Intel Core i9-13900K Review

Enthusiast Desktop processor released in 2022 with 24 cores and 32 threads. With base clock at 3GHz, max speed at 5.8GHz, and a 125W power rating. Core i9-13900K is based on the Raptor Lake-S 10nm family and part of the Core i9 series.
Price 100%
Speed 98%
Productivity 84%
Gaming 100%
Category Desktop
Target enthusiast
Socket Compatibility 1700
Integrated Graphics UHD Graphics 770
Cooler Included No
Overclock Potential 1 %
Year 2022 Model
Price 589 USD
Number of Cores 24 Cores
Number of Threads 32 Threads
Core Frequency 3 GHz
Boost Frequency 5.8 GHz
Max Stable Overclock 5.9 GHz
Power Consumption 125 W
Manufacturing Process 10 nm
L3 Cache 36 MB
Maximum Supported Memory 199 GB
Price-Value Score 100 %
Speed Score 98 %
Productivity Score 84 %
Gaming Score 100 %
Max 1080p Bottleneck 0.6 %
Max 1440p Bottleneck 0.3 %
Max 4K Bottleneck 0.2 %
Overall Score 63/100

Introducing the Core i9-13900K! This Desktop processor is a marvel in Intel's enthusiast range. Debuted in 2022, it's packed with 24 cores and 32 threads. It operates at a base clock speed of 3GHz, can ramp up to 5.8GHz, and has a power consumption of 125W, ready to supercharge your gaming system. The Core i9-13900K is built on the Raptor Lake-S 10nm platform and belongs to the esteemed Core i9 series.

And guess what? The Core i9-13900K is the ultimate successor to Intel's previous-gen gaming champion, the Core i9-12900K. The Core i9-12900K was based on the legendary Alder Lake-S and 10nm process, and it made its grand entrance into the gaming scene back in 2021. But now, it's time for the Core i9-13900K to take the throne and conquer the gaming world!

This CPU packs 24 cores and 32 threads, the first time this many come in a mainstream package! Plus, it costs about the same as the Ryzen 9 7900X, which only has 12 cores and 24 threads. Talk about a total noob!

The Intel Core i9-13900K is another epic drop from Team Intel, cranking things up in the neverending Intel vs AMD CPU war. But hey, core count ain't everything, especially for playing the hottest PC games. Single-core performance gotta be on point too.

Can the Intel Core i9-13900K finally dethrone the king of mainstream CPUs, the Ryzen 9 7900X? It's a maybe. The Core i9-13900K doesn't quite reach the same single-core performance as its rival, but more games are starting to use all those threads, so who cares!

The Intel Core i9-13900K is an absolute monster, just like its 24 cores, 32 threads, and hefty price tag suggest. This is the top dog of mainstream processors, the king you've been waiting for. Games, video editing, 3D work – the Core i9-13900K handles it all with ease. Bow down to the king!

The Intel Core i9-13900K launched on Sep 27th, 2022 for $589, which is pretty much the same price as the last-generation Core i9-12900K. At least there's no crazy price hike this generation!

The high number of threads (over 7!) in the Intel Core i9-13900K makes it a monster for tasks that use all the cores at once (multi-threaded workloads), especially for the price. If you edit a lot of videos or work with giant spreadsheets, the Core i9-13900K will give you a noticeable performance boost.

For gamers, both the Ryzen 9 7900X and Core i9-13900K are great choices. They're neck and neck, with a slight edge to the AMD CPU if you don't overclock it. The Core i9-13900K's base performance can be achieved with cheaper RAM (around $90), whereas the Ryzen 9 7900X needs faster RAM ($110-$120) to hit the frame rates we showed. The price difference is small though, and with anything less than an RTX 2070 or Vega 64 graphics card, your GPU will bottleneck your performance anyway. BottleneckAtPlay

The gaming tests with an RTX 2080 Ti were surprising! The budget-friendly Intel Core i9-13900K (only 589)managedtooutperformthemoreexpensiveRyzen 9 7950X(699) in three games we tested. We know three games aren't everything, but it shows that even a 24 core CPU can still hold its own today. You can even play modern games and stream to Twitch on the Core i9-13900K (playable results, not amazing). As games get more demanding, a 24 core CPU might not be ideal, but the Core i9-13900K can hold its own for now in a pinch.

The Intel Core i9-13900K is a decent performing chip for $589. The main competitor at this price point is the Ryzen 9 7900X, a 12-core unlocked processor with integrated graphics, which costs $549.

The top-of-the-line Intel Core i9-13900K is a beast! This enthusiast CPU packs 24 cores and a whopping 32 threads. It clocks in at 3GHz base speed and can boost up to 5.8GHz. It beats everything in its path, including AMD's Ryzen 9 and Ryzen 9 processors, and even outperforms the 24-core series.

However, the Intel Core i9-13900K falls a bit behind in clock speeds. The Ryzen 9 7950X can reach 4.5GHz base clock and boost up to 5.7GHz.

Can you game on Intel's Core i9 CPU? Absolutely! We got a solid 100% score in our gaming benchmarks.

The Core i9-13900K is a great choice for both gaming and content creation, thanks to its high performance (1.58%) and at least 12 threads. Live streaming, eSports, and uploading gameplay videos are becoming increasingly popular, and this CPU can handle it all.

Building on the success of mainstream Core i9 CPUs, Intel is now attacking the enthusiast market with the Core i9-13900K processors, available since Sep 27th, 2022.

Which GPU to Pick for Intel Core i9-13900K

Below is a comparison of all graphics cards average FPS performance (using an average of 80+ games at ultra quality settings), combined with the Intel Core i9-13900K.

Graphics Card Price Cost Per Frame Avg 1080p Avg 1440p Avg 4K
AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT 8GB $ 399 $ 2.5 159.8 FPS
120.4 FPS
71.1 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 6950 XT 16GB $ 1,099 $ 3.7 293.2 FPS
221 FPS
127.5 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 7600 8GB $ 269 $ 1.7 158.6 FPS
119.6 FPS
70.4 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT 20GB $ 899 $ 2.8 322.7 FPS
243.2 FPS
140.3 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX 24GB $ 999 $ 2.8 355 FPS
267.4 FPS
154.5 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 Ti 24GB $ 1,999 $ 6.9 288.4 FPS
221.2 FPS
140.4 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 8GB $ 200 $ 1.4 138.3 FPS
104.4 FPS
64.2 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 8GB $ 299 $ 1.9 158.7 FPS
121 FPS
74.4 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 8 GB 8GB $ 399 $ 2.3 177.3 FPS
134.4 FPS
82.7 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 12GB $ 599 $ 2.3 257.8 FPS
192.9 FPS
120.9 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti 12GB $ 799 $ 2.4 327.5 FPS
251.1 FPS
159.2 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 16GB $ 1,199 $ 3.5 340.8 FPS
261.4 FPS
165.9 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Ti 20GB $ 799 $ 2.2 367 FPS
281.7 FPS
178.8 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 24GB $ 1,599 $ 4.1 393.3 FPS
301.9 FPS
191.5 FPS
AMD Radeon R7 265 2GB $ 149 $ 4.4 33.6 FPS
22.3 FPS
13.4 FPS
AMD Radeon R9 280 3GB $ 279 $ 6.3 44.2 FPS
32.3 FPS
17.9 FPS
AMD Radeon R9 285 2GB $ 249 $ 5.5 45.6 FPS
33.1 FPS
18.6 FPS
AMD Radeon R9 295X2 4GB $ 1,499 $ 12.8 116.9 FPS
84.5 FPS
52.9 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB $ 149 $ 5 29.9 FPS
19.1 FPS
11.5 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN BLACK 6GB $ 999 $ 12.8 78.3 FPS
56.1 FPS
34.5 FPS
AMD Radeon R7 370 2GB $ 149 $ 4.4 33.8 FPS
23 FPS
13.9 FPS
AMD Radeon R9 380 2GB $ 199 $ 4.4 45.3 FPS
32.8 FPS
18.6 FPS
AMD Radeon R9 380X 4GB $ 229 $ 4.5 50.8 FPS
36.8 FPS
22 FPS
AMD Radeon R9 390 8GB $ 329 $ 4.8 68.6 FPS
50 FPS
27.9 FPS
AMD Radeon R9 390X 8GB $ 429 $ 5.8 73.4 FPS
54.7 FPS
32.5 FPS
AMD Radeon R9 FURY 4GB $ 549 $ 7.2 76.3 FPS
57.1 FPS
33.7 FPS
AMD Radeon R9 FURY X 4GB $ 649 $ 7.3 88.8 FPS
67.8 FPS
40.8 FPS
AMD Radeon R9 Nano 4GB $ 649 $ 8 80.7 FPS
60.6 FPS
36.3 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950 2GB $ 159 $ 4.6 34.5 FPS
24.5 FPS
14.6 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 2GB $ 199 $ 4.6 43.6 FPS
31.5 FPS
18.2 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 4GB $ 329 $ 4.6 71 FPS
50.5 FPS
30.8 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 4GB $ 549 $ 6.6 83.8 FPS
60.5 FPS
35.7 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 Ti 6GB $ 649 $ 6.6 97.7 FPS
71.3 FPS
41.8 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN X 12GB $ 999 $ 8.9 112.3 FPS
81.4 FPS
47.8 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 460 4GB $ 140 $ 4.5 31 FPS
22.2 FPS
12.9 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 470 4GB $ 179 $ 3 60.4 FPS
44.2 FPS
25.8 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 480 8GB $ 400 $ 5.8 69 FPS
51 FPS
30.6 FPS
AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 8GB $ 399 $ 3.7 109.2 FPS
81.2 FPS
47.6 FPS
AMD Radeon RX Vega 64 8GB $ 499 $ 4.3 116.5 FPS
86.8 FPS
50.8 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GT 1030 2GB $ 79 $ 3.4 23.4 FPS
16.7 FPS
9.3 FPS
NVIDIA TITAN V 12GB $ 2,999 $ 18.9 158.8 FPS
121.4 FPS
74.4 FPS
NVIDIA TITAN Xp 12GB $ 1,199 $ 8.3 143.9 FPS
108 FPS
66 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 550 2GB $ 79 $ 3.2 24.5 FPS
17.6 FPS
10.1 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT 8GB 8GB $ 199 $ 2.4 84.2 FPS
59.9 FPS
34.3 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT 4GB 4GB $ 169 $ 2.2 75.4 FPS
53.8 FPS
30.7 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 560 4GB $ 99 $ 2.8 35.1 FPS
25 FPS
14.4 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT 6GB $ 279 $ 2.3 121.2 FPS
89.5 FPS
52.3 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 570 4GB $ 169 $ 2.5 67.7 FPS
49.3 FPS
28.3 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 5700 8GB $ 349 $ 2.7 128.4 FPS
95.7 FPS
56.1 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT 8GB $ 399 $ 2.8 140.2 FPS
104.4 FPS
61.2 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 580 8GB $ 229 $ 2.8 82.1 FPS
58.4 FPS
33.3 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 590 8GB $ 279 $ 3 92.6 FPS
65.9 FPS
37.8 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 3GB $ 169 $ 4.4 38 FPS
27.4 FPS
15.7 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4GB $ 169 $ 3.8 44.6 FPS
32.5 FPS
19 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 6GB 6GB $ 254 $ 3.3 76.1 FPS
54.6 FPS
32 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 3GB 3GB $ 170 $ 2.4 72.2 FPS
52 FPS
30.5 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 8GB $ 399 $ 3.8 106.4 FPS
77.3 FPS
45 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Ti 8GB $ 409 $ 3.5 115.5 FPS
84.7 FPS
49.7 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 8GB $ 499 $ 4 124.7 FPS
91.5 FPS
53.8 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti 11GB $ 759 $ 5.2 146.8 FPS
111.9 FPS
66.9 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 4GB $ 149 $ 2.3 64.7 FPS
47.1 FPS
27.5 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 SUPER 4GB $ 160 $ 1.9 84.9 FPS
62.1 FPS
36.4 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 6GB $ 220 $ 2.3 97.5 FPS
71.6 FPS
41.9 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER 6GB $ 229 $ 2.2 103.6 FPS
76.1 FPS
44.7 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti 6GB $ 279 $ 2.5 109.9 FPS
80.6 FPS
47.2 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 6GB $ 350 $ 2.8 123.1 FPS
86.4 FPS
50.3 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER 8GB $ 400 $ 3.1 130.9 FPS
93.9 FPS
55.8 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 8GB $ 499 $ 3.6 138.3 FPS
100.9 FPS
61 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER 8GB $ 499 $ 3.4 145.9 FPS
108 FPS
64.4 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 8GB $ 699 $ 4.5 156.6 FPS
117.3 FPS
69.5 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER 8GB $ 699 $ 4.2 165.7 FPS
125.4 FPS
75 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti 11GB $ 1,299 $ 7.1 182.6 FPS
139.6 FPS
83.8 FPS
NVIDIA TITAN RTX 24GB $ 2,499 $ 13.3 187.5 FPS
143.3 FPS
86.2 FPS
AMD Radeon VII 16GB $ 699 $ 4.9 143.9 FPS
107.2 FPS
63 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT 8GB $ 379 $ 2.5 150 FPS
112.4 FPS
66 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT 12GB $ 479 $ 2.7 180.2 FPS
135.1 FPS
78.3 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 6800 16GB $ 579 $ 2.7 214.2 FPS
159.4 FPS
93.6 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT 16GB $ 649 $ 2.4 270.4 FPS
201.3 FPS
118.2 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT 16GB $ 999 $ 3.5 287.2 FPS
213.8 FPS
125.5 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti 6GB $ 249 $ 2.2 113 FPS
82.3 FPS
49.1 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 12GB $ 329 $ 2.4 137.3 FPS
101.9 FPS
61.4 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti 8GB $ 399 $ 2.4 167.3 FPS
127.2 FPS
77.4 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 8GB $ 499 $ 2.4 204.2 FPS
151.2 FPS
90.3 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti 10GB $ 599 $ 2.6 229.1 FPS
170.9 FPS
103.9 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 10GB $ 699 $ 2.6 266.9 FPS
197.6 FPS
118 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti 20GB $ 799 $ 3 267.1 FPS
201.6 FPS
124.9 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 24GB $ 1,499 $ 4.9 306.4 FPS
226.8 FPS
135.4 FPS
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