Intel Core i9-14900KS vs i9-14900K: What’s the difference?

As per usual, Intel has announced an amped-up version of its flagship CPU. Known as the 14900KS, it’s largely the same, however it can turbo up to 6.2GHz, compared to the 14900K’s puny 6.0GHz.

That’s the primary distinction between the new and the previous top chips, but let’s break it down a bit. So, Core i9-14900KS vs 14900K; what’s the difference?

For those savvy enough to only need a spec table to figure out the differences: Here you go. We’ll get a bit more in depth about these differences afterwards.

As we can see, basically all the specs of the 14900KS remain the same as the 14900K. However, the higher turbo clock and the increased TDP are worth noting. with a TDP 25W higher than the 14900K, the 14900KS probably won't require a new PSU, but it's good to keep in mind, especially if your current system is close to maxing out your PSU.

That higher boost clock will result in higher temperatures when you hit it, so make sure you have a suitable cooler, lest you hit the thermal limit and therefore be unable to take advantage of the additional power compared to the 14900K.

This one is dead simple compared to performance. The higher boost clock of the 14900KS has of course resulted in a higher price. Additionally it’s worth mentioning that the 14900K will probably experience a price drop now there’s a new top dog in town. The MSRP of the Core i9-14900KS is $689, compared to the Core i9-14900K at $589. That being said, even before price drops occur, the 14900K can already be found at slightly lower prices if you shop around. Below you'll find a perhaps overly-comprehensive spec table from Intel that compares the new i9-14900KS to the rest of the 14th gen CPUs.

Here’s the big one: Performance. We mentioned at the outset that the primary difference between the 14900K and 14900KS is the boost clock. It’s 200MHz higher on the KS, which won’t produce any tangible performance benefits under normal use.

However, 200MHz of available headroom when you really max it out under heavy loads, be it gaming, content creation, or 28,000 Google Chrome tabs? It’s certainly nice to have and perhaps genuinely useful for very high workload machines, like 3D rendering, and other visual effects software.

The increased TDP of 150W isn't earth-shattering, either. If your current PC has a PSU with a bit of spare power, as it should, then you'll be ok. Especially as, according to Intel the increased Turbo Clock doesn't eat any more power than the previous guy.

This entirely depends on your budget, your current PC, and your priorities. If you PC is used primarily for gaming, and you’ve already got a modern powerful CPU, you probably won’t experience much difference.

If it’s been a while since your last upgrade and you’re planning a new gaming PC build, the Core i9-14900KS is a great option. Especially if you’re after the most modern components for more long-term future proofing.

Regardless of the CPU you’re going for, you’ll need to keep it cool, so take a look at our vast selection of CPU cooling options. Air, AIO, or custom cooling? We have it all.