Ryzen 5 9600X vs. Intel Core i7-14700K, will Zen 5 be enough?

In this article, we’ll explore how powerful the Zen 5 architecture is and whether it would enable the 9600X to tackle the 14700K in a head-on battle. If you want to get your hands on the 9600X check out our Where to Buy 9600X page, which lists different popular retailers in one place to help you save time and effort. Additionally, if you’re interested in the 9600X, you can see how well it does in our review of the processor.

After having to wait an extra few weeks for the Zen 5 processors to come out, the time has gone and past. Giving us a good insight into what this new architecture can provide. So lets see how the 9600X vs 14700K compare.

AMD Ryzen 5 9600X

Cores

6

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Threads

12

Boost clock speed

5.4 GHz

Base clock speed

3.9 GHz

L3 Cache

32 MB

TDP

65 W

Platform

AMD Socket AM5

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Intel Core i7-14700K

Cores

20 (8P-12E)

Threads

28

Boost clock speed

P-Core 5.5GHz / E-Core 4.3GHz

Base clock speed

P-Core 2.5GHz / E-Core 3.4GHz

L3 Cache

33 MB

TDP

125W

Platform

Intel Socket 1700

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Specification

To see the hardware difference between the two processors, we’ve listed their specifications below.

Foundations and cores

These processors are fundamentally different as they are designed and built by different companies. The Ryzen 5 9600X is based on AMD’s Zen 5 architecture, which has 4nm CPU process technology, while the i7-14700K is a refresh of Raptor Lake and has 10nm processes powering it. 

There is a 6nm size difference between their transistors, meaning the 9600X should be able to house more of them on each CPU core. That said, the 14700K has 14 extra cores, so it should be able to make up for the performance difference due to the sheer number advantage. 

In addition, our 14700K review showcased exceptional performance in our industry-standard tests, so it is by no means an underpowered processor. That said, it does require an LGA1700-compatible motherboard, and that socket will most likely change with Intel’s 15th-generation CPUs, making the 14th-gen chips the last to use that socket. So, there won’t be any options to upgrade to after that other than the 14900K, which we’ve also reviewed.    

Clock speed

Due to its hybrid architecture, the 14700K’s clock speed differs from that of the 9600X. It has eight performance and four efficient cores, which make up the 12 cores. These P—and E-cores have a different base and boost clock speeds. 

The base clock speed of the E-cores is 2.7 GHz, and it is 3.7 GHz for the P-cores. Both these values pale compared to 9600X’s 3.9 GHz, meaning it can process 0.2 billion more instructions than the 14700K even if the P-cores have kicked on. 

However, it’s the opposite for the boost clock, as the 14600K has 5.6 GHz while the 9600X has 5.4 GHz. So, the 9600X has more transistors running at a faster base clock speed, but the 14700K has more cores with a higher boost clock, so it might overtake the 9600X.

There is always the option of overclocking your CPU, but while that enhances its performance, its thermal output and power draw also increase. So, we recommend using the best CPU cooler for Ryzen 5 9600X and 14700K.

Cache and TDP

There isn’t much difference between the L3 cache of these CPUs, as the 14700K only has 1 MB more than the 9600X. However, the 9600X has a faster L1 and L2 cache, meaning its processing should be more efficient. 

There is a massive difference in the TDP. The 9600X is rated for a humble 65W, courtesy of the 4nm transistors, while the 14700K has a base power of 125W, which could go up to 253. 

This is a difference of 188W and would greatly impact your PSU choice. For example, if you have an RTX 4080, which we’ve reviewed, with a total graphics power of 320W and pair it with the 14700K, you’d need at least a 650W PSU, while Nvidia recommends a 750W PSU like the Corsair RM750x. 

On the other hand, with 9600X, you can rest easily knowing that it won’t take a lot of power and could even use a budget PSU. However, we recommend opting for the best PSU for Ryzen 5 9600X to ensure every component gets the right amount of power and stability. 

So, regarding energy efficiency, the 9600X wins by a landslide. 

Graphic capabilities

The Ryzen 5 9600X comes with AMD Radeon Graphics, while the 14700K has Intel UHD Graphics 770. These integrated graphics should be enough to boot and troubleshoot the PC and complete basic tasks. You should also be able to play games at lower resolutions, but the FPS won’t be the best. 

When we tested the 14700K, we paired it with an RTX 4070 Ti, and it delivered 225, 297, and 239 FPS in Cyberpunk 2077, Days Gone, and CS2, respectively, at 1080p low settings. So, you should be able to pair it with even more powerful GPUs without worrying about compatibility issues. 

As for the 9600X, the previous generation came with RDNA-2 integrated graphics, which did well in testing done by our fellows over at WePC. They tested the 7900X, and it churned out 131 FPS in CS:GO at 1080p high settings, so with the change in architecture, we can expect even better performance from the 9600X’s integrated graphics. 

Price comparison

If you’re checking what you pay for the two, then easily the 9600X is the cheaper option. You can buy it for $279, as the MSRP is a very competitive price and makes it a good budget choice. Whilst the 14700K is available for $465 by standard, although is discounted to under $400 at times. Even then that still is quite the disparity that makes the AMD choice a lot more appealing.

How have these CPUs changed from the last generation?

We compared the 9600X with the 7600X and the 5600X, and the biggest difference between the three is that they are based on different architectures. All of them have the same core count, threads, and cache, but the 7600X has the highest TDP of 105W, which is weird for an entry-level CPU. 

The 9600X has the highest boost clock speed, while the 7600X overtakes it with its much higher 4.7 GHz base clock speed. 

We compared the 14700K to its predecessors, the 13700K and 12700K.

We can see that the further down we go, the fewer cores, threads, and cache there are. The 14700K is a refresh of the 13700K, meaning it is essentially the same CPU but with slightly better specifications. 

The E-core and P-core base clock speeds aren’t that different across the generations. However, the boost clocks increased with each new addition. 

Alternatives to the 9600X and the 14700K

There are some processors that you could opt for instead of the 9600X and the 14700K, and we’ve listed them below. We’ve reviewed some of these alternative options, and you can also check out their in-depth reviews. 

9600X alternatives 

14700K alternatives

Which one should you go for?

The Ryzen 5 9600X is an entry-level CPU, while the i7-14700K is a mid-range goliath. These processors are built for different use cases, and their prices reflect that. The 9600X, while having the Zen 5 architecture on its side, only has six cores to work with, meaning it most likely won’t be the best option for server-level processing loads. 

The 14700K, on the other hand, has better hardware to deal with intense and multi-threaded workloads, but its energy consumption reflects that. That said, it is also an excellent pick for high-end gaming builds, but the same can be said for the 9600X, as it is 14% faster than the 7600X. 

For reference, the 7600X is only slightly behind in single-core benchmarks, as we found during our 7600X review. If the 9600X is faster than that, it should overtake it, but the 14700K still has a solid grip on multi-core workflows.

Another important difference between the two is the path to upgrade. The 9600X is based on the AM5 platform, supported till 2027, while the 14700K is on the LGA1700 platform, which the 14th-generation CPUs might be the last to use. So, the 9600X is the better option if you’re looking for longevity. 

Ultimately, it all comes down to preference, budget, and use case. I reached out to our hardware experts at PC Guide, Seb Kozlowski, and Jack Howarth, to see what they had to say on this matter.

When comparing  Intel and AMD we see a different build mentality. With Intelsi7 bringing a total of 20 cores split between 8 performance and 12 efficiency cores it is a rather versatile option. Whilst the Ryzen 5 has a total of 6 cores and so has a a lot less to work with but it still has a place in budget builds.

As the 9600X also features a 65W TDP compared to the base power of the 14700K up at 125W. That makes the AMD choice a lot more efficient and running on less power with lower cooling needed and if you don'[t need the processing power for heavy tasks the 9600X is a great choice for budget gaming builds. But for hard work the Intel is a better choice, as long as you don’t get one of the instability affected ones…

Seb Kozlowski

Intel and AMD are both built differently, with Intel going for the split core approach to foster increased efficiency, and AMD going for a mix of power and efficiency, it’s hard to pick a favourite. With that being said, despite Intel’s best efforts, the 9600X has almost half the TDP of the 14700K.

However, it does make sense as to why. The 14900K features 20 cores split between 8 performance cores and 12 efficiency cores. The Ryzen 5 option has only 6 cores and 12 threads.

Both of the platforms that these CPUs are built upon offer the latest and greatest of technology (which will soon be upgraded further for AMD with the release of the 800 series motherboards)

It depends on what platform you want to invest in, in Cinebench, the 14700K gets pretty much double the score, but bear in mind we only have leaked performance to go off. However, the Ryzen option consumes far less power, is easier to cool, and will be less expensive than the Intel CPU.

The Intel offering is more suited to intense workloads and gaming, whereas the 9600X is better suited to casual use, something to keep your PC running. That’s not to say it cant’ do a lot, just not as much as the 14700K based on early predictions.

Jack Howarth