Intel’s latest generation processors are here! It seems like only yesterday we were celebrating the original Intel Core and now here we are at 14th gen. It’s a cliché, but they really do grow up fast. But what are these new processors all about? Let’s discuss.
14th Gen Intel – What’s New?
The 14th Gen launch is actually a refresh of 2022’s Raptor Lake architecture (creatively referred to as “Raptor Lake Refresh). It utilizes the same Hybrid core system and 7nm process as did the 13th and 12th Gen processors, pairing Performance and Efficient cores to maximize, well, performance and efficiency. The new processors do have additional cache and some higher clocks, as well as some new I/O which we’ll discuss shortly, but you won’t see any huge leaps forward this time around.
Processor models
With this launch, Intel released the unlocked models only. That means the following are available now. Non-k will follow with a date to be announced.
| P Cores | E Cores | Threads | Base Clock | Max | Cache | Graphics | |
| i9-14900K | 8 | 16 | 32 | 3.2 GHz | 6 GHz | 36 MB | UHD Graphics 770 |
| i9-14900KF | 8 | 16 | 32 | 3.2 GHz | 6 GHz | 36 MB | none |
| i7-14700K | 8 | 12 | 28 | 3.4 GHz | 5.6 GHz | 33 MB | UHD Graphics 770 |
| i7-14700KF | 8 | 12 | 28 | 3.4 GHz | 5.6 GHz | 33 MB | none |
| i5-14600K | 6 | 8 | 20 | 3.5 GHz | 5.3 GHz | 24MB | UHD Graphics 770 |
| i5-14600KF | 6 | 8 | 20 | 3.5 GHz | 5.3 GHz | 24MB | none |
Z790 Refresh Motherboards
Intel’s 14th Gen Core processors use the same LGA 1700 socket as 12th and 13 Gen, so all 600 and 700 series boards will support these new CPUs as well, although they may need a BIOS update first. There’s no new Intel chipset with this launch, but Asus, Asrock, MSI, and Gigabyte have all announced “Z790 refresh” boards to add additional heatsinks and improved VRMs to better handle the additional TDP and thermal requirements of 14th Gen. From a spec perspective, the Z790 Refresh boards have primarily the same set as do their original Z790 predecessors with the one exception – support for Wifi 7.
What is Wifi 7
Also known as 802.11be, Wifi 7 is the latest WiFi standard. It operates across all three bands (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz) with 320 MHz ultra-wide bandwidth and 4096-QAM to produce a max throughput of 46 Gbps. That’s 4.8x faster than Wifi 6 and 13x faster than Wifi 5 with overall 100x lower latency and 5x the total network capacity. To capitalize on the new tech though, you’ll need both a Wifi 7 compliant motherboard, wireless router, and ISP that supports such speeds.
Where can I get 14th Gen?
14th Gen Intel Core processors are available on our Raptor Z95 and Z55 gaming systems and HD60 workstations. For assistance configuring yours, contact our sales team at 804-419-0900 x1.
Josh has been with Velocity Micro since 2007 in various Marketing, PR, and Sales related roles. As the Director of Sales & Marketing, he is responsible for all Direct and Retail sales as well as Marketing activities. He enjoys Seinfeld reruns, the Atlanta Braves, and Beatles songs written by John, Paul, or George. Sorry, Ringo.
