Intel Core i9-13900KS vs. Intel Core i9-13900F for Gaming?

Started by melkyoreo on June 21, 2024

CPU INTEL 13900KS 13900F

I've been looking at the new Intel CPUs, specifically the 13900KS and 13900F. Any thoughts on which one would be better for gaming?

Solved by Misteren in post #2
Yeah, I recently bought a 13900KS and it's been working great! I also found this TechReviewer article that discusses its specs Intel Core i9-13900KS vs. Intel Core i9-13900F. It has some impressive features like DDR5 support with a max stock speed of 5600 MHz and PCIe 5.0.

Yeah, I recently bought a 13900KS and it's been working great! I also found this TechReviewer article that discusses its specs Intel Core i9-13900KS vs. Intel Core i9-13900F. It has some impressive features like DDR5 support with a max stock speed of 5600 MHz and PCIe 5.0.

Solution

Interesting! So the KS version seems to have better base frequencies, single-core max turbo boost frequencies, and overclocking support compared to the F version, right? But how much of an impact would that have on gaming performance?

That's true, but I think the most important factor for gaming is still having a good GPU. The CPU can definitely be a bottleneck if it's too slow. From what I've read, the 13900KS and 13900F both have great L3 cache sizes of 36 MB, which should help with performance.

That makes sense. I'm more interested in the number of cores and their usefulness in gaming. I heard that most modern games don't benefit from having more than 6-8 cores?

Yeah, you're right. So it seems like both CPUs have similar core counts, but different base frequencies, turbo boost frequencies, and overclocking support. The KS version has a higher max single-core turbo boost frequency at 6.00 GHz, which could be beneficial for gaming.

I've been using the 13900F for a while now, and it's been working great for me! For general use, I haven't noticed any significant performance differences compared to my previous CPU. But when it comes to gaming, I can't say if one is better than the other without actually comparing them side by side.

That's true, and it all depends on your specific setup and needs. If you need overclocking support or higher base frequencies for some reason, then the 13900KS might be a better choice.

Thanks for the input, everyone! Based on what you've said, I think I'll go with the 13900KS since it has better single-core performance and overclocking capabilities. But it's definitely important to have a good GPU as well.