Intel Core i9-14900KS CPU Price Higher Than 13900KS

A new retail listing shows that the new Intel Core i9-14900KS CPU is priced higher than the previous generation Intel Core i9-13900KS, despite having similar specifications and performance. Intel has yet to reveal its refreshed 14th-gen Raptor Lake CPU, but speculation points towards an imminent release within mid-March 2024.

Early benchmarks for the Intel Core i9-14900KS suggested that the chip will be slightly faster than the i9-14900K, which launched back in October 2023. Like the i9-19400K, the i9-14900KS will feature eight performance cores, 16 efficiency cores, and 32 threads. The CPU will also feature 32 MB of L2 Cache and 36 MB of L3 Cache, also known as Intel Smart Cache. Although the specs are extremely similar, the i9-14900KS will have a higher maximum turbo clock at 6.2 GHz compared to the i9-19400K's 6.0 GHz turbo clock. Those wanting to get the best possible performance out of their Intel build may need to pay more for the new CPU.

As spotted by Wccftech, early retail listings from Micro Center show that the Intel Core i9-14900KS «Special Edition» CPU is priced at $749.99, which is $50 more than the $699.99 launch price for the Intel Core i9-13900KS. Intel's Special Edition CPUs are typically more expensive than their flagship counterparts within the same generation. For example, the i9-12900KS Special Edition launched at $739.99 in 2022, while the flagship i9-12900K launched at $589.99. The i9-14900KS follows a similar pattern for its price increase, since the i9-14900K was priced at $589.99. However, retailer Central Computers briefly listed the new Intel CPU with a launch price of $699.99, so the exact pricing may not be finalized yet. What's more, the Micro Center and Central Computers listings were taken down shortly after being discovered.

Intel has not officially announced the i9-14900KS CPU yet, but an announcement and release appear to be on the way before the end of the month. Reviewers and overclockers likely already have the i9-14900KS, so