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Core i5-14600K — Raptor Lake Refresh · 14C · 5.3 GHz · $319
Intel

Core i5-14600K

Raptor Lake Refresh · 14C · 5.3 GHz · $319

87
/ 100
From $319
VS
Core i5-14600K wins by 54
Core i9-13900KS — 24C/32T · 6.0 GHz · 150 W · PassMark #170
Intel

Core i9-13900KS

24C/32T · 6.0 GHz · 150 W · PassMark #170

33
/ 100
From $521
Specdex verdict

Core i5-14600K takes it — here’s why.

In our weighted Specdex score, Core i5-14600K lands at 87 and Core i9-13900KS at 33. That puts Core i5-14600K ahead by 54 points — a decisive margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.

Pick Core i5-14600K if…

  • ✓Strong gaming performance
  • ✓Good productivity for price
  • ✓DDR4 and DDR5 compatible

Pick Core i9-13900KS if…

  • ✓PassMark #170 of 5,901 — capable workhorse
  • ✓Current PassMark-tracked street price around $521
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Winner by scenario

Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate test

Value for money

Core i5-14600K

Specdex score per dollar at MSRP

Core i5-14600K more score per dollar ($319 vs $521).

Core i5-14600K 87
vs
33 Core i9-13900KS

Score breakdown

Core i5-14600K
87
single 90
multi 86
gaming 92
efficiency 78
cpu 0
passmark 0
Core i9-13900KS
33
single 0
multi 0
gaming 0
efficiency 0
cpu 33
passmark 60485

Specs side-by-side

Core i5-14600K versus Core i9-13900KS — full spec comparison
Spec Core i5-14600K Core i9-13900KS
Cores
14 (6P+8E)
▲ 24 (8P + 16E)
Threads
20
▲ 32
Boost clock
5.3 GHz
6.0 GHz
TDP
125 W
150 W base / 253 W max
Socket
LGA1700
LGA 1700
Base clock
—
3.2 GHz (P) / 2.4 GHz (E)
L3 cache
—
36 MB
Class
—
Desktop
PassMark rank
—
#170 of 5,901
PassMark CPU Mark
—
60,485

Core i5-14600K

Pros
  • +Strong gaming performance
  • +Good productivity for price
  • +DDR4 and DDR5 compatible
Cons
  • −Last-gen LGA1700 socket
  • −Power hungry under load
  • −No AI instructions

Core i9-13900KS

Pros
  • +PassMark #170 of 5,901 — capable workhorse
  • +Current PassMark-tracked street price around $521
Cons
  • −Requires recent-generation motherboard and DDR5 memory
  • −Newer-generation parts pull ahead in current rankings

FAQ: Core i5-14600K vs Core i9-13900KS

Which is better, Core i5-14600K or Core i9-13900KS? +

Core i5-14600K scores 87 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 54. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.

Is Core i5-14600K worth the price? +

At $319, Core i5-14600K delivers a Specdex score of 87 — strongest in gaming.

Is Core i9-13900KS worth the price? +

At $521, Core i9-13900KS delivers a Specdex score of 33 — strongest in passmark.

Does Core i5-14600K or Core i9-13900KS last longer? +

Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.

Which is the better value, Core i5-14600K or Core i9-13900KS? +

Core i5-14600K — more score per dollar ($319 vs $521). Specdex score per dollar at MSRP.