Intel announced its 14th-Generation Intel Core processors—the latest addition to the Intel processor lineup on the 7nm Intel 4 process node. These chips are supposedly the best, most power-efficient Intel offers, but many are disappointed with its performance.
So, if you’re an Intel fan, here is why you should skip the 14th-Gen processors and perhaps wait for the 15th-Generation instead.
1. Intel’s 14th-Gen Brings Minimal Specification Upgrades Over 13th-Gen Chips
One of the reasons why you would upgrade to a processor is that it has a significant advantage over the one you have. However, if you have a 13th-Gen Intel processor or newer, the latest 14th-Gen chips do not offer a big advantage, especially if you stay in the same Core variant you currently have,like the Intel Core i5 or i7.
Let’s compare the specifications from the latest three Intel Core i9 generations to see their differences.
Intel Core i9-14900K
Intel Core i9-13900K
Intel Core i9-12900K
Max Turbo Frequency
Processor Cores (P-Cores + E-Cores)
24 (8P + 16E)
16 (8P + 8E)
Total Processor Threads
Smart Cache (L3)
Max Memory Speed
DDR4-3200 DDR5-5600
DDR4-3200 DDR5-4800
PCIe 5.0 Lanes
PCIe 4.0 Lanes
Integrated Graphics
Intel UHD 770
While Intel’s 14th-Gen has some advantage over the 12th-Generation chips in core counts and max frequency, its only advantage over the 13th-Gen is it’s slightly faster maximum memory speed with DDR5 RAM.
We can also check the differences between the more affordable Intel Core i5 Generations.
Intel Core i5-14600K
Intel Core i5-13600K
Intel Core i5-12600K
14 (6P + 8E)
10 (6P + 4E)
Intel UHD 730
Even the entry-level Core i5 processors have few changes over the 13th-Generation chips.
2. Intel’s 14th-Gen and 13th-Gen i9 and i5 Processors Have the Same Core Count
One of the ways you’re able to measure performance improvements between generations of processor chips is by its core count. In general,the processor coreis the part of your computer that reads and executes instructions.
So, the more cores you have, the faster your processor will run. This, in turn, will make your computer snappier unlessyou run into a bottleneck. Intel took this further byintegrating performance and efficiency coresinto its chips to have a powerful but power-efficient processor.
However, if you look at our comparison charts above for the 13th-Gen and 14th-Gen chips, you’ll see that the i9 and i5 processors have the same number of cores. Only the Intel Core i7-14700K gets a core count bump from 16 (8P + 8E) to 20 cores (8P + 12E).
3. The 13th-Gen and 14th-Gen Intel Chips Use the Same Architecture
The processor architecture is how a CPU is built. Major architecture changes can be a game changer, making a processor more powerful and efficient. This is most apparent with the 12th-Gen Alder Lake processor when Intel introduced the performance and efficiency cores in its chips.
One of thethings you need to know about the 13th-Gen Raptor Lake processoris that it’s mostly an improvement over the 12th-Gen Alder Lake processors. But the 14th-Generation Intel chips are also an improvement built upon the Raptor Lake processor.
EvenIntel says this, as it called the 14th-Generation processors “Raptor Lake Refresh”. Nevertheless, let us see the results from various testers to see how the 14th-Gen Intel chips fare over other processors.
4. They Don’t Perform Much Better Than the 13th-Gen Intel Chips
Of course, no matter what a processor maker says, the best way to gauge a chip’s performance is to see its real-world results. So, this is how the 14th-Generation Intel processors performed over 13th-Gen Intel chips and from competing AMD offerings.
First, let’s look at Gamer Nexus’s test of the Intel Core i9-14900K, linked above. Gamer Nexus used a computer with the following specifications for the test: RTX 4090 Strix GPU and DDR5-6000 Corsair RAM.
AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D
Productivity Testing
Blender 3.64 Rendering (seconds / lower is better)
7-Zip Compression Test (millions of instructions per second / higher is better)
Adobe Premiere (Puget Suite aggregate score / higher is better)
Game Testing (Average FPS/Higher Is Better)
Rainbow Six Siege @ 1080p
Rainbow Six Siege @ 1440p
F1 2023 @ 1080p
F1 2023 @ 1440p
Baldur’s Gate 3 @ 1080p
Baldur’s Gate 3 @ 1440p
Final Fantasy XIV @ 1080p
Final Fantasy XIV @ 1440p
Starfield @ 1080p
As you may see in the test results, the Intel i9-14900K performs a bit better than its previous-generation counterparts. However, in many tests, AMD’s Ryzen 9 7950X3D chip posted better results than Intel’s 13th-Gen and 14th-Gen offerings. Despite the 14900K boasting more cores and a higher boost clock speed,AMD 3D V-Cachehelps the 7950X3D gain an advantage.
Let’s also look at Hardware Unboxed’s results (linked above) when it tested the i7-14700K against the competition. Hardware Unboxed used a PC equipped with an RTX 4090 Strix GPU and DDR5-6000/7200 RAM for this test for the AMD/Intel build.
Intel Core i7-14700K
Intel Core i7-13700K
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D
Cinebench 2024 Benchmark (Multi-Core / higher is better)
Cinebench 2024 Benchmark (Single-Core / higher is better)
Blender Open Data 3.1.0 (samples per minute / higher is better)
Adobe After Effects (Puget Systems benchmark / higher is better)
Hogwarts Legacy @ 1080p
Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty @ 1080p
The Last of Us Part I @ 1080p
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor @ 1080p
Asserto Corsa Competizione
Spider-Man Remastered @ 1080p
Assassin’s Creed Mirage Power
According to the test results, the i7-14700K performs much better in productivity tasks, especially in apps that take advantage of multiple cores. This is where the 14700 K’s 20 (8P + 12E) cores shine, allowing it to outperform the 13700 K’s 16 cores and the 7800X3D’s eight cores.
However, we get the same story when it comes to gaming. AMD’s massive 3D V-Cache allows the 7800X3D to outperform 13700K and 14700K chips in most games.
5. You Probably Don’t Need the 14th-Gen’s Latest Features
Aside from better performance, the 14th-Gen Intel chips also have added features likeWi-Fi 7 (the latest Wi-Fi standard), Thunderbolt 5 support, and AI-guided overclocking. These allow for faster data transmission and make you make the most of your processor.
However, Wi-Fi 7 and Thunderbolt 5 aren’t widely used yet, and most users don’t overclock their computers. So, unless all your devices use these standards, and you want to squeeze every ounce of performance out of your processor (which runs the risk of voiding your warranty), you probably do not need these.
6. Intel’s 13th-Gen Chips Are More Affordable
Launch Price
14th-Gen Intel chips have a slight performance advantage over the previous generation, and their launch price is also just $10 more than the 13th-Gen chips. However, since the latter was already a year old when the former launched, you can find them much cheaper than their launch prices.
For example, you canget the 13900K on Amazonfor less than $547, andthe 13700K is on Neweggfor less than $394.The 13600K is also available on Amazonfor less than $308.
While the discount seems small compared to the 13th-Gen’s launch prices, you still save $20 to $50 over the 14th-Gen chips with an almost imperceptible difference in performance. you may then use these savings for things you want, likebuying your first mechanical keyboard.
You Can Skip the 14th-Gen Intel Processors
The 14th-Gen Intel chips aren’t a giant leap for Intel—it’s more like a tiny step that adds a small bump in power and performance. If you currently have a 12th or 13th-gen Intel processor or an equivalent AMD build, the 14th-Gen isn’t a worthwhile upgrade.
If you’re upgrading from an older PC, consider getting the 13th-Gen instead, as you get better value for money with them. I’ll only recommend Intel’s 14th-Gen processors if you need its Wi-Fi 7, Thunderbolt 5, and AI-powered overclocking features—or if you get a good deal on them.
