Is the i9-13900KS overkill for gaming? (2024)

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Intel’s 13900KS is a high-end CPU, one that certainly would be considered overkill for gaming, as most games do not require the level of performance it offers. A more moderate or budget-friendly CPU would likely be sufficient for the pastime. However, if you are also planning on doing other resource-intensive tasks, such as video editing or 3D rendering, this CPU would be a good choice, even if the i9-13900KS gaming potential is a bit much.

We don’t usually recommend any Core i9 for gaming. These are CPUs with over 24 cores that are built with high multithreading activities that will require the use of almost all the cores. Due to the way games are built, they don’t tend to use multiple cores, so gaming becomes an intense low-core count activity. The specs a i9-13900Ks has to offer won’t be fully appreciated in gaming and will be overkill.

Intel Core i9-13900KS: Specs

The i9-13900KS is a high-end CPU that is part of Intel’s 13th generation of processors. The most notable feature of this CPU is its high core count, with 24 cores and 32 threads, making it a powerful choice for multitasking and running multiple heavy applications at the same time. The P-Core base clock speed is 3.0GHz and the boost clock speed is 6.0GHz, which means that it can reach speeds of up to 6.0GHz when the processor needs more power to perform a task. The E-Core base clock speed is 2.2GHz and the boost clock speed is 4.3GHz.

The cache memory of this CPU is also quite large, with 32MB of L2 cache and 36MB of L3 cache. This will help the CPU to store frequently used data and instructions, making it faster to access them again and reducing the CPU’s workload.

The TDP (thermal design power) of this CPU is 150W, which means that the cooling solution that you use should be able to dissipate at least 150W of heat.

What is the best Intel CPU for gaming?

The Intel Core i5-13600K is a great option for gaming, as it offers a balance of performance and cost. It is significantly less expensive than the Core i9 and has only two fewer P-cores. Despite its lower clock speeds and fewer cores compared to the Core i9, the difference in gaming performance will be negligible when paired with a good GPU. The P-cores prioritize the foreground task, which means that when gaming, the performance will be similar to that of the Core i9.

Camilo is a contributor for PC Guide. He's been into tech since he was a teen, surfing through the web and local stores trying to find the cheapest way to play the latest Half-Life on his old Windows