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Release of Intel i9-14900KS sees 12th-gen predecessor discounted $450 in massive Amazon CPU deal

the 12900KS was once the most powerful gaming CPU - now it's merely a very, very powerful gaming CPU, with a discount!
Last Updated on March 14, 2024
12th gen Intel i9-14900KS processor box against a blue background.
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With the release of the uber-powerful Intel i9-14900KS today, we’ve had a look at some deals for savvy buyers who are looking for top performance without a hyped-up price tag. We think that this i9-12900KS certainly fits that bill, the 12th-gen version of the KS gives you top power with unique ‘golden cove’ performance cores that provide what was, at the time, unrivaled boost clock speeds of 5.50 GHz. Despite being a couple of years old, and the rapid pace of processor improvement, this is still one of the most powerful processors on the market and one of the best CPUs for gaming. Check out this Intel Core i9-12900KS deal below to see if it’s what you’re looking for.

Prices and savings subject to change. Click through to get the current deal prices.
Save 19% NOW!

Intel Core i9 (12th Gen) i9-12900KS Gaming Desktop Processor

with Integrated Graphics and Hexadeca-core (16 Core) 2.50 GHz

Originally retailing at an eye-watering $895.00 you can now pick up the Intel Coe i9-12900KS for 54% less at $405.00, saving you a massive $450.00! It’s certainly a big price increase that makes the i9-12900KS a much more attractive choice for people looking for good-value performance. But let’s check out what we like about the 12900KS to see if the performance gain matches the impressive price loss.

What we like about the Intel Core i9-12900KS

  • Hexadeca-core Processor: The Intel Core i9-12900KS boasts 16 cores, providing immense processing power for multitasking and heavy workloads.
  • Intel Hyper-Threading Technology: Effectively doubling the core-count to 24 threads, this technology enhances multitasking capabilities, allowing for smoother performance across various applications.
  • Customizable Overclocking: With an unlocked multiplier, users can easily adjust the processor’s frequency for optimal performance, making overclocking simpler and more accessible.
  • Support for DDR4 and DDR5 Memory: Core i9-12900KS offers compatibility with both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, allowing users to choose the memory type that best suits their needs.
  • PCI-Express Gen 5 Connection: Ensures high-speed data transfer rates and improved communication with other components in the system, enhancing overall system performance.
  • Integrated UHD Graphics 770: The integrated graphics solution provides a capable visual experience for casual gaming and multimedia tasks without the need for a discrete graphics card.
  • Hardware Virtualization and IOMMU Support: Enhances virtual machine performance and allows for direct hardware usage by guest virtual machines, optimizing system resources for virtualized environments.

Our verdict on this Intel Core i9-12900KS Amazon deal

Overall, we think this is a very good deal for a top processor. Despite it being a couple of years old it still very much holds its own performance-wise with that 5.5 GHz boost clock and the hyperthreading capability also means it’s a super capable multi-tasker when asked. Now that the 14900KS has been released it’s hard to say whether the price will move any further as the performance of the two CPUs is still reasonably close making it a good idea to buy it now before they sell out! However, there’s no getting away from the fact that this CPU is still pricy, if you’re looking for a more budget gaming CPU, why not check out some of these other options that we’ve found?

More deals on CPUs that we think you’ll love

Prices and savings subject to change. Click through to get the current deal prices.
SAVE 20% NOW!

AMD Ryzen™ 7 7700 8-Core

16-Thread Unlocked Desktop Processor
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Intel Core i9-14900K

Core i9 14th Gen 24-Core (8P+16E) LGA 1700 125W Intel UHD Graphics 770 Desktop Processor – Boxed
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AMD Ryzen 5 5600X 6-core, 12-Thread Unlocked Desktop Processor with Wraith Stealth Cooler

AMD’s fastest 6 core processor for mainstream desktop, with 12 processing threads Can deliver elite 100 plus FPS performance in the world’s most popular games Bundled with the quiet, capable AMD Wraith Stealth cooler. System Memory Type: DDR4 4.6 GHz Max Boost, unlocked for overclocking, 35 MB of cache, DDR-3200 support For the advanced Socket AM4 platform, can support PCIe 4.0 on X570 and B550 motherboards
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AMD Ryzen 7 8700G CPU

8-Core, 16-Thread Desktop Processor with advanced AMD “Zen 4” architecture
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AMD Ryzen 7 7700X CPU

The Ryzen 7 7700X offers 8 cores and 16 threads, 5nm process node, base clock speed of 4.5 GHz, which can boost up to 5.4 GHz under heavy workloads, DDR5 memory, support for PCIe 5.0, AM5 socket compatible, 105W TDP (Thermal Design Power).

A journalist specialising in music and audio technology, Joe's audio-visual and gaming interests mean he knows a deal when he sees it.