Overview

Intel announced its Intel 13th Generation Desktop Processors (Raptor Lake) on 27th September 2022. This is the same day AMD is launching its new Ryzen® 7000 series to the public. The new processors will be available from October 20th this year. The release is led by the flagship Core i9 -13900K which will retail at $589 which surprisingly is the same as the price of the last Gen Intel Core i9-12900K.

Intel Core i9 - 13900K has 24 Cores total (8 Performance cores and 16 Efficient cores) to a total of 32 threads with clock speeds of up to 5.8GHz. Intel says it provides up to 15 per cent better single-threaded performance and up to 41% better multithreaded performance.

Intel 13th Generation processors feature an overall increase in the number of cores; increase in performance cores and double the efficiency cores; to a maximum of 24 cores at the top, Intel performance hybrid architecture which integrates two core microarchitecture into a single die, prioritizing and distributing workloads to optimize performance. This was first introduced in the 12th Gen Intel core Processors.

It also features support for up to 16 lanes of PCIe® 5.0 support for I/O throughput. Another is support for DDR5 up to 5600MT/s. Unlike the recently released Ryzen 7000, these chips also have support for DDR4 of up to 3200MT/s allowing motherboards with support for DDR4 and Raptor Lake.

The new 13th Gen Processors are backwards compatible with 12th Gen processors with regard to the CPU socket. They use the same LGA 1700 socket from Alder Lake. It also has support for Intel 700 chipsets and is backwards compatible with Intel 600 chipsets which offer flexibility and the ability to upgrade easily. However, the new Z790 motherboard from Intel 700 series will offer 8 additional PCIe® 4.0 lanes, increased USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 ports(20Gps), and DMI Gen 4.0.

The lineup for K and KF processors is shown below:

Release List

Processor	Cores(P+E)	Threads	Base Clock(P/E) GHz	Max clock(P/E) GHz	L3 Cache	Price
i9-13900K	24(8P+16E)	32	3.0/2.2	5.8/4.3	36MB	$589
i9-13900KF	24(8P+16E)	32	3.0/2.2	5.8/4.3	36MB	$564
i7-13700K	16(8P+8E)	24	3.4/2.5	5.4/4.2	30MB	$409
i7-13700KF	16(8P+8E)	24	3.4/2.5	5.4/4.2	30MB	$384
i5-13600K	14(6P+8E)	20	3.5/2.6	5.1/3.9	24MB	$319
i5-13700KF	14(6P+8E)	20	3.5/2.6	5.1/3.9	24MB	$294

Intel Core Desktop K processors and Intel Z790 chipset will be available starting October 20th, 2022, including boxed processors, motherboards and desktop system sales.

Intel showed some of the benchmarks and performance improvements, but we won't really know much until they will be available for review by independent entities.

Gaming performance as compares to the previous Gen (Alder Lake)

Compared to AMD Ryzen® counterparts, that is Zen 3 Ryzen® 5000 series; Ryzen® 9 5950X and Ryzen 7 5800X3D.

Benchmarks in content creation shows significant improvement in performance.

Further exploration of the Intel 13th Gen features.

Features

Performance cores (P-core)

These are the highest performing CPU core designed to handle single-threaded, lightly threaded, or burst workloads like 4K gaming and 3D design. They were introduced in intel 12th Generation(Alder Lake). They support Hyperthreading which is a technology to process two instructions or threads per clock cycle.

Efficient cores (E-core)

Designed to handle multi-threaded and background tasks such as minimized browser tabs, and cloud syncing, leaving P-cores free to deliver incredible performance without interruption. They can only process 1 thread or instruction per clock cycle. They were also first introduced in 12th Gen (Alder Lake)

Performance Hybrid Architecture

This technology integrates two core microarchitectures into a single die. This is to prioritize and distribute workloads to provide optimal performance.

Intel Thread Director

Is a microcontroller inside the CPU that ensures threads are running on the correct cores. It helps the Operating System scheduler to intelligently distribute workloads to the optimal core.

PCIe® 5.0

Offer up to 32 GT.s for fast access to discrete graphics, storage, and peripheral device and up to 16 PCI Express 5.0 lanes.

PCIe® 4.0

Offers up to 16GT/s for fast access to storage and peripheral devices with up to 4 PCI Express 4.0 lanes.

DDR5

Provides up to 5600MT/s. It delivers the latest, industry-leading innovation in memory capabilities for fast speeds, high bandwidth, and enhanced workflow productivity.

DDR4

Provides up to 3200 MT/s. It provides continued support fit existing memory technology and speeds,

L2 and L3 Cache

Increased shared Intel Smart Cache(L3) and L2 cache with up to double in some processors compared to Alder Lake.

Intel Deep Learning Boost

Improves performance for deep learning workloads

Intel Adaptive Boost Technology

Allows higher multi-core turbo frequencies while operating within system power and temperature specifications when current, power and thermal headroom exists

Gaussian & Neural Accelerator 3.0 (GNA 3.0)

Processes AI speech and audio applications like noise cancellation while freeing up CPU resources for overall system performance and responsiveness.

Intel Thermal Velocity Boost

If available, it automatically increases clock frequency up to 100MHz if the processor is at a temperature of 70 Degrees or lower and turbo power budget is available.

Intel Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0

It identifies the processor’s fastest cores and directs critical workloads to them.

Intel UHD Graphics

Driven by Xe architecture, it provides rich media and intelligent graphics capabilities to enable amplified visual complexity and faster image processing.

Overclocking capabilities

When paired with intel z790 or z690 chipsets, the P-cores, E-cores, graphics, and memory can be set to run at higher frequencies.

Intel Extreme Tuning Utility

A precision toolset for tuning and overclocking, featuring memory and hybrid processor overclocking.

Intel Extreme Memory Profile 3.0 (XMP)

Simplifies the memory overclocking experience with increased flexibility, additional profiles, and expanded voltage controls.

Intel Dynamic Memory Boost

Intelligent memory overclocking performance on-demand that optimizes platform performance based on usage.