Intel 14th Generation Core Processors: Performance Comparison and Gaming Showdown

Intel 14th Generation Core Processors: Performance Comparison and Gaming Showdown

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Specifications of the 14th Generation Core Processors
3. Memory Selection: DDR5 vs DDR4
4. Gaming Performance: Intel vs AMD
5. Test Platform Configuration
6. Gaming Tests and Results
   • Dota 2
   • CS2
   • League of Legends
   • Final Fantasy 14 Benchmark
   • APEX Legends
   • Cyberpunk 2077
   • Metro Exodus
   • Shadow of the Tomb Raider
7. productivity Performance: Intel vs AMD
   • Cinebench R23
   • Cinebench 2024
   • CPU-Z
   • 7Z Decompression Test
   • X265 Codec Test
   • SpecWorkstation Industrial Software Tests
8. Power Consumption and Temperature
9. Conclusion

💡 Highlights

• The 14th generation Core i5-14600K and i9-14900K processors have been released with minor improvements over the previous generation.
• Memory selection plays a crucial role in gaming performance, with higher frequency DDR5 and lower latency DDR4 offering better results.
• Gaming performance comparison between Intel and AMD processors shows that the AMD 7800X3D outperforms the i5-14600K in most games.
• In terms of productivity performance, Intel processors have an advantage due to their higher core count and architectural improvements.
• Power consumption and temperature have been evaluated, with Intel processors showing better efficiency compared to AMD.
• Upgrading from the 13th generation to the 14th generation processors may not be necessary for most users, but older systems can benefit from the performance boost.
• Considerations such as budget, motherboard compatibility, and specific usage requirements should be taken into account when choosing between the 14th generation, 13th generation, or Zen4 processors.

🖊️ Article

Introduction

A year has passed, and Intel has unveiled its 14th generation Core desktop processors. This time, we have the Core i5-14600K and i9-14900K in our hands. While the specifications of these two CPUs may seem similar to the previous generation, with only slight overclocking, we are here to find out if there are any significant performance differences. To make these tests more interesting, we have prepared two different sets of memory specifications: 6000MHz frequency with CL30-40 timing and 7200MHz with CL36-44 timing. In this article, we will compare the performance of these CPUs and memory configurations, along with a bonus comparison of AMD's Zen4 desktop processors against the 14th generation Core processors.

Specifications of the 14th Generation Core Processors

The 14th generation Core processors, such as the i5-14600K and i9-14900K, feature a pinout that remains unchanged from the previous generation, still utilizing the LGA1700 socket, compatible with Z690, B660, and H610 motherboards. These processors are based on the Intel 7 process and utilize the "Raptor Lake-R" architecture, a modified version of Raptor Lake. The i5-14600K has 6 cores, 8 cores, and 20 Threads, which is the same as the previous generation's 13600K. The highest specification, i9-14900K, offers 8 cores, 16 cores, and 32 threads, similar to the 13900K. The only noticeable change is seen in the i7-14700K, which has 4 additional small cores compared to the 13700K, resulting in 20 cores and 28 threads. The frequency improvements in the 14600K and 14900K are not significant, but with a little overclocking, similar performance can be achieved with their predecessors.

Memory Selection: DDR5 vs DDR4

When upgrading the CPU, consideration should also be given to upgrading the memory. We have prepared two sets of memory specifications to compare their impact on performance. The first set is the more common early release specification of DDR5, with a frequency of 6000MHz and timing of CL30-40. The Second set is the now mainstream specification of DDR4 with a frequency of 7200MHz and timing of CL36-44. The performance difference between these memory configurations and the impact on gaming performance will be explored further in the upcoming sections.

Gaming Performance: Intel vs AMD

To assess the gaming performance of the 14th generation Core processors, we will compare them with the previous generation's 13600K and AMD's most powerful gaming CPU, the 7800X3D. The gaming tests will be conducted at 1080p resolution, as this emphasizes the differences between the CPUs. We have selected popular games such as Dota 2, CS2, League of Legends, Final Fantasy 14 Benchmark, Apex Legends, Cyberpunk 2077, Metro Exodus, and Shadow of the Tomb Raider for these tests. The frame rates and performance differences between the CPUs and memory configurations will be analyzed to determine which CPU offers the best gaming performance.

Test Platform Configuration

To ensure accurate and consistent results, we have carefully configured the test platforms. The graphics card used is the public version of the RTX 4090, and the motherboard is the latest ROG Z790 Dark Hero for Intel platforms. For RAM, we have used Gigabyte Phantom Halberd in both memory configurations. The storage used is the Samsung 980 Pro, and the water cooler is the popular Yajun GA5. The power supply is Zhenhua's Leadex G1000W. XMP is enabled, and the default loadline is set to LV3. On the AMD platform, we selected the ROG B650-A Blowing Snow motherboard due to its compatibility with the 8-core 7800X3D. The rest of the configuration remains the same as the Intel platform, with XMP and PBO settings enabled.

Gaming Tests and Results

In the gaming tests, we first evaluated Dota 2, where the average frame rate for the i5-14600K was around 240. The frame rate improvement compared to the 13600K was not significant, but the difference between the 14900K with different RAM configurations was more noticeable. The 7800X3D performed exceptionally well and outperformed the i5-14600K. A similar pattern was observed in other games such as CS2, League of Legends, Final Fantasy 14 Benchmark, Apex Legends, Cyberpunk 2077, Metro Exodus, and Shadow of the Tomb Raider. While the 14th generation Core processors offered slight improvements over their predecessors, the 7800X3D stole the show with better overall gaming performance.

Productivity Performance: Intel vs AMD

Moving on to the productivity performance comparison, we conducted tests using Cinebench R23, Cinebench 2024, CPU-Z, 7Z decompression, X265 codec, and SpecWorkstation industrial software. These tests showcased the advantage of Intel processors in terms of multi-core performance due to their higher core count and architectural improvements. The 14600K achieved a multi-core score of 25149 in Cinebench R23, marking a 10% improvement over the 13600K. The 14900K scored 41724 points, with a slight improvement compared to the 13900K. Single-threaded performance also showed a slight improvement, with the i5-14600K scoring around 4% higher than its predecessor. In tests such as CPU-Z, 7Z decompression, and X265 codec, the differences between the 14th and 13th generation Core processors were minimal, indicating that a simple overclock of the 13600K could achieve similar results. However, in industrial software tests, the advantages of the 14th generation processors, especially when combined with higher memory specifications, became more evident.

Power Consumption and Temperature

We also measured power consumption and temperature during the tests. The difference in power consumption between the 14600K and 13600K was minimal, with both CPUs consuming around 170W. The temperature readings were slightly lower for the 14600K, which could be attributed to improved physical condition or better thermal management. On the other HAND, the 14900K exhibited higher power consumption, reaching up to 350W and running at higher temperatures, even with a 360 water cooling system. The 7800X3D had slightly better power consumption results compared to the 14th generation Core processors, but AMD still faces challenges with heat buildup, requiring low-temperature cooling solutions such as a 240 or 360 water cooler.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the 14th generation Core processors, specifically the i5-14600K and i9-14900K, offer only minor improvements over their predecessors. Upgrading from the 13th generation CPUs may not be necessary for most users, unless they also plan to upgrade their memory. The choice between the 14th generation, 13th generation, or AMD Zen4 processors depends on factors such as budget, motherboard compatibility, and specific usage requirements. The 14th generation processors offer higher default frequencies, making them a better choice when paired with B-series or H-series motherboards, without requiring extensive memory overclocking. On the other hand, the AMD 7800X3D stands out for its exceptional gaming performance, although it comes at a higher cost. Finally, Intel processors showcase their advantage in productivity performance, thanks to their higher core count and architectural improvements, making them more suitable for tasks requiring multitasking or heavy computational workloads.