Intel is set to launch the prime flagship processor Core i9-14900KS, capable of automatic overclocking up to a frequency of 6.2 GHz. It has been leaked that the chip may consume more than 400W power under peak load. The product is expected to be available in the market from March.
According to available data, the Intel Core i9-14900KS is set to be the first consumer processor capable of operating at a frequency above 6 GHz in automatic mode. The current flagship, the Core i9-14900K from the Raptor Lake Refresh series, can operate at up to 6 GHz. This capability is shared by the previously released prime version of the Core i9-13900KS from the Raptor Lake series. The Core i9-14900KS is speculated to be the last processor of the LGA 1700 platform. Upcoming desktop processors from the Arrow Lake-S series will be designed for a new platform, the LGA 1851.
A few days ago, the specifications for Core i9-14900KS appeared online in the OCCT stress test database. The details revealed that the Core i9-14900KS has 24 cores supporting 32 virtual threads (8 P-cores and 16 E-cores). The processor comes with 36MB L3 cache memory and 32MB of L2 cache. The chip’s base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with a boost rate of 6.2 GHz. This makes it one of the fastest chips in the world, at least in terms of clock frequency performance out of the box. The chip’s nominal TDP factor is 150W, which is 25W higher than that of the Core i9-14900K.
Designed mainly for tech enthusiasts, the Core i9-14900KS will be sold in limited quantities. During peak loads, the processor’s power consumption was found to almost hit 410W, with temperature exceeding 100 degrees Celsius, as revealed in its OCCT benchmark tests. Note that these tests were stress tests designed to push the CPU to its limits. Nevertheless, the Core i9-14900KS installation would require a robust cooling system – an AIO cooler with a 420 mm radiator, or custom solutions. The high-power processor would also require a compatible power supply unit.
For additional overclocking of the Core i9-14900KS, a more extreme cooling approach is likely required, such as the use of liquid nitrogen. The fact that the chip will go through strict binning (selection) might attract enthusiasts who will try to set new overclocking records, beating the results of the Core i9-14900K. Enthusiasts have managed to push the latter to 9.1 GHz, so it’s possible the Core i9-14900KS could exceed these results. Perhaps, the processor could be overclocked to 9.5 or even 10 GHz.
According to information from insider Benchlife, the Core i9-14900KS is expected to go on sale around mid-March. The pricing for the Core i9-14900KS is yet to be known. However, it is expected to be more or less similar to the Core i9-13900KS, which has a recommended retail price of $700.
