Fewer Intel non-K CPUs exist due to market demands and performance expectations.
Fewer Intel non-K CPUs exist due to market demands and performance expectations.
I'm planning to replace my very old CPU (i7 920 4GHz) and searching for the latest ones. I found the cheapest options in my country at around 719$ and 604$. The performance gap between the 13900 and 13900K isn't huge according to recent tests, especially with a 5.6GHz boost clock that beats the 13700K. That means I probably won't need to overclock. However, I'm concerned about the scarcity of reviews for non-K Intel chips and the limited benchmark data compared to K models. Here are some links:
- https://cpu.userbenchmark.com/ (28k samples for 13900K, 373 for 13900)
- https://www.cpubenchmark.net/singleThread.html (3765 samples for 13900K, 91 for 13900)
It seems users tend to avoid non-K Intel CPUs. Is this because they're of poor quality, or is there another reason?
Edited August 7, 2023 by ThalesMML
Thanks for the feedback. I'm still figuring out which CPU to choose. The options seem overwhelming. A few months ago I considered the 7800X3D, but its price is quite steep (around $537) and I'm not convinced it's worth it. Now I'm looking into the latest Intel and AMD processors, checking reviews, videos, and benchmarks to compare price versus performance, power usage, heat output, and especially single-thread speed.
The buyer interested in a 13900/13900k would probably be more of an enthusiast aiming to push performance. This chip surpasses diminishing returns around 125W for light multi-core setups and delivers roughly 78% of the multicore benefits versus a full 250W TDP. Someone in that budget would likely prefer a 13700k over the 13900 for the chance to overclock, even though it’s also a very power-hungry processor. The 13900 has a fixed TDP of around -50W. The i9 13900 resembles the R5 7900x3D—it’s a model that only a handful of users would seriously consider for specialized use cases.
Suggest a top range around 13700K, 13900K is nearly impossible to cool without opting for large AIOs or special cooling solutions. The non-K models are capped at 65W and come with strict boost time restrictions, which many users steer clear of. If you're investing over $400 in a chip, aim for solid performance. For gaming, a 13400 will suffice and fits comfortably within your upgrade budget. Single-thread speed has improved significantly, so a 920 on an all-core setup may struggle against more efficient cores.
Here’s a list of the games: strategic titles are limited around 6-8 cores. A 13700k offers plenty of options, while a 13600k should work well too, especially with positive reviews. A 4090 processor is fine unless you need more power. For maximum performance, opt for a high-end CPU cooler since these chips generate a lot of heat. A 13900k is close to the limit for cooling solutions.
Board, CPU, RAM, and cooler. I’m likely to switch cases soon but might stick with my 650W power supply. I intend to run my GTX 1080 GPU for a while, then upgrade later. As mentioned before, I mainly play games. I don’t stick to a tight budget; I prioritize value over cost and future readiness. I’ve been using an i7 920 at 4GHz for over a decade, constantly swapping parts. Thanks for sharing these specifics. A high 3D cache in AMD CPUs helps gaming, but the 13400 and 13600 models have much lower cache values than the 13600K and higher?