Dodging the Pitfalls: A Critique of Intel’s Next Gen CPUs

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Key Takeaways

• Intel’s 14th-Gen processors offer minimal upgrades over the 13th-Gen chips, especially in terms of core variants and memory speed.
• Both the 14th-Gen and 13th-Gen Intel processors have the same core count, with only the i7-14700K getting a bump in core count.
• The 14th-Gen Intel chips are built on the same architecture as the 13th-Gen, making them less of an improvement on the previous generation rather than a major game-changer in terms of power and efficiency.

Intel announced its 14th-Generation Intel Core processors—the latest addition to the Intel processor lineup on the 7nm Intel 4 process node. These chips are supposedly the best, most power-efficient Intel offers, but many are disappointed with its performance.

So, if you’re an Intel fan, here is why you should skip the 14th-Gen processors and perhaps wait for the 15th-Generation instead.

1. Intel’s 14th-Gen Brings Minimal Specification Upgrades Over 13th-Gen Chips

One of the reasons why you would upgrade to a processor is that it has a significant advantage over the one you have. However, if you have a 13th-Gen Intel processor or newer, the latest 14th-Gen chips do not offer a big advantage, especially if you stay in the same Core variant you currently have,like the Intel Core i5 or i7 .

Let’s compare the specifications from the latest three Intel Core i9 generations to see their differences.

While Intel’s 14th-Gen has some advantage over the 12th-Generation chips in core counts and max frequency, its only advantage over the 13th-Gen is it’s slightly faster maximum memory speed with DDR5 RAM.

We can also check the differences between the more affordable Intel Core i5 Generations.

Even the entry-level Core i5 processors have few changes over the 13th-Generation chips.

2. Intel’s 14th-Gen and 13th-Gen i9 and i5 Processors Have the Same Core Count

Image Credit:Intel

One of the ways you can measure performance improvements between generations of processor chips is by its core count. In general,the processor core is the part of your computer that reads and executes instructions.

So, the more cores you have, the faster your processor will run. This, in turn, will make your computer snappier unlessyou run into a bottleneck . Intel took this further byintegrating performance and efficiency cores into its chips to have a powerful but power-efficient processor.

However, if you look at our comparison charts above for the 13th-Gen and 14th-Gen chips, you’ll see that the i9 and i5 processors have the same number of cores. Only the Intel Core i7-14700K gets a core count bump from 16 (8P + 8E) to 20 cores (8P + 12E).

3. The 13th-Gen and 14th-Gen Intel Chips Use the Same Architecture

The processor architecture is how a CPU is built. Major architecture changes can be a game changer, making a processor more powerful and efficient. This is most apparent with the 12th-Gen Alder Lake processor when Intel introduced the performance and efficiency cores in its chips.

One of thethings you need to know about the 13th-Gen Raptor Lake processor is that it’s mostly an improvement over the 12th-Gen Alder Lake processors. But the 14th-Generation Intel chips are also an improvement built upon the Raptor Lake processor.

EvenIntel says this , as it called the 14th-Generation processors “Raptor Lake Refresh”. Nevertheless, let us see the results from various testers to see how the 14th-Gen Intel chips fare over other processors.

4. They Don’t Perform Much Better Than the 13th-Gen Intel Chips

Of course, no matter what a processor maker says, the best way to gauge a chip’s performance is to see its real-world results. So, this is how the 14th-Generation Intel processors performed over 13th-Gen Intel chips and from competing AMD offerings.

First, let’s look at Gamer Nexus’s test of the Intel Core i9-14900K, linked above. Gamer Nexus used a computer with the following specifications for the test: RTX 4090 Strix GPU and DDR5-6000 Corsair RAM.

As you can see in the test results, the Intel i9-14900K performs a bit better than its previous-generation counterparts. However, in many tests, AMD’s Ryzen 9 7950X3D chip posted better results than Intel’s 13th-Gen and 14th-Gen offerings. Despite the 14900K boasting more cores and a higher boost clock speed,AMD 3D V-Cache helps the 7950X3D gain an advantage.

Let’s also look at Hardware Unboxed’s results (linked above) when it tested the i7-14700K against the competition. Hardware Unboxed used a PC equipped with an RTX 4090 Strix GPU and DDR5-6000/7200 RAM for this test for the AMD/Intel build.

According to the test results, the i7-14700K performs much better in productivity tasks, especially in apps that take advantage of multiple cores. This is where the 14700 K’s 20 (8P + 12E) cores shine, allowing it to outperform the 13700 K’s 16 cores and the 7800X3D’s eight cores.

However, we get the same story when it comes to gaming. AMD’s massive 3D V-Cache allows the 7800X3D to outperform 13700K and 14700K chips in most games.

5. You Probably Don’t Need the 14th-Gen’s Latest Features

Image Credit: freepik/freepik

Aside from better performance, the 14th-Gen Intel chips also have added features likeWi-Fi 7 (the latest Wi-Fi standard) , Thunderbolt 5 support, and AI-guided overclocking. These allow for faster data transmission and make you make the most of your processor.

However, Wi-Fi 7 and Thunderbolt 5 aren’t widely used yet, and most users don’t overclock their computers. So, unless all your devices use these standards, and you want to squeeze every ounce of performance out of your processor (which runs the risk of voiding your warranty), you probably do not need these.

6. Intel’s 13th-Gen Chips Are More Affordable

14th-Gen Intel chips have a slight performance advantage over the previous generation, and their launch price is also just $10 more than the 13th-Gen chips. However, since the latter was already a year old when the former launched, you can find them much cheaper than their launch prices.

For example, you canget the 13900K on Amazon for less than $547, andthe 13700K is on Newegg for less than $394.The 13600K is also available on Amazon for less than $308.

While the discount seems small compared to the 13th-Gen’s launch prices, you still save $20 to $50 over the 14th-Gen chips with an almost imperceptible difference in performance. You can then use these savings for things you want, likebuying your first mechanical keyboard .

You Can Skip the 14th-Gen Intel Processors

The 14th-Gen Intel chips aren’t a giant leap for Intel—it’s more like a tiny step that adds a small bump in power and performance. If you currently have a 12th or 13th-gen Intel processor or an equivalent AMD build, the 14th-Gen isn’t a worthwhile upgrade.

If you’re upgrading from an older PC, consider getting the 13th-Gen instead, as you get better value for money with them. I’ll only recommend Intel’s 14th-Gen processors if you need its Wi-Fi 7, Thunderbolt 5, and AI-powered overclocking features—or if you get a good deal on them.

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