation apps. While offering significant 13-15% gains in rendering, it carries a higher price and higher power consumption for...Read more

P
pcmag.com
10/04/2024
Intel Core i9-14900KS Review - PCMag

The PCMag review characterizes the Intel Core i9-14900KS as a specialized, high-cost processor offering minimal real-world performance gains over the standard i9-14900K, despite reaching a 6.2GHz peak. While boasting 24 cores and extreme overclocking potential, the chip requires massive, expensive 360mm cooling to manage severe thermal throttling and stability issues under load....Read more

H
hothardware.com
14/03/2024
Intel Core i9-14900KS Review: The Fastest Desktop CPU Yet - HotHardware

The Intel Core i9-14900KS acts as a final, highly-binned "swan song" for the LGA1700 platform, achieving a record-breaking 6.2GHz boost clock on a 24-core, 32-thread architecture. It provides the ultimate performance ceiling for the platform with superior single-threaded speed, leveraging Intel Application Optimization (APO) for enhanced gaming, yet real-world gains over the...Read more

T
tomshardware.com
14/03/2024
Intel Core i9-14900KS Review - Tom's Hardware

The Intel Core i9-14900KS, a "swan song" for the LGA1700 socket, hits 6.2 GHz out-of-the-box, offering the fastest single-threaded performance available. With 24 cores and 32 threads, it delivers minor performance gains in highly threaded productivity apps and a slightly more responsive desktop experience. However, the chip’s extreme power draw, exceeding 325W and sometimes reaching...Read more

C
cgmagonline.com
08/08/2024
Intel Core i9-14900KS CPU Review - Comics Gaming Magazine

The Intel Core i9-14900KS is a 24-core, 32-thread processor that pushes Raptor Lake Refresh to a record-breaking 6.2GHz maximum turbo speed, designed for elite enthusiasts. While providing top-tier gaming performance with slight gains over the 14900K, it offers only marginal, diminishing returns in professional productivity tasks. The chip's primary drawbacks include extreme, nearly...Read more

U
uk.pcmag.com
10/04/2024
Intel Core i9-14900KS - Review 2024 - PCMag UK

The PCMag review of the Intel Core i9-14900KS highlights the processor as a "Special Edition" chip pushing the Raptor Lake architecture to its limit with a 6.2GHz boost speed, yet notes negligible real-world performance gains over the standard i9-14900K. Significant stability issues arose during testing due to extreme thermal demands, requiring robust 360mm cooling to prevent system...Read more

T
tweaktown.com
08/04/2024
Intel Core i9-14900KS CPU Review - TweakTown

The Intel Core i9-14900KS is a high-end, 24-core flagship for the LGA 1700 socket, representing a heavily binned, supercharged version of the 14900K with stock clock speeds reaching up to 6.2GHz. While offering top-tier single-thread performance and excellent results in CPU-bound gaming, it shows only marginal gains over the standard 14900K in many workloads. The processor's primary...Read more

H
hardwareluxx.de
14/03/2024
Intel Core i9-14900KS Review: Brute-Forcing Its Way to the Top

The Hardwareluxx review details the Intel Core i9-14900KS as a "Special Edition" chip, using high-quality binned silicon to achieve a 6.2 GHz boost clock, which delivers top-tier, yet marginal, performance gains over the i9-14900K. Pros include unmatched single-core speed and superior overclocking potential for enthusiasts, but these are offset by cons like extreme power consumption...Read more

(Translated)Show original
C
computerbase.de
14/03/2024
Intel Core i9-14900KS Review: The Best 14th Gen Special Edition

The ComputerBase review of the Intel Core i9-14900KS highlights it as the ultimate "Special Edition" for the LGA 1700 platform, pushing Raptor Lake architecture to a 6.2 GHz maximum clock. While securing the title of the world's fastest desktop processor, the review notes minimal real-world performance gains (1–5%) over the standard 14900K and highlights high power consumption...Read more

(Translated)Show original
G
guru3d.com
27/03/2024
Intel Core i9-14900KS Processor Review

The Intel Core i9-14900KS is a specially binned "Raptor Lake Refresh" flagship, featuring a 24-core configuration (8 E) that achieves unprecedented, out-of-the-box boost clocks of up to 6.2 GHz on the LGA1700 platform. As highlighted by Guru3D, the CPU delivers unmatched single-threaded speeds and extreme, plug-and-play performance without requiring manual overclocking. However,...Read more

(Translated)Show original
T
tweakers.net
12/04/2024
The Battle for the Ultimate Gaming CPU - Intel Core i9-14900KS Review

The Intel Core i9-14900KS, as reviewed by Tweakers, is the pinnacle of the 14th Gen Raptor Lake Refresh architecture, serving as a heavily-binned chip reaching 6.2 GHz on two cores. While it delivers top-tier performance for extreme enthusiasts, it draws over 370-400W under load and instantly hits 100°C, making high-end cooling mandatory. Real-world gains are marginal (1-5%)...Read more

(Translated)Show original

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