Intel Core i9-14900KS Allegedly Surfaced, Authenticity Remains Unclear

Intel Core i9-14900KS Allegedly Surfaced, Authenticity Remains Unclear

User HXL (@9550pro) has shared on X (Twitter) an image of what looks like the Intel Core i9-14900KS – which should be the special, binned edition of the existing Core i9-14900K that boasts slightly higher clockspeeds over the vanilla model. Like the i9-13900KS that comes before it, it’s expected to have a slightly higher TDP as well.

Allegedly, this CPU will come with a 6.2GHz boost clock out of the box, making it 200MHz higher than the 6GHz i9-14900K. However, the HXL points out that the authenticity of this image, which originated from Chinese messaging app QQ, cannot be verified. Identifiable markings such as QR code and S-Spec code are obfuscated, most likely to prevent the leaker from getting tracked down by Intel itself.

Upon closer inspection from Tom’s Hardware, the publication has pointed out that the etchings on the Core i9-14900KS’s integrated heat spreader (IHS) have some minor typography differences when compared to previous models such as Core i9-14900K and Core i9-13900KS, placing further doubts on the chip’s authenticity. However, this can simply be just a new etching machine used for the process, so the results are inconclusive so far.

In any case, we may see Intel surprise drop this new chip in the upcoming CES if the previous year is any indication. During CES 2023, Intel revealed the Core i9-13900KS – which, at the time was the first CPU to ever hit 6.0GHz – while accompanied by the launch of its 65W/35W Raptor Lake (13th Gen) chips. The same could happen here, but there’s no solid indication just yet.

Pokdepinion: Like the 13900KS, this is more of a collector’s item than something you should buy for performance reasons, I suppose.