We think this Intel CPU is the only one worth buying right now, thanks to a 30% discount
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Even though we’ve just witnessed the release of Intel’s brand-new Core Ultra processors, we don’t expect to see too many people jumping to Team Blue’s next generation of CPUs. While something like the flagship Intel Core Ultra 285K is a solid processor without a doubt, it doesn’t really provide much generational improvement over the 14th-gen equivalents outside of better efficiency, and the need for a new Z890 motherboard to support it only ups the price tag.
So, with that in mind, we think the budget-friendly i5-14600KF is the best Intel CPU to buy right now. It offers great value for money and is an all-round choice for gaming and some productivity workflows. Usually priced at $324.99, it is currently available for just $228.98 on Amazon – its lowest-ever price according to the price tracking site Camelcamelcamel.
Intel Core™ i5-14600KF
Who is this CPU for?
While we haven’t reviewed this specific model, we have tested the previous-gen i5-13600K which offers a similar level of performance. In case you’re wondering, one key difference between these two is the ‘F’ moniker which denotes that the i5-14600KF lacks integrated graphics. In other words, you’ll need a dedicated graphics card to use it in your system.
In any case, comparing the 14600K vs 13600K tells us that the newer chip performs slightly better and more efficiently – it’s not a massive difference, but now that these two generations are similarly priced, we’d recommend 14th-gen over 13th unless you want to save that little bit extra. Here are a few things to know about the i5-14600KF:
- A total of 14 cores and 20 threads: The 14600K offers a total of 14 cores (8 Performance cores to deal with the heavy lifting and 8 Efficient cores that help run low-stress applications). Overall, this makes for great multi-core performance and gives the 14600K a nice level of versatility, whatever you plan to use it for.
- Up to 5.3 GHz boost clock: The i5-14600KF offers a maximum turbo frequency of 5.3 GHz against a 2.6 GHz base clock (E-cores) and 3.5 GHz (P-cores). This allows for solid single-threaded performance, making it suitable for gaming.
- LGA 1700 socket type: While the 14th-gen is where LGA 1700 support ends, this is now an older socket type with the introduction of LGA 1851 with Arrow Lake. This means you’ll be able to pick up a new 14600KF-compatible motherboard for cheaper than the latest generation picks.
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