Intel offers desktop chip that can hit 6GHz if everything goes right, you can keep it cool, stars align, pigs fly
(2023/01/13)
- Reference: 1673571606
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2023/01/13/intel_13900ks_300w/
- Source link:
Intel delivered on its promise of a 6GHz Raptor Lake chip this week with the launch of its Core i9 13900KS.
The Silicon Valley chip giant has [1]teased the part since mid-2022, when it claimed the chip would run at 6GHz on default (stick) settings and reach 8GHz when overclocked — albeit only with the help of exotic coolants like liquid nitrogen.
Beyond the higher clock speeds there's not much new to talk about here. The 13900KS boasts the same eight performance cores and 16 efficiency cores in a big-little arrangement just like the previously [2]announced 13900K. The only differences appear to be that Intel juiced the chip's speeds by 200MHz across the board, bumping its max turbo to 6GHz, and boosted its thermal design power (TDP).
[3]
Intel's docs report a maximum turbo power of 253W — the same TDP as the 13900K — however, several outlets are [4]reporting that the chip can actually pull as much as 320W under load. This lines up with figures gleaned from a demo shared by Intel on [5]YouTube (3:01) earlier this week that showed the chip set to a turbo-boost power limit of 300W. We've reached out to Intel for clarification and will let you know if we hear anything back.
[6]
[7]
At $699 the CPU isn't cheap, but it's $40 less expensive than last year's 12th-gen KS SKU and priced to match AMD's flagship 7950X. In a comparison, AMD's part has a 300MHz frequency deficit, though it does technically have twice the performance cores. As we've noted in the past, frequency is only one measure of performance and instructions per clock (IPC) and thermal headroom can often play a more important role in real-world performance.
[8]Intel's stock Raptor Lake chip will do 6GHz and overclock another 25%, if it keeps cool
[9]AMD refreshes desktop CPUs with 5nm Ryzen 7000s that can reach 5.7GHz with 16 cores
[10]Intel: Please buy these new 13th-Gen CPUs, now with 24 cores
[11]Intel's 13th-gen CPUs are hot, hungry, loaded with cores
Speaking of which, this is especially true when it comes to the 13900KS's 6GHz turbo frequency. Customers who shell out for the KS will discover that despite Intel's claims, it rarely hits those clock speeds, except under ideal circumstances. This is because that magical 6GHz frequency is only possible during a phase called Thermal Velocity Boost (TVB).
According to Intel's [12]documentation , TVB refers to its opportunistic boost algorithm that allows for higher clock speeds based on the amount of thermal headroom and the available power budget. Basically, as long as the chip stays cool and can access power to feed it, it'll keep boosting up to its maximum rated speed.
During an [13]video demo teasing the part, Jason Xie, gaming technical marketing lead at Intel, said "hitting 6GHz really depends on your environment. A lot of factors come into play here, whether it's power budget, thermals, or in this case, the software itself — Windows — may not be allocating the right cores."
[14]
In other words, the chip may never hit the advertised clock speeds. And finding a cooler that can tame the 13900KS's 300-plus watt thermal output could be tricky without the help of water cooling.
In Intel's demo, the company showed the chip hitting 6GHz on two cores using a Corsair all-in-one water cooler. However, that test was running the 7zip benchmark, which isn't particularly taxing, especially when limited to just two cores. Intel also didn't show the kinds of temperatures the chip was hitting in those tests.
According to Intel's docs, the TVB frequency isn't locked to a certain number of cores. Given enough an adequate power budget and cooling, you could in theory hit 6GHz on all eight performance cores.
[15]
If overclocked, this chip has the potential to go even faster. Intel says 8GHz, but that clearly isn't the limit. Late last year, ASUS' overclocking team [16]pushed Intel's bog-standard 13900K to 9GHz. But unless you happen to have access to ample supply of super-chilled helium laying around, you'll have to make due with a paltry 6GHz. ®
Get our [17]Tech Resources
[1] https://www.theregister.com/2022/09/12/intels_raptor_lake/
[2] https://www.theregister.com/2022/09/27/intel_13thgen_cpu_innovation/
[3] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/systems&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2Y8E5z@tm4@qu2G8CFWXXhwAAANE&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[4] https://www.anandtech.com/show/18726/intel-unveils-core-i9-13900ks-raptor-lake-spreads-its-wings-to-6-0-ghz
[5] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYG3VU5z-2A
[6] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/systems&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44Y8E5z@tm4@qu2G8CFWXXhwAAANE&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[7] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/systems&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33Y8E5z@tm4@qu2G8CFWXXhwAAANE&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2022/09/12/intels_raptor_lake/
[9] https://www.theregister.com/2022/08/30/amd_ryzen_7000_cpu/
[10] https://www.theregister.com/2023/01/03/intel_13th_generation_cpus/
[11] https://www.theregister.com/2022/09/27/intel_13thgen_cpu_innovation/
[12] https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/sku/232167/intel-core-i913900ks-processor-36m-cache-up-to-6-00-ghz/specifications.html
[13] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYG3VU5z-2A
[14] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/systems&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44Y8E5z@tm4@qu2G8CFWXXhwAAANE&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[15] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/systems&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33Y8E5z@tm4@qu2G8CFWXXhwAAANE&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[16] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3lZFMSB78g
[17] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
The Silicon Valley chip giant has [1]teased the part since mid-2022, when it claimed the chip would run at 6GHz on default (stick) settings and reach 8GHz when overclocked — albeit only with the help of exotic coolants like liquid nitrogen.
Beyond the higher clock speeds there's not much new to talk about here. The 13900KS boasts the same eight performance cores and 16 efficiency cores in a big-little arrangement just like the previously [2]announced 13900K. The only differences appear to be that Intel juiced the chip's speeds by 200MHz across the board, bumping its max turbo to 6GHz, and boosted its thermal design power (TDP).
[3]
Intel's docs report a maximum turbo power of 253W — the same TDP as the 13900K — however, several outlets are [4]reporting that the chip can actually pull as much as 320W under load. This lines up with figures gleaned from a demo shared by Intel on [5]YouTube (3:01) earlier this week that showed the chip set to a turbo-boost power limit of 300W. We've reached out to Intel for clarification and will let you know if we hear anything back.
[6]
[7]
At $699 the CPU isn't cheap, but it's $40 less expensive than last year's 12th-gen KS SKU and priced to match AMD's flagship 7950X. In a comparison, AMD's part has a 300MHz frequency deficit, though it does technically have twice the performance cores. As we've noted in the past, frequency is only one measure of performance and instructions per clock (IPC) and thermal headroom can often play a more important role in real-world performance.
[8]Intel's stock Raptor Lake chip will do 6GHz and overclock another 25%, if it keeps cool
[9]AMD refreshes desktop CPUs with 5nm Ryzen 7000s that can reach 5.7GHz with 16 cores
[10]Intel: Please buy these new 13th-Gen CPUs, now with 24 cores
[11]Intel's 13th-gen CPUs are hot, hungry, loaded with cores
Speaking of which, this is especially true when it comes to the 13900KS's 6GHz turbo frequency. Customers who shell out for the KS will discover that despite Intel's claims, it rarely hits those clock speeds, except under ideal circumstances. This is because that magical 6GHz frequency is only possible during a phase called Thermal Velocity Boost (TVB).
According to Intel's [12]documentation , TVB refers to its opportunistic boost algorithm that allows for higher clock speeds based on the amount of thermal headroom and the available power budget. Basically, as long as the chip stays cool and can access power to feed it, it'll keep boosting up to its maximum rated speed.
During an [13]video demo teasing the part, Jason Xie, gaming technical marketing lead at Intel, said "hitting 6GHz really depends on your environment. A lot of factors come into play here, whether it's power budget, thermals, or in this case, the software itself — Windows — may not be allocating the right cores."
[14]
In other words, the chip may never hit the advertised clock speeds. And finding a cooler that can tame the 13900KS's 300-plus watt thermal output could be tricky without the help of water cooling.
In Intel's demo, the company showed the chip hitting 6GHz on two cores using a Corsair all-in-one water cooler. However, that test was running the 7zip benchmark, which isn't particularly taxing, especially when limited to just two cores. Intel also didn't show the kinds of temperatures the chip was hitting in those tests.
According to Intel's docs, the TVB frequency isn't locked to a certain number of cores. Given enough an adequate power budget and cooling, you could in theory hit 6GHz on all eight performance cores.
[15]
If overclocked, this chip has the potential to go even faster. Intel says 8GHz, but that clearly isn't the limit. Late last year, ASUS' overclocking team [16]pushed Intel's bog-standard 13900K to 9GHz. But unless you happen to have access to ample supply of super-chilled helium laying around, you'll have to make due with a paltry 6GHz. ®
Get our [17]Tech Resources
[1] https://www.theregister.com/2022/09/12/intels_raptor_lake/
[2] https://www.theregister.com/2022/09/27/intel_13thgen_cpu_innovation/
[3] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/systems&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2Y8E5z@tm4@qu2G8CFWXXhwAAANE&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[4] https://www.anandtech.com/show/18726/intel-unveils-core-i9-13900ks-raptor-lake-spreads-its-wings-to-6-0-ghz
[5] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYG3VU5z-2A
[6] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/systems&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44Y8E5z@tm4@qu2G8CFWXXhwAAANE&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[7] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/systems&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33Y8E5z@tm4@qu2G8CFWXXhwAAANE&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2022/09/12/intels_raptor_lake/
[9] https://www.theregister.com/2022/08/30/amd_ryzen_7000_cpu/
[10] https://www.theregister.com/2023/01/03/intel_13th_generation_cpus/
[11] https://www.theregister.com/2022/09/27/intel_13thgen_cpu_innovation/
[12] https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/sku/232167/intel-core-i913900ks-processor-36m-cache-up-to-6-00-ghz/specifications.html
[13] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYG3VU5z-2A
[14] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/systems&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44Y8E5z@tm4@qu2G8CFWXXhwAAANE&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[15] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/systems&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33Y8E5z@tm4@qu2G8CFWXXhwAAANE&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[16] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3lZFMSB78g
[17] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Re: Intel could have been years ahead...
FeepingCreature
Good question there. 86 are comparatively tiny- how high could you clock one nowadays?
Re: Intel could have been years ahead...
Ken Hagan
It had a clocks per instruction rather than an IPC, so unless you can crank it to about 50GHz and your workload is 16-bit integer arithmetic fitting in 1MB, it's not as interesting as you think.
It Computes OK.
EricB123
...And doubles as a toaster.
Re: It Computes OK.
Kane
"...And doubles as a toaster."
It could probably warm my house at those temps.
Re: It Computes OK.
phuzz
Pretty much all the electricity you put into a computer is going to come out as heat, and if this chip is pulling ~300W, that's about a third as much heat as an electric heater. (Those are usually about 1kW).
Of course, if you have a 300W CPU, the rest of your system is unlikely to be modest, so hitting a power draw of 1kW is possible, and all of that will end up as heat in your room.
tl/dr this CPU could heat a small room, not quite a whole house.
How the mighty have fallen....
sreynolds
It uses the same exotic materials that so called quantum computers use to get something that could make this even remotely newsworthy.
"that test was running the 7zip benchmark"
Pascal Monett
Oh come on Intel, the 7zip benchmark ?
Are you that scared that your tech won't work ?
Run the Crysis demo, for Pete's sake, and show us that your chip doesn't melt and keeps the game chugging. That would be meaningful.
Intel could have been years ahead...
Back in the days (8086➔80286➔80386➔...) when Intel was running as fast as they could (just as now) to continually increase the capability of their offerings, a wag was supposed to have said, "I don't understand. Just let me have an 8086 which runs at 20 GHz, and I can do anything Intel could ever conceive of."
Well, if Intel would have followed this gentleman's advice, imagine how much money (time; effort; manpower; facilities...) would have been saved by playing the same games they're playing now --as outlined in this article--simply by running a bog-standard 80286, but cooled with liquid helium at -452⁰ F; 4.2K.