Intel’s upcoming Core i9-14900KS CPUs have already made their way into the hands of buyers before the official launch, revealing some interesting details about the chip’s performance. A user on the overclock.net forums, pakhtunov, was able to get his hands on the Intel Core i9-14900KS “Special Edition” CPU even before its official release. Not only did he manage to acquire one, but he actually got two CPUs and wasted no time in putting them to the test. Another user on the forum also shared that they had received the chip and planned to delid and install it the following day.
Interestingly, it seems that retailers in Vietnam are also breaking embargoes by putting the 14900KS CPUs on shelves and making them available for sale ahead of the launch date. Pictures posted by I_Leak_VN show several 14900KS CPUs ready for purchase before the official release.
The Intel Core i9-14900KS CPU is expected to be one of the fastest chips on the market when it launches. With 24 cores (8 P-Cores + 16 E-Cores), 32 threads, 36 MB of L3 cache, and 32 MB of L2 cache, this CPU promises impressive performance. The per-core clock speeds are rated at 6.2 GHz for a maximum of 3 P-Cores and 5.9 GHz across all cores. The E-Cores are clocked at 4.6 GHz across 3 cores and 4.5 GHz across all cores.
To achieve such high frequencies, Intel appears to have pushed the voltages of the Core i9-14900KS to their limits, with a default voltage of 1.5V and a PL1 TDP of 150W, with a PL2 rating above 253W. This highly binned chip may be able to sustain such high clocks, voltages, and power limits. It’s important to note that higher voltages, power limits, and temperatures can lead to stability issues in games and applications and may degrade the chip over time.
Proper cooling solutions are essential when using such high-performance chips. The user who acquired the Core i9-14900KS CPU is using a Direct-Die cooling bracket to lower temperatures significantly. The silicon quality is reflected in the SP score of 102, with individual scores of 120 for the P-Cores and 67 for the E-Cores. The high score for the P-Cores indicates excellent binning, while the lower score for the E-Cores raises questions about Intel’s focus on P-Core binning for the 14900KS.
The Intel Core i9-14900KS CPU is set to launch this month, with reports suggesting a shelf release on March 13th. The expected price for the CPU is around $750 US.
