Time to ditch the 12th-gen, as Intel’s Core i5-14600K just hit its lowest-ever price at Amazon
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Lower-budget PC builds can still deliver gaming and multitasking performance, and Intel’s Core i5-14600K is a good example. Assuming you have DDR4 already (perhaps from a 12th-gen build) or can pick up an affordable deal on some sticks and a motherboard, the Core i5-14600K makes sense at its new deal price.
That’s because it’s just dropped to its lowest cost on Amazon, $208. The $16 (8%) discount puts it in the category of the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X and the 9600X ($215 and $236 at the time of writing), both of which offer more for future drop-in upgrades but also require more expensive motherboards and DDR5 RAM. And as the 14600K largely outperforms both, if you’re after performance and not upgrade paths, then all the better.
Intel Core i5-14600K Processor 14 (6 P-cores + 8 E-cores) with Integrated Graphics – Unlocked
Why we like the Intel Core i5-14600K
Despite being a minor upgrade to the 13600K, the 14600K is a well-balanced CPU with good multitasking and gaming performance, particularly interesting if you’re upgrading from Intel 12th-gen since this CPU can use the same RAM and, likely, motherboard (check compatibility and update your motherboard BIOS/firmware to the latest version).
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- Architecture – Compatible with Intel’s LGA 1700 platform, the Core i5-14600K is a 14-core, 20-thread CPU with UHD Graphics 770. Compatible with Intel 600 series (update BIOS) and 700 series chipsets.
- A boost from 12th gen – The 14600K will offer a significant performance boost if upgrading from Intel’s 12th gen (or older).
- Performance – Capable of largely outperforming the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X, Ryzen 5 7600X in multi-tasking and gaming.
- Overclocking – The CPU can be overclocked as it is a ‘K' variant, but this 125W part can run hot, so it is best combined with a good AIO (all-in-one) cooler to keep temperatures stable.
Who is this Intel Core i5-14600K for?
The Core i5-14600K sits in an interesting spot: opting for it limits you to Core i7-14700 and Core i9-14900 CPUs for future upgrades. Picking similarly priced AMD AM5 parts offers a better future upgrade path, but the 14600K is the best-performing CPU at its price. That makes this deal for you if you want the best performance at around the $200 mark.
However, this deal makes much more sense if you’re upgrading from an older build, perhaps using an Intel 12th-gen CPU. That way, you can save on DDR4 and maybe even a motherboard and allow the 14600K to show your system a new lease of life. If you do need a motherboard, check out our guide to the best motherboards for the 14600K, and best sure to get the best CPU cooler for the 14600K to keep things cool.
Intel Core i7-13700KF Gaming Desktop Processor
Intel Core Ultra 7 Desktop Processor 265K
AMD Ryzen™ 9 9950X
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D CPU
AMD Ryzen 7 5700X 8-Core, 16-Thread Unlocked Desktop Processor
Intel Core i5-14600K Desktop Processor
AMD Ryzen™ 9 7900X CPU
AMD Ryzen 5 9600X
Intel Core i9-13900K Desktop Processor
AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT
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