Exciting as it is to see new processor generations push performance ceilings higher, they also have a welcome knock-on effect of reducing the prices of their predecessors. Case in point, Intel Core i5-14600KF leads the charge as several 14th Gen CPUs plummet to their lowest ever price. Better still, the chips in question are ‘KF’ SKUs, giving you room to push them further through overclocking.
Intel Core i5-14600KF deal
Intel Core i5-14600KF
A brilliant processor offering oodles of performance for the price, Core i5-14600KF is a no-brainer. See how it compares to Ryzen 5 9600X.
My favourite of the bunch, Core i5-14600KF is currently 37% ($120.99) off and now available for just $204 on Amazon US. Not only is this the most affordable the CPU has been on the storefront, but this is a whole lot of processor for just a little over two Benjamins.
Core i5-14600KF is a dead ringer for Core i5-13600K in many respects, albeit with higher clock speeds. Under its integrated heat spreader (IHS), there are six performance cores and eight efficient cores, offering a total of 20 threads. With these specifications, the CPU is more than capable of handling the demands of today’s games as well as serving as a decent stand-in for a more core-rich production processor. However, it does lack integrated graphics, so you’ll need to pair it with a dedicated graphics card.
You can check out our Core i5-14600K vs. Ryzen 5 9600X for an idea of what performance to expect from the chip. Summarily, though, the Intel CPU emerges the more efficient and value-oriented processor, with the latter accolade compounded by this price drop. That’s not forgetting the price of building a Z790 platform has also fallen in the wake of Core Ultra 200S. A truly cheerfully cheap chip in every sense.
Intel Core i9-14900KF deal
Intel Core i9-14900KF
Topping the content creator charts and good at gaming, Intel demonstrates a vivid case of power trumping any notion of efficiency with Core i9-14900KF. Read our review.
For those with the cash and thirst for power, allow me to draw your attention to Intel Core i9-14900KF. Like its Core i5 sibling, this former flagship is available on Amazon at its lowest price ever. More specifically, it can be yours with a 30% ($185.37) discount, making it just $434.62.
This CPU boasts impressive specs with its eight performance cores and 16 (count ’em) efficient cores, for a total of 32 threads. It’s also capable of boosting up to 6GHz with adequate cooling and power at its disposal. Those caveats are important ones, as you’ll need high-end solutions on both fronts to make the most out of the apex Raptor Lake Refresh processor. Don’t forget your graphics card either, as this chip also lacks integrated graphics.
Putting Core i9-14900K up against Ryzen 9 9950X and Core Ultra 9 285K, the processor manages to hold its own against newer stock. At this new price, it handily beats both the aforementioned alternatives in terms of value. This isn’t a CPU for the faint-hearted, but there’s no denying that it still has plenty of performance to offer those with the grit to tame it.
Intel Core i7-14700KF deal
Intel Core i7-14700KF
The best desktop Core i7 chip to date is a formidable performer. Read our review.
If the i5 leaves you too cold and the i9 too hot, then perhaps Core i7-14700KF will feel just right. As the only 14th Gen Intel Core processor to boast more cores than its predecessor, it emerges perhaps the most marvellous chip of the bunch for most. It’s currently available on Amazon for $327.93 thanks to a 25% ($107.06) discount slashing its list price. That’s just two cents above its lowest ever price.
For your hard-earned dough, Core i7-14700KF offers a whopping eight performance cores and 12 efficient cores, totalling in 28 threads. These specs make it an excellent all-round processor, as suitable for gaming as it is production workloads. Its great multi-threaded performance especially makes it shine in the latter arena.
Going toe-to-toe vs. Ryzen 7 9700X, Core i7-14700K trades blows with the AMD CPU across the Club386 benchmark suite albeit with much higher temperatures and power consumption. Like its Core i9 sibling, this chip will deliver strong value if you can stomach its fiery temperament.
As a final note, instabilities with 14th Gen Core processors are resolved as of October 07, 2024. If you pick up any of the CPUs above, it is imperative that you update your Windows 11 installation to the latest version. Doing so will apply the necessary microcode updates that mitigate these issues.