Intel Core 14th Gen Mainstream Desktop Processors
The non-K 14th Gen Desktop CPUs are here. Intel launched its Raptor Lake Refresh on the desktop, called the 14th Gen Desktop S-series Processor Family in October of 2023. While this was a straight refresh of 13th Gen Raptor Lake, it did provide a small frequency clock boost to every SKU and even added E-cores on the i7-14700K. We reviewed the Intel Core i9-14900K which launched at an RCP of $589. We also reviewed the Intel Core i7-14700K which launched with an RCP of $409 and we also reviewed the Intel Core i5-14600K which launched at an RCP of $319.
All of these CPUs run at high Wattages, or base power and turbo power according to Intel. The i9-14900K and i7-14700K run at 125W base power but can max turbo at 253W, or even more. The i5-14600K has a max turbo of 181W. In fact, in our testing of the Intel Core i9-14900K, we saw power top out at 316W! There is certainly a need for lower Wattage 14th Gen CPUs on the desktop, and here at CES 2024, Intel is announcing new lower power CPUs for the desktop which are also 14th Gen Raptor Lake Refresh CPUs.
Intel is announcing 14th Gen Mainstream Desktop Processors in the i9, i7, i5, i3, and Intel Processor lineups and these CPUs will include a cooler in the box. The i9 gets a beefier Intel Laminar RH1 cooler, while the i7, i5, i3, and Intel Processor get the Intel Laminar RM1 cooler. There are a total of 18 NEW SKUs in 65W and 35W varieties, based on your needs for content creation, productivity, or gaming. All of the same features from the 14th Gen Desktop-S CPUs are present, such as improved frequencies, more E-cores on the i7, high thread counts, Intel 600 and Intel 700 chipset support, Wi-Fi 7 and USB 3.2 all on the Intel 7 Process Technology and also supporting DDR5 or DDR4.
In charts, Intel shows the Intel Core 14th Gen i9-14900 does outperform the 13th Gen Intel Core i9-13900 in all-around performance benchmarks, and mainstream gaming. There is a slight uplift, generation to generation.
All the SKUs are shown above, there are so many here that we aren’t going to detail every single one, so you can look above to see how it all pans out. The main focus is that there is an Intel Core i9-14900, Intel Core i7-14700, and Intel Core i5-14600. There are also CPUs coming in below this, going down the scale all the way to i3 CPUs, “F” parts, “T” parts, and even an Intel Processor 300T. The important point to note with these CPUs is the lower power draw.
The 14900, 14700, and 14600 all have a base power of 65W, but the max turbo power can still be higher. The 14900 can turbo up to 219W, and probably higher, same with the 14700. However, it takes a drastic turn with the 14600 which boosts only to 154W. Below that, power starts dropping even further for greater efficiency.
If you look at the last screenshot above, the “T” processors have a very constrained Wattage profile with all of their base power starting at just 35W. The i9-14900T has a lower max turbo power of 106W, the same as the 14700T. Below that it drops below 100W for the max turbo power, all the way down to 82 or 69W. Prices of all these non-K processors are also less than their higher power counterparts, so you do save money, and power with these new CPUs.
Intel Core Mobile Processors Series 1
Now we come to the new sauce, the sauce known as Meteor Lake. Intel is announcing the Intel Core Mobile Processors Series 1 U-Series processors, which are made for thin & light laptops in the 15W range. The Intel Core U-series platform is all about connectivity at a low Wattage, with multiple display options, RAM configurations, Thunderbolt and USB options along with Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4.
The Intel Core Processors (Series 1) U-series Processors SKUs are listed above. You will find the Intel Core 7 processor 150U as the most performant with 2 P-cores and 8 E-cores boosting up to 5.4GHz at a base power of 15W and a max turbo power of 55W. Next down the line, the Intel Core 5 processor 120U is exactly the same as the 150U, except it has a lower clock speed. It will boost to 5GHz and has lower P and E core frequencies, but that’s it, it is still 2+8 with the same power. Finally, the Intel Core 3 processor 100U will be a 2 P-core 4 E-core CPU that also clocks a bit lower at 4.7GHz max turbo frequency and also lower P and E core frequencies. It, however, still runs at the same power.
Conclusion
Intel’s announcements at CES 2024 this year are all about filling out its current lineup of desktop and mobile processors and expanding on both platforms. It is building upon the major launches that happened in 2023 and providing more options in the mobile and desktop spaces.
The 14th Gen HX mobile processor series is a direct refresh of the 13th Gen HX mobile processor series, similar to the Desktop-S 14th Gen processors. With this 14th Gen refresh, you’ll find slightly higher clock speeds and more E-cores on the i7 variant. It’s not going to be a generational uplift in performance, but combined with a total platform and discrete options, you will have the latest connectivity in the mobile space.
If you want to look forward to the “next” generation, Meteor Lake you can look forward to new Meteor Lake-based laptops, Intel Core Mobile Processors Series 1 U-series coming this year, in the 15W range. These will power thin and light laptops.
On desktop, Intel has now expanded its SKUs of 14th Gen Desktop-S CPUs by a great number with these “non-K” parts. They will have a lower TDP, and consume less power, 65W for the base power, though the maximum turbo power can still reach higher Wattages. Unless you go for the “T” variants, which caps the CPUs to just 35W and a lower turbo Wattage.
All of these CPUs have lower prices than their higher-boosting counterparts, so this should make many of them more affordable and with less of a power demand, more desirable. One thing is for sure, Intel has dumped a truckload of new CPU SKUs out there, Intel did not stop with just a few low-power parts, it bet the farm on them and shoveled a ton of options out there for 2024. So look carefully at the specs, look carefully at the prices, and make your build the best it can be for your needs.