7nm Hybrid Architecture
The new 13th-generation processors are based on Intel's 7nm manufacturing process, which has been optimized with a new x86 performance hybrid architecture. They have managed to increase the number of cores and threads up to 24 and 32, respectively, with the Core i9-13900K featuring the most powerful configuration of the same, with up to 5.8Ghz output. This has enabled them to improve the single and multi-thread performance by up to 15% and 41%, respectively. You will have to wait for our official review to see how much of these improvements translate into real-world use cases.
Increased Efficiency Cores
In order to achieve these results, the company has doubled the number of efficiency cores in its processors, with the flagship model featuring 8 performance cores and 16 efficiency cores. This has enabled them to increase their multi-thread performance exponentially, as the system can now handle intensive workloads much more efficiently. It has also helped them keep the base power consumption of all the processors at a healthy 125W, although once you start going for peak performance, these numbers can easily double up.
DDR5 and PCIe Gen 5 Support
Another way of improving performance is by adding support for the latest memory and graphical components. Intel has done this by adding support for the latest LPDDR5 Memory, specifically DDR5-5600 and DDR5-5200. They have also added support for the latest PCIe Gen 5, with up to 16 lanes off the processor. Furthermore, they have doubled the L2 cache and increased the L3 cache for better data handling.
One Click Overclocking
Even though these new processors come with lots of power by default, Intel understands that a lot of users just aren't satisfied with the default standards. This is why they have made it a lot easier to overclock these components, using a new one-click overclocking feature called the Intel Speed Optimizer. This system works in tandem with the robust Intel Extreme Memory Profile (XMP) 3.0 ecosystem to provide users with a wide variety of overclocking modules. When combined with Intel Dynamic Memory Boost, this feature makes the entire process of overclocking completely hassle-free.
Just in case you aren't so sure about your own overclocking skills, the company has also added new Adaptive Boost and Thermal Velocity Boost technologies, which automatically boost the processor clock frequencies based on the available power and thermal headroom. These features are available by default with Intel Core i9 unlocked SKUs.
Intel 700 Series Motherboards
To get the most out of these new components, Intel has also launched a new 700 Series chipset, which features eight additional PCIe Gen 4.0 lanes combined with PCI Gen 3.0, for a total of 28 lanes off the chipset. They have also increased the number of USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 ports which can support transfer speeds of up to 20 Gbps. The inclusion of DMI Gen 4.0 further increases the chipset-to-CPU throughput for fast access to peripheral devices and networking. The highlight of the whole setup is that the company is supporting forward and backward compatibility by default. So, you can use all the new processors with any of these new motherboards or your existing Intel 600 units.
Pricing and Availability
The new processors and motherboards will go on sale starting October 20, 2022. This includes boxed processors, motherboards, as well as full-fledged desktop systems. The company hasn't revealed the official MRP for any of these products, but we can get an idea of what we would be expected to pay based on the suggested prices that the company is going with.
For example, the flagship 13900K has a recommended price of around $589, with the 13900KF coming at $564. The 13700K is suggested to retail at $409, and the 13700KF comes at $384. Lastly, the 13600K is suggested to retail at $319, with the 13600KF coming in at $294. Of course, once you include the markups added by the individual resellers, these figures are expected to increase quite a bit. We will have to wait and see how much exactly these markups will be once these chipsets and motherboards actually make it to market.
